- ACV contains vitamins, minerals, and enzymes important for keeping animals healthy.
- ACV neutralizes the acid in dogs and cats. Adding apple cider vinegar to their food will help keep those brown tear stains for forming under their eyes and eliminate the brown patches on your lawn by balancing your pet’s PH.
- A solution of half water and half ACV added to the skin after a bath will get rid of fleas. Let the fur air dry and, to be sure fleas don’t return add a table spoon of ACV to their drinking water. (4 to 5 cups of water) Adjust amount of vinegar for small animals.
- For itchy skin use a solution of half water and half ACV on your pet’s skin as well as adding it to their drinking water.
- For Ringworm, sponge affected areas twice a day with one third water and two thirds ACV.
- You can ease the pain of arthritis and stop hot spots by adding ACV to your pet’s drinking water.
- Spray your barn with Apple Cider Vinegar to keep flies away. Also, sprayed on farm animals to keep flies, and other pests away.
- A bit of vinegar in their food or drinking water will keep kidney stones from forming especially in cats.
- Spray ACV to horses hooves to dry up thrush.
- Spray your pet’s bed and bedding with ACV every few days to keep fleas from moving in and to keep it smelling nice.
Your pet depends on you for it’s well being so it is important to remember that small animals such as birds, cats, and small dogs need a lot less ACV than larger animals. Adjust the dose according to your pet’s size and work them up slowly to the recommended dose. If you are not sure how much ACV to use talk to your animal health professional.
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User Comments
Francie
On June 19, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Thank you for the helpful hints! I remember hearing that ACV is very good for a number of uses. My mom used to add a little to her many glasses of water a day. I wondered how she could drink anything that sounded so awful but she said it was really healthy to drink some as it cleansed and filtered the harmful things in the system. She was really into healthy habits, she read a lot and I was amazed at all she knew. I have a puppy and this is also great info. for her. Thanks for your article…
lizzie2uk
On June 20, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I will certainly try this out on my dog externally, but he refuses to eat or drink anything with ACV in. He sniffs and ignores it, but he is very elderly and very contrary! (Naughty boy!)
Lucy Lockett
On June 20, 2007 at 8:06 pm
I am going to have to get me some of this aren’t I.
IcyCucky
On October 28, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Darlene,
This article is wonderful, helpful, and so useful since we have a puppy. I must have read this at least 10 times already. Thank you for all the fantastic tips.
basi
On March 11, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I have a new litter of pups….can acv be used for the flies/fleas and also be used for their drinking water and bath water when they become of age…..
I have been using ACV for 5 years and it is a definite ingredient and a must on my shelf……my dogs are my family….and must be treated as a member…..with the best of Natural care…..and that involves the BRAGG ACV of course……basi
LYNDA
On June 17, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Are you talking about regular acv? Or organic acv to be put in their food and drinking water. Can you spray the cats and dogs with the regular apple cider vinegar?
Darlene McFarlane
On June 17, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Hi LYNDA,
All apple cider vinegar is organic ACV. If you buy Heinz brand or other household brands from the grocery store read the fine print on the label. Chances are you are buying the clear processed white vinegar made from alcohol with no nutritional value. Only a few states and provinces carry organic ACV in grocery stores but the easiest and best place to find it is in health stores, and some drug stores. Some people have complained of bad reactions only to find out they bought the wrong vinegar so be sure the label says it is made from organic apples, that it is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and that the mother is included in the bottle.
If you are intending to give your pet ACV in drinking water, remember to start with a very small amount in lots of water. A couple of drops is best to start then, take the dose up slowly over several weeks. Pets need very little ACV to be effective.
Brenda
On September 1, 2008 at 9:30 am
I give vinegar my cat and two dogs 4 teaspoon to one gallon of water and it does wonders. They don’t even notice the vinegar is in the water.
Darlene McFarlane
On September 1, 2008 at 9:56 am
Brenda, I am glad to hear that. I gave it to my two cats and to my lovebird. The bird used to love ACV. She would dance back and forth on her perch until I got her water dish into her cage and then take a long, long drink.
Unfortunately they are all gone now. Even though it has been a couple of years, I still miss them very much.
