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Dover Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-25-09 06:01 AM
Original message
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Pet Health

I just went on a scavenger hunt looking for articles on turmeric's use for pets and these
are the results. If anyone has more to add, please do:


Can Turmeric (Curcuma longa) be used in dogs?

Answer:

Hi – thanks for your email. You wrote asking if Turmeric (Curcuma longa) be used in dogs? Turmeric is a common spice related to the ginger family. It is native to Asia and commonly used in Asian cooking. The correct term is Turmeric and is commonly misspelled as Tumeric.

It has multiple culinary, dye, cosmetics, gardening and medicinal uses. It is touted to have anti-inflammatory and possibly anti-tumor properties. There has been renewed interest in Turmeric as there is hope that is has come benefit in treating humans with breast cancer, pain, diabetes, and other inflammatory diseases.

Some believe there is similar hope and uses for dogs and cats Some believe it may also improve inflammatory diseases in dogs such as inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. Some also believe there is some benefit for cancer and diabetes.

The reported dose is approximately 1/8 to ¼ of a teaspoon pet 10 pounds of body weight.

Please check with your veterinarian before giving Turmeric to your pet.

Best of luck!

Dr. Jon Rappaport

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Curcumin, from the Indian spice turmeric, is another supplement used frequently as it inhibits tumor growth and metastasis and tends to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. The dosage is typically 15 to 20 mg per pound of body weight daily (150 – 200 mg for cats, increasing appropriately for larger animals).

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A list and explanation of some clinical trials
http://www.globinmed.com/IMRContent/safetyDetail.aspx?id=SAF00016


Product Resources:
http://n2.nabble.com/tumeric-extract-for-dogs-f3341854.html


Turmeric mentioned as a helpful Ayervedic in flea treatment:
http://www.pets.ayurvediccure.com/fleas.htm


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I add turmeric to lukewarm goat's milk, which all my animals seem to love. Supposedly milk is a good delivery system (as a fat) for turmeric. I drink it too! (See Turmeric articles posted in the Health Forum for human recipes). http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=222&topic_id=41476&mesg_id=41476

I found this on goats milk in general:

Goat's Milk For Your Felines

Orphans: To raise an orphan, first find some goat milk - the fresher the better - to use as the replacement for mother's milk. Goat milk is high in butterfat content, and is infinitely better to use than those powdered replacements found in stores, and miles ahead of cow's milk. This applies for human babies, as well. Many a colicky baby has had their stomach soothed with goat milk.....and goat milk is usually easily used by those considered lactose-intolerant. Goat milk can be found in your health food store, and often in your grocery store, but the very best source is of course directly from the goat. Find a dairy goat farmer in your area. The prices will be better, too! We have raised everything from puppies and kittens to colts and calves on goat's milk, and have observed or experienced none of the weight-gain problems or vitamin deficiency or immune deficiencies that occur often when using substitutes.

Remember to feed the milk warmed. For puppies and kittens, it is often helpful to rub the face and anal area with a warm swab, to stimulate their system, much as the mother does after the baby feeds from her. Once per day, add a little Spirulina (powdered) to the milk. It boosts the immune system, so needed in orphaned babies, and provides many necessary vitamins and nutrients.
http://www.manataka.org/page1248.html





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Dover Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-25-09 09:57 AM
Response to Original message
1. Some more articles
Sorry that first link above doesn't seem to work (probably due to a need to register) and I can't recall how I accessed it to begin with. The following are some clinical studies on animals in veterinary medicine. Unless you're a vet/doctor, then it's not an easy read, but you can pick up
the general results.

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A Strong Antioxidant ,the active constituent in turmeric is known as curcumin. It has been shown to have a wide range of therapeutic actions. It protects against free radical damage because it is a strong antioxidant. An antioxidant is a substance (such as vitamin E, vitamin C) thought to protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation. It reduces inflammation by lowering histamine levels and possibly by increasing production of natural cortisone by the adrenal glands. Curcumin seems to have a protective effect on liver tissue exposed to toxic compounds like liver-damaging drugs. There are also test-tube studies showing inhibition of metastasis (uncontrolled spread) of melanoma (skin cancer) cells or lymphoma tumor cells. This may be attributed to its antioxidant activity in the body. Animal studies from Rutgers have shown a possible use in prevention of tumor development, as well.

