Can dogs or cats eat onions?
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Can dogs eat onions?
The short answer is no; pets can’t eat onions! There are some very good reasons why you should keep onions away from both cats and dogs.
We’re going to explore onion toxicity in more detail, as well as cover all your most asked onion questions.
Can dogs eat onions?
Onions are a member of the Allium family, a large group of flowering plants which also includes some edible vegetables. While humans can safely enjoy these vegetables, dogs cannot. Onions, garlic, chives and leeks are all toxic to dogs.
Allium species of plants have sulphur-containing oxidants. These are released by chopping, cooking or chewing, and the action of microbes in your pet’s digestive tract. These oxidant compounds are absorbed and enter your pet’s bloodstream, leading to oxidative damage of the red blood cells. Rupture and destruction of these cells occur, an issue known as haematolytic anaemia.
A significant drop in circulating red blood cells can cause serious issues for your dog. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to organs and tissues. So, an animal that is severely anaemic will become weak, develop pale or yellow gums and may even collapse. Digestive upsets are also common in onion poisoning. Changes in urination may be noted, and kidney damage is a possibility in affected dogs. Death is also a potential outcome.
Large amounts of onion could cause symptoms with 24 hours, but if smaller amounts are ingested, then symptoms may not be noticed for up to a week.
That is why you must not give your dog onions in any form. Raw, dried, or cooked onion could all make your dog very unwell. Plus, all different onion varieties are toxic, including white, yellow and red onions, shallots, scallions, pearl onions and spring onions.
Let’s explore this further with some commonly asked questions:
Can dogs eat food with onions?
No, you should not feed your dog any human food that contains onions. Raw, cooked, dried, or powdered onions are all bad news for pets.
Can dogs eat cooked onions?
All forms of onion are toxic to dogs, including cooked ones.
Can dogs eat spring onions?
No, spring onions are also part of the Allium family of plants. This means they are toxic to dogs and must be avoided.
Can dogs eat onion rings?
Cooked onions are still toxic to dogs. Plus, the greasy, battered coating on onion rings is not exactly healthy for them either.
Can dogs eat red onions?
No, all types of onions are toxic to dogs, including red varieties.
Can dogs eat pickled onions?
Pickling onions doesn’t make them any safer for dogs; they are still toxic. The vinegar could also lead to tummy troubles.
Can dogs eat onion powder?
All forms of onion are poisonous to dogs. Dried onions are an extremely concentrated form, so even small amounts could cause your pet serious problems.
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Can cats eat onions?
Everything that we have discussed for dogs also applies to cats. In fact, cats are even more sensitive to onion poisoning than our canine companions. So, make sure to keep all types of onions well out of reach from your cat and never feed them anything that could contain onions.
Let’s cover all those onion questions again, this time focusing on our feline friends.
Can cats eat food with onions?
No, never feed your cat any food that contains onions. Raw, cooked, dried, or powdered onion is toxic to them.
Can cats eat cooked onions?
Cooked onions are still toxic to cats, so they must never be given.
Can cats eat spring onions?
Spring onions are a member of the Allium family of plants. This means that, like normal yellow or red onions, spring onions are poisonous to cats.
Can cats eat onion rings?
It’s never a good idea to give your cat human food, including onion rings. They have no nutritional benefits and could make your cat seriously unwell.
Can cats eat red onions?
Red onions can cause haemolytic anaemia in cats, whether they are raw, cooked, dried or powdered. Never feed them to your cat.
Can cats eat pickled onions?
Cats should not eat pickled onions. The pickling process doesn’t make the onion any safer for them, plus the vinegar could cause stomach upsets.
Can cats eat onion powder?
Powdered onion is extremely dangerous for cats. It is a very concentrated source of onion, so even small amounts could cause severe toxicity. Keep powdered onion well away from your pets.
What should I do if my pet eats onions?
If your cat or dog has accidentally eaten some onion, follow these steps:
Remove any remaining onion so that your pet stops consuming it.
Quickly try and work out how much onion your pet may have eaten.
Call your vet for immediate advice. Don’t wait for your pet to develop symptoms; early intervention and treatment will lead to better outcomes.
Never try to induce vomiting in your pet. This just wastes time and could cause more complications.
What's the treatment for onion toxicity?
Your vet will start by examining your pet and asking a few questions. They will want to know if your pet is showing any symptoms and how much onion they may have eaten. They will perform an examination to check for issues like pale or yellow gums, a fast heart rate, breathing issues, and abdominal pain.
If your pet has only just consumed the onion, then your vet may be able to induce vomiting, followed by administration of activated charcoal. This will help stop your pet from absorbing any further toxins.
Symptomatic pets may require hospitalisation for blood tests, oxygen therapy, blood transfusions and monitoring.
There is no specific antidote for onion poisoning, just supportive care. This is why it is important not to let your pet have access to onions in the first place.
Onions and pets don’t mix! Never feed your pet any type of onion, as they are all toxic. Any form of onion has the potential to make your cat or dog severely unwell, including raw, cooked, dried or powdered.
If you suspect your pet has eaten any onions, then call your vet for advice straight away.
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Information purposes only
The suggestions offered here are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for pet-specific advice from your veterinarian. Never disregard your vet’s recommendations, or delay in acting on them, based on something you have read on this site. Regardless of how a food is rated here, any food that you give your pet can pose potential health risks, including allergic reactions, choking, or other health conditions such as bloat. Always monitor your pet while they’re eating, and never introduce a new food into your pet’s diet without first consulting your veterinarian.
Pet poison emergency protocol
If your pet is acting sick, call your regular veterinarian immediately. If your regular veterinarian is closed, call a nearby on-call veterinarian, animal urgent care, or veterinary emergency hospital. If your pet is not acting sick but you think they may have been exposed to a poison, call the Animal Poison Line (01202 50 9000).
Food safety statuses
Could be given almost daily without harm
Not toxic, but should not be given regularly
Toxic or simply too risky to give to your pet