Onions and Dogs - A Bad Combination

By Jerry Welsh


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. Onion are one of the foods safe for humans but poisonous to dogs.

Onions are mainly used as a cooking ingredient as these pungent bulbs enhance the flavor of dishes. Onions are perfectly safe for humans to consume but it is extremely dangerous to dogs. Dogs are much loved pets thus owners have develop the habit of feeding the pet human foods. Life threatening concerns can develop in a dog that ingests raw, cooked, powdered or dehydrated onion.

The toxic effects of onions will be dependent on the amount ingested by the pet. A dog would immediately show signs of poisoning if it has ingested significant amounts of onions. A small amount of onion consumed by the dog would not immediately cause a health concern. Onion toxicity will buildup in dogs that regularly ingest small amounts of onions. In time the dog will show the clinical signs of hemolytic anemia.

Onions are toxic to dogs because these animals do not have the enzyme needed to metabolize thiosuphate, a substance contained by onions. Thiosulphate is the substance that causes the toxicity and 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 would cause the oxidation of the red blood cell. Once red blood cells are oxidized, bubble-like clumps known as Heinz bodies will project from the red blood cells. These bubble-like clumps will weaken and cause the premature destruction of the red blood cells. Mass destruction of red blood cells would result to various health concerns.

Toxicity symptoms of onions will not be seen at once especially if the dog has only ingested a small amount. A one-time ingestion of small amounts of onion may not even harm the dog as the bone marrow will cope with the regeneration of the destroyed red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia is the common health concern that results from regular ingestion of onions as the toxic substance will cause the mass destruction of the dog's red blood cells. The dog will show signs of hemolytic anemia when the bone marrow can no longer manage with the need to regenerate the 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. To ensure the well being of the pet please - refrain from adding onions to its food.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment