Garlic

[justjumpit621]

So I was thinking while giving some garlic to my chickens who are sneezing. If I gave a teeny tiny piece of garlic to calais feeders while gutloading, would it have any ill affects on him? I love garlic, it is a super plant that helps with boosting the immune system. Anyone have thoughts on this? If it would be safe and beneficial I would only do it once a month for Calais.

 

[Psychobunny]

Garlic and garlic juice is used as a natural repellent for snakes and lizzards.
They hate it, and will not go near it.

I dont know if it's toxic to them, or if they just hate it!!??

It's used as a flavoring for dog and cat foods, but I have heard that it's toxic to them at some degree.
Maybe someone else knows

 

[tkilgour]

We supplement marine fish foods with garlic to help boost their immune systems.

 

[Lathelia]

I think there is no info about garlic.
on this website: http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html
they say: "Potential toxicity"
Personally I wouldn't risk it.

 

[Alexl]

The toxicity is measured in mammals. We don't have any values for reptiles yet as far as I know. Garlic contains Alliin, which changes enzymatical into some other substances. Those are known to cause haemolytic anemia by destroying erythrocytes (they denature haemoglobin). But this effect is seen only after eating a really big amount of fresh garlic (e.g. 5 g per kg body weight in dogs, which means a 30 kg dog would have to eat 150 g garlic daily for a week or more). First signs for an intoxication are vomiting, breathing too fast, bloody urine.

I don't think we can compare our reptiles to the situation in mammals easily. And we just have no studies done whether garlic's toxic in reptiles (and if so in which species) or not. I don't think a little piece of garlic given once a month to the feeders (not the reptile) will harm anyone.

 

[justjumpit621]

The toxicity is measured in mammals. We don't have any values for reptiles yet as far as I know. Garlic contains Alliin, which changes enzymatical into some other substances. Those are known to cause haemolytic anemia by destroying erythrocytes (they denature haemoglobin). But this effect is seen only after eating a really big amount of fresh garlic (e.g. 5 g per kg body weight in dogs, which means a 30 kg dog would have to eat 150 g garlic daily for a week or more). First signs for an intoxication are vomiting, breathing too fast, bloody urine.

I don't think we can compare our reptiles to the situation in mammals easily. And we just have no studies done whether garlic's toxic in reptiles (and if so in which species) or not. I don't think a little piece of garlic given once a month to the feeders (not the reptile) will harm anyone.

Thanks, also birds are similar to reptiles to a degree right? Because I give it to my chickens in small doses. Given to mammals in small doses is actually beneficial as you probably know, it's just large amounts that can be toxic as you stated. Onions on the other hand can be lethal to some dogs and cats, but not others. But that's just a fun fact for today I have jarred minced garlic, the pieces are teeny so I was thinking one little piece a month.

 

[tkilgour]

I guess more research needs to be done to know if garlic is safe for reptiles or birds. I know for a fact that it is beneficial to marine fish. We soak all their squid, shrimp, krill, nori, spirulina, etc. in a garlic solution. It is known to boost the fishes immune systems. Some even claim it wards off parasites such as ich, but that has yet to be proven.

 

[kinyonga]

Years ago there was one importer I knew who gave garlic to newly imported WC lizards...said it helped with the immune system and with getting rid of parasites...but I don't know if it's true or not....and I don't know if he did it with the chameleons or not.

 

[Nrupaw]

I think i read an article in this months Tropical Fish Hobbyist issuse of Jack Wattley, the famous Discus Breeder, mixing a little bit of garlic puree with fish food for wild caught and other sick Discus fish.

The article mentions which diseases/parasites it cures but cant remember if the top of my head

 

[tkilgour]

I think i read an article in this months Tropical Fish Hobbyist issuse of Jack Wattley, the famous Discus Breeder, mixing a little bit of garlic puree with fish food for wild caught and other sick Discus fish.

The article mentions which diseases/parasites it cures but cant remember if the top of my head

It's a myth to say garlic cures / prevents parasites. Garlic only boosts fish immune systems which could aid the fish in resisting parasites. There is no substantial proof or studies on garlic preventing parasites.