Category: Ask A Vet

For many people, the aroma of onions or garlic simmering in a pan can be hard to resist. We also know how well they go in burgers, soups, pasta, and other common meals. That aroma is tempting for dogs, too, whose sense of smell is at least 10,000 times better than ours. Unfortunately, onions and other members of this herb family are very toxic to dogs and cause life-threatening anemia. If your dog has ingested onions (particularly if it’s a large amount), urgent veterinary attention is warranted. 

This article will explore onion toxicity in dogs, while answering some questions you might have about why it’s so bad and what can be done about it.  

Why Are Onions Bad for Dogs?

There is a very destructive component of onions (and similar species) that causes red blood cells to burst. This component is an organic sulfide molecule that causes oxidative damage to red blood cells—think of this as the opposite of antioxidants. This results in anemia, or a reduced number of red blood cells in the body. Red blood cells are vital for carrying oxygen around the body, so when dogs ingest too much onion and become anemic, different tissues in the body do not receive enough oxygen. This can be life-threatening. 

It is not just onions that can cause anemia in dogs. Onions are part of a family of plants called the Allium species, which also includes leeks, chives, garlic, and shallots. All members of the Allium species are toxic to dogs and capable of causing severe anemia. 

What Are the Signs of Onion Toxicity?

Initially, onion ingestion may cause no signs of illness at all. Some dogs will have gastrointestinal inflammation or “gut upset” on the first day following ingestion, resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes abdominal pain.

Anemia following onion ingestion can take days to develop.

How Much Onion is Toxic to Dogs?

In general. data suggests that as little as half a percent of a dog’s body weight in onions can cause toxicity. As an example, a 20-pound dog would only need to eat 1.5 ounces of onion to suffer its toxic effects. 

The amount of onion required to cause toxicity in dogs seems to be variable. While some dogs may tolerate a tiny amount of onion without any issues, other dogs appear much more sensitive to its effects. Cooked or rotten onion appears to be just as toxic as fresh onion. Additionally, some Japanese breeds of dog such as the Spitz appear to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of onions due to unique genetic factors.

How Can Onion Toxicity Be Diagnosed?

Onion toxicity can be diagnosed using a combination of history-taking, physical examination, and several blood tests. This will include a total red blood cell count, as well as an examination of red blood cells under the microscope to look for physical (“oxidative”) damage. Sometimes, imaging studies such as X-rays and ultrasound may be required to rule out other potential causes of anemia. There is no specific blood test to check for the presence of onion in a dog’s system. 

How Is Onion Toxicity Treated?

This depends in part on how severe the signs of illness are. If only a small amount of onion was ingested, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea, but the risk of anemia is deemed low, management at home may be warranted. This may involve activated charcoal, anti-nausea medications, and probiotics.

Dogs experiencing anemia due to onion ingestion require more intensive and aggressive treatment. This may include fluids via a drip to correct dehydration, blood transfusions, oxygen supplementation, supportive medications (as above), and monitoring at a vet hospital. 

My Dog Just Ate Onions – What Should I Do?

If your dog has just gotten into some onions, or if you’ve fed them to your dog unaware of their potential harm, arrange an urgent visit to your veterinarian. Vets will often give dogs medication to make them vomit, which should rid the stomach of onions and prevent the risk of anemia developing in a few days.  If your dog ate onions a few days ago and is now showing signs of being unwell, you should also arrange an urgent visit to your veterinarian, as diagnostics and treatment may be required. 

Conclusion

Dogs are very susceptible to onion poisoning, and the anemia caused by onions can be life-threatening. Thankfully, vets can induce vomiting early to get rid of the onions from the stomach; treatment for anemia is also possible and usually gets dogs back into good health. As always, early veterinary intervention gives your canine companion the best chance of a positive outcome. 

In the meantime, keep any onion-containing meals away from your dog, and if they like vegetables, consider cucumber or carrots instead. 

Featured Image Credit: Shutterbug75, Pixabay

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A Whippet’s sleek coat can appear much more than a streamlined cover for one of the world’s quickest dogs. While keeping this lightning-fast breed as aerodynamic as possible, the smooth, short hair is delightfully low-maintenance and low-shedding. Although the Whippet is friendlier to allergy sufferers than many breeds, they aren’t completely hypoallergenic.

Does that mean the Whippet isn’t a good choice for allergy sufferers? In the following article, we’ll discuss whether Whippets are hypoallergenic, and what people with dog allergies can do to make this wondrous breed a part of the family.

Are Whippets Hypoallergenic?

Whippets are more hypoallergenic than many dogs, but there are many other breeds that trigger less of a reaction in allergy sufferers. Whippets rarely drool, and their smooth hair only sheds lightly throughout the year. Grooming is hassle-free, and the hair only needs light brushes with a rubber curry brush and bristle brush once a week or so.

Although the thought of light shedding may be enough to put off anyone hoping for a hypoallergenic pet, Whippets are still less allergy-inflaming than the average dog, and no dog is 100% hypoallergenic. We tend to think of dogs like the curly coated ‘Oodle’ breeds and Bichon Frises as hypoallergenic, with their non-shedding coats as protection against irritation. However, it isn’t the hair specifically that causes allergies.

Where Do Dog Allergies Come From?

Up to 20% of the population is allergic to cats or dogs, triggered by proteins our dogs produce in their saliva, urine, and other bodily secretions. These proteins attach to dander (dead, flaking skin cells).

Because they don’t shed, Poodles and other “hypoallergenic” breeds don’t release as much dander into the environment to float in the air or land on furniture and other surfaces, including us.

Every dog has dander, occasionally drools, and of course, pees and poops; these all carry the assorted proteins that spark allergies. This is often overlooked when labeling hypoallergenic breeds, focusing specifically on the shedding aspect instead.

Is Any Dog Hypoallergenic?

Poodles and other dogs can still expose you to dander, saliva, and urine, even though they don’t shed. Studies have shown that some ‘hypoallergenic’ dogs even produced higher levels of the primary dog allergen Can f 1, in their coats than non-hypoallergenic dogs.

Interestingly, Poodles produce a relatively high amount of Can f 1, while the heavy-shedding Labrador Retriever has some of the least. Even though you won’t see much hair around the house, a hypoallergenic dog could still cause a reaction when you pet, groom, or clean up after them.

With that in mind, it can be challenging to tell if a Whippet will be better for your allergies than the next dog. Dogs produce six primary allergy-inducing proteins, and people with dog allergies have unique tolerances, reacting to some allergens but not others. One person may be allergic to one dog and not another. Another person with allergies may have the exact opposite tolerance. In many cases, you won’t know how you’ll react to a breed until you meet them.

Tips for Managing Dog Allergies

Even if you have dog allergies, the idea of owning a Whippet may be too appealing to resist. Although it takes extra effort and some grit to tough out occasional allergy signs, you can follow a few helpful steps to limit your exposure and live comfortably with your dog:

Over-the-counter allergy medicines or decongestants can relieve mild signs of irritation. Your doctor can also prescribe antihistamines. For severe sensitivities, you could consider discussing immunotherapy for long-term relief. Over several months, introducing minute allergen amounts to your body via shots can help you reduce or eliminate your sensitivity to your dog.

Final Thoughts

Whippets may not be completely hypoallergenic, but among dogs that shed, they’re about as close as you can get. They shed little and drool even less, leaving fewer allergens in their wake, provided you keep on top of grooming and cleaning. There’s no telling how you’ll react even with allergies, so the best plan is to spend time with, and touch your prospective pet to assess your response, and take the necessary steps to make one of these magnificent dogs part of your life.

Featured Image Credit: Liliya Kulianionak, Shutterstock

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