Garlic, Onions and Susceptibility to Toxicity for Dogs and Cats

[Dr. Jean Hofve]

Tamari is made from soy, which unless organic is GMO. I wouldn't worry about the amount of sodium in a few drops. The "medical" concerns about sodium are vastly overstated. Salt may improve taste and hence appetite, which are way more important for a sick kitty.

I disagree about the garlic, personally I wouldn't feed it. Maybe I missed it but why do you want to? It contains a lot of nutrients but they can be gotten in a safer way. IMO of course!

 

[wholecat]

Tamari is made from soy, which unless organic is GMO. I wouldn't worry about the amount of sodium in a few drops. The "medical" concerns about sodium are vastly overstated. Salt may improve taste and hence appetite, which are way more important for a sick kitty.

The San-J brand does not say the soybeans are organic, but lists on the front label that it is non-GMO. I haven't heard much of that take on sodium before, but I can understand that is probably the general conventional/medical view on it. Is your view more reflective of the "general" homeopathic view of sodium, even given that each of you may hold unique perspectives within the homeopathic school? Trying to get a handle on the whole general homeopathic view of health. Sometimes I think I am understanding some of it, then I fall back to the conventional view of illness and treatment, then try to understand again.

With my kitty, appetite is typically not an issue even with the food sensitivities, amazingly enough, but if it tastes better, I'm sure she would love that even more.

I disagree about the garlic, personally I wouldn't feed it. Maybe I missed it but why do you want to? It contains a lot of nutrients but they can be gotten in a safer way. IMO of course!

May I ask why you wouldn't feed garlic to a cat? Are there situations when you would consider garlic useful?

My kitty has fleas and I'm trying to help get them to leave her. And she is not having it after two tries that were only partly finished, after trying to make it positive, gentle, and soothing. Much as I would like to do a bath, that is probably not on her bucket list anytime soon either. So I'm thinking of other ways that might help her, naturally and nonchemically. One well-known holistic practictioner suggests garlic use with cats because it helps the body get rid of and keep it clear of parasites. Plus it seems like it has a lot of other health benefits too (ie, nutrients, antiviral, antifungal, etc).

 

[Dr. Jean Hofve]

My views on salt are from my own research. I have heart problems so doctors are always freaking out about salt. Turns out, salt has no effect on blood pressure else *except* in a few individuals who are sensitive. My blood pressure runs too low so I eat a ton of salt to even be functional! There's no evidence that salt affects kidney failure either. These are ideas that came over from human medicine that were wrong to start with.

If you haven't read Dr. Christina's ebook about fleas, definitely do that, and follow her protocol religiously. Fleas require a comprehensive approach to the cat and the entire environment. Giving garlic won't do a thing by itself.

Due to my experience I choose not to use garlic *with cats.* The risks as I see them are not worth the benefits, although garlic does have some great health benefits and I love it myself! Others have different experiences that are just as valid.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Regarding "it depends", this the answer to almost every medical question, like yours, because it depends on the context of the individual (like the sensitivity that Dr. Jean mentioned).

Sodium affects physiologic water balance, and therefore the amount of sodium may be relevant for heart and kidney dis-ease in the patient. However, whether it is or isn't, and the degree of the effect, depends on the individual patient.

This is called susceptibility in homeopathy and exposomics.

Think of it like two cats that get boarded and are both exposed to the same amount of an upper respiratory pathogen like herpes. Only one of the cats may get sick. That kitty is more susceptible to the germ than the other kitty.

Does that make sense?

 

[wholecat]

My views on salt are from my own research. I have heart problems so doctors are always freaking out about salt. Turns out, salt has no effect on blood pressure else *except* in a few individuals who are sensitive. My blood pressure runs too low so I eat a ton of salt to even be functional! There's no evidence that salt affects kidney failure either. These are ideas that came over from human medicine that were wrong to start with.

!?!

If you haven't read Dr. Christina's ebook about fleas, definitely do that, and follow her protocol religiously. Fleas require a comprehensive approach to the cat and the entire environment. Giving garlic won't do a thing by itself.

I have read it and am rereading it to make sure I haven't missed any ideas. I am working on all fronts right now; the garlic is just one strategy for my furbaby.

Due to my experience I choose not to use garlic *with cats.* The risks as I see them are not worth the benefits, although garlic does have some great health benefits and I love it myself! Others have different experiences that are just as valid.

What are the risks of using garlic with cats in your experience?

 

[wholecat]

Regarding "it depends", this the answer to almost every medical question, like yours, because it depends on the context of the individual (like the sensitivity that Dr. Jean mentioned).

Sodium affects physiologic water balance, and therefore the amount of sodium may be relevant for heart and kidney dis-ease in the patient. However, whether it is or isn't, and the degree of the effect, depends on the individual patient.

This is called susceptibility in homeopathy and exposomics.

Think of it like two cats that get boarded and are both exposed to the same amount of an upper respiratory pathogen like herpes. Only one of the cats may get sick. That kitty is more susceptible to the germ than the other kitty.

Does that make sense?

So, each individual is completely unique, and susceptibility to the herpes germ in this case, depends on its own inherited health from its parents, health history, environmental exposures and current health (ie, BEAM, health status), among other possible factors?

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Exactly!

Energetic balance. Homeostasis. Equilibrium.

Whatever it’s called, susceptibility to germs, toxins, salt, garlic, etc reduces.

And resilience rises!!

 

[wholecat]

Exactly!

Energetic balance. Homeostasis. Equilibrium.

Whatever it’s called, susceptibility to germs, toxins, salt, garlic, etc reduces.

And resilience rises!!

I think I am getting to a better understanding! Now just to get to that strong vital force...