Many people believe that garlic is an all-natural treatment for preventing heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, fleas, and even some forms of cancer.
However, our pets do not benefit from these possible medical advantages. In truth, at some doses, garlic can be poisonous to dogs and cats, and if poisoning is not promptly treated, it can be fatal.
Why is Garlic Toxic to Pets?
The Allium family includes the species of garlic. Leeks, chives, onions, shallots, and rakkyo are some of the other species in the Allium family (otherwise known as the Chinese onion).
The disulfides and thiosulphates found in garlic and other Allium family members can be hazardous to cats and dogs if consumed. Heinz body anemia, methemoglobinemia, and hemolytic anemia are all manifestations of damage to red blood cells and are brought on by the consumption of garlic. The red blood cells moving through your pet’s body can essentially become extremely brittle and burst due to the chemicals in garlic.
How Much Garlic is Toxic to Pets?
According to Dr. Ahna Brutlag, director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline and a board-certified veterinary toxicologist, garlic has a toxicity level that is almost five times higher than that of onions.
When it comes to onion toxicity, keep in mind the following general rule: Even a little amount of onion consumption—5 g/kg for cats and 15 to 30 g/kg for dogs—has been linked to clinically significant red blood cell damage. Scientific investigations have found that animals who consume more than 0.5% of their body weight in onions at once get onion toxicosis.
One garlic clove can be harmful to cats and small dogs, and as garlic is more concentrated than an onion, even a lower amount that is consumed could cause toxicosis.
Please be aware that a pet’s weight, breed, and previous health history can affect how harmful garlic is when consumed. Call the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-289-0358** or your veterinarian right away if you think your dog or cat may have consumed garlic.
Symptoms of Garlic Toxicity in Dogs and Cats
It’s crucial to remember that symptoms may not show up for several days after your pet eats garlic.
Along with anemia’s signs of breathlessness, sluggishness, pale, yellow, or muddy-colored gums, rapid breathing, and an accelerated heart rate, this condition can also cause vomiting and diarrhea. Additionally, your pet could experience stomach ache and turbid urine. While the signs of anemia may not show up for many days to a week after your pet eats garlic, vomiting and diarrhea frequently do.
Preventing Garlic Toxicity in Pets
Pets are at significant danger when garlic is consumed in large quantities, but chronically ingesting moderate amounts of garlic over time can also make your pet sick.
What dosage of garlic renders dogs toxic?
According to studies, it takes between 15 and 30 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight for a dog’s blood to undergo adverse alterations. To put that into perspective, a shop garlic clove typically weighs between 3 and 7 grams, so your dog would have to consume a lot of it to become very ill. However, certain dogs are more susceptible to the toxicity of garlic than others, and taking a toxic dosage of the herb over several days could also be harmful.
This implies that while your dog could be fine if he accidently eats something that contains a small amount of garlic, feeding him garlic on purpose could be disastrous.
Can my dog be harmed by a small amount of garlic?
Garlic is harmful, so dogs shouldn’t eat any of it. Given that many meals contain garlic in some form, it is best to avoid feeding your dog leftovers from your dinner.
Can dogs eat garlic-infused meat?
Humans have understood the healing benefits of garlic for ages. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that garlic benefits dogs as well. However, a variety of circumstances affect its safety.
Garlic is generally harmful to dogs. However, let’s explore why it is or isn’t and determine if it is safe for your dog.
Both sides of the garlic story
Some people would claim that garlic works wonders to keep fleas and ticks away. It’s possible that this is the case; fleas may avoid your dog’s skin because it smells different. However, research on this subject is conflicting. While some dog parents claim it is effective, others disagree. In the end, you must choose whether the advantages of using garlic outweigh the disadvantages.
From a holistic perspective, dogs and people can both benefit from garlic’s medicinal properties. Reduced cholesterol from garlic is excellent for overweight pets. improves the immune system, decreases blood pressure, and reduces inflammation. However, the type of garlic used and the dosage depend largely on its advantages. Prior to giving your dog any garlic, it is VERY crucial to see your veterinarian.
