When feeding your pup, you are probably looking for food that will add nutritional value to their bodies. Most people have a notion that dogs can eat almost everything that is consumed by human beings.
In this case, can dogs eat garlic? The answer to this question is yes and no. It’s because large amounts of garlic are poisonous to your dog, while small portions will not do any harm.
Why Garlic is Harmful to Dogs
Although vets maintain that dogs rarely die after eating garlic, pups can display an array of sickness after consuming it. Garlic contains an organosulfur compound which is believed to cause oxidase reactions that overwhelm the red cells’ antioxidant properties in a dog.
When such happens, the shape of the red cells changes and becomes fragile, and eventually raptures. Broken red cells do not transport enough blood oxygen in the tissues resulting in anemia.
The condition causes tiredness in dogs because they do not have the needed energy and oxygen levels. Additionally, their organs and muscles become weak.
Here are some signs that your dog is suffering from garlic poisoning:
- Increased panting
- Bad breath
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Red urine
- Collapse
If you suspect that your dog has eaten garlic, make sure to take it to the vet as soon as possible. The vet will issue drugs that will initiate vomiting to remove all garlic from the body. The treatment program might vary depending on the amount of garlic consumed.
Is Garlic Beneficial to Dogs?
Small amounts of garlic added to dog food is beneficial in various ways. Garlic contains numerous health benefits when fed in the right amounts. But can dogs eat cooked garlic? In this case, it’s still okay as long as it’s given sparingly.
That said, here are the other benefits of garlics to dogs:
1. Boosts their immune system
Garlic is a perfect food for dogs with weak immune system when fed in small quantities. Garlic can boost bloodstream cells and counter harmful microbes. So if your pup displays a weak immune system that gets attacked by various diseases, you might opt for small garlic quantities to rejuvenate its system.
2. Fights fungal, bacterial, and virus infections
Garlic’s antibiotic and antimicrobial properties make it a preferred food for fighting parasites and other organisms that cause infections.
3. Boosts dogs’ cardiovascular health
When used in overweight and older dogs, garlic can prevent blood clots and reduce the cholesterol levels that facilitate the buildup of fats in the arteries. This will not only keep your pup healthy but also active.
Now that it’s okay to give your dogs garlic, you might ask “can dogs eat garlic bread?”. Suffice to say, garlic bread has lots of butter, cheese, and other ingredients that might only cause an upset stomach. So it’s best to avoid giving it to your dog.
But how about garlic powder? Can dogs eat garlic powder? As long as it’s a very small amount, your dog shouldn’t suffer from any complications at all.
Final Words
To conclude, the answer to the question “can dogs eat raw garlic” is yes, but only when smaller quantities are used. Keep in mind that it can be toxic to dogs if large quantities are used. If you are not sure of the amount of garlic that you should feed your dog, you should avoid it altogether.
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