Last updated: July 19, 2022
As a dog owner, you’ll find yourself at one point asking the question “Can dogs have onions?“.
If you’ve just cooked up a fantastic meal filled with flavor thanks to the added onions and garlic, and you want to treat your dog to some of the leftovers, you may want to rethink that option! Onions, in all shapes and forms, are toxic to dogs.
It’s as simple as that. You may wonder, “Can dogs have cooked onions?” or “Can dogs eat green onion?” or perhaps “Can dogs eat raw onions?” and the answer is always no. Somewhere along the line, people have heard conflicting stories about various forms or parts of the onion being safe – which is just not true.
If you cook for your dog, be sure to exclude onions from any recipes. You can also opt for pre-prepared fresh dog food that excludes onions. You can find many options to choose from in the Spot & Tango range.
Some sound advice to give you is that onions should be on the very top of your “no-go” list when it comes to feeding and treating your pet. And that means all parts of the onion, including the leaves, flesh, juice, and any processed form.
Why Are Onions Bad for Dogs?
It’s easy to say that onions are bad for dogs, but what makes them bad? Is there a specific reason that you can’t feed onions to your dog, other than possible bad breath?
The truth about onions is that they spur on a form of anemia in dogs. That’s why the symptoms of dogs eating onion are similar to those of anemia – because it is anemia.
How so? Inside every onion, cooked, raw, or powdered, is N-propyl disulfide, which is a toxin for dogs but is entirely safe for humans. The main goal of this toxin is to cause oxidative damage to red blood cells, thus thwarting their functionality, leading to anemia.
As you might know, red blood cells in dogs (and humans) carry oxygen to all parts of the body. The N-propyl toxin attaches to the red blood cell’s oxygen molecules and reduces their ability to transport oxygen around the body.
And then, if that’s not enough for your poor dog to deal with, the toxin takes it a step further by tricking your dog’s body into perceiving its very own red blood cells as a foreign cell, which of course, the body will need to fight off.
When your dog’s body turns on its own red blood cells, hemolysis occurs, which is the destruction of the blood cells, leading to a condition called hemolytic anemia.
Preventing Onion Toxicity in Dogs & Alternatives to Serving Your Dog Onion
The symptoms of a dog eating onion are not fun to witness, and as a loving pet parent, you only want what’s best for your dog. As such, making sure that your dog has no access to any onions or related plants is essential.
The first thing you should do for your dog is to choose food for your dog that veterinary nutritionists specially formulate. The Spot and Tango range is a great choice. It’s free of onion, garlic, and other ingredients that negatively affect a dog’s health. Check out our recipes section here.
There’s also none of the other bad stuff, including preservatives, artificial chemicals, hormones, or grain fillers. It’s safe to say that Spot & Tango’s food range is packed only with goodness! If you’re not keen on buying from the available range, there’s also an option to create a personal meal plan that specifically caters to your dog’s dietary needs.
In addition to changing your dog‘s diet to safer and more nutritional food, you can take other steps to safeguard your dog from onion toxicity as follows:
- If you grow onions, garlic, leeks, and chives, make sure that they are fenced off so that your dog has no access to them.
- Be careful when preparing food with onion – no snacks for your dog!
- Avoid giving your dog any food that contains seasoning, flavoring, or soup powder.
- Store your onions out of reach of your dog (preferably out of sight too).
Symptoms of Onion Poisoning in Dogs
If you accidentally fed your dog onion, or they got into a bag they weren‘t supposed to (they make for something great to gnaw on, in a dog’s opinion), you may start to notice some of the common symptoms of dogs eating onion.
Symptoms of onion poisoning in dogs and, of course, the subsequent onset of anemia vary from dog to dog.
The early signs of onion poisoning include:
- Smell of onion on the breath
- Vomiting (with pieces of onion in it)
- Diarrhea
Severe signs of onion poisoning that indicate anemia may show up on a blood test:
- Tiredness and lethargy
- Weakness
- Pale gums
- Red color in the urine
- Elevated heart rate
- Unusual panting
- Poor appetite
- Collapse
- Exercise intolerance
- Drooling
- Lack of coordination (also called Ataxia)
How Much Onion is Bad for Dogs?
