food? I am reading "Raw Dog Food" by Carina Beth McDonald, and in it she recommends adding vinegar (don't remember off the top of my head which type) to your dog's diet. What is the benefit of this? I didn't see her reasoning when I was reading it (unless I missed it somehow)...
steve strom Webboard User Reg: 03-17-2006
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Probably apple cider vineger. I know it provides minerals and it can be an Alkalanizer to help balance ph. There may be other reasons I dont know about.
Apple cider vinegar is one of those things people get fanatical about.
If you do a quick google search, you'll see how many claims are attached to it.
There are definitely some benefits, like Steve said, it can help balance pH, but only externally.
Anything taken internally passes through the digestive tract, where stomach acids will increase or decrease as necessary to maintain proper pH balance.
Externally, apple cider vinegar can be fantastic for wiping out a dog's ears, and can also be added to bathwater to help with gunky, greasy skin in dogs with allergy problems. It basically acts as a non-irritating astringent, and a milder alternative to witch hazel.
As Alyssa said, some people are fanatical about apple cider vinegar. I've just started using it as an occassional hair rinse, and I had a friend who tried it and it has gotten rid of her dandruff and itchy scalp. It's supposedly full of vitamins and minerals. I had taken an herbal class once, and they were very much in favor of it; saying you should buy only the vinegar that has the cloudy particulates in it, called "mother," as it's supposed to be raw and the most nutritious.
You have to remember to use organic apple cider vinegar with the live "mother" in it. Not just the regular grocery store variety. I used to put it in my dogs veggie glop, but I've heard some people say they put it in their drinking water. I wasn't fanatical about it, but used it once in a while.
Reg: 08-29-2006
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I often use ACV as the final rinse when bathing my allergic dog. I also wipe him down with it on non-bath days. It leaves what little hair he has left incredibly soft and shiny. Also makes it easy to find him in the house...follow your nose.
This link has been posted before. Some of the claims seem a little far-fetched to me:
Howard Knauf Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2003
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A MWD handler friend of mine said they use it to stop dandruff, clean the ears, stop eye discharge and stop brittle, dry coat. Its given in food or water.
I have heard of raw-feeding folks who soak their dog's meat in apple cider vinegar for an hour to "kill off bacteria" - apparently to sterilize the meat somewhat without cooking. don't know how effective it is or if it is really necessary, but I guess if you are worried about bacteria, it's better than feeding cooked meat....
Acids can sterilize meat, it also denatures the protein like cooking does. There's a south American dish "ceviche" that is made by "cooking" entirely with a cold acidic marinade.
I imagine it ruins any active enzymes on the surface of the meat, which some people claim is a benefit of feeding raw.
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