Can Dogs Eat Onions? No, onions are capable enough to cause more damage than just pungent bad breath.
Why are onions toxic to dogs?
The presence of a chemical known as N-propyl disulfide in onion can lead to anemia. The toxin attached itself to the oxygen fragment or molecules in the dog’s RBC or red blood cells. It gradually reduces the RBC’s capacity to carry oxygen and the process by which the RBCs are destroyed is known as hemolysis or hemolytic anemia.
Which parts of an onion are toxic to dogs?
All the parts including processed powders, juice, leaves, and the flesh. Members of allium family(chives, leeks, shallots, and garlic), powdered or fried, cooked or raw onions are also invariably toxic to dogs.
Onion powder can be traced from baby foods to soups. Moreover, only 100 grams of medium or large sized onion per 20 kgs can cause toxic effects.
Garlic powders and onion are even more dangerous than raw or fresh onions. Onions are also toxic to cats too.
Signs of onion poisoning in dogs
The anemia signs to look out for in case your dog has eaten any onion related foods are
- Urine in red color
- Fainting
- Pale gums
- Appetite loss
- General weakness
- Lethargic or slow
- Panting
- Increased heart rate
- Vomiting
Rush him/her to the nearest vet and they will decide upon the right kind of treatment to be provided for your dog.
How to prevent dogs from eating onions?
- Make sure the onion basket is out of reach away from your dog’s habitat.
- If onion toxicity has been confirmed, then your vet try to clean your dog’s stomach by inducing vomiting. In certain cases, a blood transfusion might also be carried out to increase the RBC count.
- Therefore, feed your dog with other vegetables such as green beans, cucumbers, or carrots.