Darlene
Josselyn
On September 26, 2008 at 4:25 am
hi i have a question am not familiar with apple cider vinegars so i wanna know the exact vinegar name to give my dogs, i dont wann get the wrong one please can u tell me i really really need to start with it cuz my poor dog doesnt even sleeps sometimes from itchiness
thank u
DHM
On September 26, 2008 at 8:10 am
I use Braggs but there are many reputable brands available depending where you live. As long as they have these specifications; made with organic apples, cold pressed, and unfiltered you have found the right stuff. Some people have bought Heinz ACV from the grocery..please don’t make this mistake. It is white vinegar that has been colored and made to taste like ACV for cooking purposes. White vinegar is made with alcohol and has no medicinal properties.
candy
On October 6, 2008 at 2:29 pm
thank you to the person that told us what kind of apple vinegar to buy. I looked thru 4 websites and this is the only answer to this i could find
Joyce
On October 28, 2008 at 4:40 am
My dog is prone to yeast infection can i feed her with ACV to cure it and lessen her itching?
Janet
On November 19, 2008 at 9:00 am
Won’t the acv in their food and water be bad for the animal’s teeth?
Claudia
On December 1, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Hi, thanks for the enlightening info. My cat Moonie was diagnosed with FLUTD & the vet prescribed her Ammonil (urine acidifier) & ammoxacilin. Well, she was fine the first 2 days, the third & fourth she drooled at the mouth for hrs & threw up profusely! The poor thing didn’t eat for 2 days nor did she go to the bathroom. I stopped the medication. The next day I purchased Heinz All Natural Apple Cider Viniger w/5% acidity. I put a 1/2 teaspoon mixed with a cup of water & gave her some from the syringe directly to her mouth as well as added it to her wet food. I am happy to say she seems like she is close to being back to normal. Do you think the Heinz Brand is ok or should I go to Wholefoods & see if they carry Organic? Thanks so very much!!! Sincerely, Claudia & Moonie:)
Darlene McFarlane
On December 1, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Hi Claudia,
Your poor Moonie, I do hope she is better soon.
When I first read that you gave her Heinz ACV I was worried. Many people buy Heinz apple cider vinegar from the grocery story only too be fooled because they didn’t read the small print. Most Heinz ACV is made to look and taste like ACV strictly for cooking and salads purposes while all natural has been pasteurized. I always stress buying ACV from health stores because they are cold pressed, cold filtered, and made with organic apples. All ACV that is cold pressed/filtered and made with organic apples will say so on the label. If it has been pasteurized (filtered) many of the nutrients have been removed. The best ACV for Little Moonie should be bought from the Health Store.
How did Moonie handle the ACV and water? I am thinking it would be a little strong for an animal so small and would giving her a lower dose.
I hope this helps and please let me know how Moonie is doing.
Take care,
Darlene
Claudia
On December 4, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Thank you for your prompt response. I will definitely go buy her Organic & get rid of the Heinz! How much should I give her? I read on earthclinic.com either a 1/4 of a teaspoon acv mixed w/cup of water or 1/2 tsp of acv? I am not sure how much to give her.
Moonie is doing better but still not 100%, her birthday is St.Patty’s Day:) & she will turn 11. She is 12lbs. She has big green eyes too! She never had problems urninating, 2 weeks ago she started going in & out of the litter box constantly, straining & no urine would come out, every now & then a little dot would come out with a little bit a blood. Vet said she wants to change her meds since she got sick from the previous meds, do you think I should get her more meds? Or try to see how the organic acv works out?
Moonie is currently going to the bathroom about twice a day, her urine is coming out better, but, not like before when she was healthy and the good thing is she is not straining or going in & out every 20 minutes, I guess a little progress is better than none at all.
I am so confused because my vet says she thinks Wellness Dry food (what I was feeding my cat) may have been a factor in her obtaining FLUTD because every patient that visits her w/FLUTD eats Wellness. She suggested I switch to Science Diet C/D for now, which I did. I give her very very little of this per day and I feed her wet canned food. Vet suggests Royal Canin, Fancy Feast or Science Diet, but, no fish whatsoever! She said fish is a factor as well. Also, that organic foods are not tested so therefore they can put what ever they want in the ingredients, for instance she stated Wellness adds a whole chicken as well as whitefish & this is not good for FLUTD. I asked her about Pet Prmomise food (Moonie loves Pet Promise-Dr. Weil promotes it, dr.weil.com & I trust him), but, vet states she didn’t know enough about it to comment on.
So as you can see I am very confused because I believe in organic, natural foods for my cat, however, I also trust the knowlege of my vet VDM, I want to include both professional advice as well as holistic. I don’t know what to think because my vet suggests foods that have bi-products in them. Also, I really feel that natural pet foods such as pet promise is the way to go. I will try Royal Canin. Please help me as I am so confused. I just want what is best for my Moonie, she is my baby.