One of your next questions is undoubtedly, “how much onion is bad for dogs?” and that one is simple to answer. Any amount of onion is bad. It’s better to avoid feeding your dog onion altogether.
Of course, onion is found in many food types such as flavorings, soups, baby foods – and often leftovers find their way into your dog’s bowl, so it’s best to be careful.
How much onion can a dog eat based on size? Size does come into play. Smaller dogs eating a large onion will experience more dangerous toxicity than a large dog eating a small pickle-size onion, for instance.
A dog only needs 0.22lb of onion per 44lb of weight for onion toxicity to occur. That means that a large onion can make a 50-pound dog pretty ill.
How is Onion Toxicity Diagnosed in Dogs?
At first, it’s the symptoms of onion poisoning in dogs that may alert you to a problem. Your dog may seem weak, disinterested, and be walking with a wobbly gait, which raises the first red flag.
Observing your dog is essential, but don’t wait before calling your veterinarian. Your dog must be correctly diagnosed to ensure the correct treatment is recommended.
What may seem like onion poisoning to you may be something else entirely, so consulting with a professional veterinarian is always advised. It’s also important to realize that the worst stage of anemia can happen several days after your dog has eaten the onion.
The doctor will carry out a particular process of considering your dog’s history, doing a physical assessment of the dog’s symptoms, and carrying out laboratory tests. The doctor will also check for microscopic Heinz bodies in your dog’s blood sample. Heinz bodies appear when the red blood cell membranes show surface changes and damage.
How is Onion Toxicity in Dogs Treated?
If your dog has recently consumed onion and is showing signs of toxicity, your vet may go ahead and induce vomiting to eliminate the onion still in the digestion process. It’s never a good idea trying to induce vomiting at home without the aid of a qualified veterinarian.
You may also find that the vet administers activated charcoal to your dog. This detoxifies your dog’s gastrointestinal tract to ensure that further toxification does not occur.
If your dog has eaten onion several hours ago or has been snacking on onion repeatedly for some time, the N-propyl toxin may have already taken hold, in which case, your dog will need supportive care.
This means that fluids will be administered to your dog intravenously and he will also be prescribed medications that alleviate the uncomfortable gastrointestinal tract.
In severe cases of anemia, your dog may require oxygen therapy to protect the function of organs and have a blood transfusion.
Of course, this may require a few days at the hospital. Acting as quickly as possible is essential if you notice that your dog is displaying symptoms of onion toxicity. The prognosis is usually good for a dog receiving prompt treatment.
Onion Family Members Also Toxic to Dogs
Onions are toxic for dogs; we know that now. But what about other plants that form part of the onion family? Can dogs eat those, or should you avoid them too?
It’s of the utmost importance to note that onions form part of the Allium family and other plants that form part of the same family are also harmful to dogs. These include the likes of:
- Chives
- Garlic
- Shallots
- Leeks
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. Can dogs eat cooked onions?
No, dogs cannot eat cooked onions, whether fried, boiled, steamed or roasted. Cooking the onion does not destroy the N-propyl toxin. Onion powder can also be even more toxic in its concentrated form than cooked or raw onion.
Q. Can dogs eat raw onions?
No, dogs cannot eat raw onions. Raw onions are just as toxic to dogs as cooked onions.
Q. How much onion is bad for dogs?
As mentioned above, 0.22lb per 44lb of weight will prove toxic to dogs. Dogs can suffer dangerous toxicity if eating 0.5% of their body weight in onion in one sitting. Note that it is not entirely about how much your dog eats at once.
Onion toxicity can also affect your dog negatively if he nibbles on small amounts of onion repeatedly.
Q. What do I do if my dog has eaten onion?
Make a note of all the symptoms you have seen, and contact your vet immediately. Your dog may need medical treatment depending on how much was eaten and, of course, his overall size. Consulting with a vet is essential.
Conclusion
So, can dogs have onions? Or should dogs have onions? Certainly not. Onions are one of the most harmful human foods to dogs.
However, if you‘re looking for a human-grade food product that‘s perfect for your pup, visit the Spot & Tango website to build your dog‘s personalized meal plan.
If you notice that your dog has eaten onion, whether through his own efforts or your mistake, seek veterinary advice and care immediately.
