Can Dogs Eat Onions?
Can Dogs Eat Onions? The onion is the edible bulb that grows from the plant known as Allium cepa. Other food plants belonging to the Allium family include garlic, leeks, shallots, chives, scallions, and ramps. These plants have very strong flavors and are used in many preparations cooked worldwide.
Onions also offer health benefits, supplying antioxidants, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. The bad news is that your dog cannot derive any of these health benefits from onions, but at least there are plenty of healthy, edible plants that have these same nutrients in them.
Can Dogs Eat Onions? Onions can hurt your dog worse than make him have bad breath. This pungent cooking ingredient can add flavor to your dishes, but it contains a toxin that can cause severe complications in dogs.
In This Article
- Why Are Onions Toxic to Dogs?
- Which Onion Forms Are Dangerous?
- How Much Onion Is Toxic to Dogs?
- Symptoms of Onion Toxicity in Dogs
- Treatment for Onion Toxicity
- Safe Alternatives to Onions
Why Are Onions Toxic to Dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Onions? Onions contain a toxic chemical N-propyl disulfide. The chemical causes red blood cell breakdown, which results in anemia in canines.
The toxin causes oxidative damage to your dog’s red blood cells by attaching itself to the oxygen molecules in the red blood cells. This reduces the amount of oxygen carried by your dog’s red blood cells and also tricks your dog’s body into thinking that the blood cell is a foreign body. The red blood cell is destroyed in a process referred to as hemolysis, which results in hemolytic anemia.
Treating Onion Toxicity in Dogs
Can Dogs Eat Onions? The most you can do, as a dog owner, to prevent and treat onion toxicity is never allow your dog to consume onions. If your dog is showing signs of toxicity, they will most likely require the services of a veterinarian.
If you suspect that your dog has ingested onions, call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline. It will be helpful to provide information like what your dog ate, when they ate it, and how much onion you think they ate.
Can Dogs Eat Onions? Depending on when your dog consumed the onions, the veterinarian may induce vomiting and provide supportive treatment until your pet’s body is able to generate enough healthy red blood cells again blood cells to replace the damaged cells. If the situation is more serious, your dog will require a blood transfusion.
Toxicity of onions is fatal. The sooner you bring your dog to the vet, the better their chances. Keep in mind: don’t force your dog to vomit, unless under a vet’s advice.
Healthy Vegetables for Dogs
Can Dogs Eat Onions? Onions are a no, but there are several healthy veggies that are perfectly safe in small amounts for dogs. Treat your dog to carrots, cucumbers, or green beans as a healthy treat, and other safe fruits and veggies for your dog to munch on.
Are Green Onions or Chives Safe for Dogs?
Green onion (Allium fistulosum) and chive (Allium schoenoprasum) are both members of the Allium family and toxic to canines. Any onion—red, white, yellow, sweet onions, green onions, chives, leeks, or even garlic—are not safe for dogs to eat due to the fact that they belong to the Allium family.
How Much Onion Is Toxic to Dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Onions? Dogs can experience onion poisoning when they eat amounts greater than about 0.5% of their body weight, as large quantities of onion are toxic to them. The amount of onion that would be toxic to your dog will vary with how heavy your dog is and a few other factors that will make your dog more susceptible.
These breeds of dogs are more likely to suffer from onion poisoning:
- Japanese breeds (Akita, Shiba Inu)
- Animals with underlying diseases like diabetes, liver disease, or anemia
- Dogs receiving some medications
To help with the calculation of how much onion is poisonous based on the size of your dog, it is helpful to establish some parameters regarding onion size. For reference, we’ll consider a medium onion to be roughly the size of a navel orange, with an approximate weight of half a pound. One such onion would amount to about 1 cup of minced onion, or be equivalent to 1 tablespoon of onion powder.
Why Dogs Become Ill from Onions
Can Dogs Eat Onions? Onions have compounds that can destroy a dog’s red blood cells, which may result in anemia. When the substances attach to the oxygen-carrying molecules of red blood cells, they cause them to burst. Both raw, cooked, powdered, and dried onions are toxic – all varieties are detrimental – and can potentially have the same lethal effect on dogs.
Recognizing Mild Cases
Can Dogs Eat Onions? Early signs of onion toxicity are usually digestive issues, including vomiting, diarrhea, or a reduced appetite. Affected dogs might seem less energetic than usual, though they typically remain alert and responsive to their environment. These milder signs usually develop within a day of ingesting onions but can advance to severe signs if not treated.
Identifying Serious Cases
Can Dogs Eat Onions? Severe onion poisoning is characterized by yellow or pale gums, weakness, rapid respiratory rate, and increased heart rate. Your dog can collapse or be very lethargic with little effort. Reddish or brown-colored urine means red blood cells are being filtered through the kidneys and are damaged. These symptoms demand immediate veterinary attention because they reflect potentially life-threatening anemia.
Why Are Onions Toxic to Dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Onions? Onions, and other Allium (garlic, leeks, shallots) members, contain N-propyl disulfide, a chemical that inhibits red blood cell activity in dogs. Dogs lack the enzymes necessary to metabolize this drug1.
N-propyl disulfide causes gastrointestinal distress and, when consumed in adequate amounts, causes hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia is the abnormal premature destruction of red blood cells, incapacitating oxygen delivery throughout the body.