Can Dogs Eat Garlic Safely? Discover the Truth Here!

Can dogs eat garlic? While many sources on the internet will tell you that dogs should never have garlic under any circumstances, the answer is much more nuanced than that. In fact, most dogs can eat small amounts of garlic without any problems and with some potential benefits. However, not all dogs should eat garlic, and no dog should eat huge amounts of garlic.

Here’s everything you need to know about the question: “Can dogs have garlic?”

Overview of Garlic Toxicity in Dogs

As a member of the Allium family (which also includes things like onions and leeks), garlic does have some potential to make dogs sick since it contains thiosulphate, a chemical that causes a type of anemia that shortens the life of red blood cells, which can lead to sickness or death in large doses.

However, it takes A LOT of garlic to cause problems. The oft-quoted study proclaiming that garlic is toxic to dogs fed 5 grams of garlic per kilo per day to the dogs—the equivalent of 60 garlic cloves for a 75-pound Golden Retriever!

A different study done in 2018 gave dogs 90 mg per kilo per day for 12 weeks and determined that that dose “did not show any adverse effects in dogs.”

How Much Garlic Causes Toxicity in Dogs?

It takes about 15-30 grams of garlic per kilogram of a dog’s body weight to make a dog sick. That means a 10-pound (4.5-kg) dog would need to eat about 68 grams of garlic to have problems. That’s the equivalent of more than 13 average-sized garlic cloves—more than an entire head of garlic.

That said, Akitas, Shiba Inus, puppies, pregnant dogs, and dogs on certain medications shouldn’t eat garlic. Keep reading for more information on the risks of garlic for these groups of dogs.

How Much Does a Clove of Garlic Weigh?

According to Tastylicious, “The average weight of a single clove is between 4 and 7 grams, and the average weight of a garlic bulb is about 40 grams.”

Dangerous Members of the Allium Family

While garlic is only toxic to dogs in large quantities, other members of the Allium family can cause serious problems for dogs in much smaller doses, so you should avoid giving your pup onions, shallots, chives, leeks, scallions, and other members of the Allium family.

Can Dogs Have Garlic in Any Amount?

Yes, most dogs can have small amounts of fresh garlic. Puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, Shiba Inus, Akitas, and dogs with certain medical conditions should not have any garlic unless you discuss it with a holistic vet first.

Effects of Garlic on Dogs

Garlic has many benefits and some precautions you should be aware of.

Benefits of Garlic for Dogs

Some of the benefits of garlic for dogs include:

• •Antibiotic, antiparasitic, and antifungal

• •May help prevent tumors

• •Decreases cholesterol

• •Prevents blood clots

• •Widens blood vessels

• •Stimulates the lymphatic system to remove waste

• •Flea and tick repellant

• •Contains vitamin A, vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, selenium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, sulfur, inulin, and amino acids

Potential Dangers of Garlic for Dogs

As beneficial as garlic can be for dogs, it does come with a few risks.

Breed-Specific Issues

Some dog breeds, especially Shiba Inus and Akitas, are more sensitive to the hemolytic effects of oxidants such as N-propyl disulfide and should not be fed garlic (unless your holistic vet says otherwise).

Puppies

You should not give garlic to any puppies under 6 months of age, and you should give half the regular dose to puppies aged 6 months to a year old.

Pregnant or Nursing Dogs

You should always be careful about what you feed pregnant dogs, so consult with a holistic vet before feeding garlic to a pregnant dog. Garlic can change the taste of breast milk, so don’t feed it to nursing dogs.

Drug Interactions

Garlic affects blood clotting, so don’t feed it to your dog for two weeks before surgery. Additionally, garlic can interact with certain medications, including:

• •Blood pressure drugs

• •Insulin

• •Chemotherapy drugs

• •Immune suppressants

• •Antacids

• •Blood thinners

• •Heart medications

If your dog takes any medications, you should consult with a holistic veterinarian before feeding them garlic.

Garlic Toxicity

Even healthy dogs can suffer from garlic toxicity if they eat large amounts of garlic, especially if it has been dehydrated (like garlic powder, for example). Make sure you only give your dog small amounts of fresh raw garlic.

How Much Garlic Should You Give Your Dog?

You should only feed your dog freshly chopped garlic, and the amount you give depends on the size of your dog:

• •5 lbs: ⅙ tsp

• •10 lbs: ⅓ tsp

• •15 lbs: ½ tsp

• •20 lbs: ⅔ tsp

• •30+ lbs: 1 tsp

How to Prepare Garlic for Dogs

Mixing alliinase and alliin forms allicin, the active medicinal ingredient in garlic. For best results, peel and chop, mince, or crush fresh garlic about 10 minutes before adding it to your dog’s food. Feed according to the above chart.

Never feed your dog dehydrated, jarred, or any other type of garlic other than fresh garlic. Other types of garlic are much more potent and may make your dog sick.

