What is Garlic Poisoning?
Many foods that are safe for us are toxic to dogs, so you have to be careful what you feed your little buddy. A debate over whether garlic is poisonous to dogs has many pet parents unsure of the toxicity because of the aid to the digestive system and the antibacterial properties that have been attributed to garlic.
Garlic, which is one of the Allium family, is poisonous to dogs, especially in powdered form, such as in seasonings. Japanese dogs (Akita, Japanese Spitz, Shiba Inu) are more commonly affected by garlic, but the reason is unclear. Some experts believe it is because of a high red blood cell count and low levels of glutathione (tripeptide protein) and potassium, which is hereditary in these breeds. This type of poisoning does major damage to the red blood cells, causes gastrointestinal upset (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), and respiratory problems.
Although many people think it is safe to give their dog small amounts of garlic for its health benefits, the amount that your dog may safely consume may be much less than other dogs, even if they are the same breed and size. The amount of certain proteins and other elements in your dog’s blood is unique and has a significant impact on the amount of garlic that they can eat. It is best not to give your dog garlic and to take them to the veterinarian if you think they have eaten any amount of garlic, even if they show no symptoms.
Is garlic bread bad for dogs? How about spaghetti sauce seasoned with it? Or perhaps eggs with a touch of garlic before scrambling? Garlic (Allium) causes poisoning in dogs, even in small amounts. The consumption of garlic can cause gastrointestinal upset and anemia, and can even be fatal if not treated right away. The sulphuric compounds in the garlic are absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract and changed into reactive oxidants, which damage your dog’s red blood cells. Some experts claim that garlic can be beneficial to your dog’s health, and can be used for flea and worm control as well as anti-bacterial properties. However, the risk of toxicity is still in question, and safe consumption has not been proven.
Symptoms of Garlic Poisoning in Dogs
The symptoms depend on the amount of garlic consumed and the size of your dog. Some of the most common symptoms are:
- Abdominal tenderness and cramping
- Anemia
- Anorexia
- Bad breath
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Collapse
- Dehydration
- Lack of muscle coordination (ataxia)
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Elevated heart and respiratory rate
- Exercise intolerance
- Generalized weakness
- Lethargy
- Liver and spleen inflammation (hepatosplenomegaly)
- Nausea
- Pale gums
- Red or brown urine
- Seizures
- Trouble breathing (dyspnea)
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
Causes of Garlic Poisoning in Dogs
Feeding your dog table scraps that have been seasoned with garlic powder is one of the most common causes of garlic poisoning. Healthy vegetables are no longer safe for your dog after garlic has been used in the cooking process. Some pet parents wonder if dogs can eat garlic bread as the amount of garlic may be minimal. The answer is no. Not only is the garlic added to the bread dangerous, but the yeasty dough can expand in the stomach, causing gastrointestinal symptoms. Sauces prepared with garlic are another no-no for canines. The heating up of the garlic can intensify the toxicity.
It is best not to share your food with your dog because there are other health concerns that can come from giving your dog human food, such as pancreatitis (from fatty food) and obesity (from too much human food in general).
It is also possible that your dog may find and consume garlic growing wild somewhere, and this is the hardest to diagnose because you will not even know that they have eaten anything toxic until symptoms begin. You should always keep your dog within view while you are anywhere besides your own yard.
Diagnosis of Garlic Poisoning in Dogs
Diagnosing garlic poisoning can be done with a physical examination, lab tests, and medical history. The physical examination includes your dog’s body temperature, blood pressure, respiration rate, reflexes, height, weight, and abdominal palpation. Your veterinarian will pay close attention to your dog’s breathing, heart rate, and skin tone. You should describe the symptoms you have noticed and how long they have been going on, recent illnesses and injuries, vaccination record, and abnormal behavior.
Several tests will be performed on your dog to confirm garlic toxicosis, such as packed cell volume, complete blood cell count (CBC), hemoglobin concentration, biochemistry analysis, arterial blood gas, blood glucose levels, and urinalysis. Based on what the tests show, the veterinarian may also perform a blood clotting test and liver biopsy to rule out other diseases or conditions. An abdominal radiograph (x-ray), ultrasound, and CT scan may also be used to check your dog’s liver and spleen.
Treatment of Garlic Poisoning in Dogs
The most important treatment your dog will need is to rid the body of the toxin by inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal. The charcoal will bind to the poison to aid in the removal and detoxification. However, if that is unsuccessful, the veterinarian will probably admit your dog to the hospital and flush the toxins out of your dog’s system with a saline solution lavage. In addition, IV fluids and oxygen therapy will be done. To treat the anemia, the veterinarian will perform a blood transfusion and prescribe iron medication.
Before your dog goes home, discuss the at-home care your dog will need. Your vet can instruct you on dietary requirements to aid in a speedy recovery. There may also be exercise restrictions for the first few days or weeks, depending on your best buddy's level of poisoning.
Your vet will also remind you to fence off your garden to keep your pet away from plants that may be toxic and advise you to keep garbage safely secured and out of reach of your curious pet.
Recovery of Garlic Poisoning in Dogs
Even though garlic poisoning is a serious condition, it is rare for a dog in good health to die from this, and almost all dogs recover fully with treatment. Once your veterinarian believes the garlic is out of your dog’s system, you will be able to return home, with instructions on how to care for your dog.
