GARLIC for Dogs to Treat Worms?

[FalseImpression]

Symptoms: Increase hunger, weight- loss, itching & rubbing bum... All signs of worms, correct? Noni fits the description to a 't'.
I was about to book a 'fecal float' with my vet and get him dewormed when my boyfriend suggested garlic.

My DB's parents give their dog a whole raw garlic clove every day since she was a puppy. She's 14 now, and has never had any health problems.

I looked it up online and surprisingly a lot of people feed their dogs raw garlic when they suspect their dog has worms or fleas.

But I've always though garlic toxic for dogs.

[FalseImpression]

Alright, so I just read the 'Toxic Plant' sticky. :O What would I do without Chazhound?

I guess I'll go ahead and book an appointment with my vet.

[GoingNowhere]

Garlic is toxic to dogs, but in limited quantities, it can successfully be used as a bug repellent. Not sure about treating worms. There's a company that sells a product called "bug-off garlic" for dogs for the sole purpose of repelling fleas and ticks. An entire clove of garlic per day sounds like quite a bit, though.

[JessLough]

Originally Posted by GoingNowhere

Garlic is toxic to dogs, but in limited quantities, it can successfully be used as a bug repellent. Not sure about treating worms. There's a company that sells a product called "bug-off garlic" for dogs for the sole purpose of repelling fleas and ticks. An entire clove of garlic per day sounds like quite a bit, though.

For a dog smaller than 30ish pounds, yah. But for a larger dog it really is not that much, unless they are buying the giant garlic.

Yah I know garlic is good for fleas, but not sure about worms. Although, if they have been giving their dog garlic everyday, it has been repelling fleas and therefore not getting worms.

[MafiaPrincess]

I've never heard of garlic for worms. Garlic gets brought up when talking about fleas though.

Are there visible worm segments in poop, or worse yet crawling from your dog's anus? I treat tape worms when we have a problem myself, but you'd need to know the worm type to treat it - and be comfortable DIY.

If you think it's worms and aren't sure which, you need a vet trip, not a grocery store trip sadly. Garlic may have some preventative properties, but once in full blown worms I doubt it will do much.

[FalseImpression]

I haven't noticed worms in his pooh, nor around his anus what so ever. But I'm going to get a dewormer just to be safe.
I've heard that dragging his bum could also mean his anal glands need to be expressed? I'm really not sure what that is exactly... but it sounds terrifying.
What is the purpose of expressing the anal glands?

Thanks everyone!

[JessLough]

If the anal glands are full and they are not expressed, they can burst and become infected. It is simple to do, but it stinks, so i prefer the vet doing it honestly. They can show you how to, though.

How old is your dog? Is he neutered?

[FalseImpression]

Originally Posted by JessLough

If the anal glands are full and they are not expressed, they can burst and become infected. It is simple to do, but it stinks, so i prefer the vet doing it honestly. They can show you how to, though.

How old is your dog? Is he neutered?

I heard only certain breeds need to have it done, like Spaniels.
I also heard that once you start doing it, it must be done routinely.
Is that correct?
He's a 2 year old, neutered Basenji mix.

[JessLough]

Originally Posted by FalseImpression

I heard only certain breeds need to have it done, like Spaniels.
I also heard that once you start doing it, it must be done routinely.
Is that correct?
He's a 2 year old, neutered Basenji mix.

Really, it is more of a individual dog thing than breed thing, although some breeds are more prone to needing to have it done. And again, needing it routinely is on a case by case basis.

It is not a scary procedure or anything, really they just squeeze it so the stuff comes out.

It does sound like that may be the issue, though.

[MafiaPrincess]

Some breeds are more prone to problems, often smaller breeds. Not usually spaniels. Overall Jess is correct. It's an individual problem rather than a breed as a whole. It could be a one time problem, or a life long one.

Anal glands can become infected or impacted and be unable to empty properly. If it's the first time, I'd have a vet be doing it to rule out a worse problem than just not emptying.