As much as you are careful with what you feed your family pets, there will be instances when harmful food might be accidentally given to them. Pet owners need to know food items to avoid. It is simply as important to share the information with others.

Garlic and the Allium Family

Garlic, a species of the Allium family, together with onions, shallots, leeks, chives, and so on, is not harmful to people but very toxic to our dogs and cats. These contain substances called disulfides and thiosulphates. When cats and dogs eat garlic or any Allium family member, it causes various types of anemia, damaging red blood cells. The substances in these foods can cause the red blood cells in your pet’s body to become extremely delicate and burst.

What Occurs When Garlic is Consumed

Compared to onions, garlic is far more concentrated. Even a percentage can already trigger problems with the gastrointestinal system. Toxicity might also depend on your pet’s breed, size, and weight. Aside from anemia, these are a few of the signs to look out for:

• Tenderness and cramping of the stomach
• Blood in the urine; or red or brown urine
• Fainting
• Dehydration
• Lack of muscle coordination
• Diarrhea
• Drooling
• Raised heart and respiratory rate
• Seizures

What to Do When Garlic is Ingested

When signs appear, consult your vet right away. The vet may want to perform a physical examination and laboratory tests and may require your pet’s medical history. It is best to rush to your regular veterinarian so that they have records of routine examinations, vaccinations, and more. Lab work may consist of a complete blood cell (CBC) count, urinalysis, clotting test, etc.

The veterinarian will administer medications to eliminate the toxic substances. They could induce vomiting if the animal just recently consumed garlic. Otherwise, your pet will be admitted to be given drugs intravenously. This link leads you to a reliable vet hospital.

How Pets Encounter Garlic

Generally, pets that eat human food such as leftovers or what they can steal from under the dining table or table tops come into contact with garlic. Anything prepared that comes into contact with garlic and onions will endanger your pets, even healthy vegetables.

If you need to leave your cuddly buddy with a sitter or a friend, ensure they know what not to feed pets. Otherwise, you may come home to a sick furbaby. Think about pet boarding in your local veterinarian hospital, particularly if your family pets are sensitive. This can ensure that your furry friend is monitored and fed only the safest and healthiest food they can get. For pet boarding in Orlando, look here.

Another thing you have to consider is staying clear of natural home remedies. As most know, garlic has healing and therapeutic attributes. People use garlic for its antibacterial qualities. Do not be tempted to utilize it topically! Pets lick themselves, so the probability of consuming it is quite major.

An Important Reminder

Make sure you have your vet’s emergency numbers all the time. If your pet accidentally finds its way to garlic and other toxic food, urgent veterinary care is necessary.

The Bottomline

Make certain that garlic and other Allium family members are kept from your pets. Before offering food scraps to your pets, rethink to be sure they did not touch any garlic or toxic food. This may not be deadly to your healthy pets, but this is damaging, and unnecessary hospital bills will be expensive.