[Dame]

Originally Posted by BanditSocks2

We're switching from Wellness in a month or so, for variety and so Bandit will hopefully eat more (our puppy Nala isn't as picky nor skinny). They loved the Chicken Soup but because of ethoxquin we're not using it. I have a few samples of Merrick and they both seem to love the Turduken, but I just realized that ALL the flavors include whole garlic. Isn't garlic bad for dogs?

vetinfo.com features a pretty decent question and answer section... where questions are answered by actual vets.

to quote one of their questions:

Onion and Garlic toxicity in dogs and cats

Question: Dr. Richard's, Thank you for your help with past questions and creating this web site. I have a question about onions and dogs. I read somewhere onions are poisonous for dogs yet onions are often ingredients in dog treats. Is it just raw onions that are so dangerous? What about meat that has been cooked with onions is this dangerous? What are some things that are toxic for dogs besides chocolate and onions? Also I own several cats are there foods toxic to them as well?

Kim


Answer: Kim-

Dogs develop hemolytic anemia if they eat enough onions. I don't think that it matters too much whether the onions are cooked or not. The quantity of onions required is high enough that dogs can generally tolerate small doses of onions without any problem and moderate amounts of onion without clinically apparent disease, even though there may be measurable changes on lab test results. Cats are probably a little more sensitive to onion toxicity than dogs are. I can't find an exact quantity of onions required to cause toxicity problems in dogs, but there are several case reports of onion toxicity and they involve whole onions or sizable portions of chopped onions (like a cup or more). I think that feeding dogs meat that has been cooked with onions is pretty safe but you might want to avoid giving them the broth from around something like pot-roast if there were a lot of onions used in the cooking, just to be safe.

Large amounts of garlic will produce similar toxicity problems in both dogs and cats. I think that the amount required is not likely to be eaten by a cat but there are probably a few dogs who would lap up a container of spilled garlic.

Among common foods, the only other significant toxicity that I can think of are recent reports of toxicity from eating grapes and raisins that have been reported in dogs.


Mike Richards, DVM
11/15/2001

Toxins that Affect Dogs - Veterinary Information

to quote the ASPCA

I understand that garlic is poisonous for dogs, but why is it often an ingredient in dog treats?
—Michelle S.
Good question, Michelle. Garlic does have toxic potential to pets, and is generally more potent than onion, also a member of the Allium species, in causing changes in red blood cells in dogs and cats. This is true in raw, cooked or powdered forms. In theory, "deodorized" garlic is allegedly less toxic, since the disulfides, responsible for both the odor and the toxicity, are usually largely removed.

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An occasional low dose, such as those found in most commercial pet foods or treats, would not likely cause problems. A conservative approach might be to avoid exposure to more concentrated garlic-based products.

ASPCA | Treats with Garlic

Small amounts of garlic really aren't toxic. Large does however (due to the thiosulphate)... are. Garlic has been used as a flea repellant for years, and it can be used that way because if the dosage is correct it is in fact safe. If the small amount of garlic included makes you uneasy, by all means don't use it! But in all essence, its the accidental exposure/uneducated exposure that leads garlic to be listed more then anything else. Slight amounts in dog food? Ok. Licked up spill of garlic powder or a whole clove? No.