[Podcast 106] Natural Antibiotics for Dogs and Cats

In this podcast, I will be covering three important holistic antibacterial ingredients including: Colloidal silver, garlic, and Olive Leaf extract.

To start, Colloidal Silver: this is the term used to describe tiny particles of silver, suspended in liquid. With increased antibiotic resistance, Colloidal Silver has become more popular with modern Veterinarians.

So, how does it work? Research has suggested it attaches to proteins on cell walls of bacteria, allowing silver ions to come through and destroy the cell. The effect of colloidal silver depends on size of the particles, and the concentration of the liquid it’s suspended in. It can be used topically, orally, and in the eyes and ears.

For oral dosage, I recommend:

• For 10lbs and under, 1/8tsp
• 10lbs – 40lbs, 1/4tsp
• 50lbs – 80lbs, 1/2tsp
• 80lbs – 100lbs, 1tsp
• and anything over, you’ll give 1 – 1.5tsp – Give for 2-3 times a day, for 7-10 days.

For issues like eye infections, you can drop 1-2 drops of colloidal silver into the eye, 3 – 4 times/day, for 7 – 10 days. For issues such as ear infections, drop 5 drops into the ear, 2 times/day, for 7 – 10 days.

Next up, Olive Leaf Extract – Olive leaves have an array of health benefits. For pets, it’s an important antiviral and antibacterial. People from the Mediterranean have been using olive leaves for thousands of years. It contains Polyphenols, and it’s thought the health benefits are derived from this compound.

It’s been shown to lower body weight, raise metabolism and helps to lower risk of diabetes in animals and people. There has been many studies shown that olive leaf extract can help with boosting immune system, decrease cold symptoms, and more.

Standard dosage is 100mg/10lbs bodyweight 1 – 2 times daily, given for 7 – 10 days.

Lastly, Garlic. While many vets have not recommended giving pets garlic, and the SPCA has added it to their list of toxic foods, there is not much research to say that it is toxic for your pets. But it’s been shown to be a key anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-septic properties. Many alternative Veterinarians have been seeing the benefits of garlic in fungal diseases, heartworm disease, fleas, ticks, diabetes, allergies, and more.

Allicin is the active ingredient in garlic, and is only active when the garlic clove is crushed. Suggested dosage is:

• 10lbs -15lbs, 1/2 clove
• 20lbs – 40lbs, 1 clove
• 45lbs – 70lbs, 2 cloves
• 75lbs +, 2 1/2 cloves

You can also purchase Allicin in a capsule form, and the recommended dosage is 1mg/lb of bodyweight, twice daily.