Can Dogs Eat Onions? : Can Dogs Eat Food With Onions?
Onions contain a toxic substance that is known as N-propyl disulfide. The toxic substance causes a breakdown of the red blood cells and results in anemia among dogs. Can Dogs Eat Onions? : Can Dogs Eat Food With Onions?
The toxin causes oxidative damage to the red blood cells of your dog by attaching itself to the oxygen molecules in the red blood cells. This makes it more difficult for the red blood cells to carry oxygen and also fools the body of your dog into believing that the blood cell is a foreign intruder. The red blood cell is lysed during the process known as hemolysis, causing hemolytic anemia. Can Dogs Eat Onions? : Can Dogs Eat Food With Onions?
All parts of the onion plant are toxic to canines, from the flesh to the leaves, juice, and processed powders. Raw or cooked, fried or powdered, onions and the rest of the allium group, such as shallots, leeks, chives, and garlic, are poisonous to dogs.
The onion and garlic powders are even more potent than the fresh onions and are used in a surprisingly wide range of foods, from soups to baby food. Always read the label on any human food we feed our dogs. Anything that contains onion powder should be added to your “don’t feeds.”.
As a warning to those with multi-animal homes, onions are even more poisonous to cats than they are to canines, so keep tummies of both felines and canines onion-free. Can Dogs Eat Onions? : Can Dogs Eat Food With Onions?
How Much Onion Is Toxic to Dogs?
It takes only 100 grams of onion (about the size of a medium onion) per 20 kilograms of body weight to be toxic, so a 45-pound dog would only have to eat one large-to-medium onion to become highly toxic. Can Dogs Eat Onions? : Can Dogs Eat Food With Onions?
Since most dogs would be more than happy to inhale an unattended bag of onion rings or onion casserole if left on the countertop, this is a very real danger.
Symptoms of Onion Poisoning in Dogs
If you have reason to believe that your dog has ingested onions, watch for the following anemia symptoms:
Other symptoms of onion toxicity in dogs include vomiting, rapid heart rate, and panting.
If you see any of these symptoms in your dog, the best thing you can do first is to take him or her to a vet immediately. Your vet will need to diagnose your dog based on their signs and on blood tests. If your vet identifies hemolytic anemia or proof of the existence of Heinz bodies on a blood smear, and that is combined with a recent history of having exposed your dog to onions, then all signs will be pointing towards onion toxicity. Can Dogs Eat Onions? : Can Dogs Eat Food With Onions?
There are other conditions that can bring about hemolytic anemia, so it’s essential to get diagnosed properly so that your dog can receive the best treatment.
Can Dogs Eat Green Onions or Chives? Can Dogs Eat Food With Onions?
Green onions (Allium fistulosum) and chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are members of the Allium family and are also toxic to dogs. Red, white, yellow, sweet, green onions, chives, leeks, or even garlic should be avoided by dogs since all these are members of the Allium family. Can Dogs Eat Onions? : Can Dogs Eat Food With Onions?
How Bad Are Onions for Dogs? Can Dogs Eat Onions?
The toxic impact of onions will vary depending on how much your dog eats and the size of your dog. The American Kennel Club indicates that 3.5 oz. of onion per 44 lb. of the weight of a dog can bring about toxic effects. This means a fairly small amount of onion is fatal to a small-sized dog. To play it safe, we recommend you do not feed any onion to any dog. Can Dogs Eat Onions? : Can Dogs Eat Food With Onions?
All of the onion, including the leaves and flesh, as well as juices and powders made from the onion, is bad for dogs. Therefore, if you have onions growing in your garden, it’s worth fencing them off from inquisitive dogs. Can Dogs Eat Onions? : Can Dogs Eat Food With Onions?
Key Points
- Onions, and the rest of the Allium family, are toxic to dogs
- Signs of onion poisoning in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness
- In the event you believe your dog has ingested onions, take your dog to a vet right away.
- Onions are toxic to dogs regardless of how they are cooked and there is no safe amount for them to consume.
FAQ: Onions and Dogs
Are cooked onions toxic to dogs? Yes. Onions are toxic to dogs regardless of how they are prepared (raw, cooked, powdered).
Can onion powder kill a dog?
Yes. Onion powder is very strong, so it is even more deadly than raw onions.
If a dog eats a little bit of onions? A small amount can upset the stomach and, in varying dose and body weight, ruin red blood cells (onion/Allium toxicosis), with side effects occurring immediately or after a few days.
What if dog ate small amount of onion?
Call your veterinarian or a poison hotline for instruction—do not induce vomiting at home without direction; your veterinarian may recommend decontamination and monitoring bloodwork for several days.
Is there a cure for onion poisoning in dogs?
There is no antidote; supportive treatment (e.g., decontamination, IV fluids, oxygen, and in severe anemia, blood transfusions), and prognosis is excellent with prompt treatment.
How quickly can the symptoms of onion poisoning occur in dogs?
GI upset can occur in minutes following ingestion, but blood symptoms (due to hemolytic anemia) usually arise a day or a few days later—alterations can start as early as 24 hours, but clinical anemia may be delayed.