You may have to continue to administer iron supplements and antibiotics for one to two weeks, but be sure to follow the veterinarian’s instructions. Iron can also be poisonous to your dog if given the wrong dosage. Be sure to follow up with your veterinarian and return to the clinic for a repeat blood test in about 30 days, or as directed by your veterinarian.
Garlic Poisoning Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
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My dog tried to eat a piece of garlic bread earlier today, but I was able to remove it from her mouth before she swallowed it. I'm just worried she may have swallowed some of the garlic. She's only 12 pounds, so I'm really worried about her. Nothing has happened yet, but it's only been a couple of hours. I don't know if I should be taking her to the vet or if the amount she consumed is enough to cause anything.
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I gave our lab our left over asparagus that was cook with garlic he threw it up immediately, Now after reading how poisonous it is I saw that activated charcoal could help with his symptoms but not sure how much can too much be harmful ?
I gave my dog a biscuit that had a little bit of garlic but then I didn’t know it was toxic so a day later my dogs started to cough a lot and now his toung is numb and he can’t shut his mouth
Had a jar of chopped garlic that fell out of the refrigerator my dog ate some and is now shaking. I have no activated charcoal. What can I use to flush this out of his system? Quickly...he did not eat alot but he ate enough to bring on this shaking.
YES VERY HELPFUL MY DOG SUFFERING NOW SAME SYMPTOMS, TOOK HIM TO THE VET THEY GAVE HIM SOME TYPE GASTR FOR STOMACH AND DIGESTIVE. HE DRINIKING WATER NOT EATING FOOD YET.
My dog had some sudden symptoms that included lethargy, not moving around at all, and all he would do is sit. His ears were pinned down close to his head. He was so tired but wouldn't lay down so he tried to sleep sitting up! He had some appetite but since I didn't know what his problem was, I restricted food a little bit in case he had some kind of bloating. His abdomen felt 'tight' and bloated to me. I put his symptoms in the computer to gather information then came across garlic poisoning. His symptoms were very vague, but just in case, I gave him activated charcoal water to drink a couple of times. I did remember that he had gotten a garlic bulb that fell off the kitchen counter, but when I found it, it didn't look like he ate that much. The next afternoon, he was sick. The vet had no idea what could be wrong since I hadn't put it together yet about the garlic. I am glad I had the activated charcoal and it is very helpful for many things!! Once our dog went out and had a good long pee, I bent over to see it and I am sure it was a rusty red. He is on the mend but not 100% yet, maybe about 90% himself. This covered a period of about 3 days. His symptoms started about 24 hours after I think he ate the garlic.
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My dog hasn’t eaten anything in almost 3 days. We have been at my sisters house for two of those day, who has 3 dogs. I have tried giving her all kinds of treats, wet food, 2 different dry foods, even biscuits. The most I’ve gotten her to eat was a few licks of milk and two bites of dog food. Desprite to get something in her stomache, I went online and read roticery chicken helps their appetite. We had chicken Alfredo last night so I pulled out the chicken and washed off the sauce in the sink. It worked, I got her to eat a little of the chicken before she turned her nose up and refused the rest. It was not until after that I realized the chicken had been mixed with a jar of garlic Alfredo sauce. Do I need to be concerned about garlic poisoning? Or did rinseing the chicken wash off the garlic toxins? She is a 7 pound yorkie so i worry that even though she only had a small amount it could hurt her.
What should I do?
My 17 pound dog got on the table and ate lettuce with garlic powder on it should I be worried
I feed my husky garlic every few days with his raw ground beef. Garlic is toxic in larger quantities and just a trace of it should be okay. You'll notice within 4 hours if there's poisoning symptoms. Fresh onions are worse for dogs. In very very small amounts garlic can be used as a natural medicine to ward off fleas and ticks, aide digestion, help with arthritis pain and constipation. You had washed off the sauce and despite it being cooked with the dish. That small trace amount should have little to no affect, even on an empty stomach.
The rule of thumb is a small clove of garlic per 20 lbs of your dog's weight and the key is fresh organic garlic. All cooked garlic and onions change their chemical compound and become more toxic the longer its oxidized (exposure to open air).
Your Yorkshire should be fine as long as she/he doesnt consume over half a clove of garlic or a small clove.
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Five grand mal seizures within 12 hours. Gagging, foul breath, foul gas odor only while in seizure. Odor is identified as garlic from bits of food that is coughed up. No soreness in tummy area on palpation. Has moved bowels after first seizure. The only meals given (no treats) are the following food: Grandma Lucy's chicken recipe (dehydrated food) that has garlic in the product. It is dried, and though shaken before hydrated, it is very possible that the garlic was concentrated in her meals over the past few days.
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My 4 lb chihuahua ate some of the chicken out of chicken Alfredo it had a little bit of garlic powder in it and now today she won’t eat but she keeps drinking she has peed and pooped but I’m worried because she’s not eating
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My 9.5 year old spayed Staffordshire Bull terrier Holly ate some pasta that had been reheated it had roughly 3 days ago. She also ate some grass that made her vomit. She weighs 15.5kg. In the last 24 hours she has had the runs 8 times..
She is drinking a lot of water, and her pee is normal. She has also eaten normally and still energetic Nora self. It is 5 am and will be going to the vet today. She is healthy. What should I expect will she get worse? Thanks for any advice you can give. Patricia
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I had two bites of steak left from dinner at outback and gave each of my 2 dogs a piece when i got home. I wasn’t thinking about the garlic butter i added to it. It was the end piece and probably had very little but it was cooked not fresh and I’m not sure if they use power or fresh or both so concentration is unknown. I didn’t even think of it until about an hour later my longhaired dachshund started sneezing several times in a row and licking his nose and lips. He kind of gulped a few times and acted like he might throw up but never did. I initially panicked and gave him half a Benadryl thinking he was might end up having some anaphylactic reaction. As a nurse i know that was stupid. I know onions are toxic but never thought of garlic until now and i put it on everything and they occasionally eat scraps and have never had issues. He’s been laying next to me as usual. I picked him up and holding him and he’s licking his lips again and he sneezed once more. Should I make him vomit? Did I make things worse with the half a Benadryl? Trying not to panic but sort of panicking.
How did cooper do? Did his symptoms resolve?
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This is nuts. I've never heard of garlic being poisonous to canines. In fact, I recently acquired about $300 in dried garlic chewable pills and powder, marketed explicitly to dog owners. It was a gift from a neighbor who was moving out of state.
I wish I could attach a picture of one of the HUGE bottles. It's made by a company called Springtime, and says "Bug Off Garlic for dogs - with premium air-dried garlic granules". 1000 chewable tablets.
Active ingredients: Garlic 45.3%
Directions: Just toss them into the regular feed ration. Tablets may be broken into pieces for small or sensitive dogs. Please introduce gradually (over 5-10 days). It may take 2-4 weeks to maximize protection. Year-round feeding is recommended.
Each tablet contains 1000mg of garlic, and the recommended dose for 100lb dogs (all three of mine are that large) is 4-6 tablets PER DAY. And it says "Double or triple doses are recommended for areas of high infestation"
While it sucked to have to transcribe the label, I cannot help but wonder how this company hasn't been sued out of existence if garlic is toxic to canines. I have all three dogs two tablets per day for the last month or two (though not consistently). I have not seen any symptoms. Though my mastiff appears to have an injured knee.
After x-ray, the vet said it was likely a partial tear and prescribed NSAIDs. After 5 days I haven't seen much improvement - which is what led me to question any other items I give them - including this garlic. I'll stop giving it to them immediately.
That said, do you think garlic injury can manifest itself in creating joint pain? She's the runt of the litter, and at 2 years old is only 115 lbs - so, small my the breed standards.
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We have been giving our 3 y/o 8 lb toy poodle tiny bits of hot dog as treats over the last 6 days. One of the ingredients listed is garlic powder (no onion). I didn’t realize until yesterday that garlic was poisonous to dogs, and I immediately through the rest of the hot dogs out. He had maybe 4 hot dogs in total, cut up into small pieces over almost a week. Last night he appeared to be breathing faster than normal, but it eventually went away and he was not struggling to breath. Also, over the past few days, he has occasionally been “hacking,” but nothing comes up and then he moves on. His energy levels are very normal for him, and we have continued our nightly walks. His gums seem to be perfectly pink, at least in my opinion. He has not been experiencing diarrhea, but his stool has been *slightly* more runny. I’m concerned that the hot dogs have negatively impacted him. I called the ER clinic last night and they told me to monitor him, but believed he was fine. He has a follow-up vet appointment on Monday for a prior ear infection. Should I take him in sooner? Do you think the hot dogs had a high amount of garlic powder and he is experiencing poisoning?
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I have a Labrador Retriever he is over a year old and he ate some pieces of garlic bread. I was looking at the symptoms and he has diarrhea and weakness but nothing else other than that. What should we do?
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Garlic is five time more poisonous for dogs than onions. Usually it is best to induce vomiting with 3% hydrogen peroxide within two hours of consumption; otherwise a variety of symptoms may present themselves. Two hours after consumption, the treatment consists of activated charcoal and intravenous fluid therapy; depending on the symptoms and the amount of garlic consumed, you need to visit your Veterinarian as your treatment options at home are limited. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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After reading the information on this site, I believe our 13 1/2 year old cockapoo ate a small piece of garlic that fell on the floor. It was cooked and had been used in a take out pasta dish. I did not realize that anything fell on the floor until I heard her chew. I opened her mouth to see what was going on but she had already swallowed it. This happened on Monday evening. Everything was normal. She was eating, etc. There has been a change my son's working schedule and she was not happy about it, so on Wednesday, she pooped in the house. She does do some spiteful things so I didn't think much. When my son arrived home later than date, he told me he found 3 more poops. Still thinking she was being spiteful, I didn't think anything of it. The stools were lose but no other symptoms. She would go out frequently, but continued to eat, take Dasuquin, drink water. While continuing to eat, since Wednesday, she was still experiencing lose stool, so yesterday I cooked her some rice and chop meat, which she ate. As of now she has vomited, continues to have diarrhea, drinks water, and her gums are pink. She will play a bit, but given her age, that's all she does, so no lethargy. What should we do?
