Turmeric rescue remedy for kennel cough
By Sari Huhtala
There is no shortage of research on the benefits of turmeric on human health, and animal health. So, when my then 13-year-old dog Kiko, a lab/vizsla cross, started sounding like an old man with croup I turned to this powerhouse spice for relief, that is, after I realized what was ailing him. A fellow dog lover on the forest trails overheard my dog coughing and informed me it was kennel cough – a non-serious condition that most dogs will recover from without treatment, according to Pet WebMD. Regardless, kennel cough sounds horrible and can’t be a pleasant experience for the dog either.
The solution? I mixed one eighth of a cup coconut oil with one eighth of a cup of organic turmeric powder to form a paste. Add about 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to the paste. Black pepper increases the potency of the curcumin. Turmeric is not easily absorbed, so adding a healthy fat will aid in absorption. I started slowly introducing about ¼ tsp a day (he ate it just like that) then increasing to about half teaspoon a day over the course of a week. The results were noticeable within 24 hours. The cough disappeared. Continue giving the remedy for about three weeks for full recovery. Or, continue turmeric as a daily health habit for your pet.
It’s a good idea to consult with your veterinarian beforehand, particularly if your pet has underlying health issues.
There are over 6,000 studies published on the benefits of curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric). It’s a potent anti-inflammatory, with antioxidants to help fight free radicals that lead to cell damage, has anti-cancer properties, helps with gastrointestinal issues, and is good preventative medicine.
In dogs with arthrosis, degeneration of cartilage due to aging, curcumin was found to be an affective dietary intervention for pain, according to a 2016 study in Research in Veterinary Science. A 2001 study in Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry revealed how daily turmeric given to dogs with ringworm effectively eliminated the ringworm within two weeks.
Sari Huhtala is the creator, publisher and editor of Alive and Fit Magazine. She has over 25 years experience in journalism, and is a mother of 3 adult children. She has spent over 20 years navigating a healthy path for her family, one health hack at a time, as a single mom feeding her kids healthy on a shoestring budget. She has over 15 years experience as a certified fitness specialist and personal trainer and over 10 years as a reiki practitioner. She has also studied shamanism, and holds wildcrafting foraging workshops.
