Can Dogs Eat Garlic?

Garlic is a staple ingredient in many popular dishes, typically added to sauces to provide additional flavor. It smells delicious when cooking and tastes even better, and it’s something us humans can consume a whole lot of without sometimes even realizing.

But, is it safe to allow our dogs to have garlic? Can dogs eat garlic? With many ‘human’ foods ruled unsuitable to share with our canine friends, it’s important to know what we can and can’t feed to our pets. So, can dogs eat food with garlic, or not?

We might find garlic super tasty and flavorsome, but bad news incoming for our pets — can dogs eat garlic? The answer is an emphatic no. Garlic is toxic to dogs because it contains a compound known as thiosulfate, which can damage your pet’s red blood cells. This can cause rapid breathing, weakness and pale gums and can even be fatal.

Accidents all too easily happen, and with dogs usually taking a big interest in any food there’s a good chance that — no matter how hard you try — they consume a bit of garlic. We know that dogs can’t eat food with garlic, but how much garlic is toxic? If your dog steals a slice of raw garlic that falls off a chopping board during meal prep or whips a chunk of garlic bread from the table, is it time to panic?

Much depends on how much garlic your dog has eaten. While garlic, onions, leeks, and chives are all members of the genus Allium, meaning all are toxic to dogs, garlic is particularly dangerous. The Merck Veterinary Manual reveals that it is 3-5 times more toxic than onion.

A toxic dose of garlic in dogs is 15 grams per kilogram of body weight. To give you an idea of how much that is, a single garlic clove weighs around 5-6 grams.

With this in mind, your dog would most likely have to consume a lot of garlic to become seriously ill. However, every dog reacts differently and some are more susceptible than others. For example, Japanese breeds like the Akita and Shiba Inu are more prone to garlic toxicity than other breeds.

Garlic is available in different forms. An example — can dogs eat garlic powder, which might be used to season food? No. Garlic powder is a concentrated form of garlic and should be kept well away from your pet at all times.

It’s also worth pointing out that if your dog ingests a small amount of garlic, the signs of poisoning can take several days or even up to a week to appear. So while there’s some conflicting information online, with some people claiming it’s safe to give your dog a small amount of garlic regularly, a toxic dose can accumulate over time. Indeed, this is the most common way garlic toxicity will occur.

Why take the gamble? The key takeaway here is that dogs simply shouldn’t eat garlic. Like all toxic foods and substances, it should always be kept well out of your pet’s reach.

If you think your dog has eaten garlic, the symptoms will vary based on the amount they’ve consumed and the size of your pet. Garlic damages the red blood cells that transport oxygen around the body, so large doses can lead to hemolytic anemia.

Symptoms of garlic poisoning in dogs can include:

• Lethargy
• Depression
• Abdominal pain
• Rapid breathing
• Elevated heart rate
• Pale gums
• Jaundice
• Red or brown urine
• Drooling
• Exercise intolerance
• Collapse
• Gastrointestinal issues (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting)

If your pet ingests garlic or you notice any of the above symptoms, the first thing you should do is contact your vet, or phone the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661. The best thing you can do is follow the advice of a veterinary professional. Don’t induce vomiting first unless instructed to do so, as this could potentially exacerbate the toxicity.

If your pet has only eaten a small amount of garlic, the vet may advise you to monitor your dog for any signs of illness and seek veterinary attention if required. If your dog needs veterinary care, the vet may induce vomiting and use activated charcoal to help remove the toxin. If this doesn’t work, your pet may be hospitalized to have the toxins flushed from their system using IV fluids.

In severe cases of anemia, a blood transfusion may be required.

Dogs will eat and enjoy many different types of food, but do they like garlic? Many dogs don’t like garlic on its own and won’t be tempted to eat it — but, as we mentioned at the start of this guide, garlic is widely used to prepare a wide range of human foods and dishes, many of which can seem very appetizing to your dog.

There’s always a risk that a dog will rapidly gobble up a chunk of raw garlic without even thinking too much about the taste.

It’s a popular side dish or appetizer, but can dogs eat garlic bread? Though canines will almost certainly like to, garlic bread isn’t safe for dogs to eat. Not only does it contain toxic garlic, but the butter, oil, and other ingredients included in garlic bread also have the potential to cause gastrointestinal upset for your pup.

Right — while you may have heard or read that garlic can be an effective method of controlling and treating flea infestations, there’s really no firm evidence to support these claims. The American Kennel Club notes that you should always consult a vet before giving your dog any garlic supplements.

Instead of feeding your dog garlic to repel fleas, the safest option is to use a commercial flea preventative.

Taking a few simple precautions around the home can ensure that your dog stays safe. For starters, make sure your pup doesn’t have access to any of the food in your pantry, including products like garlic salt and garlic powder. Keep all garlic products well out of reach at all times, and take particular care if your pup is a renowned counter surfer. 

Next, make sure you never give your pet any table scraps that may have been cooked with garlic. Some dogs will happily dig through the trash to find any tasty morsel they can, so keep bins out of reach.

Finally, if you’re growing any garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, or chives in your garden at home, make sure they’re securely fenced off from any curious pups.

While garlic is a favorite among two-legged members of the family, it’s simply not safe for dogs to eat. Take sensible steps to ensure your dog doesn’t come into contact with garlic, and if they do happen to consume any garlic, contact a veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline for advice.