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I have a 29 pound husky mix that ate the marinade from a chicken dish that contained about 4 gloves of garlic minced. Vomiting started about an hour after she ate it and continued for 2 days. She was lethargic, in pain, and wouldn't move. She also panted like crazy and was breathing rapidly. She continued to vomit the next day and off to the vet we went. They treated her with something to settle her stomach and stop the vomiting, took xrays and did blood work. She is on a pill now for her liver. Garlic is serious poison for a dog. Please be careful.
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My 22lb cockapoo, got into the garbage and got out the crust of garlic bread and before I could get it from her she ate it. She ate it about two hours ago right now she seems fine.
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2 days ago my dog ate almost a full bottle of Garlic tablets. Today he is tired, vomiting, won't eat and is panting. I never knew garlic was harmful to dogs. He is 130lb Leonberger. Is there anything I can do now. I have a vet appointment tomorrow morning but should I take him to the ER tonight?
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We just got back from a week vacation 3 days ago where we did a lot of hiking and exercise but my dog was fine up until today. Yesterday he pulled 2 paper plates out of the trash that were coated in pesto sauce. He didnt lick them clean, but I'm guessing licked up some of it. Today he is super tired, not even waking up to greet me at the door. His gum color is good and he is a 65lb golden doodle but I know pesto sauce likely has a high concentration of garlic powder and not enough time has passed for gum color to change. How long should I wait to go to the vet? Could the lethargy just be the trip hitting him 3 days later? Thank yous!
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I have two dogs who ate some pieces of a medium pizza, being about 5-7 pieces. One is a chihuahua about 6 pounds (5 years old) and a pitbull-ish mutt puppy about 10 pounds (6 months old) We got home and found them and let them outside because they wanted to go. When we brought them in they both drank a good amount of water and then they went to sleep. I’m worried because my chihuahua is small and the other is still a puppy. Their gums seem normal and since it’s night I can’t tell if they feel weak or just tired because it’s time to go to sleep.
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Baby girl(pit bull) ate a piece of pizza the night before last and seemed fine but yesterday morning she had eaten another piece of the same pizza(meat lovers with buttery garlic on the crust). Later on in the afternoon she acted like she really had to go potty so I took her out and she immediately started getting sick and while she was in between vomiting she started a normal looking bowl movement but half way through the bm it w went from solid normal looking bm to squirting out.She then got sick one more time and then another really bad runny bm. I then brought her in and babied her and she seemed fine through the night other than a small episode of vomit. Then first thing this morning she woke us up to go potty and had a little accident but I rushed her outside and that's when she just really started having really runny bm's and right when she was finishing up...a little more came out that looked like mucus and a very little amount of blood. Her gums seem normal. I'm giving her plenty of water and I gave her some bread to eat...so far she is laying beside my bed and just resting. I'm really concerned. I don't have the money to take her to see a vet...any home remedies you might be able to suggest? She had an episode sorta like this a couple of months ago but in a couple of days she was back to normal...She had eaten pizza then as well. I didn't know about garlic poisoning until I just read it. Please advise in this situation. And thanking you in advance.
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Thank you for the fast response. Since this morning she hasn't had anymore diarrhea episodes. I have taken her out several times today to give her the opportunity to have more bowl movements and all's she did was pee and then lay down in the sun....She is drinking plenty of water and she ate all the bread I put in her bowl. I just put some of her dog food in her bowl and added water to it about two hours ago and she hasn't touched it. I didn't know about the fats being bad for her. If you have anymore advice about the fat in her diet or things I can do for her to help her feel better. Can I give her some pepto to help with her diarrhea? If so, how should I dose it? Again, thank you for all the help!
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My dog is a Yorkie and he weight about 5 pounds, he ate a small slides of pizza with garlic powder that he manage to steal from my plate when I wasn’t around im worried about him could there be any harm should I do something ?
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My pointer weighs about 4o lbs. he found a 1/5 tub of garlic sauce before I could get it away from him. What should I do🆘
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My dog ate a piece of a garlic knot....it was soaked in garlic and butter...she is now lethargic and she is breathing heavy. She is 7 years old 75 pound American strafrodshire terrier mix
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I was eating a garlic bagel and 2 small pieces fell and he ate them about 30 min ago and he isn't vomiting. Do I need to take him to the vet or give him medication?
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My 90lb Doberman ate some noodles, broccoli, and salmon that I had mixed together and ended up dropping it. I did put some garlic powder(about a teaspoon) and small amount of minced garlic in it. He got to it before I could get it off the floor. I’d say he ate about a cup of the meal (maybe a little less). This happened about 20 minutes ago? What should I do?
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Hi there, my King Charles ate some sausage that i believe was covered in potato bake which contained garlic. 24hrs later he has a very upset tummy. Could this be from the garlic? Can i do Anything for him at home or anything i need to watch out for? Thanks in advance
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My dog, Princess, got a chicken bone. I had cooked the chicken with a seasoning that had roasted garlic in it. She seemed fine for an hour or two then she started vomiting, she vomited twice and there were chicken pieces and skin visible. On another note, she was also seen knotted with my other dog after she ate the chicken bone, but before she vomited.
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My medium size, 8 year old dog at 1/3 of a Clove of raw garlic? What should I do? He ate it less than an hour ago.
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My dog, a 1.5 old poodle mix ate a piece of falafel that we purchased at Whole Foods. I don't know if there is any garlic in it, but worried regardless. Do I need to take any steps at this pointe.
