India has utilized the spice turmeric for thousands of years. Although it is most often associated with its role in giving Indian curries their distinctive orange hue, turmeric has also been argued for its potential as a medical plant due to claims that it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities.
As this spice continues to gain in popularity, people are beginning to question whether or not it is effective as a herbal medication in humans and whether or not turmeric is beneficial for dogs. Please continue reading to learn all you can about the benefits of turmeric for dogs.
Canine use of turmeric: yes or no?
Although many human studies have been conducted, it is still unclear whether or not turmeric is helpful for treating certain health concerns. Even less is known about the effects of turmeric on dogs, thus this spice shouldn’t be utilized in the normal therapeutic treatment of any veterinary problems.
Do I need to worry if I feed turmeric to my dog?
As the purported advantages of turmeric for animals’ health have not been verified or refuted, the idea of giving it to our pets might be quite alluring. We caution against providing this spice to your dog for a few reasons, all of which are somewhat negative.
To begin, the bioavailability of turmeric when taken orally is relatively low. How much of a chemical really makes it into the bloodstream of an organism is referred to as its bioavailability. A substance will fail to have any impact on an animal if it cannot have an active effect in that species. In addition, oral administration of turmeric has a little impact due to its limited absorption.
Although major side effects of turmeric are unusual (primarily due to the spice’s extremely low bioavailability), it’s vital to exercise caution since over-the-counter turmeric products aren’t often controlled or examined in the same ways as conventional medications. We also wouldn’t advise administering turmeric to your dog since so little is known about its possible dangers.
Can you suggest any substitutes for turmeric?
Turmeric is a popular supplement, but many owners wonder whether there is an alternative. When your dog is sick, there are usually several options for treatment. For an older dog suffering from arthritis-related joint stiffness and discomfort, for example, there are typically many treatment choices available, such as pain medication, vitamins, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and changes to the dog’s activity and food. Regardless of the nature of your pet’s ailment, you should contact your vet to find out whether an appointment is necessary. Also, they will be able to explain all the choices available to you when it comes to determining the cause of your pet’s illness and how to best treat it.
In conclusion, while seeking therapy for your pet, it’s best to choose solutions that have been shown to be beneficial by science, and leave turmeric where it belongs — in a tasty curry.