dogs&cats&more

  I get worried seeing so many non-experts claiming on dog threads all over the world wide web that they continually feed their dog food or treats with onion or garlic and therefore that gives them the ok to make a rediculous statement to others that it is safe to do so. 

Onions, including onion powder, as well as garlic and garlic powder, are toxic to dogs. Unfortunately, these are products which there is no known toxic dosage for: in fact, it affects dogs differently, whereas one dog can ingest a fair amount with no effect and another can have a smaller amount and have a problem. Furthermore, one dog may have no problem for years with tiny amounts added to food, then suddenly have a toxicity. Is it worth risking because a non-educated soul is telling you their dog is fine? Not to my pets or patients, it isn’t.

There are still some pet companies which add garlic to their treats in tiny amounts, and rarely does a dog have a problem with it, since the amount is so small. However, it is best to avoid both onion products and garlic products if at all possible, especially in a growing puppy. Instead, you can always make a chicken broth homemade without onion powder included, if needed to help increase the pup’s appetite and eating habits.

Onions are more of a danger than garlic, but both contain thiosulphate, a toxin. When onions are ingested, they cause hemolytic anemia, which basically makes the dog’s red blood cells burst spontaneously. Garlic contains less thiosulphate than onions, but an unknown amount can cause toxicity and each dog is different in how they handle the toxin. Would you taste arsenic in small amounts? What’s the point? Just avoid it.

Christine, LVT