#25. Turmeric:Many uses to help Your Pets

Turmeric is a great spice that has a lot of uses to help pets with many things. Purchasing Turmeric can be tricky as it can & sadly is quite often contaminated with lead, so finding a good source is very important. I am linking two videos to help you test any Turmeric before you use it. I have used fresh Turmeric Root & I have used powdered which I purchased at an Indian grocery store. My Vet recommends purchasing it from places that source from India or Jamaica, she said not to purchase a product of Mexico, due the higher risk of possible lead. I recommend you test some of any that you purchase. The videos below are easy to follow & the test is not hard. I watched an expert this AM doing the test & she said do not stir it & recommended warmer water not cold. I don’t believe either of these mention water temperature, but they don’t stir it. She also said streaks of yellow are a sign of lead. If your Turmeric tests positive for lead, throw it out & find a new source. My research has shown that fresh root seems less often to test positive for lead, but I personally don’t know, so TEST to be safe.

I used turmeric to help my dog Sam who had growth on his body & I visited a website called Earthclinic & someone recommended Turmeric so I got some & tried it & within 2-3 weeks he went from 10 lumps to only 3. I was amazed so started researching the benefits of this spice. I found it was an anti-cancer & an anti-inflammatory for the body. The Veterinarian’s Guide to Natural Remedies for dogs by Martin Zucker https://amzn.to/4j1uTA1 recommends starting low & gradually increasing the dose. Small dogs 1/4 tsp. Giant dogs up to 1 tsp twice daily, mixed into their food.

In this next book for dogs & cats https://amzn.to/4iETwmr states you can use it for Insect bites & it helps stop the swelling. Mix a little into some beef bone broth & pour over their food. Dr Sodhi says pets under 15 lbs. can take about 1/2 tsp twice a day. Those 15-50 lbs take a tsp 2 x a day. Larger pets 2 tsp twice a day. Start with less & increase slowly.

The book: The complete Guide to Holistic dog book https://amzn.to/4iWTlm7 lists a number of uses for Turmeric. This book is one I highly recommend you have as a resource if you have dogs. They recommend Turmeric for weak & older dogs as a nutritional support. If your dog has been exposed to kennel cough or another contagious disease they recommend adding garlic & turmeric to meals to boost immunity & ward off infection. Turmeric is a beneficial herb that helps the liver. It is a complementary therapy when treating prostrate cancer. A powerful anti-oxidant may protect the liver cells from damage; enhance the bodies natural antioxidants system, & has demonstrated anti-tumor effects.

The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats by Shawn Messonnier https://amzn.to/4kZuLms also has a lot of information about the uses of Turmeric. It states: Turmeric has showed anti-cancer effects by its antioxidant, free radical scavenging effects, inhibition of nitrosamine formation & its a ability to increase glutathione levels. Topically it acts similarly to capsaicin by inhibiting substance P to relieve pain and inflammation. It lowers blood cholesterol levels, & prevents platelet clumping. Turmeric has beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract including decreased gas formation & spasm. It is helpful for arthritic, asthma, cancer & infections in pets.

DO NOT use in pets with bile duct obstruction, gallbladder stones, or gastrointestinal upset. Not recommended for pregnant, nursing or pups or those with severe liver or kidney disease, as not established if safe, so best to avoid.

I always recommend your pet sees the Vet for annual exams & you do your research before starting a new regiment with your pet. Please note that a traditional Vet (western medicine only) isn’t going to most likely be aware of natural or holistic medicine. Some may even be quite resistant, as they were taught to recommend & use medicine not what nature has given us to use. I recommend a Integrative Vet(Western & Eastern Medicine) or a Holistic if you’re wanting to treat your pets with natural medicine.

Please note that Turmeric is a yellow/orange color & it can stain hands, counters, floors or anything it comes in contact with so use it with care. It has eventually come off my counter with a vinegar and baking soda paste.

I made the Turmeric root I purchased into a tea & gave it to my dog in their food. I would take a piece of turmeric root about the size of my thumb & grate it into a pan of about a quart of water & bring it to a boil. I would simmer it for about 10 mins then let it cool, strain it & pour into a glass mason jar & store in the refrigerator. I would give them about 1/8- 1/4 cup of the tea poured over their food twice a day. I would purchase the turmeric root at a small market that carried a lot of fresh foods. I did watch where it came from as I have seen it labeled from different places. So as a reminder, test any Turmeric you buy, & once you find a source you know is safe then stick with it. It is easy to test, so I’d recommend you randomly test maybe every few times you buy more.

I hope you found this helpful & feel comfortable about adding this awesome spice to your pets diet. My dogs Sam & Ace were given it for a long time & my dog Ace lived to be 17 yrs & 8 months & he had hip dysplasia from about the age of 7-8 years (he was a Golden mix). X-rays proved it as my Vet at the time didn’t think so, but I saw the change in him & had him checked. He still took walks with me even up to his last week & I believe that Turmeric helped him feel better.

If you enjoyed this, or learned something please share my blog, comment, like posts, subscribe (don’t worry you won’t get spam, just notified when I post again), help me to spread the word, so more pets can thrive. Thank you, Debbie If you have questions & want to contact me directly please do at: echoinggreatpetcare@gmail.com