Onions and Dogs – A Bad Combination

It is generally known that chocolates are dangerous to dogs thus dog owners would not give these comfort food to the pet. However, it is not generally known that onions also have toxic effects on the dog. Onions are unsafe for dogs as consumption can result to the development of serious health concerns.

Onion is a pungent bulb used as a cooking ingredient as it improves the taste of foods. Although onions are perfectly safe for humans it cannot be tolerated by dogs. Dogs are much loved pets thus owners have develop the habit of feeding the pet human foods. Consumption of onions in any form – cooked, raw, powdered or dried can result to a life threatening concern.

Onion toxicity is dose dependent. In some dogs, the effects of ingesting large amount of onions will be readily apparent. A small amount of onion consumed by the dog would not immediately cause a health concern. Small amounts of onions when regularly ingested would cause a buildup of toxicity. After a while symptoms of hemolytic anemia will be shown by the dog.

The thiosuphate substance found in onions cannot be metabolized by dogs as they do not have the necessary enzyme. This substance would cause the premature destruction of red blood cells. Red blood cells have the significant function of supplying oxygen to the tissues and to the different organs of the body. Thiosulphate has the dangerous effect of oxidizing the red blood cells. The oxidation will result to the formation of Heinz bodies, the small bubble-like clumps that project from the red blood cells. Heinz bodies will weaken the red blood cells and cause its premature destruction. Mass destruction of red blood cells would result to various health concerns.

Dogs that have ingested small amounts of onions will not manifest toxicity symptoms at once. Bone marrow regenerates destroyed red blood cells thus a dog that has ingested a small amount of onion once may not suffer from onion toxicity. Dogs that eats onion regularly would suffer from the toxicity effects of this human food as the toxic substance would accumulate and cause the mass destruction of red blood cells. The dog would show the signs of hemolytic anemia when the bone marrow can no longer cope with its task of regenerating destroyed red blood cells.

Dogs are not picky eaters thus there is no need to stimulate the pet’s appetite by adding onions to its food. For the dog’s sake (and for yours too) refrain from giving your pet foods containing onions.

So onions are dangerous to dogs. But do you know everything. At Sarah’s Dogs there is further discussion on the topic of onions and dogs.