Turmeric, a plant with multiple benefits
Originally from Asia, turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a herbaceous plant whose rhizome is used as a spice, food coloring and medicinal plant. It is also called turmeric, in reference to its intense yellow color.
Its root contains many active ingredients, including the famous curcumin, a polyphenol that gives turmeric its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Alongside curcumin, we also find in the rhizome:
- polysaccharides such as starch and arabino-galactans which have the role of facilitating the intestinal absorption of curcumin,
- essential oils with anti-ulcer properties.
All of these active ingredients make turmeric much more than a powerful natural anti-inflammatory and painkiller. Turmeric is also recognized as:
- an appetite and hepatic detoxification stimulator,
- a digestive aid, in particular through its cholagogue and choleretic actions (promotes the production of bile and therefore the digestion of fats),
- a protector against gastric ulcers,
- an antimicrobial, antifungal and antiparasitic,
- an antimutagen which would have a preventive action on the occurrence of cancers and degenerative diseases,
- an antiplatelet agent and an anti-thrombotic, protective of the cardiovascular system.
Turmeric for which dogs?
By its many pharmacological properties, the indications of turmeric are quite numerous in dogs. It can be used in dogs that suffer:
- digestive disorders including hepatic and/or gallbladder disorders and gastritis with ulcer,
- pancreatitis,
- arthritis, osteoarthritis, acute rheumatic fever, Lyme disease or any other chronic or acute inflammatory syndrome,
- pain following surgery or trauma,
- of cancers, alongside chemotherapy.
Note carefully!
If the administration of turmeric helps to fight against the conditions mentioned above, it should not be used as an exclusive treatment or practice self-medication with your dog. If your dog is sick, he will necessarily need a treatment prescribed by a veterinarian and in which turmeric may have its place! It is then up to your veterinarian to decide.
How to administer turmeric to your dog?
Oral turmeric
Turmeric, to be taken orally by your dog, is available in several forms among:
The rhizome powder
Rhizome powder is the yellow colored powder found on all supermarket shelves and sold as a spice.
In this form, we do not know precisely the percentage of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory active ingredient of turmeric. It can be almost zero in poor quality powders or reach 3 to 5% curcumin in good quality products. In other words, turmeric in spice form is low in concentration and large enough amounts must be given to the dog to reach therapeutic doses. These doses vary between 1.5g and 3g of turmeric powder per dose.
For better intestinal absorption of its active ingredients and better efficiency, it is necessary to mix turmeric powder with a fatty substance such as coconut oil and black pepper.The piperine contained in black pepper multiplies its intestinal absorption by 20!
Thus, it is necessary to prepare a turmeric paste by mixing 65g of turmeric powder with 125ml of water and heating everything over medium heat. When the paste has the consistency of a thick puree after 7 to 8 minutes, add 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper and 70ml of coconut oil. Mix then pour the preparation into a jar with a lid before placing it in the refrigerator. To get your dog accustomed to its taste, you can mix it into their food at the rate of a quarter of a 1/4 teaspoon for small dogs should to 1 teaspoon a day for large dogs. If your dog tolerates it well digestively, you will very gradually increase the doses up to 1 teaspoon per day for 5 kg of body weight, to be divided between meals.
Turmeric paste should not be stored for more than 2 weeks in order to preserve its effectiveness.
Warning!
If your dog has inflammatory bowel disease, do not add pepper to turmeric paste.
Micronized turmeric powder capsules
Easier to use than spice powder, some micronized powder capsules already include piperine. All you have to do is make your dog swallow the capsule(s)!
Standardized fluid extracts of turmeric
EPS are fluid plant extracts for pharmaceutical use. Highly concentrated in active ingredients (around 3mg of curcumin per ml), their use must be supervised by a veterinarian.
Turmeric locally
Turmeric can also be used locally, in the form of powder or essential oil.
Turmeric powder can thus be mixed with aloe vera gel to help heal a minor burn or with linseed oil to form a poultice to apply to minor lesions skin.
Turmeric essential oil can also be used topically to relieve rheumatic pain in synergy with wintergreen, lemon eucalyptus, clove, juniper, spike lavender and rose geranium essential oils diluted 20% in arnica oil.
Warning!
Treating your dog with essential oils is not without danger. Always ask your veterinarian for advice before using them on your pet.
What are the contraindications of turmeric?
Turmeric can interact with many drug treatments (anti-epileptic drugs, certain antibiotics, anticoagulants, anti-inflammatories, etc.). If your dog is already under treatment, it is therefore important to check with your veterinarian that taking turmeric is not a problem.
Turmeric is also contraindicated for dogs with bile duct obstruction or gallstones.