More and more dogs are suffering from allergies, arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases— and natural pet owners are learning that quercetin with bromelain for dogs is one of the top home remedies to consider.
Dog owners searching for natural remedies for arthritis for dogs, dog allergy home remedies, and natural anti-inflammatory alternatives are all hearing about the healing powers that quercetin with bromelain has to offer.
I stumbled upon quercetin with bromelain when searching for relief for my golden retriever, Moose, who suffered from horrible allergies.
I learned that not only can quercetin with bromelain be an effective home remedy to use instead of conventional medications like apoquel and cytopoint, but it can be an effective way to build a dog’s immune system and reduce inflammation in the body.
As natural pet owners, we want to do everything we can to ensure our dogs remain healthy with minimal conventional medication — so today I want to talk about quercetin with bromelain to empower you (so you can have a knowledgeable conversation with your holistic vet about these products) and to help you determine if they might help your dog.
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Quercetin With Bromelain For Dogs
Important Disclaimer: I am not a vet. My goal is to share my own personal experience and information I have gathered; not to give medical advice.
If you think you want to try something you read about here, talk to your vet! But first read this and many more articles to empower yourself for a good discussion in which you can ask your vet great questions about what you want to try.
Knowledge is power – never forget that!
Quercetin with bromelain is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory with a long list of potential benefits, including:
- reducing the risk of some diseases
- improving joint health
- reducing pain associated with arthritis
- reducing allergies
- supporting the immune system
How do Quercetin and Bromelain work?
Quercetin
Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that has anti-inflammatory properties, suppresses histamine release, and has antioxidant properties.
Quercetin as a natural antihistamine:
During an allergic reaction, your dog’s body releases histamine. Histamine leads to redness, irritation, and inflammation.
Studies show that quercetin can inhibit histamine production and reduce inflammation, earning it the nickname “nature’s Benadryl.”
Bromelain
Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples, helps increase the absorption of quercetin in the body.
It has strong anti-inflammatory properties and works by helping to break down fibrin and kinin, the two main contributors to inflammation.
Bromelain works best if given between meals, at least one hour before or two hours after.
Note: Bromelain is a natural blood thinner so do not use it without consulting your vet.
Health Issues That Quercetin With Bromelain May Help
Arthritis
One common use for quercetin with bromelain for dogs is to help relieve the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.
Arthritis is a common condition that affects dogs as they age. We all know how sad it is when our dogs start to move stiffly and struggle when they get up, can’t go on “normal” length walks anymore, and struggle going up and down the stairs.
One cause of this pain is inflammation in the joint lining.
Quercetin had promising results in a human study that showed it decreased inflammation caused by rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
Bromelain can also help via the methods mentioned above, i.e. by breaking down fibrin and kinin, the two main contributors to inflammation.
Joint Health
In addition to arthritic pain, quercetin with bromelain can also be helpful for dogs suffering from other joint problems, by improving joint function and mobility.
Allergies
Another common use for quercetin with bromelain is to help reduce allergies and relieve allergy symptoms.
The natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties of quercetin can help reduce the itch, inflammation, and digestive issues caused by allergies, while the bromelain can help to relieve itchiness and discomfort.
If your dog’s allergies are causing them to chew or lick their paws, be sure to read about home remedies to stop dogs from chewing paws and dog paw yeast infection soaks.
If your dogs allergies are producing other symptoms, check out these articles about
- natural remedies for dog seasonal allergies
- home remedies for dog allergies
- best immune system booster for dogs
- acupuncture for dog benefits
- to learn other home remedies that help reduce allergies and allergy symptoms and help build your dog’s immune system (a key part of any allergy treatment plan).
Immune System Support
Researchers are starting to explore quercetin and bromelain’s potential for modulating immune system responses.
What does “modulating immune system responses” mean?
Immunomodulators are substances that can help support your dog’s immune function by modifying the immune system’s response to a threat. The immunomodulator may increase the immune response or may decrease it, depending on the need – thus the word “modulation.”
I saw an interesting preliminary quercetin/bromelain study I wanted to mention as it demonstrates positive immunity effects: In this study, quercetin, bromelain, and vitamin C were given to health care workers and were found to 1) prevent Covid 19 infections and 2) lessen Covid 19 infection severity in human subjects.
So using quercetin with bromelain for dogs with immune system issues is definitely an option you’ll want to consider.
Inflammation
Quercetin has been shown to effectively inhibit the production of specific inflammatory molecules, and studies have investigated its efficacy in treating asthma and respiratory issues involving inflammation.
During an asthma attack, bronchial tubes in the lungs become restricted (bronchoconstriction), and studies have shown that quercetin can help dilate the bronchial tubes.
