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.
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.
How much garlic can be poisonous?
Both dogs and cats should avoid eating fresh, dried, or powdered garlic, onions, or other Allium species plants (such as leeks, chives).
With raw garlic, harmful intake is approximately 1 gram per 5 pounds, however with onions, it is 1 gram per pound. Compared to fresh, onion and garlic powders are more strong and can result in more significant issues. If you need to offer baby food to a cat or dog, carefully examine the labels because some baby foods contain garlic/onion powder.
The main oxidant, n-propyl disulfide, found in garlic and onions is hazardous. Dogs and cats are more susceptible to noise than people are “damage to their red blood cells from oxidation. Dogs possess more “locations on their red blood cells where oxidizing substances like n-propyl disulfide can bind. The body recognizes this connection as a foreign intruder, and in an effort to get rid of it, it also destroys the red blood cell. This is known as “hemolysis is the disintegration of red blood cells.
If hemolysis is severe, anemia (low red blood cell count) will result. Weakness, sluggishness, and decreased appetite are indicators of anemia. Their gums may also be pale. As oxygen is carried by red blood cells, severely anemic animals can “Having insufficient oxygen causes them to become faint.
A report of a red blood cell breakdown might cause the urine to turn colored, therefore “Urine that has a port wine hue can indicate hemolytic anemia.
poisoning has also been documented in wildlife in addition to dogs and cats (geese). It seems that human red blood cells are simply more durable than their animal counterparts. Dogs are not as sensitive as cats. It’s a good thing cats don’t frequently nibble on garlic or onions!
Heinz Bodies on a blood smear and laboratory results that point to hemolytic anemia point to an oxidative toxicosis “Microscopically, Heinz Bodies can be observed on the margins of red blood cells; these are signs of oxidative damage. Therefore, a diagnosis of onion or garlic toxicosis is assumed in cases of Heinz Body Hemolytic Anemia with a history of snacking on garlic and onions.
Hemolytic anemia can have other causes as well, and examining blood panels or x-rays can help make the right diagnosis.
The management of onion/garlic toxicosis is rather simple.
STOP FEEDING THE GARLIC/ONION! If no additional onion or garlic is provided, the body will eventually stop hemolyzing the red blood cells. Over time, the bone marrow will readily release more red blood cells into the system. Supportive care involves keeping the pet calm (excitement causes panting, which leads to insufficient red blood cells to deliver oxygen, which causes fainting spells), providing a healthy diet (but avoiding onions), and monitoring behavior.
Cooked garlic: Is it harmful to dogs?
Leeks, chives, and onions are other plants in the Allium genus, which also includes garlic (Allium sativum). This vegetable can be hazardous to your pet if they consume too much of it, whether it is cooked, raw, with seasoning, or combined with food.
An organosulfur component found in some species of this plant sets off a chain of oxidative events that outweigh the antioxidant capacities of your dog’s red blood cells. This may cause Heinz body development and alter the structure of your dog’s red blood cells. Red blood cells affected by these changes end up being weak and prone to rupture.
Less blood oxygen can reach your dog’s tissues when red blood cells disintegrate. This illness, also known as anemia, can make your dog appear and feel extremely exhausted because they aren’t receiving the oxygen and energy they require to properly operate their organs and muscles.
treats on the market.
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.)
