Garlic is an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-parasite, anti-cancer, antioxidant, blood thinning, cardiovascular supporting herb with known uses for millennium. It’s gotten such a bad rap, as have many other foods, due to misinformation to make it sound dangerous.
I’ve asked many a vet if they have ever seen and diagnosed a garlic poisoning and have yet to find one!
I, like many holistic and herbal vets, have used garlic in my practice for decades without any problems and I find it's ability to prevent parasites amazing. I love it for my patients with cardiac issues in the Heart Health formula created by Greg Tillford, a brilliant dog herbalist I trust completely. I didn't realize how helpful it was for blood pressure regulation until I found this formula.
Including garlic in Heart Health formula helps to regulate blood pressure, reduce oxidative stress, act as an anti-inflammatory and to reduce cholesterol - just to name a few of its more specific benefits to heart health.
Don’t be afraid of garlic unless your dog has a super, super sensitive tummy. In Chinese medicine, garlic is considered a "hot" herb, so it can create heat in the stomach and the body. Some dogs might be very sensitive to this heat and get an upset tummy. But, clearly, that is an easy fix.
Otherwise, garlic is totally safe and a wonderful herb, food and medicine!!
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1 comment
Priscilla Dressen, DVM, CVA
Hi Dee, I am good friends with Greg Tilford, and have used garlic for many, many years also in my practice. I love his forumlas.
I thought you might apprecite my story. I was attending our annual Colorado VMA conference. In a room of about 500 people, I raised my hand to the national USDA Veterinarian as to the toxicity of garlic. This was about 15 years ago and most of my colleagues were not happy whenever my clients told them I used garlic. I thought I’d take the opportunity to ask the question to an esteemed Veterinarian and for all to hear. His answer was yes it could cause them to vomit, but only if they ate a whole bucket at a time.
You may correct me if I am wrong, but I believe their similarity to onions created the misconseption that garlic is toxic. But in fact, it may be due to lack of documented studies. I can testify that my patients have used garlic for over 20 years with great success.
Thank you for sharing your experience,
Priscilla Dressen, DVM
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Dr Dee Blanco replied:
Hello Dr Dressen!
Thank you so, so much for your confirmation in clinical practice about the wonderful value of garlic for our pets! It’s always nice to hear from other folks about their experiences.
And yes, I love Animal Essentials’ formulas for many decades when he and his former wife Mary first started the line.
I’m so glad you were able to ask the question to one of the vets who would be able to give you an answer that wasn’t jaded by nonsense from the internet! This is still going to be a constant effort for us to help re-educate people about the value of garlic and the super low (if any!!) toxicity to this wonderful food.
People should really be worrying much, much more about the toxicities of the horrible pesticides they put on their animals or give orally to them!
Thank you for your comments and wonderful work as veterinarian with extended training!

Hi Dee, I am good friends with Greg Tilford, and have used garlic for many, many years also in my practice. I love his forumlas.
I thought you might apprecite my story. I was attending our annual Colorado VMA conference. In a room of about 500 people, I raised my hand to the national USDA Veterinarian as to the toxicity of garlic. This was about 15 years ago and most of my colleagues were not happy whenever my clients told them I used garlic. I thought I’d take the opportunity to ask the question to an esteemed Veterinarian and for all to hear. His answer was yes it could cause them to vomit, but only if they ate a whole bucket at a time.
You may correct me if I am wrong, but I believe their similarity to onions created the misconseption that garlic is toxic. But in fact, it may be due to lack of documented studies. I can testify that my patients have used garlic for over 20 years with great success.
Thank you for sharing your experience,
Priscilla Dressen, DVM
———
Dr Dee Blanco replied:
Hello Dr Dressen!
Thank you so, so much for your confirmation in clinical practice about the wonderful value of garlic for our pets! It’s always nice to hear from other folks about their experiences.
And yes, I love Animal Essentials’ formulas for many decades when he and his former wife Mary first started the line.
I’m so glad you were able to ask the question to one of the vets who would be able to give you an answer that wasn’t jaded by nonsense from the internet! This is still going to be a constant effort for us to help re-educate people about the value of garlic and the super low (if any!!) toxicity to this wonderful food.
People should really be worrying much, much more about the toxicities of the horrible pesticides they put on their animals or give orally to them!
Thank you for your comments and wonderful work as veterinarian with extended training!