Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs

Apple Cider Vinegar for dogs can treat ailments like hot spots, bladder infections, itchy skin and more - provided you combine it with a dose of sensibility.

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Browsing through Internet postings about the benefits of apple cider vinegar for dogs will likely give you pause. Some laud it as a wonder product for everything – including curing cancer! Then you find the naysayers, who cite the FDA’s stand that apple cider vinegar has no nutrients. Of course, you already realize the truth is somewhere between.

It won’t cure cancer, but some research shows it shrinking tumors. Apple cider vinegar will not cure diabetes, either, although it’s been shown to help with blood sugar control.

The FDA is correct: apple cider vinegar contains only trace amounts of vitamins and minerals, except potassium. ACV has 11 grams of potassium in a tablespoon. But despite not being packed with essential nutrients, ACV does have health benefits for people and animals. The strong antioxidant and antibacterial qualities of apple cider vinegar is enough reason to include it in your dog’s care regimen.

Apple cider vinegar is made from just apples and water, making it completely safe for dogs. It is slightly acidic, with a pH of 3.1 to 5, which gives it properties that can soothe a dog’s overly alkalized digestive tract. Add a teaspoon of ACV to your dog’s water bowl and see if he’ll drink it! (Explained in detail later.)

For topical use, create an apple cider vinegar rinse for after your dog’s bath, as a remedy for irritated skin or a dry coat (1 cup ACV per 2-4 cups water). It’s common for dogs to get yeast infections in their paws; soaking your dog’s paws in ACV will relieve that too. When diluted and added to a spray bottle, apple cider vinegar is a strong disinfectant and even works as a mild flea repellent. See more ways you can use apple cider vinegar for dogs below.

11 Ways Dog Lovers Can Use ACV

So, how much can apple cider vinegar benefit your dog? Quite a bit, actually, provided you are sensible about your expectations. Apple cider vinegar may help dogs with:

1. Itchy, flaking skin and dull coats

2. Relief from hot spots

3. Repelling fleas

4. Keeping a dog’s ears clean, lessening the chance of infection

5. Improving digestion by balancing pH levels in a dog’s body

6. Ridding itchy paws and skin of bacteria

7. Relieving muscle soreness in older or active dogs

8. Rinsing soap residue or offensive odors from your dog’s coat

9. Preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs)

10. Helping relieve bladder stones in dogs

11. Fighting yeast infections on dogs’ paws

12. Diluting pet stains and odors in the home

Apple cider vinegar is made from apples/apple pectin. All vinegars are made from a liquid containing sugar, so apple vinegar begins as water and apples. When exposed to air, yeasts can grow, which cause the sugar to ferment and become alcohol. As it continues to ferment, natural (or added) acetic acid bacteria turn the alcohol into acetic acid, which is the main component of vinegar. Acetic acid is what gives vinegar its taste, smell and benefits. The word “vinegar” means “sour wine”, and indeed, red wine vinegar is simply red wine that’s been acetified.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs: Proper Dosage

You’re familiar with apple cider vinegar as an ingredient in recipes, like salad dressings, dips, and drinks. It’s a healthy choice.

Although research on apple cider vinegar’s benefits is minimal, the test of time has made it a viable alternative for a number of everyday physical complaints and problems. Most experts agree that its documented human benefits also help dogs.

As is often the case, the exact dosage isn’t cast in stone, and you may need to experiment. Some people add it to food, at a rate of one teaspoon to one tablespoon for a 50-pound dog. Never feed straight apple cider vinegar. If you don’t see the desired benefit within 30 days of feeding apple cider vinegar, chances are it’s not working for that problem.

Many dog owners add it to the dog’s water bowl, but start with a small amount – a tablespoon in a big bowl of water, perhaps – and watch to make sure your dog still drinks the water readily before increasing the amount. However, when you add anything to water, be make sure you make a second bowl of plain water available, too. The last thing you want to do is curb your dog’s daily water intake.

That said, dogs who are used to the taste of apple cider vinegar in their water often find it easier to adjust to new water tastes, such as when traveling.

Apple cider vinegar helps digestion by increasing the stomach’s acid levels, which results in better absorption and fewer gastrointestinal symptoms like burps and gas. Apple cider vinegar promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the dog’s digestive tract. Some dog owners mix it into plain yogurt.

Research shows it lowers post-meal glucose levels in humans, and it can relieve constipation – of course, that means overdo it and you may face a messy outcome.

A dose of apple cider vinegar can help with minor bladder inflammation, too, but it won’t cure an actual urinary tract infection. That needs immediate veterinary attention.