It’s like there is always two sides, but I would like to incorporate both. Well, thanks for listening & sorry for such a long letter. I look forward to getting advice from you.
Warm Regards,
Claudia & Moonie, meow:)
Darlene McFarlane
On December 4, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Hi Claudia,
I am not a vet but I have had cats who had UTI. I would suggest keeping her on the meds until her infection has cleared up then ACV can be used as a preventative measure. It’s like when we get a urinary infection. We take the meds to clear it and then drink cranberry juice to prevent it from coming back. Maybe the article on this web page will help you make an effective choice. http://searchwarp.com/swa26640.htm
Good luck,
Darlene
Trinity Ford
On December 9, 2008 at 6:31 am
http://www.the-apple-cider-vinegar-company.com
jasper's mom
On December 30, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I am very confused about whether to use ACV for my cat due to mixed messages and information I have been given and am reading online. I took him to the ER Christmas eve and they found crystals in his urine. It turns out he does not have an underlying infection. The ER vet told me my cat would need prescription diet for life, and NOTHING else. The regular vet, who saw Jasper in a follow up, feels uncomfortable with the prescription diet for life. If I am understanding correctly, the crystals are less likely to form when there is no magnesium or ash in the food, but on the other hand, without the magnesium the food is not a complete healthy diet for the cat. Is the issue a Ph issue? An acid issue? My second question is about ACV. I have read that ACD decreases the acid in the system, and also I have read it helps prevent crystals, but ALSO I have read that higher acid is a safer environment and crystals won’t form there.. I’m so confused!!!!! Can anyone help me sort through all the information? I want Jasper to eat a healthy diet without endangering him with crystal formation. Last thought, I have not read anyone talking seriously about the dangers of crystals and eurethral blockage… most mention it here as if it’s an annoying problem, when in fact, it is life-threatening and can cause kidney failure which is fatal. THank you for your help!
Darlene McFarlane
On December 30, 2008 at 5:59 pm
to #20
Hi Jasper’s mom,
I am sorry to hear about Jasper’s problem. Unfortunately UTIs and urine crystals are more common among male cats. A good quality cat food with a low percent of magnesium should do fine for Jasper. I had to do a lot of comparisons between the cat food I was feeding my cat and other brands before I found one that worked well for him. I Don’t know if you have Global Pet stores or other pet food stores in your area but if you do, talk to the sales people. They are very knowledgeable and they helped me find what I was looking for without having to settle for the bland lamb and rice diet offered by the vets. If Jasper has crystals in his urine, he need only consume less magnesium. I gave my own cat one third teaspoon of ACV daily in his drinking water as well. Cats who eat canned food tend not to need as much water. If you are giving Jasper dry food, you can be sure he will get enough ACV to keep new crystals from forming. If he eats canned food maybe consider substituting some of his daily food with dry kibble.
You are right, Jasper’s mom, it is a PH issue. A low magnesium diet and ACV in his drinking water should do the trick.
A word of caution. Even after you put Jasper on his new diet. it is a good idea to watch him for a few weeks. If new crystals were forming before he began his diet, there is a slight possibility he could still have issues. This probably won’t happen but you can’t be too careful when it comes to Kitty’s health.
Good luck and please let me know how Jasper is doing.
Take care,
Darlene
Apple Cider Vinegar
On January 26, 2009 at 4:58 am
i am using apple cider vinegar daily with honey as a small drink it makes me feel amaizing. i only take the stuff with the mother in http://www.bobbys-healthy-shop.co.uk/shop/page/7?
Justins mama
On January 28, 2009 at 12:17 am
hello all ,
First let me say thank you very much for putting this page together I have visited it daily with every post I learn something new.My kitty has a little stuffy nose and I was thinking of giving him some ACV so I rushed out went to my supermarket thinking all ACV was created equally .and set it in my cabinet so today as I looked at it and it just felt so wrong and decided I was not going to put this into my baby ( Justin my 8 year old chubby orange tabby ) so I let it sit there and out of curiosity I looked at the ingredients and it read apple juice concentrate and water there was my ah ha! moment .I was so relived but still wanted to give the ACV a try luckily and scrolled down a little further today and I found a name lol Braggs so I will be going into whole foods and picking this up and giving it a shot .My question is I will be using a eye dropper to give it to him orally or we will use the oral syringe since that\’s the best way to give it to him and he takes it very well this way .I know someone mentioned to dilute it in a lot of water but I\’m not sure how much what do you guys recommend ? I was thinking a drop in a cup of water would that be too much water ?
thank s a bunch!
