For some, garlic might be a savory addition to meals providing a plethora of health benefits including assistance

For some, garlic might be a savory addition to meals providing a plethora of health benefits including assistance with cholesterol, blood pressure, heart diseases, and even the common cold. Unfortunately, this does not hold true for our canine friends. Garlic, along with other members of the allium plant family likes onions, scallions, and chives, can be extremely toxic to dogs.

Understanding Risk: Why Garlic is Toxic for Dogs

What Makes Garlic Poisonous to Dogs?

Belonging to the allium family, garlic contains chemical compounds that are abundant in health benefits for humans but can be extremely harmful to dogs. The compounds prevalent in garlic can damage your dog's red blood cells leading to hemolytic anemia, a severe form of anemia. Dogs that ingest garlic may display signs of gastrointestinal upset as their digestive tract is not accustomed to processing it. The compounds in garlic that cause this toxicity mainly include thiols and thiosulfates which interfere with the oxygen molecules in a dog’s bloodstream.

Don’t Dogs Have an Immune Response to Garlic?

Unlike humans, dogs' systems are much less capable of mitigating the damaging effects caused by the toxic compounds found in garlic. The garlic's toxicity accumulates over time, leading to long-term health impacts on dogs.

Garlic Toxicity in Dogs: Knowing the Dangerous Amounts

How Much Garlic is Too Much for Dogs?

Among the allium family, garlic is the most toxic to dogs. Studies have shown that toxicity can occur even at doses as low as 5g of garlic per kilogram of body weight. This toxicity tends to accumulate over time even with smaller quantities ingested. Therefore, it's crucial to avoid feeding your dog garlic regularly.

Understanding the Disguises of Garlic

Bear in mind that garlic powder holds more potent toxicity levels in comparison to fresh garlic. The smaller finer particles in powder forms are easier to absorb and thus can cause harms at smaller quantities. Such forms of garlic can often be found in common kitchen products such as seasoning packets and soup mixes. Owners should be mindful about the potential sources of garlic exposure apart from straight ingestion of a garlic clove.

Identifying the Signs: Symptoms of Garlic Toxicity in Dogs

Spotting Hemolytic Anemia

Hemolytic anemia develops when the red blood cells are destroyed quicker than the body can produce them, leading to a deficit in oxygen supply to the body. The common signs and symptoms can range from weakness, lethargy, rapid breathing, pale gums, jaundice, to dark-colored urine. As the condition progresses, dogs might try to compensate the oxygen deficit by increasing their breathing frequency.

Noting Down Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Upset

Garlic ingestion can also lead to gastrointestinal upset in dogs. The indicators could include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, lack of appetite, lethargy, and abdominal pain. Should any of these symptoms be noticed in your dog, immediate veterinary care should be sought.

Helping your Dog: Treating Garlic Toxicity

Initial Protocols

If your dog has consumed garlic recently, your vet might administer medication to cause vomiting. Following expulsion of the stomach contents, they might utilize other medications to stop further vomiting and reduce discomfort. They may also offer activated charcoal to prevent the absorption of any remaining garlic in the tract.

Follow-up Care

Based on blood tests, your vet will identify the damage done by the garlic toxins on the organs and red blood cells. If necessary, fluid therapy and hospitalization might be recommended. In severe cases, blood transfusions are required. It's imperative to follow-up on treatment regularly to ensure toxicity doesn't progress.

Safe Alternatives for a Healthy Canine Diet

Garlic might not be safe for your dogs, but there are plenty of other vegetables that are both healthy and dog-friendly. Examples include green beans, carrots, and cucumbers. Before adding a new treat or food item to your dog's diet, always consult your vet to avoid potential health problems. Snacks and treats should not make up more than 10% of your dog's regular diet.