If you’re a dog owner, then you probably pay close attention to your dog’s diet. After all, the food your dog’s diet is incredibly important to their health. And since you can’t fully prevent your dog from getting sick, the best you can do is prepare their body for anything that happens, and that means feeding them the right food.
So, does that mean you can feed onions to your dog?
The simple answer is no. Onions are generally a bad idea for dogs as they have certain compounds that are highly toxic to dogs and can cause serious problems down the line.
With that said, the answer to this question is a bit more complicated. In fact, there are some people out there who argue that onions aren’t just safe for dogs, but they can be beneficial in small amounts.
And in this article, we’re getting to the bottom of this. Keep reading to learn if you can feed your dog onions, why they are toxic for dogs, and what happens if your dog ingests too many onions.
Can I Feed Onions to My Dog?
The safest answer is no; you cannot feed onions to your dog. Even if some people claim onions and garlic offer some health benefits to dogs, the risk isn’t worth the reward. Onions, in all shapes and forms, are toxic to dogs because they contain certain toxins that attack a dog’s red blood cells, which are crucial in supplying oxygen to the body.
There are many things that can happen to your dog if they eat too many onions. In the worst cases, they may even develop hemolytic anemia. So, if you want to stay on the safe side, we highly suggest keeping onions away from your dog.
In fact, if you have onion plants in your garden, make sure to keep them away from your dog as well. Every part of the onion, from the stem to the leaves to the bulb, is very dangerous. So, to keep your dog healthy, make sure that they don’t get close to onions, whether in the kitchen or the garden.
Why Are Onions Dangerous to Dogs?
The reason onions are dangerous for dogs is that they contain the N-propyl toxin. This is something that humans can easily digest and is very present in all allium family members, including garlic, shallots, and chives.
This is the toxin that attacks the red blood cells. In small amounts, it won’t cause too much damage. However, if your dog has a lot of it, then your dog may experience a range of symptoms; none of them are pleasant.
In the worst cases, dogs can develop hemolytic anemia from too many N-propyl toxins. So, experts recommend keeping your dog as far away from this compound as possible to avoid the worst consequences.
Symptoms of Onion Poisoning in Dogs
Onion, garlic, and allium poisoning, in general, manifests itself in many different ways. If you catch your dog eating onions, some of the major and significant symptoms you should keep an eye out for include:
Lethargy
If your dog got into the pantry and decided to snack on some onions, one of the first things to look out for is lethargy and weakness. If your dog isn’t acting like how they usually act, this is a sign that the onion poisoning is affecting them. This isn’t a cause for panic, but we recommend keeping a close eye on your dog and calling your vet if the symptoms get worse.
Decreased Appetite
Eating too many onions can damage your dog’s digestive system. So, they may end up vomiting or having diarrhea. As a result, your dog will also lose its appetite. If your dog isn’t eating normally after munching on some onions, make sure to observe them and call your vet if you notice your dog doing something that isn’t normal.
Reddish Urine
This is one of the more serious symptoms of onion poisoning. If your dog has reddish urine, this is a sign that the N-propyl toxin in the onions is starting to do some significant damage. If you notice this, we recommend calling a vet right away and scheduling an appointment as soon as possible.
We understand that accidents can happen, and even when following the best practices, your dog can still end up eating onions. Most of the time, dogs will be fine even after exhibiting symptoms of onion poisoning. However, to avoid things getting worse, it’s best to act as soon as possible.
So, if you catch your dog eating onions, make sure to get them away from the onions right away. From there, you can keep a close eye on your dog and call the vet if necessary. If they don’t exhibit any symptoms, you can relax. However, if your dog shows symptoms of onion poisoning, call the vet right away so they can start administering treatment before it gets even worse.
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