Justins Mamma
BG English
On February 26, 2009 at 8:13 pm
My vet recommended ACV 1cc to 8oz of fresh water a day for our little English Parakeet….she is doing great. After reading all the fabulous comments I am now going to give the ACV to our 3 dogs….
Laura
On March 7, 2009 at 6:08 am
My Cat was close to death (not knowing what was wrong with him, and unable to afford the vet)He had not eaten for 7 days, and all he was doing was sleeping. He could barely walk, and was nothing but skin and bones, so I decided to do some research on the internet. I found this site, and determined he must have a uti. (He didnt have any symtoms of feline leukemia, or any of the other cat diseases)
As soon as I read about the Apple cider vinegar, and ran out to the store and bought some (Heinz ACV) And I asked the pharmacist for a small syringe.
I administered 1/4 teaspoon with about 4 teaspoons of filtered water into his mouth. I also mixed some can cat food with the water (just the liquid) about 4 syringes full.
by the next morning, he seemed to be feeling better. I administered the same dose again that morning, along with some more can food with the syringe. (twice that day)
By the following morning my Cat was eating like a pig and obviously feeling much better. By the 3rd day is seems almost back to \”normal\”.
For some reason he is now my shadow…Every where i go he follows me. I figure he must know that I healed him, and he seems so grateful to have me as his friend. (He was quite aloof before)and barely let me touch him. Now he cant get enough of me petting and scratching him.
Thank you so much for helping me save my cats life! I am sure he would not have lasted another day without this intervention.
Laura From Florida
Confused..
On April 7, 2009 at 5:08 pm
*Wow Laura, that’s great news! And since you mention it was HEINZ ACV, you may have helped answer my question…
Ok, so my cats and I drink the good Bragg’s stuff. I do see the wonderful benefits, but I’m struggling with a very light flea infestation. There always seems to be a few I can’t get rid of as much as I vacuum everything and bathe them.
Would bathing my cats in the cheaper filtered ACV be as effective as the organic cloudy stuff? –I know about the fake ACV flavored distilled vinegar, but this other stuff I found actually says only apples and water in the ingredient list, but not organic and it’s obviously filtered.
Feel free to comment on ingesting the processed ACV, but I don’t think I would drink it even after reading Laura’s story.
I’m mostly interested in using it in baths (topically). I’m guessing maybe the enzymes or vitamins would have been compromised, but but it should still be malic acid, right?
Rod
On April 9, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Brazil produces hi quality ACV – 100% Natural/Organic.
Check out this sites if you are in Brazil:
http://www.senhorviccino.com.br/
http://www.vinagreorganico.com.br/
I recommend this product speccialy for English Bulldogs.
Best Wishes
Rod
jen
On May 10, 2009 at 8:10 am
Does anyone no if and what is the best acv to clear thrush out of a horses hoof i give them all 2 caps full in there tea but no sure about the hooves thanks greatky appreciatedc
Darlene McFarlane
On May 10, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Hi Jen,
I am not familiar with horse care and ACV but I did find the article below online. I am posting the link and the article as well because some times the links don’t copy properly from the comment area to the browser.
Hope it helps,
Darlene McFarlane
http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/horse-care.html#ha
Horse Care – Mild Cure for Skin Conditions
Full strength apple cider vinegar can be rubbed directly into the horse’s skin around a ringworm infection.
Ringworm is an infection of the skin and hair by several types of fungi (not worms).
Rub in thoroughly two or three times a day for several consecutive days. This is especially useful for ringworm infections that are too close to the eyes to use a copper wash.
Thrush and other foot fungus infections can be greatly reduced by a regular spray or soak application of apple cider vinegar to the sole and frog of your horse’s feet. By making the hoof area more acidic, fungus is no longer able to grow well there.
A general horse hoof soaking solution can be prepared by adding 1/4 cup (60 ml) of apple cider vinegar to one gallon (3.8 liters) of water.
The vinegar application will, at the same time, speed up the healing of any other foot infections or bruises your horse might have.