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My dog ate a bone earlier this day that had seasoning that had garlic on it, I think she ate some of the skin. She just vomited a few moments ago twice, the food was not fully digested.
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My 1 year old English Bulldog (50lbs) got in to a bag of garlic heads. I believe he may have eaten 1/2 head. I gave him some 3% hydrogen peroxide to clear his stomach. 10 min later he threw up 3 times but no garlic cloves. Does that mean he didn’t ingest any? Took him on a walk then fed him dinner an hour later. After he just took a nap.
I will be looking for symptoms of the next few days but if he did eat that much should I wait or take him to the ER?
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My dog ate alot of minced garlic from a jar a couple days ago and hes developed a spot on the side of his head thats really white bleeding in some spots and has yellow stuff all over it . It has a gross odor also . Hes been licking his lips non stop latley and acting very twitchy. Also the spot on his head he wont stop scratching hes a mastiff pitbull mix hes about 110 lb or more
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My little border terrier has just had a small amount of garlic cheese, will she be ok she’s 12yrs of age and drinking water and eating well. It want even a spoon full add say it was that garlic and herb roulla soft cheese ?
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My 9 pound Cavapoo grabbed one small piece of freshly minced garlic (just a little smaller than the size of a standard pencil eraser) from the floor and I could not get to her quick enough before she ingested it. What should I do? She is acting normal as of now, but this only happened about an hour ago.
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My 25 pound beagle found a head of garlic (by found I mean got on the table and took it out of a bag) and was trying to chew on it, I got it away from him and don't think he actually ate any of it but did sink his teeth into a clove or two, should I worry? Thank you for your help...
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I recently adopted a Lab/Pit mix. She is 3 months old and just had surgery to get spayed a few weeks ago. The incision looks great; there are no signs of not healing well. I did, however, google what foods to feed puppies to further prevent incision infections. Garlic (along with honey, etc.) were among the foods recommended. I mixed minced raw garlic in with her raw meat not knowing garlic was poisonous to dogs in general. She has had about half of a head of garlic in the last 3-4 days. She is acting completely normal - playful and energetic with a great appetite. BMs have been fine, nothing outside of normal. She will not get any more garlic now, but so far, she has had no signs of poisoning of any sort.
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Hi there,
my dog Hunter had some steak that had been marinated in soy sauce and garlic powder. He has had diarrhea for a few days. Yesterday his bowel movement was more solid, but today he has diarrhea again.
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My 8 year old 72 lb Pit bull Daisy, was given tomato sauce on her food. The sauce was cooked all day but had about 1/2 to 3/4 of a clove of garlic in it. It had about 90 oz of tomato sauce. She is a little lethargic and not her usual self. She probably ate approx. 4 tablespoons of sauce mixed with her food. This was about 45 minutes ago. I see you can induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide, but how much do I need to give her? Also, I can go to CVS for the activated charcoal, and I am not sure how to administer that to her either. I appreciate your reply
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Hello, I have a 9 pound pomeranian mutt who ate one entire clove of garlic. It was eaten about 5 days ago and has been throwing up only today. She threw up her food and bile a few times. I did not know garlic was toxic to dogs so I let her eat it when it fell. I have administered activated charcoal today, but she ate the clove 5 days ago. I'm very worried. But she runs/plays and acts the same besides throwing up. Gums are normal and so is her energy level.
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My dog tank got ahold of a plate of pizza rolls and ranch I had on the table. The only thing he did was take a small amount of ranch off of my plate and run off. this was about a week ago and he is showing signs of pale gums. Should I take him to the vet? thank you for helping
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Have a 7 yr old black lab, 110lbs, not sure but might have water 1 clove of cooked garlic, then was bottled in sauce , showing no symptoms it’s been about an hour??
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I have a 9 year old male beagle that is about 25 lbs. He got into a container of chicken noodle soup with mashed potatoes that I had set on the floor briefly when I got home so I could run to the bathroom. It was in a sack and the lid wasn’t on good. He was fine last night but started vomiting this morning and vomited about 10 times today. I gave him some zofran and he stopped vomiting but he is very weak and lethargic. I just got home from work and he has diarrhea now and is super weak and shaking. I am a paramedic and able to give him fluids if I need to. His gums don’t look pale to me I am just really worried about him. Hes only had 2 episodes of diarrhea but He’s never been this weak before. Help!
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I was making breakfast and i like to add garlic to my eggs. I chopped up about half a clove and put it in my eggs. A tiny bit of the eggs fell on he floor with a small piece of breakfast sausage. Without thinking, i called my Puggle to eat the scraps. It was a small bit but she’s a small dog. She hasn’t shown any immediate signs but this just happened maybe about an hour ago. Is she going to be ok?
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My 6 pound chihuahua who is 1 1/2 years old ate a potatoe chip, just 1, but it has garlic powder as one of the ingredients. This was 2 days ago. Should I be worried.
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My dog got in the trash can and ate garlic, chocolate fudge ( around 1tbsp) and soda. She seems lethargic but it could be just tiredness from all the destruction she has done.
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My chihuahua just ate about a half clove of cooked garlic is he going to be ok? He hasn't shown any symptoms yet but was that enough garlic to hurt him? Is there anything thing I can do to prevent him from getting hurt?
