Garlic Toxicity and Animals
Een a trace amount might be toxic.
Why Is Garlic Harmful to Pets?
Garlic is a member of the Allium family of plants. Onions, shallots, leeks, chives, and rakkyo are all members of the Allium family (otherwise known as the Chinese onion).
Garlic, like other members of the Allium family, contains chemicals known as disulfides and thiosulphates that, if consumed, can be hazardous to cats and dogs. Garlic consumption causes hemolytic anemia, Heinz body anemia, and methemoglobinemia, all of which are manifestations of red blood cell destruction. Garlic components, in essence, can cause the red blood cells moving through your pet's body to become extremely fragile and rupture.
How Much Garlic Is Dangerous to Pets?
"Garlic is roughly 5 times more concentrated in terms of toxicity than onions," says Dr. Ahna Brutlag, a board-certified veterinary toxicologist, and director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline.
When it comes to onion toxicity, remember the following rule of thumb: In cats, as low as 5 g/kg of onions or 15 to 30 g/kg in dogsled in clinically significant red blood cell damage. Onion toxicosis is routinely observed in animals that consume more than 0.5 percent of their body weight in onions at one time, according to scientific investigations.
Because garlic is more concentrated than onions, even a tiny amount swallowed might result in toxicosis—as little as one clove of garlic can cause toxicity in cats and small dogs.
Please keep in mind that the toxicity level of eaten garlic might vary depending on a pet's weight, breed, and past health history. If you believe your dog or cat has eaten garlic, call the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 or your veterinarian right once.
Garlic Toxicity Symptoms in Dogs and Cats
It's crucial to remember that symptoms may occur many days after your pet eats garlic.
This illness can cause vomiting and diarrhea, as well as anemia signs such as lethargy, pale, yellow, or "muddy" gums, fast breathing, and an accelerated heart rate. Your pet may also have stomach discomfort and colored urine. While vomiting and diarrhea may begin within one day, signs of anemia may show many days to a week after your pet consumes garlic.
Garlic Cloves Preventing Garlic Toxicity in Pets
While large amounts of garlic pose a great risk to pets, your pet can also get poisoned by chronic intake of little amounts of garlic over time.
Pet owners who believe garlic prevents fleas should proceed with care.
"The use of garlic as a flea or tick repellent has been studied and proven to be useless," Brutlag explains. "It is not advised for this purpose, especially when used in conjunction with established therapy." It not only makes your pet sick, but it also makes them vulnerable to deadly infections like Lyme."
If you use garlic supplements for yourself, make sure you take precautions to safeguard your curious dogs. Several incidences of cats and dogs swallowing garlic tablets that were left on the counter have been reported to the Pet Poison Helpline. Some need treatment for severe anemia.
Garlic, onions, chives, and other similar items should also be kept out of reach. Brutlag recounts a Labrador lab who ate salsa-making components that were left out on a kitchen table, including fresh garlic, tomatoes, and onions. While the dog's owner raced to the market to pick up some last-minute ingredients for the meal, the dog helped himself to the ingredients, consuming at least two bulbs of garlic and numerous onions. He had severe anemia and required a blood transfusion. Fortunately, he recovered completely!
When introducing new food or supplements for your pet, the best advice is to always see your family veterinarian first.
Be prepared for anything.
Did you know you can acquire complete health insurance for your pet that will reimburse you for qualified expenditures related to these conditions? Furthermore, if you enroll two or more pets, you will receive an extra discount on your pets' premiums. Do you want to know more? Please visit this page.
**Pet Poison Helpline charges a per-case fee. Nationwide pet insurance is not linked with PPH.
*Smith, K., and Schildt, J. Garlic and Onions. Hovda, LR, Brutlag, AG, Poppenga, RH, and Peterson, KL (eds.).
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