Since apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties, mainly antibacterial, it may interrupt the development of some infections. Feeding it may help combat teary eye stains.

Be careful, though. You can feed too much apple cider vinegar. The first early symptom is usually vomiting. If you ignore that, you may eventually find increased tooth decay and decreased bone health. It can also irritate the mouth and linings of the esophagus.

ACV is a Safe, Reliable Disinfectant

Vinegar is a well-known cleaner and mild disinfectant. (Some people won’t use anything but white vinegar to clean their windows.) Apple cider vinegar’s cleansing and disinfecting qualities can be good for your dog, too. (If you’ve never used it before or your dog is the “sensitive” sort, do a 24-hour spot test before applying it to the dog’s entire body. Signs of allergy would include vomiting, reddish skin, and/or itching and scratching.)

Diluted 50-50 with water and applied using a sprayer or a sponge, an apple cider vinegar rinse will remove leftover soap residue after a bath, help alleviate dandruff and itchy skin and leave the coat shiny and soft. To use it as a dandruff preventative, rub the diluted solution into the dog’s skin just prior to giving him a bath (never do this without having done the 24-hour spot test), then wash it off in the bath.

If you’re like most of us, and prefer to minimize your dog’s exposure to chemicals, apple cider vinegar might be the answer for a natural flea and/or flying insect repellent. While it’s not the answer for a flea infestation, it does a good job combatting small incidences, such as added protection on a walk during heavy bug season.

Apple cider vinegar has a cooling sensation, making it a good choice for small topical problems, like burns, bruises, and hot spots. Be careful, though. If the wound is at all open or raw, apple cider vinegar will sting!

It’s especially useful to minimize itchy feet and ears. Thoroughly soak the dog’s paws in a vinegar-water mix. Use cotton swab or gauze pads soaked in the mixture to clean ears.

A massage with a diluted ACV mix will go a long way toward relieving strained muscles from overactivity. Warm the solution slightly for added benefit.

Although you may read articles to the contrary, apple cider vinegar is not a strong choice for treating lice, fungus, warts, or ear infections. Your best bet in these situations is veterinary attention!

Since ACV is a great deodorizer and safe for your dog, you can use it to disinfect dog toys and bedding. Spray it anywhere you need odor control and/or a gentle disinfectant.

What Kind of Vinegar is Best for Dogs?

Like most things nowadays, the choices for vinegar border on over-whelming. You’ll see words like raw, natural, unpasteurized, organic, and unfiltered. There are also white vinegars, balsamic vinegars, and wine vinegars. We’re looking at apple cider vinegar, which is usually an amber color (light or dark) and made from apples.

For health uses, choose raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, preferably in a glass bottle. Why?

“Raw” or “unfiltered” apple cider has the “mother” in it, which is the name of the brown stuff at the bottom of the bottle. These are fermentation leftovers, and they include all the good live bacteria and enzymes that give the product its health benefits. Of course, if you’re using this vinegar for cleaning, you want to strain this out before you use it. (Can’t stand the look of the debris in the bottom? Then look for “filtered” apple cider vinegar, which was strained to remove the debris.)

“Unpasteurized” is recommended because the process of pasteurization – a heat process – can kill the good bacteria we want. If you’re willing to spend the extra buck or two, choose an organic apple cider vinegar. No reason not to avoid pesticides when you can, especially if your dog is going to eat the product.

Glass containers do not pose the risk (as plastic bottles can) of harmful chemicals leaching into the product.

Apple Cider Vinegar Controversy

In a past Whole Dog Journal article, we discussed some of controversies surrounding apple cider vinegar.

Not everyone agrees that apple cider vinegar should be given to dogs. Pat McKay, canine nutritionist and author of the natural diet book, Reigning Cats and Dogs, doesn’t like cider vinegar, and she doesn’t mince words; she calls it poison.

“I believe Peter J. D’Amado is on the right track in his book, Eat Right for Your Type,” she says. “Each of the human blood types has an ideal diet, and the diet recommended for type O most closely resembles the meat-based diet on which dogs evolved. D’Amado warns that cider vinegar is very damaging to this type, and I agree with him. I happen to be a type O, and apple cider vinegar has always made me feel miserable. I never knew why until I read his book. I believe dogs have a similar reaction because even small quantities of vinegar can throw their bodies’ pH out of balance.”

Marina Zacharias, pet nutritionist and publisher of Natural Rearing newsletter, shares McKay’s concern about pH levels. She recommends that owners have their dogs’ blood and urine tested before adding cider vinegar to their daily diet.