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My 20 pound mini schnauzer ate some roasted garlic hummus out of the container.... about two tablesooons.... she seems perfectly fine ave we called the ASPCA hotline and they said watch out for diarrhea and vomiting and signs of anemia.... should I do anything else?
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Well she did throw up twice today..... seemed to be some of her dog food. But she's perfectly fine otherwise and has had two perfectly fine bowel movements and her urine is still normal color. She's not lethargic at all and her gums are not pale. She seems to be fine, same energy as normal and not doing anything different. It's been 48 hours since she ate the hummus. Her breath smells fine too.... well normal stinky dog breath....
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My cousin accidentally feed our dog with a food with some garlic on it. (adobo [a filipino dish]), he mixed it with some rice and add some dog food in it. And by 5 minutes after my dog ate all the food that given by my cousin, he vomits it. is it fine? I getting nervous about my dog's health should I take him to the vet? He showing no symptoms
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I have a 10lb shih tzu and she sneaked chicken off a plate that had a garlic Alfredo sauce on it. Her only symptom has been the diarrhea, she has been active mot of the day except for her regular sleep time. She has been drinking water and her gums are not changing color from their usual pink, neither is her tongue. No vomiting either. I didn't notice until several hours after it happened and there aren't any emergency vets open this late at night.
When I checked her stool, it has normal coloring it's just slightly more runny than usual.
Also she has been eating normally and treats as well.
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My chihuahua just ate a piece of garlic bread and is now very lethargic and cannot stand she doesn't even want to drink water what do I do
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My 10 year old male shiba (28lbs and in good health) just got into the trash and ate some of the disposed of fat from a pork roast that was prepared with about 2 tablespoons of garlic powder. It was cooked for over 5 hours in the oven. I am very concerned bc of his breed. It seems Japanese breeds are at a higher risk of having fatal side effects from ingesting garlic, especially in powdered form. I do not have any activated charcoal (seems to be the most recommended remedy) at the house and of course this is happening at 11pm on Christmas Eve, so nothing is open. I do have some hydrogen peroxide, but that's about it. I am extremely worried. Any guidance on what I should do given the limited resources I have avaible to me, would be greatly appreciated.
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Thank you for your very prompt response, but I unfortunately did not get this til now (roughly 11 hours after the incident). I assume inducing vomiting would not be beneficial at this point, would it still be a good idea to purchase some activated charcoal and give it to him? Kona seems to be acting normal and drinking water. Checking his gums is difficult, as they are basically all black, but the few patches in his lips that are not black, do seem pale. Would waiting to do bloodwork tomorrow be waiting too long? Obviously, with it being Christmas Day, my normal vet is not open, so I would have to take him to the one emergency vet in my area. Thank you again for your prompt response and advice!
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I have a 10 year old dog. I have fed her the same dog food for probably 9 of those years which contains garlic. If she ate a barbecued pork rind which contains garlic and onion spices. (I have read that if an animal has long-term exposure and then has a second exposure it's far worse for them) so my question is, would one pork rind, the size of a quarter, hurt a 22 pound dog that has ate dog food everyday for 9 years which contains tiny amounts of garlic? the dog food is a name brand Purina, nothing I've made
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I fed my labradoodle (20lb) a one time small amount of hummus, maybe 2grams. She has no symptoms at this point. Do you think I should take any steps, or the amount is small enough that I do not need to take precautions??
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Hi there my husband fed our dog two little meatballs that were made with garlic and onions. I noticed our dog panting more often when usually he doesn’t. He is a 23lb shiba inu. Do we need to take him to the vet??
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My chichuachua ate a clove of cooked garlic on Sunday as it was in a bit of meat he eat he is now vomited about 5 time as this was two days ago, he was sick the first night and then the second night but has been sick 3 times today will he be ok x
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My 70 pound German Shepherd ate some leftover spinach and mashed potatos that had cut up garlic in them. She has not shown any symptoms. There was probably about a teaspoon of garlic total, if not a little less. What should I do?
Stephanie
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Our 8 year old black lab has eaten some garlic and green onion pieces that were in a slow cooker for hours, yesterday. There were two cloves, crushed and three green onion stocks in total. I know she didn't get all of it. She weighs 75lbs, she started vomiting last night, and is not interested in food and continues to vomit, but it is cery mucousy. Should we be seeing our vet?
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My Cavapoo sneakily licked the left overs of my dinner up 2 nights ago, there were chunks of garlic in it. He's being himself however he was sick yesterday morning. He's not been sick since, should I still take him to the vet?
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After reading garlic would help fight fleas l added some to my dogs food for 3/4 days, about 2 weeks ago. I now know it's poisonous!! She has shown no symptoms so far, but is a little quieter than normal.. Do l need to get her checked?
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Whilst garlic is poisonous for dogs and is five times more poisonous than onions, it seems like the garlic hasn’t affected Poppy as symptoms of garlic poisoning would have been evident before now; symptoms normally consist of pale gums, drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, abdominal pain and other symptoms. Just keep an eye on her and if you notice anything listed on this page visit your Veterinarian; also there is a lot of misguided information online by self proclaimed ‘experts’, it is always best to verify any information with your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Our 7 yr old lab had to be put down last year he wouldn’t eat but didn’t have any other symptoms. The vet said that his liver function tests were off the chart. I carry a lot of guilt because I gave him left over garlic potatoes not realizing that they would hurt him. Don’t give garlic or potatoes to your dog!
