Can Dogs Eat Onions? A Vet’s Perspective

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Onion has a subtle taste and aroma in your kitchen aids. We add onion in almost every dish from soup to regular meals. Our favorite dishes are incomplete without onions. But as a canine owner if you wonder can dogs eat onions so it’s a big NO. The veggie is toxic and unsafe for dogs. If you wanna get the useful info in terms of this ladder, lemme tell you N-propyl disulfide compound present in onion so you shouldn’t give onions. 

Let us make your canine shoulders! 

Can dogs eat onions?

Onions are toxic for dogs because of the N-propyl disulfide compound present in it. So you shouldn’t give onions. The compounds cause breakdown or destruction of the RBCs and ultimately to the anemia. Onion poisoning can be fatal in extreme cases for your dog. 

Do all the parts of onions are toxic?

Onion as a whole is toxic including its leaves, flesh, juice or even the processed powder of onion causing poisoning in dogs. Allium cepa (onion) belongs to the Allium family which includes garlic, chives, leeks and shallots_are toxic for dogs. You cannot give onion either in cooked, raw or powdered form. 

Onion powder is present in almost every salty meal. A dog with weight 20 kg can have toxicity by only a medium onion (about 100 g) which eventually means that a medium to large onion can cause severe toxicity in a 45 pound dog. Although dogs love to have onion casserole or onion rings, it can cause serious health issues in them. 

Even more potent is found in garlic and onion power than a fresh onion. So if you feed any of the human meals to your four-legged partner, make sure to read the label. In your don’t list, onions should also be added for the dog’s health. If you are a zoophilist then you should know that felines have more serious onion concerns than canines. Make sure to make tummies of your furry friends like cats and dogs, free from onions. 

Signs of onion toxicity

Onion toxicity can cause anemia and its signs are here:

  • Lethargy.
  • Decrement of appetite.
  • Weakness.
  • Gums become pale.
  • Urine becomes brown or red.
  • Faint complexion. 
  • Balance loss.
  • Increment of respiratory rate.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Intolerance of exercise.
  • Pain in abdomen. 

Signs like panting, increment of heart rate and vomit are also listed for dog’s onion toxicity by ASPCA. 

Call your veterinarian as soon as you can if you see one of these signs in your four-legged companion. On the basis of blood work and symptoms your vet will diagnose the actual problem. Heinz bodies formation or detection of hemolytic anemia are combined in a recent research history of onion subjection, so these are the ultimate pointers of onion toxicity in your canine. For better action make sure to get perfect diagnosis as hemolytic anemia can also be caused by other disorders. 

Cure of onion toxicity in the dogs

As a canin owner what you can do is, not allow your dog to have onions to avoid toxicity. Veterinary treatment is required immediately if your dog is suffering the onion toxicity symptoms. On the basis of ingestion time or recent ingestion, your vet might induce vomiting in the dog. Auxiliary care will also provide until your dog’s body gets enough comfort to produce enough RBCs to get replaced by denatured RBCs. Blood transfusion can also be used if the condition is severe. 

Keep all the onion-containing dishes away from your dog’s approach. Get your dog to the veterinarian as soon as you can so the cure can be started in early stages and the condition doesn’t become severe.

Conclusion

Our daily meals are incomplete without onion or onion powders but because of the N-propyl disulfide compound it is toxic for canine but even more dangerous for felines. You should avoid giving onions to your dogs even in small amounts. Onion toxicity in severe cases can also be fatal to your dog. Call your veterinarian to avoid any mishap. Hope this helps my four-legged owners! 

FAQs

Can you feed your dog chives or green onions?

Allium schoenoprasum (chive) or Allium fistulosum (green onions), both are included in the Allium family which are toxic for dogs. You should avoid giving any onion type like green, sweet, yellow, red or white onions, leeks, chives and garlic as all of these are members of the Allium family. 

Are there any healthy veggies for dogs?

Although onions are toxic for dogs there are many other veggies which are dog-safe. These includes:

  • Green beans.
  • Cucumbers.
  • Carrots. 

Make sure any of the treats other than dog food, you should give in small amounts. 

What should I do if my dog eats onions?

Analyze the onion or onion powder quantity your dog has consumed. If you are not sure how much your dog has fed on the onion you should immediately reach your veterinarian. You can also make a call on ASPCA (888-426-4435) or pet poison helpline (855-764-7661) or your vet for an emergency treatment.

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