If your dog has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away. Do not wait for symptoms. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).
Why
Like onions, garlic contains sulfur compounds that damage red blood cells and can cause anemia. Garlic is generally considered more potent than onion, so a smaller amount can cause harm.
Garlic powder, garlic salt and garlic supplements are concentrated sources. You may see claims that garlic prevents fleas; there is no good evidence for this, and it is not worth the risk.
Symptoms to watch for
- Weakness and lethargy
- Pale gums
- Fast breathing
- Red or brown urine
- Vomiting and stomach upset
- Signs of anemia can be delayed by several days
What to do if your dog eats it
- Call your veterinarian and describe what your dog ate, including sauces or seasonings.
- Check ingredient lists of treats and human foods for garlic or garlic powder.
- Never give garlic supplements unless your veterinarian specifically recommends them.
Garlic bread, pasta sauce, rotisserie chicken: where does it hide?
Garlic is rarely eaten on its own. Dogs get it from garlic bread, pizza crusts, pasta sauce, pesto, hummus, aioli, garlic butter and marinated or seasoned meats. The skin of a store-bought rotisserie chicken is often heavily seasoned with garlic and onion powder.
A dog that steals a whole bulb from the counter is an obvious emergency. The quieter risk is a dog that gets garlicky table scraps every night, because the damage to red blood cells can build up.
Raw, cooked, powdered or black garlic: is any form safe?
Cooking does not make garlic safe. Roasted, fried, pickled and black garlic all still contain the compounds that harm red blood cells.
What matters more is concentration. Garlic powder, granules, garlic salt and garlic oil capsules pack the equivalent of many cloves into a small amount. Pet Poison Helpline describes garlic as roughly five times as potent as onion, so a small amount of powder can matter for a small dog. Japanese breeds such as Akitas and Shiba Inus may be more sensitive.
Why garlic poisoning is easy to miss
The first day often looks like an ordinary upset stomach. Anemia can take several days to develop, by which time many owners have forgotten the garlic bread.
If your dog seems tired, breathes fast on a short walk, or has pale gums a few days after eating garlic, mention the garlic to your vet. A blood test can show Heinz bodies, a sign of oxidative damage to red blood cells, and a falling red cell count.
- Early after eating: the vet may make the dog vomit and give activated charcoal
- Over the next days: repeat blood tests to watch the red cell count
- Severe cases: oxygen or a blood transfusion
Common questions
Is garlic good for dogs?
No. Like onions, garlic contains sulfur compounds that damage red blood cells and can cause anemia.
Is garlic bad for dogs?
Yes. Signs of poisoning to watch for: weakness and lethargy, pale gums and fast breathing.
Are dogs allowed to have garlic?
No, keep it away from your dog. If your dog eats some anyway: call your veterinarian and describe what your dog ate, including sauces or seasonings.
Sources
Topic references
- Pet Poison Helpline. Garlic.