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My mom made pinto beans and usually when she makes them she adds garlic powder. I just noticed their was a trail of pinto bean juice and she licked some of it. I'm not sure how much she licked but I stopped her before she had anymore. Im worried if she'll be okay?
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Garlic powder can be quite strong, but if only a small amount of juice has been licked up, I would just keep an eye on her to see if there are any symptoms listed on this page. If you have 3% hydrogen peroxide, you could get her to vomit just to be on the safe side. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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Garlic poisoning question:
I have a 4 lb Yorkie-poo and I put garlic on here skin to calm ntrol fleas. She begin jittery type behavior, she won't sleep and she appear intoxicated. I rubbed it in her skin is she poisoned. I washed it out after 2 hrs or so.
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Garlic is poisonous to dogs and is five times more poisonous than onions; garlic can also be absorbed by the skin, I remember the experiment in high school where you put a clove of garlic in your sock and within two or three hours your breath can smell like garlic. Supportive care and hydration is important; if you are concerned please visit your Veterinarian for supportive therapy. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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I accidentally fed my 2 dogs a small piece of chicken with garlic seasoning and pepper (I added a little bit and didn't know about the toxic garlic till after I fed them), I was wondering if I should be concerned?
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Garlic seasoning can be more concentrated than regular garlic; small quantities may be tolerated by some dogs, but other have a poisoning event. Symptoms to look out for are drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, increased heart and respiratory rates, pale gums and collapse; if in doubt you should visit your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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hi doctor, my friend's dog been eating food scraps including onions and garlic for quite some time now and they didn't know those 2 are poisonous so they just let him eat. however by far he has not shown any symptoms of poisoning so they don't want to take him to the vet. is this normal or will the symptoms develop overtime? please advise thank you.
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If Teddy has consumed some food containing onions or garlic in the last few hours try to induce vomiting using hydrogen peroxide. If Teddy consumed a small amount it shouldn’t be too bad, especially if he brings it up. Watch out for signs of poisoning like vomiting, diarrhoea, increased heart rate, pale gums, weakness and lethargy; in cases of poisoning it is always best to visit your Veterinarian for activated charcoal and fluid therapy, but if a small amount was consumed overall induction of vomiting may be sufficient. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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My dog is an 8 month old, 103 lb., in tact male Boerboel. He's been presenting with raised bumps on his skin all over his body, but only on areas with fur (i.e. not on his stomach) for 1 month, 3 weeks duration. They began on his head suddenly, and have spread everywhere throughout this time. At times I thought the appearance of the bumps had diminished slightly, but it's difficult to tell a difference between 500 bumps or 489.
The bumps have never seemed to cause him any discomfort or pain, and also hasn't been scratching at them at all. I originally thought they were hives, but they never seemed fluid filled. They're scabby and small.
They originally presented around the same time as his vaccines so I thought that could be related. I've seen 2 different holistic veterinarians about this issue and still don't know what's going on.
I've been bathing him once every morning with enzymatic shampoo & rinse for 4 days with no change in the bumps.
- CBC at the vet revealed that he is anemic
- I've never been able to pinpoint things that make them better or worse
- He is fed a raw diet of primarily Small Batch beef patties. I saw that garlic is an ingredient in the food , although it's near the end of the list.
I know this is a stretch, but as you know dogs react differently and can be more sensitive to certain things and at low doses exposure to garlic over an extended period of time could make sense?
He's been on this dog food for about 2 1/2 months. I wash his bedding with all natural additive free laundry soap.
I just don't know what to do, and it hurts to see my pup with this constant inflammation of sorts.
Thank you so much for your time and reading through this long winded description. I really appreciate any input you have on the issue!
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Luckily these bumps do not seem to be causing Revel any problems (itching, oozing lesions etc…); the cause may be due to inflammatory cells between the layers of the skin, allergies among other causes. As for your question on garlic: garlic causes destruction of red blood cells in the circulatory system and can be deadly when consumed in higher amounts; small amounts (which may be tolerated, are not ideal), garlic like any other ingredient may cause a food allergy or a reaction. You should try to move Revel off patties and on to a complete diet as there may be some nutrition that he is missing out on and some store bought patties may have some additives in them which dogs may be sensitive too; try moving him over to a sensitive diet to see if there is any improvement in these bumps. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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My one year old Siberian husky has eaten food scraps. They were seasoned with garlic powder. She is not playing like normal and seems tired and is breathing heavily. what do I do?
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Garlic is very toxic to dogs (five times more than onion); if you are seeing these symptoms, it would be best to visit your Veterinarian or an Emergency Veterinarian as there is no ‘at home’ care that you can employ after the symptoms have presented. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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15wk old Lab puppy ate almost 2 large garlic cloves and half an onion last night. Today, his breath literally fills the room, he's unusually lazy, and his stool is very loose. Is there cause for concern?
