We humans are used to using onions as a seasoning, or preparing some “onion rings” as a snack. But did you know that onions are potentially toxic and fatal to dogs?
Although most dog tutors already know that onions are harmful to dogs, they don’t know why. Or it may be that there are some doubts on the subject: dogs versus onions.
Then, the time has come to learn in detail! Did you know that onions can kill your dog? Or, they can make your dog seriously ill, whether raw, cooked, or powdered.
So, read our article carefully to know everything in detail.
After all, can dogs eat onions?
The answer is quite simple: NO, definitely dogs cannot eat onions.
Although the onion is widely used in human cooking, adding flavor to our dishes, it contains a substance that for dogs is a strong toxin.
In fact, all parts of the onion plant are toxic to dogs, including pulp, leaves, juice, and processed powders.
Onion powder preparations are even more potent than fresh onions.
It also doesn’t matter how it is prepared, whether it is raw or cooked, the onion will remain toxic.
Why is onion toxic to dogs?
Onions contain a substance called N-propyl disulfide, known as thiosulfate. This substance is not toxic to humans, as our body can digest it normally.
But dogs do not have the body’s enzyme to digest this substance, which makes onions a harmful food for them.
The action of this substance in the dog’s organism is directly on the hemoglobin of red blood cells.
Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen within red blood cells.
Thiosulfate binds to hemoglobin, damaging that protein, causing it to undergo oxidation.
This oxidation of hemoglobin within the cell reduces the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen.
In addition, it causes signaling within the cell called Heinz’s Corpuscles.
This causes your dog’s body to deceive itself and to think that the blood cell is an invader in the body.
Then, red blood cells that are damaged and signaled are destroyed by the body itself in a process known as hemolysis.
This whole process leads to the loss of red blood cells, resulting in anemia, which is called hemolytic anemia.
How Much Is Onion Toxic to Dogs?
Some studies have shown that onions can be toxic to dogs when they eat more than 0.5% of their weight at once.
That means 50g of onion is toxic to a small 10kg (22.04 lbs) dog.
However, this does not mean that if they eat a small piece or another from time to time, they will not get sick.
Regardless of the amount of onions that dog eats, this process that we explained above will happen.
My Dog Ate Onion and Now?
If you suspect your dog has eaten onion, contact your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately.
The veterinarian can help you decontaminate the onion.
Generally, if the ingestion has occurred in the last 30 minutes to an hour, the vet may induce vomiting.
If ingested more than an hour ago, he may be treated with activated charcoal to help limit the absorption of the toxin in the gastrointestinal tract.
If the amount ingested was too large for the size of your animal, it may even be necessary to be hospitalized to apply fluids intravenously and monitor progress.
It is also necessary to monitor the blood with tests, as there may be no clinical signs until the blood has been fully affected.
That is, the symptoms do not appear immediately!
Once affected, it can be checked with blood tests, it may even be necessary to have a blood transfusion.
Most Common Signs of Onion Poisoning
- Excessive tiredness or weakness
- Lack of coordination
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Increased heart rate
- Red or brown urine
- Hypersalivation and increased respiratory rate