Dogs
Our pets add so much love and value to our lives that most of us look out for various ways to return their affection and loyalty, or impart some measure of thanks to them. With this feeling, we surely want to give them the best, right from their resting place to the food they eat. Hence, it becomes extremely important for any dog owner to ensure that the food their pet is eating is safe for dog health. One such food item that we are going to discuss in this article which has contradictory information on whether it is safe for dogs or not, is garlic.
Effects of Garlic on Dogs
Despite its various medicinal uses, garlic being a member of the genus Allium and a species of the onion family Alliaceae, comes under close scrutiny especially when it comes down to whether garlic is bad for dogs or not. Basically, onion has high concentrations of thiosulphate, a compound that causes oxidative damage to red blood cells and leads to hemolytic or 'Heinz factor' anemia, wherein the circulating red blood cells burst. Since, red blood cells are destroyed and the body is deprived of oxygen, the dog may start showing initial symptoms like weakness, discolored urine, rapid breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Hence, if large quantities of this compound are ingested on a regular basis, it may lead to Heinz-body anemia and even death of the dog.
Though garlic also belongs to the onion family, there are slight differences between them. Garlic does not contain the same high concentrations of thiosulphate as onion and so is not very harmful for dogs. In fact, it is barely traceable in amounts and gets easily excreted from the body. However, it can be dangerous to your pet if you feed the dog a couple of whole bulbs a day, on a regular basis. Therefore, if garlic is safe for dogs or not primarily depends upon the dosage given and the frequency of consumption.
Benefits
Like in humans, garlic also offers numerous health benefits in dogs, which are given below:
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Dogs
Garlic for Dogs
Our pets add so much love and value to our lives that most of us look out for various ways to return their affection and loyalty, or impart some measure of thanks to them. With this feeling, we surely want to give them the best, right from their resting place to the food they eat. Hence, it becomes extremely important for any dog owner to ensure that the food their pet is eating is safe for dog health. One such food item that we are going to discuss in this article which has contradictory information on whether it is safe for dogs or not, is garlic.
Effects of Garlic on Dogs
Despite its various medicinal uses, garlic being a member of the genus Allium and a species of the onion family Alliaceae, comes under close scrutiny especially when it comes down to whether garlic is bad for dogs or not. Basically, onion has high concentrations of thiosulphate, a compound that causes oxidative damage to red blood cells and leads to hemolytic or 'Heinz factor' anemia, wherein the circulating red blood cells burst. Since, red blood cells are destroyed and the body is deprived of oxygen, the dog may start showing initial symptoms like weakness, discolored urine, rapid breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Hence, if large quantities of this compound are ingested on a regular basis, it may lead to Heinz-body anemia and even death of the dog.
Though garlic also belongs to the onion family, there are slight differences between them. Garlic does not contain the same high concentrations of thiosulphate as onion and so is not very harmful for dogs. In fact, it is barely traceable in amounts and gets easily excreted from the body. However, it can be dangerous to your pet if you feed the dog a couple of whole bulbs a day, on a regular basis. Therefore, if garlic is safe for dogs or not primarily depends upon the dosage given and the frequency of consumption.
Benefits
Like in humans, garlic also offers numerous health benefits in dogs, which are given below:
- Garlic improves the dog's immune system by stimulating the activities of white blood cells that fight microbes and cancer cells.
- Its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties help fighting different types of internal or external bacterial, viral, or fungal infections of the mouth, throat, respiratory tract, stomach, and intestines.
- Garlic when combined with olive oil can be used to cure minor injuries, ear infections or ear mites.
- It acts as an excellent detoxifying agent and assists liver in removing toxins from the body that can encourage cancerous growths.
- Raw garlic mixed with dog food benefits by reducing blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels in dogs.
- Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog
By Linda Cole Most dog owners have faced a begging dog sitting at our feet as we eat a meal or snack. Even though we know our food isn't particularly healthy for them, we still toss a choice tidbit every now and then. If you are among the many who...
- Herbal Treatment For Pets
Herbal treatment is a reliable way to cure health problems of your pet. Your pet may suffer from various health problems such as itching, hair loss, abscess, infection, gastrointestinal problems, worms, dehydration, ulcers, kidney problems and respiratory...
- Harmful Foods For Dogs
Many people are unaware about the foods that should and should not be given to dogs. There are many types of foods which humans eat that can be harmful to dogs, and even prove to be fatal. Dogs can face various health problems if they consume these...
- Bloody Diarrhea In Dogs
Presence of trace amount of blood in a dog's stool is quite normal. However, if your pet dog is suffering from diarrhea and the stool contains blood in large amounts, then you need to take the matter seriously to save his health. There can be...
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