Apple cider vinegar is making its way into pet foods and treats. It has been a home remedy for decades, if not centuries, for all sorts of personal maladies, but that has primarily been for people. Not too surprisingly, these benefits are being conferred to pets. Some claims may have validity and others may be misdirected. What do we know about apple cider vinegar in pet food applications?
As one might guess, there are no direct studies reported in the peer-reviewed scientific literature regarding apple cider vinegar for application to dog or cat diets. Most of the information on blogs and pet health websites are anecdotal at best. Conversely, there are many works published involving humans, rats and poultry. Apple cider vinegar has been reported to help control obesity, aid triglyceride and cholesterol metabolism, and help manage diabetes and post-prandial glucose levels. There are reports that it may have cardiovascular effects, impact blood pressure, reduce tumor development, possess anti-inflammatory effects and possibly reduce stress. It most certainly has antimicrobial effects and has been used as such for centuries to stabilize foods in various forms of pickling. That’s a lot of roles for a single ingredient.
