Can Dogs Eat Ginger?

Ginger is a powerful plant that can be utilized and eaten in many forms. Humans can eat it fresh, turn it into oil, or ground it into a powder or paste to be able to reap the benefits. Packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, ginger has astounding benefits but you may be wondering if dogs can eat ginger too.

Whether your canine companion accidentally wolfed some down when you weren’t looking or are checking to see whether ginger root may provide some health benefits, we have tailored this article to answer the question ‘can dogs eat ginger?’ and importantly ‘is it safe for dogs?’. Continue reading to find out more.

Can Dogs Have Ginger?

If your dog ate ginger when you had your back turned there’s nothing to worry about. In small doses, ginger can have many health benefits. In fact, ginger is said to have a number of qualities that can combat a range of health problems, and studies have suggested that it can reduce the chances of more serious problems such as obesity or dog dementia.

So – is ginger good for dogs?

In small, controlled doses ginger can be a great addition to your pooch’s diet, and adding it to dog food can do great things such as reduce nausea and even prevent bloat. However, too much can be dangerous to your dog’s stomach so make sure to read on to learn how much ginger can dogs eat. It’s also recommended that you introduce the ingredient slowly to your dog’s diet, as an immediate introduction may leave their stomach upset.

The Benefits Of Ginger For Dogs

In terms of health benefits, ginger can have similar effects on dogs as it has on humans. For example, the natural anti-inflammatory helps ease the discomfort and tension caused by joint pain and can also combat motion sickness.

Upset stomach

Similar to when we drink ginger ale to treat nausea, ginger helps combat sickness in dogs. Whether your dog is struggling with stomach upset as a side effect of a long-term illness or is suffering from simple car sickness, fresh ginger can help relieve the issue.

Not only can it prevent your dog from vomiting further but it can also help to calm down their digestive system if the sickness is seemingly stubborn.

Relieving and preventing bloat

If not treated swiftly, bloat can develop into gastric dilatation-volvulus which is a life-threatening condition. The pressure that builds up in your dog’s body can have a major impact on the rest of their organs and can also make breathing difficult.

Veterinarian care is always first on the cards if you believe your dog may have bloat but ginger may help to fend it off when used during its early stages. Essentially, ginger will aid your dog’s digestive system as it will stimulate movement before pressure can build up.

Inflammation reduction

Thanks to spice’s anti-inflammatory properties, health conditions such as arthritis can also be somewhat alleviated. By adding ginger to your dog’s diet you can help to reduce the inflammation that can make them severely uncomfortable. However, you mustn’t expect immediate results as this spice will take time to work its magic.

Other Potential Benefits

In addition to the conditions listed above, it is speculated that ginger may also help other, sometimes more troubling, issues. Studies are being conducted tirelessly and there is reason to believe that ginger may have more benefits than we realize.

It’s important to note that some studies conducted may need more time to provide dog owners with more definitive answers. However, through generous amounts of time and hard work already, ginger has been recognized to impact the following conditions in some ways:

Heartworm disease

Studies have suggested that ginger can reduce heartworm larvae in infected dogs by an incredible 83-98%. The spice isn’t said to prevent the disease but can ultimately reduce the number of larvae before they have a chance to grow and reproduce.

Cancer

As ginger can essentially boost your dog’s immune system, studies have suggested that it can also help prevent cancer. Ginger contains something called 6-gingerol which is primarily identified in large amounts of the spiced root. This ingredient is said to be able to combat cancer cells and slow down the growth of tumors.

Dementia

Studies revolving around the use of ginger to improve brain function are still in their early stages and need a lot more work. This work is also yet to be used on dogs but clinical trials on humans have proven to be fruitful so far. It is theorized that antioxidants are the key ingredient and that ginger can help improve cognitive function and possibly reduce Alzheimer-like diseases.

Obesity

Although human and animal studies surrounding this area are still being conducted, recent results have suggested that ginger root extract and/or ginger water can lower the risk of obesity. A lot more work is still needed to be certain but so far the results have been positive.

Giving Your Dog Ginger

As mentioned previously, it’s important to know that too much ginger can be damaging. Whereas it’s seen as a digestive aid in some instances, it can also cause severe gastrointestinal issues if you feed too much to your dog.

Ways to feed ginger to your dog

One way to get your dog to eat the root is to remove the skins of raw ginger, then finely mince the remaining pieces, and mix them into their food. However, whereas most dogs aren’t fussy eaters some may be put off by the strong taste. If this is the case and your dog won’t eat it you can also use powdered ginger which is a lot tamer.

In addition to these, you can also add ginger capsules or liquid tincture. It is also worth noting that dried ginger may be too spicey for dogs to stomach so it’s recommended that the former options be used.

Appropriate dosages

The amount of ginger you should give depends on what size of dog you have. Pet owners are encouraged to look at the following guidelines if they wish to understand more:

Fresh ginger (finely minced)

• 1 – 10 lbs: quarter teaspoon
• 10 – 20 lbs: half a teaspoon
• 20 – 50 lbs: half a teaspoon (maximum 3/4 teaspoon)
• 50 – 100+ lbs: three-quarters of a teaspoon

Powdered ginger

• 1 – 10 lbs: Tiny pinch
• 10 – 20 lbs: A pinch
• 20 – 50 lbs: 1 teaspoon
• 50 – 100 lbs: 2 teaspoon
• 100+ lbs: 1 tablespoon

Capsules

• 1 – 10 lbs: half a capsule up to three times a day
• 10 – 20 lbs: half (maximum one) capsule up to three times a day
• 20 – 50 lbs: one to two capsules. Two to three times a day
• 50 – 100 lbs: one to two capsules. Three to four times a day
• 100+ lbs: An adult human dose.

An additional tip to giving ginger to your pooch

Ginger is an acquired taste so not every dog will take to it immediately. If this is the case for your pooch, try baking it into dog treats!

Consulting Your Vet

If your dog is anticipating surgery, pregnant, or is on blood-thinning medication, you should consult your vet before taking steps to give your dog ginger. Moreover, if your dog has heart disease or is struggling with kidney or liver disease you should avoid giving them any at all. This is because ginger may affect blood circulation and may also lower blood sugar and blood pressure.

You must also seek care if your dog has eaten too much ginger or appears to have an adverse reaction.

Note: The contents of the www.mypetneedsthat.com website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only.
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet.
Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.