Turmeric has a bright orange color, a peppery, slightly bitter taste, and massive health benefits for dogs.
As a superfood for dogs, turmeric can help reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and aid digestion. Turmeric also has natural anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties, which makes it helpful for treating conditions like arthritis and joint pain. And when used as a supplement, turmeric is also a great way to add flavor to your dog's food while providing them with important nutrients!
Are you curious about how this superfood can be incorporated into your dog's diet to supercharge their health? Great! Let's dig in.
Why is turmeric healthy for dogs?
Tumeric is a relatively small ingredient to add to your dogs diet. Really just a supplement. But it has some powerful benefits that are likely to help any dog.
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric and is responsible for its vibrant orange color. This powerful antioxidant is what gives tumeric its ability to help to protect your dog’s body from free radicals—molecules or atoms with an unpaired electron—which can cause damage to cells and contribute to the development of various diseases. Curcumin has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects, which can help to reduce pain and inflammation associated with conditions such as arthritis and joint pain. Curcumin has also been found to have a beneficial effect on skin health.
How can I include turmeric in my dog's diet?
This can be a little tricky. Because while curcumin is a truly incredible compound with great health benefits, on its own, it isn't absorbed very well by your dog's body. When you give turmeric as a supplement for your dog's diet, you'll need to feed it alongside other ingredients to make curcumin more bioavailable.
To improve the body's absorption and bioavailability of turmeric, you can feed a mixture of turmeric and some sort of fat or oil. Curcumin is fat soluble, which means it breaks down in fat (think about this as infusing a small amount of salmon oil with the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits of turmeric) making it much easier for your dog's body to absorb.
The best way to supplement your dog's diet with turmeric is to add it to their food alongside a little salmon oil and bone broth at dinner time. However, when turmeric is added to a meal, you should be careful to give the right amount for your dog’s weight. The typical daily usage of turmeric is 1/8 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon per 10 pounds. When just starting with this supplement, only use a little and slowly work your dosage up so you don't shock your dog's system and cause digestive upset.
Wrapping up
Turmeric is a spice that has many health benefits for dogs. It can help reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and aid digestion, among other great health benefits. When used as a supplement in your dog's diet, turmeric is an easy way to add flavor while providing important nutrients. To get the most out of turmeric, be sure to mix it with other ingredients that are high in fat to make it more bioavailable. Start with a small amount and work your way up, slowly incorporating it into your dog's diet. With turmeric in their life, your pup will be on the path to better health in no time!