With all studies and research being conducted to better the lives of our fur-babies, can you believe it that a spice we commonly use in our kitchen called Turmeric can make a world of difference in our dogs' lives? Yes, you heard that right and it's true! 

Is Turmeric good for dogs? In this article, we’ll find out if it really is. Here we'll be making an important discussion on how Turmeric can provide holistic benefits for your fur-baby. 

WHAT IS TURMERIC?

Turmeric is a spice that has a yellow-orange color, a member of the ginger family, and gives an earthy flavor. This spice has been used as a medicinal treatment for hundreds of years for humans, its benefits for dogs has only been discovered recently.  

According to Healthline, Turmeric contains compounds with medicinal properties. These compounds are called curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin.  

The most active ingredient of Turmeric is Curcumin. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and antifungal properties - all these can help ward off diseases and illnesses away from your dog. 

WAYS TURMERIC CAN BE GOOD FOR DOGS

Turmeric as an antioxidant. As mentioned, turmeric has great antioxidant properties. Turmeric fights off free radicals in your fur-baby's body. These free radicals may come from your dog's processes food, their polluted surroundings, and toxins in the environment. Turmeric, then, aids in slowing your fur-baby's aging process by helping your dog's cells to regenerate properly, and may even help in extending the years of you and your dog being together! Yes, a longer life for your pup! How awesome is that?

Turmeric as an anti-inflammatory. Inflammation does not only mean swelling and joint issues. In fact, inflammation can also mean your fur-baby has underlying health conditions like allergies, arthritis, diseases of the mouth, heart, kidney, and digestive system, among many others. Turmeric helps reduce inflammation, relieve pain & symptoms associated with certain diseases, and helps your fur-baby recover faster.  

• For the heart: Turmeric helps strengthen heart health and can be an exceptional help for dogs who are going through heart diseases. Another advantage of turmeric is that it's able to help lower down the bad cholesterol in your fur-baby's body and reduces the risks of any possible blood clots. 
• For the digestive system: Turmeric helps in managing effectively inflammatory bowel diseases in dogs and also other gastrointestinal issues that can occur in your fur-baby.  
• For the liver: Turmeric helps regulate the blood and process nutrients to be distributed throughout the body. It also helps the liver in breaking down fats and removing body wastes. 

Turmeric as a steroid alternative. Steroids are given to pets for emergencies, inflammation, allergic reactions, and cancer. Steroids help control inflammation and allergic reactions and help reduce pain. All steroid medications come with side effects and can be potentially dangerous to dogs when given in high doses. But studies have found out that Turmeric can also be as effective as steroids without harming your fur-baby. As a matter of fact, The American Cancer Society claims that curcumin interferes with cancer development, growth, and spread. Recently, curcumin has received a great deal of focus because of its ability to reduce tumor size and kill cancer cells.

CHOOSING THE BEST TURMERIC FOR YOUR DOG

Times of India stated that the noticeable thing is curcumin (the most active ingredient) only comprise a small part of turmeric. This is why taking in supplements is the best way to make sure the turmeric being ingested is the right amount, no more and no less. 

Treats are easy to give to your fur-baby and one of the easiest ways to give turmeric to your dog is through supplements. Giving it as a supplement is also the safest and the most recommended. This way, you know your fur-baby is getting the exact dosage of Turmeric and you know it's being used appropriately.