The Importance of Fresh, Raw, Organic, Local Garlic

Not all garlic is created equal. For example, Chinese garlic frequently tests positive for high levels of chlorine, heavy metals, and arsenic. Non-organic garlic may be covered in any number of pesticides or herbicides. Garlic powder, garlic salt, jarred garlic, and other types of garlic are far more concentrated than fresh garlic and may be toxic.

Only feed your dog freshly chopped raw, organic garlic, preferably from a local, trusted source.

Forms of Garlic and Their Risks

Since not all garlic is the same, let’s look at some different types of garlic and whether they’re safe to feed to dogs.

Can Dogs Have Raw Garlic?

Yes, (most) dogs can have small amounts of fresh raw garlic.

Can Dogs Eat Garlic Powder?

No, dogs should not eat garlic powder. It is much more potent than fresh garlic and can make dogs sick.

Can a Dog Eat Garlic Salt?

No, dogs should not eat garlic salt since it is more concentrated than fresh garlic and also contains salt and other ingredients that may be bad for dogs.

Can Dogs Have Garlic Bread?

No, dogs should not eat garlic bread. Carbs cause obesity in dogs, and garlic bread typically also contains butter and other ingredients that dogs shouldn’t eat.

Uses of Garlic in Dogs

Why should you feed your dog garlic? Two of the most common uses of garlic in dogs are to fight cancer and to repel fleas and ticks.

Garlic as a Flea and Tick Repellant

As long as you don’t wash your dog very often, feeding your dog garlic can help repel fleas and ticks. Feed your dog an appropriate amount of garlic every day for two weeks before flea and tick season starts (and again after you wash your dog), then switch to twice-weekly feedings for a maintenance dose throughout the season.

Does Garlic Help Fight Cancer?

Some studies show a potential link between increased garlic intake and a lower risk of some types of cancer. While this link needs more research (especially in dogs), the initial research is promising.

Signs of Garlic Poisoning in Dogs

If your pup goes on a binge and eats a ton of garlic, signs of garlic poisoning may include:

• •Diarrhea

• •Vomiting

• •Decreased appetite

• •Drooling

• •Depression

• •Abdominal pain

• •Weakness

• •Panting

• •Increased heart rate

• •Red urine

• •Pale gums

• •Increased or decreased urination

What to Do if a Dog Eats Garlic

If you suspect your dog has eaten a toxic dose of garlic, you should contact your veterinarian. They may recommend you bring your dog in for treatment of garlic poisoning.

Beyond Garlic: Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat?

You clearly want the best for your dog since you’re researching whether they can safely eat garlic. Did you know that raw dog food is the best food you can feed your dog? Dogs on raw tend to be healthier and live longer than kibble-fed dogs. Learn more about We Feed Raw here or click here to find out how much it would cost to get your dog started on a raw meal plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is garlic safe for dogs to eat?

Yes, fresh raw garlic in small amounts is safe for most dogs to eat. People who own Shiba Inus, Akitas, pregnant or nursing dogs, puppies, or dogs who take medications should talk to a holistic veterinarian before feeding their dog garlic.

What should I do if my dog eats garlic?

If your dog eats a small amount of fresh raw garlic, you can keep an eye on them to monitor for digestive upset, but your dog should be fine. If your dog eats garlic powder, garlic salt, jarred garlic, or a large amount of fresh garlic, you should contact your veterinarian.

Can dogs eat garlic in food, like garlic bread or chicken cooked with garlic?

Most foods that contain garlic also have other ingredients that dogs shouldn’t eat like onions or salt, so dogs should not eat (people) food items containing garlic.

What are the symptoms of garlic poisoning in dogs?

The symptoms of garlic poisoning in dogs include:

• •Diarrhea

• •Vomiting

• •Decreased appetite

• •Drooling

• •Depression

• •Abdominal pain

• •Weakness

• •Panting

• •Increased heart rate

• •Red urine

• •Pale gums

• •Increased or decreased urination

Can dogs have garlic powder or garlic salt?

No, dogs should not eat garlic powder or garlic salt since the dried garlic in these items is far more potent than fresh garlic, making it potentially toxic to dogs.

Is it okay to give dogs garlic to help with flea control?

Yes, most dogs can have this much garlic daily to help with flea control:

• •5 lbs: 1/6 tsp

• •10 lbs: 1/3tsp

• •15 lbs: 1/2 tsp

• •20 lbs: 2/3 tsp

• •30+ lbs: 1 tsp

Puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, Akitas, Shiba Inus, and dogs on certain medications should not eat garlic for flea control.

How do vets treat garlic poisoning in dogs?

The treatment for garlic poisoning in dogs varies depending on how much garlic the dog ate and how long ago they ate it. Treatment may be as simple as inducing vomiting and then administering activated charcoal, or it may include hospitalization, intravenous fluids, oxygen, blood transfusions, and/or repeated bloodwork.

What is the prognosis for a dog that has consumed garlic?

Most dogs can eat small amounts of garlic without any problems. A dog that eats a huge amount of garlic often recovers with veterinary care.