Whether or not to feed garlic is a common question pet owners ask.
Garlic is used in various dishes worldwide; it is considered one of the healthy human foods, although it has a strong odor and leaves behind smelly breath on consumption.
But can canine fur babies reap the benefits of eating this veggie? There is more than one answer to this question. Some canine experts believe they are good for dogs, while others share a contradictory opinion that garlic can be toxic for them.
Both opinions are only partially accurate because garlic can be beneficial or hazardous to fur babies depending on the form and quantity of consumption. Prepare for a health emergency if your exploratory pup nibbles on garlic cloves.
Garlic and other Allium family members contain thiosulphates that are toxic to canines but not humans. Expect gastrointestinal issues, irritation in the stomach, vomits, diarrhea, and anemia in the worst case. This is precisely why you should hurry to the vet’s office should garlic poisoning occur.
If you have bought pet insurance already, you might not have to worry about the economic consequences of this unplanned vet visit, at least. Otherwise, consider being prepared with cheap dog insurance so providing medical care for your needy pooch can be more manageable.
In the meantime, read this article to learn if eating garlic can have a serious health impact on your canine family.
Is garlic hazardous for canines?
Garlic can be dangerous and beneficial to dogs; it all depends on how much you feed it and in what form. It is advisable not to allow your furry pet to chew on raw garlic cloves hoping to give it an immunity boost because that may not happen.
Garlic can be given in dry, powdered, minced, whole, fried, and pickled forms but not to dogs. To learn if you can feed your pup garlic, seek your vet’s advice. After all, every pup is unique, and you need a tailored diet chart. This way, you can give your puppy only what suits its breed, age, size, gender, and health.
There are several health risks associated with eating garlic for dogs. The constituents in garlic can damage the red blood cells due to oxidative reactions, especially when consumed in huge quantities. The puppy can develop anemia and even face a slow death after repeated consumption.
Overall, puppies that eat garlic, whether or not within permissible limits, typically show toxicity symptoms. However, know that many a time, dogs may not show visible signs, but garlic components can be killing their red blood cells from the inside silently. Also, cats are hypersensitive to garlic and should totally avoid this veggie and other items that belong to the Allium family (onions, shallots, chives, and leeks, to name a few).
Contact your vet for reliable information on feeding your four paws garlic and follow their advice. At the same time, consider being prepared with pet insurance because toxic poisoning and other medical emergencies are unpredictable.
Contemplate purchasing cheap dog insurance in the least so providing timely medical care need not be a significant financial challenge in situations like this and many more.
