Malic acid

What is malic acid?

Malic acid is a substance that is both produced and consumed by your dog's body. It is an important part of the Krebs cycle, which is responsible for producing energy from proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Malic acid is therefore essential for your dog's vitality and well-being.

However, malic acid is also found in nature, especially in fruit and vegetables. The richest sources are apples, but cranberries, pineapples, apricots and strawberries also contain a lot of malic acid. You can offer these fruits to your dog as a healthy snack, as long as you make sure that you only feed the flesh and not the stem, core or seeds, as these can contain small amounts of hydrocyanic acid, which is toxic to your four-legged friend.

What are the benefits of malic acid for dogs?

Malic acid has several positive effects on dogs' health. Here are some of them:

• It protects the muscles and heart from fatigue and weakness. As malic acid is involved in energy production, it can help keep your dog's muscles and heart working for longer. This is particularly important for active or athletic dogs that need a lot of stamina.
• It strengthens the immune system. Malic acid has antioxidant properties, which means it can neutralize free radicals that can cause cell damage. Free radicals are caused by environmental pollution, stress or illness and can lead to inflammation, infections or cancer. Malic acid can therefore help to strengthen your dog's immune system and protect it from disease.
• It binds toxic heavy metals and promotes their excretion. Malic acid is a so-called chelating agent, which means that it can combine with metals and convert them into a soluble form. This is useful for improving the absorption of good minerals such as iron or magnesium as well as removing harmful heavy metals such as aluminum, lead or mercury from your dog's body. Heavy metals can accumulate in the body over time and lead to liver or nerve damage.
• It improves oral hygiene and prevents tartar. Malic acid has an antiseptic effect and stimulates saliva production. This helps to reduce bacteria in the mouth and regulate the pH value. Malic acid can also be used as a natural toothpaste, for example by crushing strawberries with a little baking soda and water and brushing the dog's teeth with it. This can help to dissolve tartar and care for the gums.

What are the disadvantages of malic acid for dogs?

Malic acid is not always good for dogs. There are some instances where it can be harmful or should at least be used with caution. Here are some of them:

• It can cause gastrointestinal distress. Malic acid is an acid and can therefore irritate your dog's stomach, especially if it is sensitive or already has gastritis. Too much malic acid can lead to vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Therefore, you should only give your dog ripe apples or other fruits that contain less acid and keep the amount moderate.
• It can affect blood sugar levels. Malic acid is a component of fructose that can raise your dog's blood sugar levels. This is a particular problem for dogs with diabetes or obesity, as it can lead to insulin resistance or a fatty liver. Therefore, you should only give your dog small amounts of fruit and have his blood sugar levels checked regularly.
• It can alter the effect of medication. Malic acid can affect the absorption or excretion of certain medications by altering their solubility or binding to proteins. This can cause the medication to be either too strong or too weak or have undesirable side effects. Therefore, you should always ask your vet before giving your dog malic acid or other natural remedies if he is already taking medication.

How do you use malic acid correctly?

Malic acid is a beneficial ingredient for your dog if you use it correctly. Here are some tips on how to do this:

• Choose the right source. The easiest and safest way to give your dog malic acid is through fresh fruit such as apples, cranberries or strawberries. In addition to malic acid, these also contain other vitamins and fiber that are good for your dog. You can also use apple cider vinegar, which is made from fermented apples and is also high in malic acid. Apple cider vinegar has similar benefits to fresh fruit, but it is more acidic and should therefore be diluted.
• Dose the right amount. The amount of malic acid you can give your dog depends on their weight, health and tolerance. As a rule of thumb, you should not give your dog more than one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar per 10 kilograms of body weight per day. With fresh fruit, you can use the size of an apple as a guide and cut smaller or larger pieces accordingly. However, do not give your dog more than one apple per day.
• Avoid possible risks. As already mentioned, you should make sure that you don't give your dog any unripe or spoiled fruit, as this can lead to gastrointestinal problems. You should also remove the core and seeds, as these can contain hydrocyanic acid. If you use apple cider vinegar, you should always dilute it with water and not give it pure, as it can otherwise irritate the stomach or attack the tooth enamel. You should also always consult your vet before giving your dog malic acid if they have diabetes, are overweight or are taking medication.