Can Dogs Eat Ginger?

The quick answer: Yes, dogs can safely eat ginger.

Ginger is a healthy and flavorful root that not only has a unique, strong taste, but also provides a number of health benefits to both dogs and people. 

Benefits of ginger

• Ginger is full of antioxidants and has been found to be effective when it comes to nausea and an upset stomach. Offer your dog a bit of ginger when she is feeling ill, or about 30 minutes before a car ride if she is prone to motion sickness. 
• This root is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can help relieve a dog’s joint pain and arthritis. 
• It is suggested that regular ginger consumption helps to prevent bloat, a life-threatening condition in dogs.
• Another potential application of ginger is the treatment of heartworm disease. One study of ginger treatment showed an 83-98% reduction in the concentration of heartworm larvae. 

How to feed ginger to dogs

Now that you’re sold on the health benefits of ginger, you may be wondering how you can safely give it to your dog. Ginger is available in several forms, including raw, powdered or capsuled, and in teas. All of these are safe for dogs, so long as ginger is the only ingredient. Here are some suggestions of how to give ginger to your dog:

• Add powdered or fresh ginger to homemade dog treat recipes
• Chop up fresh ginger and add it to your dog’s food
• Sprinkle some powdered ginger on your dog’s meals

Note: Large dogs (55+ pounds) should have no more than one teaspoon of ginger per day, and less for smaller dogs

Hazards of giving ginger to dogs

The biggest risk of ginger is when a dog consumes too much, which can cause gastrointestinal irritation. Additionally, ginger is a natural blood thinner, so be sure to consult with your vet before giving it to dogs with diabetes or known heart problems. Don’t give ginger to your dog before surgery.

Cooking for your dog with ginger

Try making homemade dog biscuits with fresh ginger as a special treat for your dog!

Ginger Dog Biscuits recipe from Chewy

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (or ½ tablespoon dried ginger)
• 2 tablespoons
• ½ cup applesauce (100% natural, with no artificial sweeteners)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Place the egg, honey, applesauce and grated ginger in a bowl and whisk together.
3. Add whole wheat flour and knead to form a dough. If the dough is too dry, add additional applesauce one tablespoon at a time. If the dough is too wet, add additional flour one tablespoon at a time.
4. On a lightly-floured table or chopping board, roll the dough to 3-5mm thick. Use your favorite cookie cutter to create treats and place them on the baking sheet.
5. Bake until the surface of the treats are golden brown, around 25 minutes.
6. Turn the oven off and allow the treats to cool inside the oven completely before removing.