Black Seed Oil for Dogs

Where does black seed oil come from?

Black cumin is called real black cumin (scientifically Nigella Sativa). The plant originally comes from West Asia. Today, black cumin is harvested in Southern Europe, North Africa, India, and Pakistan.

Black cumin is not related to the types of caraway we know but belongs to the buttercup family.

How is black seed oil made?

The oil is obtained from pressed fruit capsules. These must shimmer matt black and smell of anise – then they are ripe.

They are harvested, dried, cleaned, and then pressed. As with all high-quality oils, black seed oil must be cold-pressed to preserve its active ingredients.

It is rich in essential fatty acids that are vital for dogs and that they cannot produce themselves.

Almost 60 percent of black seed oil consists of linoleic acid. In addition, it contains plenty of trace elements such as magnesium, vitamin C, B1, E, biotin, beta-carotene, zinc, and selenium.

Always keep black cumin oil in a cool and dark place. And consume it as soon as possible.

When is black seed oil harmful to dogs?

Don’t expect instant miracles from black seed oil, however. This applies to all-natural remedies. Your dog will need to take the oil for at least two weeks before you notice any improvement.

Avoid using the oil if your dog has liver problems, is pregnant, or is nursing. Under no circumstances should you use black cumin if you have a cat in your household. This is because essential oils lead to liver damage in cats. They lack an enzyme to break down the terpenes they contain.

And by no means use black seed oil permanently. Only give it for six to eight weeks at a time. After that, take a break from the application.

Note on medical topics

In this article, I summarize the current status and development of the discussion on the topic. If in doubt, please always consult your veterinarian before following any medical advice.

It is interesting how a contribution to “Jugend forscht” is quoted as standard evidence for the effectiveness of black cumin oil against ticks. In 2014, the then high school student Alexander Betz submitted his work for the Bavarian state competition. He achieved third place in biology in Bavaria. After that, his trail is lost.

International Nigella Sativa Studies

Almost all studies to date have not been conducted on dogs. As positive as the results may appear, they can only be transferred to dogs to a limited extent.

One student’s observations are interesting and perhaps point in a promising direction. Nevertheless, the experiment with a dog does not replace a randomized controlled trial (RCT, double-blind study). However, the “Jugend forscht” work is miles away from the scientific requirements of a clinical study.

On the other hand, evidence-based medicine tries to find individual treatments, if possible based on clinical studies.

Because black seed has been used as an herbal medicine around the world for thousands of years, medical studies are swarmed every year. The US National Library alone lists 286 medical studies on black seed oil, with 186 publications relating to animals.

The meta-study ” A review on the therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa ” summarizes the results of many studies that are being carried out worldwide on black cumin. This meta-study even describes Nigella Sativa (black cumin) as “a miracle herb” in the subtitle. So far, only the anti-inflammatory effect of black cumin oil has been confirmed in one study, especially in dogs.