It’s hard to separate dogs from food. The little furry beasts adore munching and crunching on just about anything. Whether it’s good old dog food or everyday human food- you’ll rarely come across a dog that says no to meals. But can dogs eat onions?
While dogs love to eat, should they be eating anything and everything that they come across? The answer is no of course. And while onions are super flavorful and packed with nutrition, they simply aren’t made for dogs.
So here’s the real answer to the mystery that surrounds can dogs eat onions. And we’re unraveling all the details for you below.
Can dogs eat onions- why the vegetable can be poisonous?
Every pet has a digestive system that’s quite different from us all. And that means the foods we eat aren’t technically designed for their bodies. Similarly, dogs can’t consume onions.
Above all, dogs love foods that look, smell, and have a powerful taste. So don’t be surprised if your dog consumes all the onion rings on your chopping board. And that’s because these furry babies want it all.
So we know by now that dogs can’t eat onions. But did you ever wonder what happens when a dog actually consumes this pungent vegetable?
Here’s why dogs can’t eat onions?
Dogs and onions are a pair that simply don’t go hand in hand. In fact, dogs should steer clear of all vegetables belonging to the allium family. And just in case you’re wondering what that is, let’s take a look.
The allium family includes foods such as garlic, shallots, chives, as well as leeks. And if a dog or a cat consumes it, they can get severely ill and even die too.
When dogs eat onions, they have a chance of developing a medical condition called hemolytic anemia. Here, your dog’s red blood cells undergo destruction.
In normal cases, when a dog’s blood cells die, the bone marrow produces more cells. However, in this condition, that doesn’t happen. And since no blood cells are replaced, the dog suffers in pain or can even die of heart failure.
My dog ate a piece of onion, what should I do?
Man’s best friend can be very naughty sometimes. And that’s why as a pet owner, you should be aware of what to do in such cases.
If your dog has accidentally consumed onions, you should inform your vet immediately. They are in the best position to give you the correct advice about the whole ordeal. Generally, the vet’s first advice includes decontamination and making your pet vomit to expel the onions. This is the standard procedure if the ingestion took place in the last 30 to 60 minutes.
If the time period is greater than one hour, it’s wise to rush to the clinic and that’s where the doctors will carry out emergency procedures like decontamination with activated charcoal. This is routinely followed by I/V fluids that prevent dehydration. Similarly, your pet’s entire health progress gets monitored too.
Common signs of onion poisoning in dogs
Here are some common signs that you should watch out for:
- increased heart rate
- lack of concentration and coordination
- increased salivation
- rapid and heavy breathing
- excessive weakness
- vomiting, with or without diarrhea
- red-colored urine
So what’s the best way to tackle onion poisoning in the first place? It’s actually quite simple.
You just need to research foods that are safe for your dog.
For more trending news in the world of pets, don’t forget to read our featured article Can Dogs Eat Cheese?