Cancer Prevention and Inhibition
Numerous studies have focused on the ability of quercetin (and flavonoids in general) to prevent or slow the growth of cancer.
Quercetin and other flavonoids have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in breast, colon, prostate, ovarian, endometrial, and lung tumors.
One study even suggested that quercetin may be more effective than resveratrol for inhibiting tumor growth.
Disease Prevention
As with other antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, quercetin with bromelain can help reduce the risk of some diseases by destroying free radicals.
Free radicals are formed naturally in the body, but in high concentrations can be hazardous to the body and damage all major components of cells, including DNA, proteins, and cell membranes
The damage to cells caused by free radicals may play a role in the development of cancer and other health conditions.
Antioxidants such as quercetin are known as “free radical scavengers” because they interact with and neutralize free radicals, preventing them from causing damage.
Some of the diseases that quercetin with bromelain may help to prevent include cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
How Much Quercetin Can I Give My Dogs?
Dr. Angie Krause at Boulder Holistic Vet recommends the following dosage for Quercetin:
125 mg once daily for small dogs (0-20 lbs)
250 mg once daily for medium sized dogs (25-50 lbs)
375 mg once daily for large dogs (>50 lbs)
Her article lists quercetin as one of 5 supplements every itchy allergic dog should be taking, and says she usually pairs it with bromelain for the synergistic effects the two are thought to have when used together.
How do I Give Quercetin with Bromelain to My Dogs?
One way you can give quercetin to your dogs is in their meals.
Top food sources include:
- Dark berries such as blueberries, cranberries, ripe elderberries, blackberries, and dark cherries
- Apples (in the skin)
- Kale and raw spinach (be careful; these need to be steamed and fed in moderation, read about the risks/benefits of feeding your dog kale)
- parsley
You can also buy quercetin in supplement form. This allows you to choose supplements that also contain bromelain, which works synergistically with quercetin.
This product contains both quercetin and bromelain, along with other natural allergy treatments for dogs, and is formulated in dosages meant for dogs. It gets consistently higher ratings than the other quercetin with bromelain supplements which I always take into account before purchasing something for my dogs.
Aller-Immune BitesIs Quercetin With Bromelain Safe For Dogs
Although article after article that I read said quercetin with bromelain is safe for dogs, there are certain situations where you would not want to give it to your pet.
First, quercetin may reduce the efficacy of certain drugs including antibiotics, certain diabetic and blood pressure medications, cyclosporine, and other pharmaceuticals that are metabolized by the liver.
If your dog is on any medication, be sure to check with your vet before giving them quercetin.
I also read that you should check with your vet if your dog has kidney disease (or any renal issues), and also if they are pregnant or lactating.
Potential side effects for humans include headaches and upset stomach, so as with any supplement you will want to keep an eye on your dog for these issues.
I always get frustrated when I do research for articles and site after site contains statements like “studies show xxxx is safe for dogs,” but then they don’t list any studies.
The articles I found about quercetin with bromelain have been one of those cases. Article after article said “studies show” but none had links to any studies – argh. So, I dug around the internet trying to find the elusive “studies” that each article about quercetin was mentioning.
I found one study involving dogs being fed an extract of grapes and blueberries (good sources of quercetin). That study examined liver and kidney function and found the extract safe for dogs, which supports the claim I read again and again that quercetin is safe for dogs (with the above exceptions).
I also feel a lot more confident that it’s safe when I see holistic vets such as Dr. Angie Krause at Boulder Holistic Vet wholeheartedly recommending it. She listed it as one of “5 Supplements EVERY Itchy, Allergic Dog Should Be Taking” which indicates she has had good luck with it and recommends it to many dogs.
Quercetin With Bromelain For Dogs
Quercetin with bromelain for dogs shows a lot of promise for a variety of dog health issues.
If you’re considering quercetin, combining it with bromelain can lead to even better results due to the synergistic effect they have on each other.
As with any natural approach, it may take time to see positive results, but the long term benefits are well worth it.
Have you use quercetin with bromelain for your dog? Tell us about it in the comments below and help others learn from your experience!
Until next time-
Naturally,
Karen
Your information was very good but is there a Querentin made specifically for dogs?
Thank you for your help
Linda Shellabarger, I have a Goldendoole with bad allergies and the vet gave me Apoquel which doesn’t seem to be helping and it’s super expensive.
Please can you help me?
[email protected]
Hi Linda, the Zesty Paws Product in the article is made for dogs and contains quercetin and bromelain, here is another option as well made by Now Brands which is a reputable source: https://amzn.to/4gO2q0u. I hope that helps, keep us updated on if they help your Goldendoodle!