Among many things we eat, garlic is present in many foods, be them industrialized or fresh food we cook at home. Because of this, many people wonder: can dogs eat garlic? Is having raw or cooked garlic safe for dogs? Or is it toxic? We will discuss all of that so you learn whether to let your dog eat garlic.
Can Dogs Eat Garlic?
Garlic and its delectable aroma may be quite alluring to certain of our four-legged companions.
Whether they dash into the kitchen to check what’s cooking or peer into your soul as you settle down for dinner, dogs have a variety of methods up their sleeves for snatching a taste of whatever garlicky feast the family is eating.
However, should devoted pet owners succumb and feed dogs that desired bite? Dogs should generally avoid garlic due to its toxicity.
This is one of the reasons it is best to avoid giving your dog leftover human food from your supper since many dishes include garlic in some form.
Is Garlic Bad For Dogs?
Garlic is a member of the Allium root vegetable family. This family also includes onions, leeks, and chives.
They all include a chemical molecule called n-propyl disulfide, which damages red blood cells via oxidative stress and results in hemolytic anemia.
Garlic has between five and ten times the amount of the chemical found in onions, leeks, chives, and shallots.
This poisonous chemical is found in all sections of allium plants. Regrettably, dogs (and cats) lack the digestive enzyme necessary to metabolize them.
Normally, undigested meal components are excreted, but not thiosulfates. They lurk and wreak havoc on your dog’s body. They may even accumulate.
Thiosulfates bind to your dog’s red blood cells, which are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. When this occurs, the red blood cells get damaged and aggregate into clumps known as Heinz bodies.
The body perceives the injured cells as intruders and eliminates them quicker than the body can regenerate them. This process is referred to as hemolysis or the breakdown of red blood cells.
If this process is not stopped, your dog will develop hemolytic anemia. The body does not get enough oxygen to operate properly.
Although anemia signs may manifest immediately, it is more normal for the first symptoms to manifest a few days after a dog consumes a hazardous dose of garlic. Garlic poisoning is most often caused by table leftovers.
Benefits of Garlic For Dogs
There is some controversy on whether garlic presents any benefits for dogs.
While we already said that garlic is generally toxic for dogs, some dog owners and even some veterinarians say that garlic’s therapeutic properties are much the same for dogs as they are for people.
They argue that garlic decreases cholesterol (which is beneficial for overweight dogs) as well as inflammation, blood pressure, and immune system function.
However, the advantages of garlic are totally dependent on the kind and dose used.
It goes without saying that you need to consult your veterinarian prior to administering your dog garlic.
How Much Garlic Is Toxic For Dogs?
All dogs consume human food that they should avoid, and garlic is one of those foods. While there is debate over the toxicity of garlic, everyone believes that it is dependent on the kind and quantity consumed, as well as the size and breed of the dog.
Regular doses of raw garlic can be healthy for your dog.
These doses of garlic are said to offer preventive health advantages for dogs, increasing their immune system, enhancing heart function, protecting them from fleas and ticks, and decreasing inflammation.
According to conventional veterinary science, 15-30 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight may initiate a dangerous cascade of events in your dog’s body.
With a garlic clove weighing around 3-7 grams, this is a substantial quantity of garlic.
Most likely, if your dog eats a piece of your garlic bread, the little quantity of garlic in it will cause them no trouble other than mild flatulence.
However, if this occurs often, or if your dog consumes a few of the garlic cloves he snatched off the counter, there might be a danger.
The following is a breakdown of the maximum daily dose of fresh garlic for a dog before he gets sick:
- 10 to 15 pounds: up to half a clove
- 20 to 40 pounds: up to 1 clove
- 45 to 70 pounds: up to 2 cloves
- 75 to 90 pounds: up to 2.5 cloves
- 100 pounds or more: up to 3 cloves
How Bad Is Garlic For Dogs?
Dogs who are very sensitive to garlic will go into hemolytic anemia. Its symptoms consist of:
- Lethargy
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased stamina or even fainting after or during exercise
- Loss of appetite
- Pale gums and drooling
- Elevated heart rate or respiratory rates (rapid breathing)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of coordination (ataxia)
- Discolored urine
A dog exhibiting these symptoms requires quick veterinary care to avert renal failure or perhaps death.
While dogs seldom die from garlic consumption, Japanese breeds such as the Shiba Inu, Spitz, Chin, and Akita seem to be more susceptible to garlic poisoning.
Final Words About Can Dogs Eat Garlic
Check out our video about garlic with Tan, Matilda and Foxy below:
In general, it is best not to feed your dog any garlic. If you think it can bring any benefits to your dog, you should consult your trusted vet before making any decision.
Although some people argue that garlic has benefits on a dog’s health, its risks are still too high and it doesn’t seem very wise to subject your dog to such risks.
Dr. Pitcairn says garlic is safe for dogs, but he also adheres to “holistic” views and homeopathy, which are, ultimately, pseudosciences without any supporting evidence.
So, if he is applying the same methodology to studying dogs’ health, he is probably ignoring evidence that garlic is in fact poisonous to dogs.
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