What kind of an effect can onions have on a dog if fed to them?

Question

I have been told that feeding your dog onions can cause some sort of harm to them and I am not sure what it is if anyone knows?

Answer 1

Onions and onion powder can damage pets' red blood cells. After ingesting onions, a dog can become anemic and have trouble breathing.

Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger, D.V.M and Edward C. Fieldman, D.V.M. 's book: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884.) Stay away from onion powder too.

Some other foods to avoid giving to your dog:
Garlic, grapes, raisins, nuts, fatty foods including turkey skin, green potatoes, sugars, artificial sweetners, chocolate, avocados, alcohol, coffee, mouldy foods, yeast dough, salt

Answer 2

Onions are toxic to dogs,as we know. The toxicity is dose dependent, so the bigger the animal, the more onion need be consumed to cause a toxicity. Onion toxicity causes a Heinz body anemia. Heinz bodies are small bubble-like projections which protrude from a red blood cell and can be seen when the cells are stained. This "bubble" is a weak spot in the red blood cell and, therefore, the cell has a decreased life-span and ruptures prematurely.
If numerous red cells are affected and rupture, anemia can result. It is a form of hemolytic anemia. Onions are only one of the substances which can cause Heinz body anemia. Other substances such as Acetominophen (Tylenol) and benzocaine-containing topical preparations can also cause Heinz body anemia in the dog.
The toxic effect of the onions are the same whether the product is raw, cooked or dehydrated. The hemolytic episode usually occurs several days after onion ingestion (lowest hematocrit around day 5 post ingestion). Daily feeding of onions could have a cumulative effect due to ongoing formation of Heinz bodies versus a single exposure with a wide gap until the next exposure, allowing the bone marrow time to regenerate the prematurely destroyed red cells.

Answer 3

Onions contain thiosulphate, which dogs (and cats) do not have the enzyme to digest. It can weaken red blood cells, causing them to literally fall apart. Severe anemia and death are the result of feeding your dog onions. Also, NEVER feed it-grapes,raisins,coffee beans/grounds,baking soda/powder,macadamia nuts,nutmeg,avocados,stems/seeds/leaves from-apples,apricots,cherries,plums &peaches, and the obvious, chocolate.

Answer 4

It is my understanding in large quantity it can kill them and since it is not good for them i would not give it in any quantity. the same is true of chocolate. again we are talking alot, i forget, it is several poounds i believe the vet told me but here is another side effect of chocolate in animals --or of any sugar-donuts, candy etc--the sugar cannot be processed by their livers and it ends up eating up and destroyin their liver. The liver is a necessity in controlling the hormones that prevent diabetes and it is necessary to process foods that have miniscule trace toxins so that cancer and poisoning don't occur because of their build up in the liver. if it is not meant for animals to eat, it isn't so important why, as it is important not to feed it to them. Feeding animals the wrong foods is a serious injustice to another spirit that loves and trusts you.

Answer 5

Onions can give your dog a bad case of gas. Or it can even make them sick. Dogs tend to get gas a lot worse than humans, and onions would defiantly be a cause of this. Hope this helped. :)

Answer 6

i read somewhere that onions are posionous to dogs and cats and in large quantities will actually kill them. sorry cant remember the site but it gives a list of all foods dogs cant eat and why.

Answer 7

onions and garlic can cause anemia.

Items to avoid Reasons to avoid
Alcoholic beverages Can cause intoxication, coma, and death.
Baby food Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.
Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
Cat food Generally too high in protein and fats.
Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems.
Citrus oil extracts Can cause vomiting.
Fat trimmings Can cause pancreatitis.
Grapes and raisins Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys.
Hops Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death.
Human vitamin supplements containing iron Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.
Large amounts of liver Can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones.
Macadamia nuts Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
Marijuana Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.
Milk and other dairy products Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets.
Moldy or spoiled food, garbage Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs.
Mushrooms Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.
Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.
Persimmons Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.
Pits from peaches and plums Can cause obstruction of the digestive tract.
Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock.
Raw eggs Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
Raw fish Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.
Salt If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances.
String Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body."
Sugary foods Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.
Table scraps (in large amounts) Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.
Tobacco Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.
Yeast dough Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

Answer 8

Its because causes blood disorder.

http://www.jlhweb.net/Boxermap/onions.html

Answer 9

That'd be Chocolate, not onions. Chocolate is Toxic to dogs as their stomachs are incapable of processing it.

Answer 10

it will cause all sorts of stomach problems and then the bad breath will start.