The Benefits of Colloidal Silver for Pets
Unless you are tapped into the holistic health realm, you may not have heard much about colloidal silver. Or, you may know about the uses of colloidal silver for people, but haven’t considered it as a treatment for your pet. Either way, this miracle treatment may seem shrouded in mystery, but it doesn’t have to be. Colloidal silver can help with a range of ailments and is a holistic alternative to some medications.
What is Colloidal Silver?
Despite what you may assume, Silver is NOT a heavy metal. Silver is considered a noble metal (also called a transitional metal or xenobiotic element), so it does not have the same toxicity risk as other metals like mercury or lead.
It has been used in the medical field for over a century, and still is used today in medical practices all over the world. It is made by submerging tiny particles of silver into a solution. The microscopic particles are able to penetrate cells and thwart pathogens. In fact, many surgical instruments are plated with silver because it is such a powerful antimicrobial.
The size of silver particles in colloidal silver can be so small they can be referred to as nanoparticles. This means they are so small some particles are not even visible to the naked eye. Before our modern antibiotics were developed, colloidal silver was utilized as an all-purpose remedy for ailments whether bacterial, viral, or fungal.
Types of Colloidal Silver Products
Homemade Colloidal Silver
There are a lot of colloidal silver machines out there so that you can make your own silver suspensions. Despite what you may read on the internet, this type of silver is not properly made, and no one can guarantee its quality or potency. Especially for internal use, this is a dangerous option that we do not recommend.
Ionic Silver
It’s important not to confuse ionic silver with colloidal silver. Although they may sound similar, the effects are much different. Ionic silver has not been found to have any ability to kill pathogens in the body. Ionic silver solutions also raise concern because silver ions are extremely unstable. Silver ions are missing an electron and they will do what they can to find one. What this means is that if you drink them, the ionic silver can be absorbed by the fat or protein in the body and left there rather than excreted. This could lead to a condition known as argyria; an irreversible skin condition where the skin turns blue-grey in color.
Silver Protein
This type of silver product is one of the most dangerous forms of silver, due to its impurity and composition. It is not a stable product and will often use proteins of unknown origins.
Silver Salts
This is another harmful type of silver that should always be avoided. This is the type of silver that causes the bluish tinting of the skin, because it is not a pure silver suspension. Avoid any products containing silver salts.
Silver Hydrosol
Silver hydrosol is the safest and most effective form of colloidal silver. It is a mixture of silver ions and silver nanoclusters (smallest possible particles). It is 99.999% pure silver in purified water (pharmaceutical grade purified water). It is the most active an effective type of silver, with positively charged silver ions and nanoparticles. The combination of high charge plus the small size of the particles makes it the most safe and effective version of colloidal silver there is.
Sovereign Silver
Sovereign Silver has only two ingredients: 99.999% pure silver and pharmaceutical-grade purified water. It does not contain added salts or proteins that render other silver products less effective. Plus, it is packaged in non-leaching glass bottles, never plastic.
Some colloidal silver products of higher concentration (ppm) claim that one teaspoon equals multiple teaspoons of our 10 ppm product. On the contrary, scientific peer-reviewed literature has shown that silver is only useful when it is positively charged (bio-active). Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol, with greater than 98% bio-activity, is 8x more potent than a 250 ppm colloidal silver. Higher ppm also= risk of toxicity. There is simply no reason to use a higher ppm product. Their products can also be used for external and internal use.
Uses of Colloidal Silver
There are many uses for colloidal silver. It has anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, and can be used for a variety of ailments. I use colloidal silver to treat a range of issues in my pets. From ear infections to boosting their immune systems, colloidal silver is one of my go-to treatments.
Colloidal silver can be used to aid in healing from the following ailments:
- Ear infections
- Fungal skin infections
- Bacterial infections
- Yeast infections
- Eye infections
- Respiratory infections
- Burns
- Skin allergies
Administering Colloidal Silver
Colloidal silver is fairly versatile in the ways that it can be administered. It has been used in the medical field for over a century, and still is used today in medical practices all over the world. In fact, many surgical instruments are plated with silver because it is such a powerful antimicrobial.