“If a dog’s system is too alkaline,” she says, “cider vinegar will help, but by itself it may not correct the problem and the dog will need additional support. If the dog’s system is too acidic, which is a condition called acidosis, the result can be stress on the pancreas and adrenal organs, which are important regulators of blood pH levels. The symptoms of acidosis range from diarrhea or constipation to low blood pressure, hard stools, and sensitivity of the teeth and mouth. Often we see acidosis in combination with other conditions, such as kidney, liver, and adrenal problems. In certain cases, adding vinegar to a dog’s food could aggravate an already-existing problem in the body.”

Are adverse side effects likely? If a dog is allergic to vinegar, he might vomit, scratch furiously, or have a similarly obvious reaction. Although there is much debate on this issue, some believe that vinegar may worsen chronic ear infections. Long term use of ACV on dogs who are sensitive to it has been associated with tooth decay and bone deterioration. Too much could also inflame a dog’s mouth and esophagus.

“You have to apply common sense,” says Sue Ann Lesser, D.V.M. “Most dogs are notoriously over-alkaline, and cider vinegar will help them. If a dog’s system is overly acidic, you’ll see clinical signs, such as obvious symptoms of illness. I know quite a few dogs that take cider vinegar according to the directions in Wendy Volhard’s book, and I don’t know of any that have had bad results.”

In her book The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog, author Wendy Volhard recommends using pH paper strips to check the dog’s first morning urine. “If it reads anywhere from 6.2 to 6.5, your dog’s system is exactly where it should be,” and no ACV is needed, she says. “But if it is 7.5 or higher, the diet you are feeding is too alkaline, and apple cider vinegar will reestablish the correct balance.”

Volhard recommends one teaspoon to one tablespoon twice daily for a 50-pound dog.

Cynthia Foley is a freelance writer in upstate New York. She competes with her Papillons in dog agility.

83 COMMENTS

  1. My poor dog has severe skin allergies. He also suffers from yeast on his skin. I’ve read about ACV so after trying literally everything to help him I thought “what can it hurt”. After two days of spraying him down with the 50/50 mixture and just letting it dry..I’ve noticed hes not itching hardly at all! I’m so thankful and relieved I can’t even explain ! Thank God we finally found something to help him!

  2. That’s ridiculous dogs don’t have nerve endings in their skin like humans. One time my dog was on the chain for a couple hours and he had his whole chest and neck just raw from pulling. I cleaned it all up with alcohol pads I had in my purse. It was oozing everywhere from the plasma leaking out.it was dried up and healed in less than 24 hours!. He didn’t flinch when I cleaned it up,because they don’t have those kind of nerve endings like humans SMH I don’t know who wrote this article but maybe they should have consulted a veterinarian before they posted. Maybe it should have been proof read by a vet tech?perhaps they would have caught that sentence.

  3. First of all Mimi your shouldnt have left your dog on a chain so long he had his chest and neck raw from pulling, you should have taken him off the chain one you saw he was not content and hurting himself and second dogs do feel pain from things that are put on them, you should never have used alcohol on a raw wound that was a cruel and mean thing to do.

  4. Well I am using a 50/50 mixture of the Braggs organic vinegar with the mother in it on my little Rat Terrier dog because he is licking and chewing his little legs very raw. Tonite was the 2nd time I’ve used it. I see his little legs and feet are not as raw looking, and then I put Bag Balm on the worst places. So far the e seems better. If it does no ot clear him up it will be off to the vets. Wish me luck, and my little Jack Rat!

  5. I have taken a teaspoon of Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and put it in my dog’s bowl of water. It’s made from fermented apple’s and water. It doesn’t hurt them. USE COMMON SENSE. I do that once a month for 3 days. It helps constipation and helps with diarrhea.

  6. Hi there. I have a great dane who has raw spots in the backs of her paws from licking. My question is, how long do you soak the paws for? It’s not easy getting her paws into the solution in the first place! Thanks.

    • After I read your comment I was picturing, you know a dog wearing booties for the first time and they so that ‘walk’, but I imagined a great Dane doing it with Ziploc baggies full of acv mixture as the booties!
      What I’ve read seems to say just wet/spray/dab it, and then just let it dry on its own. Once it’s dry I’d run some coconut oil all over their laws too, in between the toes and all.

