I’m a vet – little-known ingredient is TOXIC for your dog & it could be hidden in it’s favourite treats
A VET has warned of the dangers of feeding a seemingly harmless vegetable to dogs.
The expert behind @lykapetfood told TikTok just how “toxic” feeding garlic to your pup could be.
The video is captioned “more food facts, straight from the vet’s mouth” and serves to educate dog owners on what veggies their canine friends can safely eat.
Yet, garlic is a hard no for pups the vet warns, which might come as a surprise to millions of pup lovers.
It “can be toxic if fed in large amounts to your dog,” she says.
And, it could be hidden in dog’s favourite treats as its a common ingredient in steak and chicken dishes – both things dog owners cheekily slip to their pets at dinner time.
Commercial pet food companies also sometimes choose to include garlic as a supplement due to its debated health benefits.
Garlic aside, broccoli the vet says is a strong yes. It “is rich in vitamins and minerals and is a great source of dietary fibre”.
Pumpkin is a “great source of dietary fibre and can help settle a sensitive tummy”.
Sweet potato also gets a thumbs up, but they recommend only purple and red sweet potato as they more slowly release sugar.
Beyond households, the dangers of garlic are well documented and are amplified by their usage in dog foods worlwide.
Dog Food Advisor acknowledges the possible harms of garlic and also lays out why commercial dog food companies make a case for its inclusion.
In the pet food industry, garlic is often seen as a safe and healthy supplement that has anti-bacterial properties, can help to control worms and fleas and helps digestive.
And yet, the Merck Veterinary Manuel backs up the TikToking vet’s assumptions and states that garlic along with other members of allium family, including onions, can be incredibly hard for dogs to metabolise.
Alliums contain thiosulfate, which the manual says can damage red blood cells and possible lead to an iron deficiency.
Garlic toxicity also causes issues such as vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, stomach pains and dehydration in dogs.
Although it seems scary, studies show that canines would have to eat a lot of garlic to really become ill – but certain dog breeds find garlic more toxic than others.
In short, it is probably best to be avoided.