The traditional veterinarian position on garlic is as follows:
An investigation of the prevalence of hemolytic anemia in dogs administered garlic extract was conducted. Due to the small sample size of just four dogs, this study is debatable. However, it came to the conclusion that garlic was unsafe for dogs since it created negative alterations in their blood cells.
Garlic is not safe for dogs, according to veterinarians and poison control centers. Garlic, or any plant in the Allium family, is toxic enough to injure your dog or cat since the risks outweigh the benefits. (Garlic poisoning is 6 times more common in cats than in dogs!)
Garlic, or Allium Sativum
The Allium family of root vegetables includes garlic. This family also includes chives, leeks, and onions. They all include n-propyl disulfide, an organic substance that harms red blood cells by oxidation and results in hemolytic anemia. More of the chemical is found in garlic than in onions, leeks, chives, or shallots.
This poisonous substance is present throughout the entire allium plant. Unfortunately, dogs (and cats) lack the digestive enzyme necessary to break it down. Undigested food components frequently pass through the stools, while thiosulfates do not. They linger and wreck havoc on the body of your dog. Even more can be built up.
Thiosulfates bind to the red blood cells in your dog, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Once this takes place, the red blood cells suffer damage and aggregate into Heinz bodies. The body quickly eliminates the injured cells because it perceives them as invaders and cannot replenish them. Hemolysis, or the decomposition of red blood cells, is what we refer to.
If you don’t stop it once it starts, your dog will get hemolytic anemia. The body cannot operate because there is not enough oxygen being transported throughout it. Anemia signs can occur suddenly, but they typically don’t manifest for a few days after a dog consumes a hazardous dose of garlic. The most frequent source of garlic poisoning is table leftovers.
Hemolytic anemia symptoms include:
- Lethargy
- Continent pain
- diminished endurance or possibly fainting during or after exercise
- reduced appetite
- gums that are pale and drool
- elevated respiratory or cardiac rates (rapid breathing)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Inability to coordinate (ataxia)
- tainted urine
To prevent renal failure or possibly death, a dog exhibiting these symptoms needs to see a veterinarian very away. Although it’s uncommon for dogs to pass away after consuming garlic, Japanese breeds like the Shiba Inu, Spitz, Chin, and Akita tend to be particularly susceptible. Visit this page to learn more about the plants in the allium family.
Is there any amount of garlic that’s safe for my dog?
All dogs consume human foods they shouldn’t, including foods like garlic. While there is disagreement, everyone agrees that the size and breed of the dog involved, as well as the type and quantity of garlic consumed, determine its toxicity.
Daily doses of raw garlic for your dog may be considered safe if your philosophy is more holistic. These dosages of garlic have anti-inflammatory, immune-system-boosting, heart-function-improving, flea- and tick-protective effects that help maintain preventative health.
According to Dr. Pitcairn, the author of “The Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats,” there are safe daily doses of raw garlic.
According to conventional veterinary science, 15–30 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight can set off a dangerous series of events in your dog’s body. That’s a lot of garlic since a clove typically weighs between 3 and 7 grams.
The small amount of garlic on your garlic bread is likely to give your dog no discomfort other than some gas if they eat a piece of it. There may be issues if it occurs frequently or if your dog consumes a few garlic bulbs that he stole from the counter.
What happens when a dog gets garlic toxicity?
After checking your dog’s exterior for symptoms, your veterinarian will perform a number of tests to look for Heinz bodies, dehydration, kidney function, and oxygen levels.
Maintaining the health of their body’s organs and systems is crucial. Oxygen therapy may be necessary for some pets. Red blood cells that are still active can carry more oxygen with less effort thanks to this. In order to further aid your dog’s red blood cells in preventing thiosulfate damage, your veterinarian may additionally prescribe strong antioxidants.