  7. Anyone notice the inaccuracies in this article? Funny how it was written in 2017 and recently updated. 11 grams of potassium in a tablespoon of ACV??? That would be eleven thousand milligrams. A webazine article like this is what gives the internet a bad reputation. Even after a year this wasnt corrected; why would I keep reading articles on this site? Web md contradicts some of the statements in this article as well.

  8. What is the appropriate amount of diluted vinegar to put into dirty dogs ears?
    Also, I agree. Mimi should be chained until her neck bleeds, then a whole very large bottle of alcohol thrown at her. What the F—-. How can any dog lover believe that dogs don’t have feelings as well as a giant spirit

  9. Mimi or whatever your real name is …are you human….do you know what makes us different from animals .?.. conscience…the sense of right and wrong…you don’t deserve to own a dog….chaining up and torturing a dog ….do you even know how much it stings when raw alcoholism poured on a fresh wound…??..dogs are man’s best friend …they are the ones who protected us and our belongings against other predators and wild animals when we humans were still dressed in animal skins..without them …who knows …we wouldn’t have been able to evolve more than any living creature on Earth and we all would have been still living in caves preyed on by animals…..so respect the dogs….

  10. Use a leather collar which is warmer and kinder to the neck area and may not cause the skin soreness
    Some people do not understand that some pets have to be left whilst owners go to work
    I do hope that the skin has healed I am reading about the wonderful apple cider vinegar so beneficial for the dogs coat mix 50/50 with water and spray onto fur and paws apparently Apple Cider Vinegar has microbial properties as well as antibacterial and antifungal kills yeast growth

    • People that work with dogs in the house will go as far as to get someone to help out to walk visit and play even have an internet service you can find people in your neighborhood there’s no need to chain a dog up while you work. Even if you can’t afford that no need to leave chained while at work. I work my husband work we don’t chain our dog up with a leather collar and pour alcohol on her neck.. I have many dogs in my neighborhood I have never seen a dog chained up I stand outside with my dog put her on a lead if she’s getting agitated and barking she comes inside immediately I babysit my dog like I would a child everyone should always see to check on their dogs there’s no way you cannot hear your dog barking like crazy nor should you ever chain a dog up if you cannot get to them immediately because you have no idea why they are barking that bad someone could be trying to hurt them trying to get to you that’s the point of barking is to alert you and or someone if you happen to have a dog that barks at the wind then you are a supervisor dog if the Barking gets out of control or remotely begins to get out of control you don’t leave them. They should be brought in the house. My lab likes to bark as soon as I turn my back if she decides to bark out of control it’s usually if she sees mail trucks things of that nature so I go out and I immediately bring her in I don’t leave her there to bark or if I can I will sit with her so she doesn’t sit there and bark

      • Your stupid… my basset hound barks for hours in the house with her cushioned bed because she has separation anxiety. If she goes potty in the house then she goes potty in the house and we shampoo right away. We don’t leave the dog chained up but people can still call the police if she barks longer then 20 mins. Sometimes you can’t win. Mimi prolly didn’t pick the best collar to tie up the dog and was uneducated on how to take care of the wound but I do not think people who tie up their dogs while they go to work and weather isn’t too bad doesn’t make people bad dog owners. That’s just judgemental bull crap.

    • Wrong, better think about getting a dog if you and your spouse both work. I don’t think that’s fair to the dog. Isn’t the reason to have a dog for companionship? Why bring a dog home just to leave him/her alone?

    • One of the effects if u are using to much is vomiting so cut it back… we have 2 Saint Bernards and a Cane Corso they get 3-4 tsp of ACV in their 5 gallon water bucket daily ( replenished with every other water change which is often due to slobber)… no vomiting no ill effects they look great potty great, no vomiting … we have about 650 pounds of dogs combined….

  11. I can handle acv myself, but it honestly is strong/nasty tasting. dh can’t stand it. does it d them from drinking water? they drink around 3 big bowls a day. (share 1 bowl). I will try a little tomorrow. health benefits for us tremendous so I don’t see why it wouldn’t be for my doghters! 🐶

  12. My cockerapaniel had a bad case of lip fold. Vet gave me so many things to use with no avail. I read about apple cider vinegar diluted 50/50. Wow 3 days and cleared up and hasn’t returned. Spent so many $ and such a simple solution

  13. My vet said my German Shepherd Dog had skin allergies and to use oatmeal shampoo on her. This made her 1,000 times itchier.I couldn’t find anything (no matter the cost) that worked for her, so I decided to try what I use on my own hair. Ion Moisture Shampoo. I follow it up with the conditioner and leave in spray conditioner. Her coat is always super soft and fluffy.

