What Should You Do If Your Dog Eats Onions?
Laura Evans |
March 05, 2024
49,781
Onions are definitely not a dog-safe treat.
Why are onions bad for dogs? How much onion is toxic to dogs? And what to do if your dog eats onions?
Get the details about onion poisoning in dogs, and how to proceed safely and quickly if your dog eats some.
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Can Dogs Eat Onions?
No, dogs should never eat onions. Onions contain a toxic principle known as N-propyl disulfide. This compound causes a breakdown of red blood cells, leading to anemia in dogs.
The toxin causes oxidative damage to your dog’s red blood cells by attaching to the oxygen molecules in those cells. This reduces the ability of the red blood cells to carry oxygen and also tricks your dog’s body into thinking that the blood cell is an invader. The red blood cell is destroyed in a process known as hemolysis, resulting in hemolytic anemia.
It’s important to note that this applies to all types of onions, including raw onions, cooked onions, and even onion powder.
You shouldn’t be giving your dog onions at all.
How Much Onion is Toxic to Dogs?
The amount of onion that is toxic to a dog will depend on the dog’s size and weight. In general, as little as 5 grams of onion per kilogram of body weight can be toxic. This means that a small amount of onion can be dangerous for a small dog. When dogs ingest large amounts of onion, it can be deadly.
Other factors that can make a dog more susceptible to onion poisoning include:
- Japanese breeds (Akita, Shiba Inu)
- Dogs with concurrent diseases such as diabetes, liver disease, or anemia
- Dogs on certain medications
How much onion did your dog eat?
Let us know and get personalized help for your dog!
Signs and Symptoms of Toxic Ingestion
If a dog ingests onions, they may experience a range of symptoms. These can include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Pale gums
- Rapid heart rate
- Trouble breathing
- Reddish urine
The severity of the symptoms will depend on the amount of onion ingested and the size of the dog. Small dogs are at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms.
Call your vet or a pet poison helpline immediately if you know or suspect your dog ate onions. Symptoms can start within 24 hours after eating onion, but more commonly take a few days to appear. Waiting until the symptoms start could be too late. Note that if your vet is not open, some services provide live chat and video options to connect you with a vet).It’s better to be safe than sorry.
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Onions
If your dog has ingested onions, treatment is absolutely critical.
Contact your veterinarian, or out of hours a 24/7 pet helpline. If it’s been less than two hours since ingestion, they may suggest you induce vomiting as soon as possible by administering 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, followed by activated charcoal to decontaminate and prevent toxins absorption, limiting any additional kidney damage.
⚠️ Remember, with any poisoning, it’s always cheaper, less invasive, and has a better prognosis/outcome if you treat early. Once your dog has already developed clinical signs and is affected by the poison, it makes for a much more expensive veterinary visit!
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