Can dogs and cats eat Garlic?
Garlic belongs to the same family as onion and is considered even more potent. It can cause anaemia; cats are especially sensitive.
Why
Organosulfur compounds (oxidative damage to red blood cells)
Signs to watch for
- vomiting
- lethargy, weakness
- pale gums
- fast breathing
- red or brown urine
Good to know
Signs can be delayed by several days. Garlic supplements and garlic-flavoured foods also count. Wild garlic (medvedí cesnak), common in Slovak forests in spring, is the same family.
If you think your pet has been poisoned
If you suspect your dog or cat has eaten or touched something poisonous, contact your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately, even if your pet seems fine – some poisons take hours or days to show signs, and early treatment works best. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to, as this can cause more harm. Take the packaging, label or a piece of the plant with you, and note what was eaten, roughly how much, and when.
Sources
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals
- PDSA – Onion and garlic poisoning in dogs
- ASPCA – People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- Cats Protection – Cats and human foods
Checked against these sources in October 2026.