The need for IV fluids and maybe a blood transfusion will depend on how severe the anemia is. Even though it’s uncommon for dogs to die from eating garlic, you should seek emergency medical attention if you think your sly snacker may have consumed more than a modest amount of it or if you see any symptoms.
What dogs should avoid all garlic and allium root vegetables?
Dogs that have previously been diagnosed with anemia should refrain from eating any vegetables from the allium family, including garlic.
Japanese Dog Breeds: Garlic toxicity or poisoning is more likely to affect Japanese Chins, Akitas, Sheba Inus, and Spitz.
Dogs suffering with lupus have immune system attacks on their body organs and tissues. Although we don’t consider it a dog sickness, it is.
Puppies: When puppies are 6 to 8 weeks old, they begin to produce red blood cells. Never feed pups any food containing allium vegetables, including garlic.
Can I feed my dog wild garlic, garlic powder or garlic oil?
All portions of the wild garlic plant, an allium root vegetable, are poisonous. If you and your veterinarian determine that giving your dog garlic supplements will be beneficial, safer garlic supplements are available.
Garlic that has been concentrated, such as garlic oil and garlic powder, is more harmful to dogs than raw garlic.
Is garlic safe for your dog?
Concerning the safety of feeding garlic to dogs, there are two sides. While the conventional perspective holds that it is unsafe, the holistic viewpoint contends that it has health benefits. Our best recommendation is to see your veterinarian BEFORE giving your dog anything that contains garlic. It’s preferable to be cautious than sorry because dog breed predispositions and dog sizes differ. Call your veterinarian right away or get in touch with the ASPCA Pet Poison Helpline if you’re worried about your dog after it consumes garlic.
Why is garlic present in dog food?
Garlic has been excluded from most dogs’ meals for decades since, as many dog owners are aware, it can be toxic in very big levels. However, most dog owners are unaware that, in modest doses, garlic can really be quite healthy.
Basically, garlic works as an excellent anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, aid in the elimination of intestinal worms, and deterrent to skin parasites like ticks, helping to keep your dog free from a variety of nasty things. Because of these factors, garlic can be a significant asset for dogs suffering from a variety of illnesses and infections brought on by bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infestations. And its advantages don’t end there. Garlic has been connected to improving joint mobility, reducing blood cholesterol, and lowering blood sugar in diabetics!
Some dog feeds are now beginning to include garlic in their formulas, but if you want to add your own, a decent starting point is about one clove per 10 kg of body weight each day. Don’t worry too much about overfeeding garlic because toxic dosages really have to be fairly large (as much as two entire bulbs each day for a long period of time).
How much time does dog garlic poisoning last?
Clinical symptoms can appear up to 7 days after eating the dish, however they usually appear within 24 hours.
Raspberries Yes, dogs can eat raspberries. Raspberries are fine in moderation. They contain antioxidants that are great for dogs. They’re low in sugar and calories, but high in fiber, manganese, and vitamin C. Raspberries are especially good for senior dogs because they have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help aging joints. However, they do contain small amounts of xylitol, so limit your dog to less than a cup of raspberries at a time.
Strawberries Yes, dogs can eat strawberries. Strawberries are full of fiber and vitamin C. Along with that, they also contain an enzyme that can help whiten your dog’s teeth as he or she eats them. They contain sugar, so be sure to give them in moderation.
Tomatoes No, dogs should avoid tomatoes. While the ripened fruit of the tomato plant is generally considered safe for dogs, the green parts of the plant contain a toxic substance called solanine. While a dog would need to eat a large amount of the tomato plant to make him or her sick, it’s better to skip tomatoes all together just to be safe.
Watermelon Yes, dogs can eat watermelon. It’s important to remove the rind and seeds first, as they can cause intestinal blockage, but watermelon flesh is otherwise safe for dogs. It’s full of vitamin A, B-6, and C, as well as potassium. Watermelon is 92 percent water, so it’s a great way to help keep your dog hydrated on hot summer days. (You can even find watermelon-flavored dog treats these days.)
