For dog owners, our dogs are some of the most important creatures in our lives. Keeping care of them is a priority, and it can be immensely important to look after your dog. This means caring for them through proper exercise and diet. That is why it is important to know what your dog can (and cannot) eat. For example, many want to feed their dog something with garlic in it. Should you? Can dogs have garlic?
Can dogs have garlic? Absolutely not!
So, the first thing to state is that no, a dog cannot eat garlic regardless of the circumstances. It is simply too dangerous for them to eat. Garlic is not something that you can feed your dog – even if it starts to sniff around. Like many things that are not good for us, your dog might wish to try garlic. It is utterly imperative that you do not allow them to do so.
Dogs have a different metabolization process for dealing with foods than a human would. This means that garlic, and various other allium foods, are not safe for your dog. Why? It contains an ingredient known as thiosulfate. For humans, this has no harmful qualities. For a dog, though, it can be fatal.
It causes damage to their red blood cells, and this can cause a condition known as hemolytic anemia. This is a terrible condition for a dog to go through, and it can cause problems including weakness, fatigue, jaundice, and really dark urination. It can also lead to vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even depression. So, as you can imagine, giving your dog garlic can just lead to a trainwreck of problems that we have listed above.
How much garlic is too much for a dog?
Most experts state anything in the region of 15g to 30g of garlic is probably enough to send your dog into overdrive and cause serious problems. However, while your average clove of garlic is going to be 7g or less, dogs can be far more sensitive than others. This means that, with garlic, you should really take a ‘better safe than sorry’ approach to the whole thing.
You should even try to avoid giving your dog garlic supplements. While some believe that it is OK for your dog, it is always better to reserve judgment and stay on the side of caution. It would be wise to speak to a veterinarian before you decide to start giving your dog any kind of garlic supplement. They can give you a better idea of how likely this is to cause problems with the health and well-being of your pooch.
Please, try to keep this in mind as you move forward. Do not feed your dog anything that has garlic in it – supplements, treats, foods, snacks, or anything. It is simply too hard to tell if your dog is going to be able to handle the garlic in the quantity given.
Like anything that can become toxic, avoid giving garlic to your dog. It might be a shame as dogs are typically drawn to the smell of garlic, but they should not be allowed to try it – the risks far, far outweigh any benefits.