You can safely administer it by putting it in your pets water or wet food, directly into their mouth, through a nebulizer, and even directly into their ears and eyes. Depending on the severity of the ear or eye infection, you may find it beneficial to apply it to the ears or eyes and have the pet ingest orally.
Small dogs can safely ingest around 5 mL two to three times per day. Large dogs can ingest up to 10 mL two to three times per day.
You can use colloidal silver to cleanse wounds by applying it directly to the wound using a cotton swab or rag. Some brands even come in a spray bottle so you can spray directly onto the skin.
Remember, if you are applying colloidal silver, or any other treatment, you should try to get down to the underlying cause of the issue, which could be environmental or an allergy to their food.
Safety of Colloidal Silver
According to Dr. Alan BG Lansdown, silver exhibits low toxicity in the human body, and minimal risk is expected due to clinical exposure by inhalation, ingestion, dermal application or through the urological or haematogenous route.* There is also no evidence to show silver causes any neurotoxicity or nervous system damage. The main negative effect of silver can be argyria, a condition that causes the skin and mucous membranes to turn a bluish hue, but even that condition is more unsightly than actually harmful to the body (it’s not a true toxicity). Most of the research done showing silver’s harmful effects is based on the use of sliver salts or improperly made (not hydrosol).
Unfortunately, there is a lot of contradictory information and studies to be found on the internet, so it’s best to consult an expert like Dr. Lansdown or Dr. Howard Fisher, both of whom are experts on the subject and can give factual information regarding silver’s safety and benefits.
Colloidal silver has several potential benefits, but just like when you or your pet takes an antibiotic, there is a risk that the good bacteria in the gut will be eliminated, which can cause diarrhea and other problems. Make sure to give your pet a prebiotic and probiotic to keep their gut health in check, and talk to your vet about how to keep their digestive system healthy while using colloidal silver.
You should also monitor how often and how much you are administering colloidal silver to wounds because too much could cause delays in healing. However, as long as you are following the recommended serving/dosing size, your pet should be okay. Review the label or ask the company what their recommended dosage is for their specific product. The amount you provide will vary depending on your individual pet.
Final Thoughts
Take precautions and do your research when choosing the brand of colloidal silver you will use. it is important that you trust the ingredients and know exactly what you are getting. Don’t forget to ask for some type of verification, like a Certificate of Analysis, so you’re able to see exactly what’s in the product (and what isn’t). Use caution with long term usage, as this is not recommended with colloidal silver. Just like many other powerful healing agents, it is meant to be used short term.
Remember, the FDA doesn’t allow us to make definitive claims about the effects of any supplements, including colloidal silver. The FDA would also like me to remind you that I am not a licensed veterinarian, and you should consult your veterinarian before starting any treatment for your pet. You should also discuss administration with your veterinarian, or a holistic veterinarian, prior to adding colloidal silver to your pet’s regimen.
About Angela Ardolino
Angela Ardolino is a holistic pet expert who has been caring for animals for over 20 years and operates a rescue farm, Fire Flake Farm, in Florida. She is also the owner of Beautify the Beast, a natural pet salon and shop. After getting her certificate in Medical Cannabis Biology and Therapeutic use from the University of Vermont School of Medicine, she founded Hemp Dog Health to provide high quality, all-natural medical cannabis products designed specifically for pets. Angela has seven dogs, Odie a 12-year-old mini-schnauzer, Nina an 8-year-old Doberman. Jolene a 7-year-old mutt, Maza a 7-year-old mutt, Rhemi an 8-year-old poodle, Potato a 15-year-old shih-tzu, and Miss Daisie a 15-year-old black lab, plus 4-10 more at any time she is fostering or boarding. She uses Full Spectrum Hemp Extract on all her pets at her rescue farm every day, and has since 2016. She is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, the Veterinary Cannabis Association and has trained hundreds medical doctors and veterinarians about the therapeutic uses of medical cannabis on animals. Visit www.angelaardolino.com for more information.