Can dogs eat vinegar? Veterinarian-approved nutritional facts and information – Dogster

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The history of vinegar and its many uses goes back thousands of years. Some evidence suggests that the Babylonians were using it as early as 5000 BC. The discovery of vinegar may have happened by chance in spoiled wine. After all, the word “vinegar” comes from the Old French words “vyn” and “egre,” meaning “sour wine.” In the presence of oxygen, ethanol turns into acetic acid and water, with bacteria helping to do the work.

People have made vinegar from different sources and flavors. But no matter how delicious we find it, We recommend not giving it to your dog for several reasons. A small splash or two of apple cider vinegar may not make your dog sick, but too much at once can certainly cause health problems. Even though people have been using it medicinally for centuries, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will have health benefits for your pup. There is no scientific evidence for dogs. While there is compelling evidence for humans, more research is needed on pets.

The science of vinegar consumption

Let’s look at the status of vinegar from a scientific point of view. Stories or anecdotes are the weakest form of evidence, so we need to look at the facts. Vinegar is acidic due to its high acid content. Its pH is around 2.4. For comparison, Coca-Cola Classic has a pH of around 2.37.

There is a lot of research on the purported benefits of apple cider vinegar for humans. One study supported claims of its antimicrobial effects. Another study found evidence of possible benefits for blood lipids and fasting blood sugar levels. And yet another study suggested its use in people with type 2 diabetes. However, all of this data is based solely on humans, and each study also recommended further studies to confirm the claims.

Why shouldn’t dogs eat vinegar?

The acidity of vinegar is one of the main reasons why we advise against giving it to your dog. The products available on the market are diluted to an acetic acid concentration between 4% and 18%.¹ Even in this form, it still has an acidic pH. Giving vinegar to your pet can cause gastrointestinal problems as well as irritation of the mouth and throat.

From a nutritional perspective, vinegar doesn’t have much to offer your dog. It contains only small amounts of minerals. We also can’t say whether it would improve the palatability of your pet’s food. Remember that dogs have a keen sense of smell. Some dogs may be put off by the strange smell they detect when you put vinegar in their water. You certainly don’t want to discourage them from consuming it.

Balsamic, red wine, white wine and champagne vinegars

Grapes are the basis of some vinegar products. Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs, although the exact metabolic pathway is unclear. The scientific literature also provides varying degrees of sensitivity, with some pets being more tolerant than others. Although there have been no reports of vinegar poisoning, we believe that for safety reasons it is best to remove this vinegar from your dog’s diet.

Ethanol

Ethanol is the base of vinegar, which is also toxic to pets. Granted, the alcohol percentage is probably not very high. It may be less than 2%. It also varies depending on the source. However, manufacturers are not required to disclose the concentration, so the vinegar may still contain residual alcohol, which raises further red flags since dogs are very sensitive to alcohol.

Negative signs associated with vinegar consumption

We’d be remiss if we didn’t cover all the bases. Feeding pets human food is always a problem. While dogs have adapted to digest glucose and starch, we can’t say the same for acidic substances.