Mary Allen
A few years ago, nobody would have thought of ginger for dogs. In recent years, however, the plant has experienced a real boom.
In the meantime, the health-promoting effects of ginger should be known almost everywhere. And so the plant became an integral part of many medicine cabinets.
These properties as a medicinal plant tempt some dog owners to give their four-legged friends ginger.
That’s why we clarify here whether ginger is healthy for dogs at all. And what you should consider when feeding ginger.
Ginger has healing properties
The healing properties of ginger have been known for thousands of years. The medicinal plant is particularly popular in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
Ginger is mainly used for problems with the gastrointestinal tract. It helps against vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and also with diarrhea. It is popular for motion sickness.
Ginger also has an antipyretic, analgesic, and even anti-inflammatory effect.
What is ginger?
It is not the plant that is used, but the rhizome. Think of it as a tuberous root that branches out and grows in the ground.
For use, it is peeled and is yellowish on the inside, and has a very distinctive aromatic-hot taste.
The reason for this taste is essential oils and resin acids. Gingerol gives the ginger its sharpness.
Ginger contains vitamins C, B3, and B6, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium, and sodium. Substances such as borneol, cineol, and zingerone as well as a school are important for digestion.
Ginger has a pain-relieving effect
Especially for dogs, ginger is now in demand for complaints of the musculoskeletal system.
Ginger is of particular importance as an anti-inflammatory. Ginger can be helpful for osteoarthritis or hip dysplasia.
Both diseases are chronic diseases associated with inflammation.
Ginger makes the dog more agile. The production of synovial fluid is stimulated. This reduces the friction between cartilage and joint.
Pain is relieved and the inflammatory process is inhibited.
Can dogs eat ginger?
So dogs can eat ginger. However, your dog should never eat ginger regularly as a food.
Because ginger harbors dangers that many dog owners underestimate. Many dog owners give ginger to their sick dogs. Then the state of health improves.
However, the cause of the disease is not eliminated, only the symptom is alleviated. This effect is of course gratifying. However, this does not mean that ginger is suitable for long-term use.
So too much ginger can hurt your dog.
Side effects of ginger for dogs
The pain-relieving effect of ginger is based on the ingredient gingerol. It ensures that the pain sensitivity is reduced.
You can roughly compare this effect of gingerol with the effect of aspirin.
However, reduced pain sensitivity can have negative consequences for your dog. For example, diseases can progress without being recognized in time.
The dog shows little or no pain and thus an important warning signal from the body is turned off. Thus, a regular dose of ginger could even cause serious damage.
Dosage: how much ginger for the dog?
You certainly wouldn’t feed your dog aspirin regularly. However, ginger can have similar side effects.
The pungent substances in ginger can massively irritate the gastrointestinal tract if given regularly or in large amounts. This leads to inflammation and, in the worst case, even bleeding.
Talk to your vet
- If you want to do something good for your darling, add some ginger to the food from time to time.
- If you want to use ginger as a medicine, be sure to talk to your vet beforehand.
Never treat your dog independently. Talk to your vet about the right remedy.
Never buy cheap ginger remedies. This can do more harm than good to your dog.
Where does the ginger root come from?
Ginger comes from tropical and subtropical climate regions. The main growing areas include India, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Japan, and South America.
The largest growing area is in Nigeria, Africa. In Europe, the plant is cultivated in France.
Ginger is now even found in sweets and chips. Ginger is an integral part of Asian cuisine anyway.
If you have cats in the house, make sure that they do not get to the ginger. The essential oils and pungent substances make ginger inedible for cats. The ginger root can even cause severe symptoms of poisoning.