Onions and Dogs: Deadly Mix?

Onions are one of those common household foods in America. It turns out that onions are one of the most popular vegetable crops in the world just behind tomatoes. They are so widely grown because they are used in dishes around the world. Onions go great with just about any food. They can be used raw in salads, cooked into delicious bread and cornbread, on top of pizza, in pasta sauce, and just about any other cooked food.

It is estimated that approximately 93 million metric tons of them are grown each year. That’s a lot of onions! With so many onions around in the world, dogs are bound to be exposed to them. So that begs the question, can dogs eat onions?

No, dogs should not eat onions, they are toxic to them. Onions are one of those foods that your dog should never eat. They rank up there in the list of toxic foods for dogs right alongside grapes and raisins. Do not ever feed your dog onions. If you ever see a post or a website that says dogs can eat onions, don’t believe it. Here is why.

When a dog consumes an onion, the toxins can quickly start to take effect. The same chemical compounds that give onions their pungent flavor are also those responsible for toxicity in dogs. Onions contain a substance known as N-propyl disulfide. This sulfur-based compound is responsible for causing damage to the dog’s red blood cells. This in turn causes Heinz cell anemia in the dog which can be fatal If left untreated. It can also be quite expensive to treat, so it is best to avoid letting your dog eat onions at all.

Common Sources Of Onion Exposure

As you most likely already know, dogs are very opportunistic eaters. They will grab anything they can and devour it as fast as possible if you’re not paying attention. Even a freshly fed dog will take advantage when it sees something easily accessible. That is why it is critical to keep onions away from dogs. This actually pertains to anything in the allium genus, they are all toxic to dogs.

Dogs will not commonly eat whole onions. They will however eat onion rings, foods with onion powder, casserole dishes, and many other prepared foods. It is best to keep your dog away from anything that contains onions, keep it out of reach.

Symptoms Of Onion Toxicity In Dogs

The symptoms can start in as little as an hour depending on many factors. The size of the dog, the breed, the amount that was eaten, and what was eaten are all factors that influence the onset of symptoms. A majority of dogs that eat onions will start with GI issues. Expect to see the following:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite

If left untreated, which is totally not recommended, Heinz body formation starts within 24 hours and peaks by the 72nd hour. Clinical signs of anemia can start in as little as 3 to 7 days. It is possible you will see these additional symptoms if your dog has anemia. They may show only a few of the symptoms, in more severe cases you can expect to see most of the symptoms below.

Panting
Pale gums
Fainting
Increased heart rate
Difficulty breathing

It goes without saying, but if your dog was exposed to a large number of onions and has any of the above symptoms you should contact your vet immediately. The sooner you act the better the outcome will be for your pet.

Treatment For Onion Toxicity In Dogs

So the good news, is if your dog ate onions, it can be treated. It is best to take your dog to the vet to have it properly evaluated. The first concern would be dehydration if your dog has been vomiting or having loose stools. The vet may want to keep the dog overnight even if it does not have symptoms of anemia just to monitor hydration. They may even opt to put your dog on an IV drip.

Depending on how much onion was eaten, there are a few different things that can be done to reduce the damage that onions cause. They can clean out the GI tract via an enema, they can use active carbon, and they can also use a solution of diluted hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. Even though active charcoal is listed as a treatment, there is not really any evidence that shows it does anything.

Can Dogs Eat Onions FAQ

Can dogs eat onions cooked?

No, dogs can not eat cooked onions. It turns out that cooking the onions does not in any way reduce how toxic they are to your dog. Sautéed onions are just as toxic to your dog as raw onions. Depending on how they are cooked they might be more tempting to your dog as well.

What are the symptoms of onion poisoning in dogs?

Onion poisoning in dogs typically starts with GI-related symptoms. Expect to see some vomiting and diarrhea followed by a loss of appetite. If the dog consumed a large number of onions then you can expect anemia 3-7 days afterward. You should immediately seek help from a veterinarian if your dog ate a lot of onions.

How much onion is toxic to dogs?

According to a few studies, it takes a ratio of between 15-30grams per KG of body weight of the dog. A single medium onion weighs about 175 grams. So on the high side, 1 medium onion could cause symptoms in a dog that weighs 11 kg. Smaller dogs take less onion to cause damage than larger dogs.

How to treat onion poisoning at home?

I would say unless you’re a vet don’t be stupid and try home remedies. Do not try to treat your dog at home for onion poisoning! You are essentially playing with your pet’s life at this point. If your dog consumed enough to be at a toxic level, call a vet immediately. If you are unable to get to a vet for unforeseen reasons you should induce vomiting in the dog to help rid the dog of the toxic onions. This is especially critical that it is done within 2 hours of consumption.

Is one onion ring going to hurt my dog?

As scary as it might be if your dog ate only one onion ring it should be clinically ok. It’s possible you will see some GI upset due to the fact that it is part of the allium genus and the oils from frying. I would be more concerned that the dog vomits since it can not process fats very well.

Will a tiny piece of onion hurt my dog?

If your dog only ate a small piece of onion it is very unlikely that you will see any ill effects. As long as your dog ate less than 10g/kg of body weight, it should be ok. Once it approaches 15G/Kg of body weight, you could see some negative side effects.

What to do if the dog ate a small piece of onion?

If your dog ate a small piece of onion there is most likely nothing that needs to be done. However, if you have a small dog and the ratio exceeded 15g/kg of body weight, the dog should be seen by a veterinarian. At this level, it is best to have the dog seen by a vet within 2 hours. Typically if the dog ate enough onion to be toxic, the vet may want to induce vomiting. Some veterinarians may also give active charcoal after the induced vomiting, There does not seem to be any evidence that supports that as being a treatment.

Summary: Can dogs eat onions?

Dogs should not eat onions
Dogs should be seen by a vet within 2 hours of eating onions if a large amount was eaten
Small amounts of onions will not hurt a dog
The first signs of onion toxicity are vomiting and diarrhea, followed by panting, difficulty breathing, and rapid heart rate.
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Has your dog ever been exposed to a large number of onions? What did you do? Please leave a comment below.