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Onions and garlic are both poisonous to dogs with garlic being five times more poisonous than onions and one clove of garlic being enough to be lethal in some cases. Both onions and garlic cause damage to the red blood cells in dogs which reduces the oxygen carrying capacity; other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, increased heart rate, pale gums and weakness are common. Given Ruger’s age and the quantity consumed, I would recommend visiting your Veterinarian immediately. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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Hi, I think my puppy accidentally ate a bit of garlic (about half of a small clove) since i found a small piece where I found him chewing on something near my bin. I'm worried that he may be affected heavily although there aren't any symptoms yet. (it was mentioned that symptoms may appear after a few days)
Currently he's uninterested in playing and going back to sleep after waking up from his nap (is this a normal puppy thing since he just woke up?). I'm a very new dog owner and we've had him for about 2-3 weeks only.
I've arranged with the kennel people to get him to a vet so he can have his last puppy shot in about a week's time, should i bring him to a vet before that appointment?
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If the ingestion of garlic was recent, I would recommend inducing vomiting with 3% hydrogen peroxide and afterwards administering activated charcoal as a first aid measure; but garlic is five times more poisonous than onions and I would recommend visiting your Veterinarian to be on the safe side. As far a puppy sleeping, this may be normal behaviour for a puppy as they sleep more than older dogs but you should have an idea of how much Tama sleeps over the past two to three weeks. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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I gave my female red heeler a pancake that had a small amount of garlic on top from another food. i didn't realize until after she ate it, then ran out side and started to eat grass, a few minuets after she vomited. Now she is constantly eating grass. what should i do?
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It is good that she vomited soon after eating the pancake which means that she probably got a lot of the pancake out. It is important to induce vomiting with 3% hydrogen peroxide, keep her hydrated and to give activated charcoal if you have some. If you notice any symptoms or are worried you should visit your Veterinarian for decontamination and supportive care. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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I added garlic to broiled ground turkey for a dog with allergies thinking it would help her breath, general health. I has been almost 4 weeks and she has lost 4 pounds (something I have been trying to do for years, same amount of food), we noticed she wasn't coordinated, started to lose vision, would fall down, relieving herself in the house. We initially though the she got into snuff/tobacco pack and thought it would leave her system but I realized just today that I had been adding garlic to the meat. Her appetite hasn't changed she just isn't herself. It's Monday she has an appt Wednesday. Can she bounce back?
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I cannot guarantee that she can bounce back; four weeks of daily exposure is a long time and she is suffering from severe symptoms. I wouldn’t wait until Wednesday, I would go to an Emergency Clinic immediately as she needs to be placed on fluids and get supportive care; I am surprised that with chronic exposure in a small dog has taken this long to present with symptoms. This is a poisoning event, it cannot wait; especially with the timeframe involved. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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my dog Bella ate a garlic pill that is 300mg. She hadn't had anything to eat when she ate it but I still made her vomit with hydrogen peroxide almost immediately after she ate it ( about 4-5 minutes). I fed her and gave her water and about 10 minutes after that I gave her more hydrogen peroxide. I kept giving it to her until she vomited.(it tools about 20-30 minutes).After that I put 2 activated charcoal pills in about 1 and a half cups of water and she drank that. Will she be ok enough not to visit the vet?
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I always recommend visiting a Veterinarian in cases of poisoning. Your quick actions would have saved Bella from illness or death. I don’t have any information about the toxicity of the garlic pill as not all of them are made equally; some are extracts, some are dried garlic etc… As I mentioned, Bella should be OK with your quick actions; especially if you saw the pills intact when she vomited. If in doubt, administer more activated charcoal. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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My dog ate about 5 tablespoons of roasted red pepper hummus which has garlic in the ingredients .. about an hour later he vomited and ever since has just been laying in one spot not interested in moving
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It is good that Jay vomited the hummus after an hour, but I would still be worried about the effects; I checked some recipes to see the quantity of garlic in a batch of the hummus which is low but still concerning. Remember that the effects of garlic poisoning may be delayed and we are unsure about how much was absorbed or not vomited out as well as other ingredients which maybe also toxic to dogs (onions, spices), I would recommend visiting your Veterinarian for preventive care: activated charcoal etc… If you are unable to get to your Veterinarian, try to get him to drink as much as possible and check his gums for signs of anaemia. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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I have a 25 lb Jap chin dog ate one clove of garlic off the bulb it's been two days and now he's vomiting what should I do
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Clinical signs of garlic poisoning can be delayed in onset; if you ever suspect your dog has eaten garlic, onions or any other toxin visit your Veterinarian immediately as the treatment administered in the first few hours gives the most favourable prognosis and allows for a faster recovery. Garlic poisoning affects many organ systems in the body, particularly the circulatory system. Visit your Veterinarian immediately to get emergency treatment as Ginseng may require stabilization and supportive inpatient treatment (intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy etc…). If your Veterinarian is closed, visit your local Emergency Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
My 9 pound dog ate maybe 1/4 of a prick chop with garlic a teaspoon of garlic powered spilt between 4 pork chops should I be worried
My 45 lb. blue heeler ate about a tablespoon of garlic rice last night. I didn't realize the rice was prepackaged with garlic added. This morning she threw up for about 30 minutes. Now she is playing, eating, drinking, and alert. Her gums are pink also. Do you think she is fine? I might add she threw up bile which she does every so often. She is a picky eater and doesn't eat much dog food until she gets really hungry. But she threw up a good 8 times in 30 minutes which is concerning.
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