PET FOOD SAFETY AND TOXICITY: IS GARLIC SAFE FOR DOGS TO EAT?

PET FOOD SAFETY AND TOXICITY: IS GARLIC SAFE FOR DOGS TO EAT?

by Dr. Marty Pets 

Pet Food Safety and Toxicity: Is Garlic Safe for Dogs to Eat?

PET FOOD SAFETY AND TOXICITY: IS GARLIC SAFE FOR DOGS TO EAT?

by Dr. Marty Pets 

Can dogs eat garlic? Well, the evidence suggests that garlic can hurt both dogs and cats. While you would possibly think it’s an excellent herb to feature to your food – and it’s a staple ingredient in many sorts of dishes – it appears that garlic is bad for dogs. So no, garlic isn’t safe for your pooch.

Here may be a little information on why most experts believe feeding your dog garlic is a bad idea.

WHAT DOG OWNERS SHOULD KNOW: IS GARLIC TOXIC TO DOGS?

Garlic may be a member of the onion family, so it’s associated with other sorts of food humans eat regularly. additionally to onions, this family also includes:

Leeks
Shallots
Chives
Scallions
All of those are considered to be toxic to dogs and cats – garlic even more so. The toxicity of garlic is estimated to be five times that of onions. There are many health issues related to garlic toxicity in dogs. These include anemia, blood corpuscle damage, nausea, and vomiting.

can dogs eat garlic | Dr. Marty Pets
One of the explanations garlic is toxic for dogs is that their bodies metabolize garlic differently than humans? there's a selected component in garlic, thiosulfate, that appears to be the rationale why.

UNDERSTANDING THIOSULFATE

1-Thiosulfate is often very harmful to a dog’s health. Toxicity caused by thiosulfate can cause several issues, including stomach problems, loss of appetite, dehydration, diarrhea, and even mood issues.
2-Pet owners who are proponents of garlic believe that it can actually be beneficial to dogs – in small quantities. They claim it can, for instance, help repel fleas.
3-But experts say that as little as five grams of garlic per one kilogram of a dog’s weight can cause problems.4 Cloves of garlic are usually between 3-7 grams.

The bottom line? Most experts suggest that dog owners should steer beyond garlic altogether when it involves their pets. ask your vet before adding garlic to your dog’s routine for any reason.

UNDERSTAND THE RISKS: 

blood corpuscle DAMAGE, ANEMIA, AND renal failure 
There are tons of health issues related to garlic toxicity. Here are just a couple of them.

BLOOD CELL DAMAGE

Garlic, onions, and related foods contain a compound referred to as N-propyl disulfide. This damages a substance called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is liable for providing oxygen to red blood cells.
When this happens, it can cause severe anemia (more on this within the next section), potentially leading to organ damage or maybe organ failure. If a dog ingests garlic, it also can irritate their alimentary canal .5

ANEMIA

can dogs eat garlic | Dr. Marty Pets
Anemia occurs when red blood cells are either damaged or lost. this will cause bleeding, both externally and internally. one of the most symptoms of anemia is lethargy.

An affected dog might find it difficult to exercise. Loss of appetite is another symptom. Your dog’s dinner might go untouched.6

Anemia can, in some cases, cause the formation of probably dangerous blood clots.7

Anemia is often serious, but your veterinarian should be ready to diagnose and treat it effectively.

KIDNEY FAILURE

Kidney failure is one of the most important threats to a dog’s health. Garlic toxicity in dogs can affect the kidneys in such how that it harms the remainder of the body.

The kidneys play a serious role in eliminating waste from the body, but they perform other vital roles also. for instance, they assist confirm that blood glucose and vital sign occupy safe levels. They also help produce several sorts of hormones.

sick dog and his owner

Talk to your veterinarian if your dog has eaten garlic, as they'll be experiencing digestion or kidney discomfort. Common symptoms from garlic-induced kidney problems in dogs include:

A sudden loss of weight 
Lack of interest in eating pet food 
Blood within the urine
Vomiting
Increased thirst
Constipation
Your veterinarian can help manage renal failure in your dog in order that they can still lead a full, happy life.8

OTHER HUMAN FOODS THAT ARE BAD FOR DOGS

A lot of dog owners will sometimes sneak their pet human food. a number of it's typically harmless but others are often detrimental to your pet’s health. no matter a dog’s breed, there are some foods pets should never eat.

Along with garlic, two of the foremost toxic foods to dogs are onions and macadamia nuts.

ONIONS

Onions are known more for causing stinky breath in humans than for being dangerous, but onion poisoning can mean bad news for your pet. As you already know, the onion is within the same family of food like garlic. Both of them contain the toxic compound that was covered earlier – N-propyl disulfide. 9

MACADAMIA NUTS

can dog eat garlic | Dr. Marty Pets
Macadamia nuts could seem harmless, but they will be dangerous for your pet. You’ll find them during a lot of various sorts of food, including desserts.

Experts aren’t really sure why macadamia nuts cause problems. But even in small amounts, if your dog eats them, they will experience symptoms like vomiting and weakness.10,11

WHAT ABOUT PEANUT BUTTER?

Some dog owners will give their pet a touch spread once during a while. But even this will be bad. the rationale is that some brands of spread contain an ingredient called xylitol. this is often a sweetener often added to sugar-free foods. Xylitol has been linked to weakness and vomiting, also as liver problems in dogs.12

If your pup loves some occasional spread, just make certain to see that the label is free from xylitol before letting them indulge.

You can learn more about dogs and nuts HERE.

TAKE ACTION, BUT DON’T PANIC

If you think your dog has ingested something toxic, call an animal poison center also as your veterinarian. Your vet, or the pet poison helpline, can tell you what to try to next.

Sources

1 https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/garlic/
2 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-garlic/
3 https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/care/the-many-benefits-of-garlic-for-your-dog/
4 https://thepetauthority.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/how-much-onion-or-garlic-is-toxic-to-pets/
5 https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/toxicity/are-onions-and-garlic-bad-your-dog
6 http://www.vetstreet.com/care/anemia-in-dogs
7https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/c_multi_hypercoagulability
8https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/urinary/c_multi_renal_failure_chronic
9 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-onions/
10 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-macadamia-nuts/
11 https://www.aspca.org/news/animal-poison-control-alert-macadamia-nuts-are-toxic-dogs
12 https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/poisoning-toxicity/6-dangerous-and-surprising-items-contain-xylitol