How is Apple Cider Vinegar Different From Other Vinegars?
Its name comes from the Latin words vinum (which means wine) and acer (which means sour). Vinegar can be made from any liquid that contains sugar, which includes everything from fruit juice to plain sugar water. Within a few days of being exposed to air, naturally occurring or added yeasts cause the sugar to ferment, turning it into alcohol. If not interrupted, fermentation continues in response to naturally occurring or added acetic acid bacteria until all of the alcohol becomes acetic acid. This is how wine, beer, and ale are used to create wine and malt vinegars. Some vinegar factories shorten the fermentation process to just two or three days by using modern bacterial cultures and special pumps, but traditional vinegars valued for their culinary use are still made the old-fashioned way.
However it’s made, vinegar has a distinctive fragrance and a low pH. On the pH scale, water is neutral at 7.0, tomato juice is acid at 4.1, distilled white vinegar is more acid at 2.4, and the pH of lemon juice is 2.2. Apple cider vinegar tends to be less acidic, with a pH between 4.25 and 5.
One of the earliest known vinegars was made 5,000 years ago in Babylon from fermented dates. In ancient Rome, fermented rye, figs, grapes, and dates were popular ingredients. Today’s vinegars are made from corn, barley, and other grains; grapes; apples; and other fruits.
According to the Vinegar Institute, an international trade association representing vinegar manufacturers and bottlers, worldwide vinegar sales are now approaching $225 million annually, with the fastest growth in organic vinegars. Nearly half of the vinegar sold in North America is balsamic, with red wine vinegar the next most popular at 13 percent and cider vinegar tied with rice wine vinegar at 8 percent each.
Only 1 percent of sales go to distilled white vinegar. However, distilled white (usually made from corn) and distilled apple cider are the most familiar supermarket vinegars. These inexpensive vinegars are filtered and pasteurized to make them sparkling clear. Better-quality wine, cider, or malt vinegars are often aged for years in wooden barrels to improve their flavor and left unfiltered and unpasteurized.
To vinegar connoisseurs, there’s a world of difference between distilled or rapidly produced vinegar and traditionally made vinegars that are brewed slowly in small batches and aged to perfection. Some gourmet vinegars cost over $200 per 100 milliliters (about 7 tablespoons).
Traditionally made organic apple cider vinegar is widely sold and far less expensive than gourmet balsamics, but it too is valued for its culinary uses. Some popular brands, such as Bragg, Spectrum, Eden Organics, Solana Gold Organics, and Dynamic Health, are made from organic apples that are crushed to make cider, then aged in wooden barrels.
Because it is raw and unfiltered, this vinegar is not clear like distilled vinegars. Instead, it contains a dark, cloudy substance that resembles dusty cobwebs. This substance, called the “mother” or “mother veil,” consists of naturally occurring pectin and apple residues whose protein molecules are connected in strand-like chains. As the Bragg website explains, “The presence of the mother shows that the best part of the apple has not been destroyed. Vinegars containing the mother contain enzymes that other vinegars may not contain due to over-processing, filtration, and overheating.”
Apple cider vinegar is usually light golden brown or orange in color. While the acidity of homemade cider vinegar varies, most manufacturers maintain a 5-percent acetic acid level, which is recommended for the safe pickling and preserving of low-acid foods.
Apple Cider Vinegar for a Dog’s Ears
Apple cider vinegar works by rebalancing the pH. A popular home remedy for ear infections in dogs, apple cider vinegar cleans and neutralizes bacteria when used topically.
Many dogs with skin allergies also develop ear infections. Apple cider vinegar can clean a dog’s ears and rebalance the skin pH, but it will also dry out ears to combat yeast and bacterial infections. When using apple cider vinegar around your dog’s ears, remember to never use it on raw or open sores since it is an acid and will burn and cause irritation. Always dilute the vinegar to at least a 50/50 mixture with water.
Use half apple cider vinegar with half purified water, soak a cotton ball, and wipe out the ears until there is no more gunk coming out of the ear. Do not pour the mixture directly in the ear canal. Some ear infections have ruptured ear drums, and if this mixture gets into the middle ear, complications like vestibular disease or exacerbation of a middle ear infection can develop. If there are any signs of sensitivity to the dog when using this dilute mixture, stop applying the mixture to the ear and seek veterinary advice.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good for Dogs?
When given in the right dosage, dogs that are given apple cider vinegar may benefit from a healthier gastrointestinal (GI) system, better coat quality, fewer allergy symptoms, and more. This is because apple cider vinegar helps reduce the inflammation in the body and supports the immune system by balancing pH levels.
Your dog’s pH levels represent one of the most important indicators of his health. Apple cider vinegar is slightly acidic with a pH of 3.1 to 5. Since the optimal pH range for a dog is around 6-6.5, not every dog may benefit from oral ingestion of apple cider vinegar.
Many dogs have adapted to eating high-protein diets, but some processed diets that are higher in grains can cause a dog’s system to be too alkaline (pH higher than 7). Diseases that can result when your dog’s pH is out of the healthy range include urinary crystals, bladder stones, digestive disorders like vomiting/diarrhea, and even allergies. These dogs tend to show positive results when given apple cider vinegar, because it brings their pH down into a healthier range. This return-to-balance supports optimal digestion by increasing the stomach acid required to break-down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in the food.
Beyond affecting internal chemistry, apple cider vinegar also has disinfecting and cleaning properties. Many people use vinegar as a natural cleaning product, but it can also be used to treat topical issues like skin allergies and ear infections in your dog. Read on to learn more about how to administer it safely and potential side effects to look out for.
The Vinegar Rinse on Dogs Coats
Apple cider vinegar is a versatile health tonic. Packed with a powerful flavor punch, this elixir works well in homemade salad dressings, juices, and wellness shots and has big benefits for both humans and dogs.