Turmeric for Dogs

OK, I’m a bit skeptical about turmeric for dogs.

It seems every other year, an herb or oil is touted as a cure-all for cancer, lesions and allergies. Honestly, I’m just not buying the hype. I don’t believe swallowing turmeric will magically cure cancer. It can help, but it’s not a cure-all. If I’m wrong, please share your story because this is a new one for me.

I do believe in supplementation, which you probably know if you’ve read any of my articles. So I dove feet first in all the research to prove the health benefits of turmeric and curcumin for dogs. Then, I tried it personally before supplementing by dogs and I discovered a few interesting findings.

This is my honest review on turmeric for dogs. Here it goes!

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric is part of the ginger family and used as an aromatic spice in Indian and Middle Eastern dishes, especially in curries. Once ground into a fine bright yellowish orange powder, it’s used not only as a spice, but also as medicine following many Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices.

Benefits of Turmeric

So I did a ton of research and found some very interesting facts about turmeric and, more importantly, its main anti-inflammatory component called curcumin. Curcumin can lower cancer risks, improve digestion, reduce pain and help fight infections, according to a University of Maryland Medical Center study. Check out the entire research findings here. At this point, I think I’m starting to believe there are positive benefits of turmeric for dogs. Time to order a good turmeric supplement!

RELATED: Human Medications Deadly to Dogs

Turmeric or Curcumin Supplements?

This topic totally confused me. While researching, I noticed many brands promoting curcumin instead of turmeric. Well, we know turmeric contains curcumin, so how in the world is curcumin now becoming a supplement?

It appears some brands are able to “naturally” remove curcumin from turmeric to increase curcumin properties per capsule. My dogs and I would rather ingest the healing component in its natural form as nature intended. With that said, some folks are fighting terrible diseases and need supplements with higher levels of curcumin, so I feel this is a personal decision. Choose the supplement that works best for you and your dogs. As always, more options are always better.

My Personal Review

Now, it’s my turn to try it. I’m one of those that suffer from chronic sinus infections and severe allergies (all related to inflammation), which turmeric is recommended for per TCM practices. After taking 200mg daily dosages for three weeks, I started noticing a difference in my skin.

I have rosacea (redness of the face) and it pretty much disappeared within three weeks. Rosacea is caused by inflammation, which seems to be my major issue. As for my sinuses, they were still the same. Expecting a miracle in three weeks was asking for too much. I’ve had this issue since I was a child.

Next, I started supplementing both dogs twice a week with turmeric. I didn’t really notice an immediate effect. They’re both younger dogs, so maybe signs of inflammation weren’t evident quite yet, but I did notice turmeric’s calming effects on my anxious dog. He was more relaxed than usual. After a bit more research, it seems turmeric reduces inflammation in the brain, which then reduces anxiety and depression.

Final Thoughts

Turmeric is definitely worth a try. For dogs, the recommended dosage is 15-20mgs per pound of body weight, but I would most certainly consult with your vet first. Many times, we assume herbs and supplements are natural, meaning they’re harmless, but that’s far from the truth. Some herbs and supplements can actually interact with medications your dog is already taking, which can lead to illness and death. Also, herbs will increase your dog’s liver enzymes (this happened to us a few years ago).

Lastly, turmeric has been used as a dye for thousands of years. If your dog vomits it up, it will stain carpeting and clothing. Also, my dogs had a grassy smell around their muzzles a couple of hours after ingesting turmeric and apparently I did too per my hubby, so just an FYI. 🙂

If you’re looking for more information on turmeric for dogs, I highly recommend the Turmeric Users Group on Facebook. They have a recipe for Golden Paste made from turmeric and coconut oil, and offer an amazing support group.