Yes, garlic is toxic to dogs
Garlic is often credited with antiparasitic properties for dogs. Let it be said: using garlic to deworm your dog is either ineffective or dangerous for the dog because the effective dose of garlic to have deworming activity is greater than its toxic dose in animals.
Like all plants of the genus Allium, which also includes onions, garlic contains sodium thiosulfate, a substance that disrupts the activity of certain enzymes and may cause anemia by destruction of red blood cells. the animal.
Garlic poisoning evolves over several days.It generally begins 1 to 2 days after ingesting garlic (even more quickly if the ingestion is massive) and manifests itself early in vomiting, anorexia and sometimes diarrhea. This results in fatigue, pale mucous membranes and discoloration of the urine, which becomes dark, even brown.
If garlic poisoning is generally not fatal (if the quantities ingested are moderate and treatment is implemented early), it is therefore better to avoid taking the slightest risk by giving garlic to your dog, especially since his body can take several days to eliminate the toxins.
Garlic, in high doses, is therefore toxic in all its forms for dogs and cats, whether cooked or raw, fresh, dehydrated or even fermented. So, be careful not to give leftover cooked meals that contain garlic to your pet. Also prohibit all natural garlic-based dewormers in your dog and cat.
What alternatives to garlic as a natural dewormer?
Fortunately, there are many plants with deworming activity (more or less effective) that pose no danger to dogs.
This is particularly the case with phytostandardized walnut extract or pumpkin seed oil (or powdered pumpkin seeds), two natural products that can be used as natural dewormers in dog to fight against intestinal parasites. These herbal remedies are given at the rate of 3mg per 10kg of body weight (or 4g of powder per 10kg of body weight) 3 days in a row, at the time of the full moon and in the morning after the night fast.
Certain essential oils can also have deworming efficacy in dogs, but their use must be strictly supervised by a specialized veterinarian.
It should be noted, however, that the effectiveness of these natural alternatives is absolutely not proven nor equivalent to conventional medicinal dewormers, on sale in veterinary practices.