Turmeric is now being found in blends that help support joint issues with animals. It combines beautifully with Sarsaparilla. Its other properties are antifungal, astringing and blood cleansing. It helps to stimulate bile production, thereby strengthening liver function. A preliminary trial in people with rheumatoid arthritis found curcumin to be somewhat useful for reducing inflammation and symptoms such as pain and stiffness. In animals, turmeric may be administered orally, and may help to protect against ulcers caused by irritating drugs or chemicals.

Used in the recommended amounts, turmeric is generally safe. However, at high doses or with prolonged use, turmeric may actually irritate or upset the stomach. It has been used in large quantities as a condiment with no adverse reactions. Some herbal books recommend not taking high amounts of turmeric during pregnancy as it may cause uterine contractions.

http://www.holistichorse.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=470:turmeric-curcuma-longa-&catid=72:herb-blurb&Itemid=122


Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Rhizome Paste and Honey Show Similar Wound Healing Potential: A Preclinical Study in Rabbits

The potential efficacy of fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) paste to heal wounds was tested in a preclinical study in an animal model. Turmeric paste was comparedwith honey as a topicalmedicament against a control on experimentally created full-thickness circular wounds in 18 rabbits (Oryctolagous cuniculus). Wound healing was assessed on the basis of physical, histomorphological, and histochemical parameters on treatment days 0, 3, 7, and 14. Only tensile strength was measured on day 14 of treatment. It was observed that the wound healing was statistically significantly faster (P < .01) in both treatment groups compared to the control group.



Histopathological Changes in the Livers of Broiler Chicken ...
http://www.pjbs.org/ijps/fin206.pdf


Effects of garlic, turmeric and betel leaf against gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle
http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BJVM/article/viewArticle/1349


Research Update:Curcumae Longae.Curcuma longa.
http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/new088research.html


Several mentions of animal studies for treatment for various human conditions:
http://www.drugs.com/npp/turmeric.html
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Lorien Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-26-09 11:55 PM
Response to Original message
2. I take it myself
I really helps with the swelling if you have a traumatic injury.
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Dover Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-01-09 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Hi Lorien. Me too!
For that and all the other health benefits.

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glinda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-06-09 01:02 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. So do you buy it from co-ops? What is the best way to purchase it?
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Dover Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-06-09 03:48 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. Well, there are many good sources, some of which got mentioned in this thread >
Edited on Sun Sep-06-09 04:15 PM by Dover
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=222&topic_id=41476

I don't know why your local coop wouldn't be an excellent source as well, though I've personally
never seen it sold locally in bulk. I've only seen it sold in bags/jars for the powder (usually in the spice aisle) and tablet/capsule form (in the pharmacy/supplement area). And some asian grocers and farmers markets have the actual raw root available.

I buy turmeric in powder and tablet form from Organic India. It's a good idea to store the
turmeric powder out of light and refrigerated if possible. I sprinkle this both on my own food
and in the animal's food. (Same thing with ground flax seed).

I also take a couple of tablets daily of a mixture of Turmeric, Ginger and Boswellia. But just plain turmeric (or Curcumin) tablets are good as well. The combinations and amount just depends on whether you are taking it for something specific or just for general health maintenance. My animals don't have any specific symptoms so I'm just using it as maintenance/prevention for them. I have occassionally put it on their boo-boos like a cut, which seems to help quite a bit to increase healing while protecting the sore like an antibiotic.
The more I use and learn about Turmeric the more convinced I am about its multiple protective health benefits from cuts to cancer. I think if Pharmaceutical companies could patent it we'd see much more research done. They tried to do just that. Thank goodness they failed or the costs would skyrocket and it would be much harder to obtain.

It's one of those supplements, like milk thistle, that has been a tried and true source for many other cultures for centuries with well known results. (Milk thistle has a remarkable track record for healing the liver, among others things).

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BrklynLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-16-09 11:40 PM
Response to Original message
6. I give my dog Turmeric + Bromelain capsules that I get at The Vitamin Shoppe.
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Dover Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-17-09 12:39 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. Are you using it to help treat something or using it as a preventative/maintenance?
And have you noticed any effects?
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BrklynLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-17-09 07:05 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. Preventative.. No side effects
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