Apple cider vinegar, an old folk remedy, has been shown to improve the health of horses, dogs, and other animals. It reduces common infections, aids whelping, improves stamina, prevents muscle fatigue after exercise, increases resistance to disease, and protects against food poisoning.

Cider vinegar is rich in the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements found in apples, especially potassium; it normalizes acid levels in the stomach, improves digestion, and the assimilation of nutrients, reduces intestinal gas and fecal odors, helps cure constipation, alleviates some of the symptoms of arthritis and helps prevent bladder stones and urinary tract infections.

How to Use It

Add apple cider vinegar directly to food or drinking water, starting with small amounts and building up to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 15 pounds of body weight for dogs and cats (1 teaspoon per day for the average cat, 1 tablespoon for a 50-pound dog or 2 tablespoons for a 90-pound dog). By gradually adding small doses to your pet’s food over time, you can help even the most finicky eater to accept this valuable food.

Many herbalists recommend vinegar for pets, especially because it can be poured over garlic and others herbs to make medicinal tinctures. Even without those herbs, cider vinegar is an important ingredient in your pet’s diet. Use any raw, unpasteurized, unheated, organic vinegar …. Do not use a vinegar that is uniformly clear and clean-looking, such as vinegar sold in the supermarket. These are dead with none of the enzymes and other live factors that make raw, unpasteurized vinegar so valuable.