What is Onion Poisoning in Dogs?
Onion Poisoning in canines is an illness that requires to be carefully observed and dealt with in order to offer your furry buddy as many healthy years as possible.
Onions may add flavor to your dishes, but it contains a toxin that can cause serious complications for dogs. Unfortunately, onions can cause more damage to your dog than just bad breath.
A toxic compound in onions known as N-propyl disulfide causes a breakdown of red blood cells, leading to anemia in dogs. This toxin, effectively, causes oxidative damage to red blood cells by attaching to the oxygen molecules in your dog's red blood cells. This in turn lowers 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.
Here’s everything you need to know about onion poisoning in dogs – how to prevent your pupfrom onion poisoning, the early signs or of onion poisoning that you should look for, and what to do if you notice symptoms of onion poisoning in dogs.
Symptoms of Onion Poisoning in Dogs
Onion Poisoning can cause noticeable changes in your dog’s health and behaviour. Knowing the symptoms of Onion Poisoning in dogs is the first step in safeguarding your dog’s wellbeing. If any of these signs apply to your pet, bring your canine to your vet for a checkup:
- Smell Of Onions
- Garlic On The Breath
- Excessive Salivation
- Irritation Of The Mouth
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Signs Of Abdominal Pain
- Rapid Heartrate (Tachycardia)
- Panting (Tachypnea)
Disclaimer: The information presented on this page is designed to help inform you regarding onion poisoning. It is not meant to replace the vet diagnosis or treatment for onion poisoning. If you have any questionsor concerns about your canine’s health or possible symptoms, make to contact and consult with your vet right away.
The Main Causes of Onion Poisoning in Dogs
To understand and treat onion poisoning in dogs, we need to know the underlying causes of onion poisoning in dogs. This can help you prevent onion poisoning happening in the first place or again.
These are some of the risk factors and causes of onion poisioning in dogs:
- Ingestion of fresh growing garlic, onions or chives
- Feeding food prepared for humans to a dog
- Dog eats dried or powdered garlic or onions
- Zinc deficiency or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase can make the red blood cells weaker and increase a dogs susceptibility to allium species toxicosis
Diagnosing Onion Poisoning in Dogs
No one knows your dog better than you do and therefore it is critical that your dog be checked thoroughly by a veterinarian annually.
If you think your pet has ingested a product that contains onions or garlic this will make diagnosis easier. If you are not sure, then the vet can do a blood test or urinalysis which may show high levels of hemoglobin in the urine. Heinz body anemia may be visible on a blood smear examination even before there is a marked drop in red blood cells.
With recent ingestion, smell of onions or garlic on the breath, or vomiting and diarrhea with undigested pieces may also be an early indication that your dog has allium species toxicosis. If the source of poisinging was untraceable then the vet may ask what foods you regularly give your dog and suggest you check the list of ingredients.
Contact your veterinarian to understand more about the treatments for onion poisoning in dogs.
Preventing Onion Poisoning in Dogs
Avoiding onion poisoning in dogs is always more ideal than treating it, therefore let’s explore ways to avoid onion poisoning in dogs rather than treating it.
To not to seem weak or vulnerable to predators, the natural survival instincts make pet dogs hide diseases. This means extensive physical exams by a certified vet are crucial to keep your pets healthy. Generally, blood and urine tests performed by your vet are needed to get the complete picture of your pet’s health. These preventive checks steps will identify any illness sooner making treatment more effective and less expensive and, more significantly, will help your pet dog live a longer, healthier life.
Avoiding any type of food containing onions, garlic or chives in your pet's diet will help in preventing onion poisoning in dogs.
Treatment for Onion Poisoning in Dogs
If the onion poisoning in your dog is recent, the dog may be given activated charcoal to reduce absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and vomiting may be induced. You will have to monitor your dog for signs of anemia over the next few days and the vet may recommend a diet low in oxidants.
In the event your dog has ingested a large amount, your pet may have to be kept in a veterinary hospital for a period of time. Severely ill dogs with onion poisoning will require supplemental oxygen to make up for the reduced circulation of red blood cells and a blood transfusion may be required to stabilize your dog until the bone marrow is able to generate enough new, healthy erythrocytes.
Talk to your vet to find out more about how to treat onion poisoning in dogs.