Re: [pyrnet] Onions and garlic

<<Garlic - Allium sativum - is in the Lily Family

Primary Medicinal Activities:   Antibacterial, stimulates the immune system, anticancer nutritive, antioxidant, expectorant, lowers blood pressure, antitumor, antiviral, antifungal, tonic.

Strongest Affinities:   liver, blood, cardiovascular system, immune system.

Caution in use and dosage:
Can be used in moderation and should not be used over a long period of time.   When misused or used over a long period of time, garlic may cause Heinz-body anemia, a potentially life threatening disease if gone undetected.   Cases have shown that dogs who have ingested an amount of 5 cloves or have been given garlic over a long period of time has started the Heinz-body process.   (note;   onions will have the same outcome)

Other side effects of garlic are more predictable less life threatening;   digestive upset and gas when ingested (in which case, reduce the dose and relieve the gas with chamomile).

On a note; any dog or cat who has been diagnosed with anemia should not be given garlic.    Nor should puppies under the age of 8 weeks.   Puppies do not begin to reproduce red blood cells till that point in their age - so therefore, do not give to pups.

Common sense - use small doses three to four times a week (1/8 tsp of powdered garlic is a good health benefit).    Doses can be less but should not be more.   If you wish to use garlic in a therapeutic capacity, get to know your animal first, then consult a professional (or carefully read the label on your garlic product) before you proceed.

The above from Mary Tilford's Herbs for Pets

Basically, make sure your dog is not anemic and use very small doses.   Oil caps have a higher concentration than that of the powder (referred to above) that you buy from the food stores.

Dianne >>