    With the dry winter air however, I’ve notice her itching like crazy the last couple of days. This morning when I got up she had a small bloody spot on her head from scratching. Straight to the bath for a deep conditioning, followed by this acv mixture! This seems to be working so far, even if she seems bewildered by smelling like my favorite snack that she likes to beg for. I hope this works for her.

  14. Dogs do NOT have an overly alkalized digestive tract. Where are you coming up with that? It’s most acidic (during digestion) the dog’s gut can reach below pH1. 0, equivalent to car battery acid

  15. Was wanting to see if you guys have any home remedies that work. I noticed my 8 month old pitbull Ace’s left ear was very red and hot to the touch and at the same time notice his hair around his eyes and mouth are falling out. I just got him fixed so I ask the vet to look at these 2 things while he was there im on disability and can’t afford to much. Well got him home and noticed on the paper work they didn’t do what I asked. So they supposed to have done it when I had to get his procedure checked out. Do to Clovis I had to wait in my car. The vet calls me and says my dog needs some flea med for almost 80 bucks. I asked him if this would fix both problems but couldn’t get a true yes or no. We pet lovers know if are pets have fleas. My dog doesn’t im positive. Any suggestions guys would really appreciate any feedback. Sorry so long. And that lady that tied up her dog to where the chest was oozing 1st should never have a pet and 2nd for it to be that bad it had been let go for a lot longer than a couple of days that’s B.S

  16. I used ACV to dissolve stones in my rescue dog. She came to me in a terrible condition, peeing blood, starved, ears filthy and infected.
    My vet said she’d have to have surgery to remove the bladder stones and have to eat a special low protein diet.
    After doing my own research I decided to treat her naturally and see what happened.
    I fed her a raw barf diet and gave her half a teaspoon of ACV in her food twice a day.
    No surgery. Stones completely dissolved. My vet couldn’t and won’t believe it.
    I now give each of my 3 dogs half a teaspoon once a day in ther food. No problems.

  17. My dog med. size has what I am assuming are hot spots..small random slightly red bumps on his skin that he does tend to ich more than normal now I think of it over the past weeks.. pluss he has dandruff on lower back end. What made me do detective work on this mainly was that the past couple weeks I was smelling a not so go certain sorta doggy order hes had from symptoms new to myself on my pet showing up. So I have him on a even better dog food and hope that staying on the same brand now on will help. My ? Is when doing the 50 50 h2o and ACV is it okay to as long as he is clean to let this spray dry on him if I light spray the aera and massage it in sorta like a leave in conditioner to his already dried coat or does it have to be rinsed off of him after use?

  18. My yorkie jack Russell has been suffering from yeast on skin paws and ears. Did some research and its especially the dry dog food that we feed them. It causes yeast to take over the body. I’ve taken her to vet 3 times. The medicine clears it up but it always comes back. I changed her to a raw/undercooked diet and going to try the acv to see the change.

  19. You can put up a CHAIN FENCE for less then 100 bucks from home depot /lowes/Walmart even, and make a area for your dog, or find them a better home!!! IF I EVER SEE YOUR DOG that way i will take it from you!!! With our without your ok!!! I’ve done this many times already, they don’t deserve that build ten an area, even if it’s small its better then a chain being embedded into there neck, and alcohol isn’t reasonable either!! They make triple antibiotic ointment for dogs only that’s needed!! Do the right thing and find another home for that animal before someone like me sees it!!!

  20. Oily skin may be a sign of allergies. So can red, irritation or itching of ears and eyes. Diana pawPrints has seasonal allergies and I use a chlorhexadine shampoo during allergy season. From once a week to once a month, depending. She also gets Benedryl twice a day, per her weight to control the histamines. This year (2023) she has done great and no vet visits.

    Apple cider vinegar has plenty of benefits. You can make a “shrub” with it by putting fruit in it for a few days. People used to drink that before there were beverages like soda. It was also a way to use fruit before it spoiled.

    Since ACV is not toxic, I see no reason dogs can’t have it. Moderation as in all things. Whether they are having a little externally in their food or water or a dilution is sprayed on them, it’s a do no harm thing. And if it works for what ails them, great.

    Ignore Mimi. A troll wanting attention by stirring the pot. So don’t take the bait. Shunning is the worst punishment.

  21. My cats eyes became pink rimmed. In order to stave off a possible infection, viral/bacterial, I miixed one tablespoon of white vinegar and two tablespoons of water and with a cotton ball dripped some of it between her shoulder blades. About an hour later, the pink rimming was gone.