The use of garlic as a health supplement has been around for thousands of years. There are records of Egyptians feeding their slaves garlic to keep them healthy and as recently as the first and second World Wars garlic was used both externally and internally as an antiseptic for wounds and to treat ringworm and threadworm. Garlic continues to be used by thousands of horse and dog owners worldwide today. As one of the most widely used and effective medicinal plants garlic is rich in Alliin & Allinase, bio available sulphur (A well-known blood cleansing mineral) in addition to B group vitamins and minerals. With its natural antibiotic properties, garlic destroys harmful pathogens in the system, boosts immunity and all round general health, particularly supporting the respiratory, digestive and circulatory systems.
In addition to the many antioxidant benefits of feeding your horse and dog garlic, as the weather warms up it can act as a natural insect repellent; the odour excreted in their sweat can help deter flies, ticks, fleas and other biting insects. It is worth noting that as a natural alternative to chemical based fly sprays, you will need to allow it time to build up in their system. Popular garlic feed supplements tend to come in powder and granule form but try to choose cold pressed garlic as heat treated garlic will contain less of the beneficial constituents as they are heat sensitive and the less processed it is the more effective it will be.
Useful reading:
- Herbs and their benefit for the coat and skin
As with anything we feed to our pets the watchword is moderation. Excessive quantities of garlic if fed to horses & dogs have been shown to cause a condition known as Haemolytic Anaemia which is where the red blood cells can become damaged due to oxidation. When fed at the normal sensible levels there is no evidence of this condition developing.
At Hilton Herbs, we take great pride in supplying the highest quality garlic products for all our customers. We only provide you with 100% natural feed supplements and our Bye Bye Fly (pure garlic) products are exception being premium food grade, cold pressed and dehydrated powder and granules.
Hilary SelfHilary Self BSc.MNIMH. Hilary is a Medical Herbalist who writes about the practical application of herbs and natural healthcare for horses and pets.