Elle Cox
On October 8, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Hi, I loved your article and just came home with a gallon of Ralph’s (chain store) apple cider vinegar. Then I noticed the question and your answer re: all apple cider vinegar is organic and chain store ACV is really white vinegar so I called Ralph’s Help Line on the label. The lady said, “Let me see if I can find info.” She flipped through some pages in a book, then read “Ralph’s ACV is made from apples then diluted with water to make it suitable for pickling.” So, is the grocery store brand okay? Thanks
Darlene McFarlane
On October 21, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Hi Elle Cox,
Apple Cider Vinegar should be made with organic apples and cold pressed. Many ACV maker who make it for the purpose of pickling heat their Vinegar. By heating the apple render, they are killing the active minerals and enzymes.
punk
On January 8, 2010 at 3:58 am
I have some questions regarding my male cat. He has spent 4 days in the hospital and has had a catheter while at the clinic. I brought him home with a catheter because the vet stated that his bladder is still been blocked by an infection in the urethra. He has cystitis which is a urinary tract infection. He had bled( I mean instead of urine he peed blood) on dec. 17, on the 23 and then on the 31. On the 17 and 23 he bled one day and then recovered. On the 31 episode I waited but took him to the clinic on Monday. He’s been on an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, on a muscle relaxer and vitamins etc on an IV and has had the catheter since Monday. Can I start the ACV treatment now, he is still with a catheter and it won’t be taken out till Sat. He is not on Intravenous Fluids since he is home now. The options the vet has given me are glum, to do surgery. I need to know if others have also had the same experience. The vet recommends to cut of his penis and turn the urethra out to form a vagina. This is crazy, it is just a temporary solution to a problem. I have read all the posts but I still do not know how much of the apple cider vinegar to put with water so that I can place this mixture in his food. He eats only wet food. Can someone please help me please? This is very urgent.
punk
On January 10, 2010 at 1:45 am
Hi,
Again this question is really a matter of life and death. I posted my question but no one has answered it.In regards to my cat of over 11 years old, who has an obstructed bladder, he can’t pee. 1. How much acv do I give with water and how often in the day do I give this to the cat. Therealowner.com posts the benefits of acv for uti but it does not explain what ratio of acv to water we should give. 2.If the cat has already an obstruction of crystals in the bladder can this acv remedy work? Can acv remedy be given without stopping the vet medicine of antibiotics, and muscle relaxer? Can someone please answer my questions? thanks
sisca
On January 10, 2010 at 10:37 pm
punk,normally….we would mix 1/2 a teaspoon of acv to a cup of water….give it with a syringe and put it in his wet food…once a day…but that’s for the general treatment..
Jan
On January 11, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Hi Punk, One of my cats is also prone to having crystals. He is 4 years old. He has only had 2 major cases where he ran to the litter box every 5 minutes for nothing and cried. One time there was also blood in his urine. There have also been a few times where he would squat in the litter box funny enough to make me worry. ACV has always worked.
The main thing to understand about ACV is that consuming a constant supply throughout the day is more important then how much ACV is actually being consumed.
The mixture I can get my cats to drink is 1/4 teaspoon of ACV for every 2 cups of water. Any stronger, and my cats won’t go near it. My cats eat mostly dry food and they each drink about a whole cup of acv water every day. This means 1/8 teaspoon acv per day is enough to heal my cat. My friend is able to get her cat to drink 1 whole teaspoon of acv mixed in wet food given in meals throughout the day. I wouldn’t give a cat more than 1 teaspoon of it in a day.
The AVC almost always works for my cat within a couple of hours. The times my cat showed signs of pain while urinating, I also gave him 1/6th of a capsule of Uva Ursi mixed in some wet food and, like clockwork, within 30 minutes he urinated a nice full stream.
I keep the daily ACV treatment going for at least a month. For the past 6 months, I’ve been trying to fill his bowls with an acv mix whenever I have time to do it (usually at least 2-3 days a week) and he hasn’t had problems urinating since. I should just keep it up everyday, but it doesn’t seem to be necessary.
To monitor his drinking habits, I keep 2 bowls of water out in plain sight. For example, one bowl is right on the coffee table in front of my couch where I and other family members spend a lot of time. The other bowl in the doorway to my bedroom where my cat cannot resist taking a sip whenever he walks past it. I don’t keep any water near their food because I’m never in that room.
If your cat won’t lap up acv water like mine do, you can do sisca’s suggestion of 1/2 teaspoon per cup of water and administering a syringe full in its mouth or wet food, but you should do this at least 3 times per day to keep a somewhat constant supply in the cat’s system throughout the day.
ACV will not interfere with antibiotics. I also recommend getting some acidophilus to replenish your cat’s gut with beneficial bacterial that the antibiotics are killing. This is important so that your cat won’t get sick if it comes into contact with any bad bacteria carried by people, other pets, insects, litter boxes, etc. Capsules are best since you can open them and sprinkle about a 1/4 the capsule on wet or dry food.
Good luck!
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