Re: [pyrnet] Onions

[Julie Johnston <raven4luck@home.com>]

And one last site truly about onions focused on Boxers but true for all dogs
and cats.

Julie

http://www.erinet.com/ghost/onion.htm


Just Say "NO" to Onions!
By
Dr. Wendy Wallner Whirlwind Boxers

Onions are toxic to dogs. The toxicity is dose dependent, so the bigger the
animal, the more onion need be consumed to cause a toxicity. Onion toxicity
causes a Heinz body anemia. Heinz bodies are small bubble-like projections
which protrude from a red blood cell and can be seen when the cells are
stained. This "bubble" is a weak spot in the red blood cell and, therefore,
the cell has a decreased life-span and ruptures prematurely.

If numerous red cells are affected and rupture, anemia can result. It is a
form of hemolytic anemia. Onions are only one of the substances which can
cause Heinz body anemia. Other substances such as Acetominophen (Tylenol)
and benzocaine-containing topical preparations can also cause Heinz body
anemia in the dog. 

The toxic effect of the onions are the same whether the product is raw,
cooked or dehydrated. The hemolytic episode usually occurs several days
after onion ingestion (lowest hematocrit around day 5 post ingestion). Daily
feeding of onions could have a cumulative effect due to ongoing formation of
Heinz bodies versus a single exposure with a wide gap until the next
exposure, allowing the bone marrow time to regenerate the prematurely
destroyed red cells.

The cat is even more susceptible. Recently, Gerber began to add onion powder
to all its meat baby foods. They are labeled as "better tasting". Since baby
food is often used in sick cats that are not eating (to stimulate their
appetites), there was concern that the onion powder would cause a Heinz body
anemia in these cats. Within a week or two of the change, there were
numerous reports of Heinz body anemia in cats receiving Gerber baby food in
their diets.

I strongly recommend NO ONIONS for dogs. There is no benefit and certainly
the potential to cause harm.

Copyright 1997 Wendy Wallner, DVM

Author's note: As of winter of 1998, the onion powder seems to have been
removed from the Gerber recipe. The safest thing to do is check the label on
baby food -- and any food you routinely provide for your Boxers.

-- 
"Be strong, believe in who you are; be strong, believe in what you feel."
"Speak true!" 
Melissa Etheridge

http://homepage.mac.com/raven4luck/


> From: Carol Brescher <carol@pyr.uniflex.net>
> Reply-To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
> Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 09:52:27 -0400
> To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
> Subject: [pyrnet] Onions
> 
> Hi Tea,
> 
> Onions can be toxic to dogs. It causes Heinz bodies anemia.
> My recent readings on this claim that Tylenol can do the same thing.
> 
> The older findings indicated that to cause this, a dog must consume
> a large amounts of them - or a moderate amount over a period of
> time (the effects are cumulative). And while I don't remember
> the percentage, I calculated that an average Pyr (at 100 lb)
> would have to eat a full pound of onions to reach the toxic stage. Some recent
> reports indicate that certain breeds are more susceptible - particularly
> the Japanese breeds.
> 
> Onions are very powerful anti-oxidants and I have aways cooked
> with them. As a result my dogs have always eaten them as part of
> their meals. We never had a problem, but again, the amount is
> minimal - perhaps one medium onion for 4 portions. And not
> daily.
> 
> I do not know what the signs you need to watch for, but I do know
> that the reactions is not immediate. If you go to yahoo and search
> on dogs+toxic+onions you may be able to find that answer.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Carol
> www.naturaldogfood.com
> 
> 
>> 
>> Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 08:46:49 -0400
>> From: tea4c@yahoo.com
>> Subject: Re: [pyrnet] Onions
>> 
>> Thanks Linda,
>> 
>> We really do try to keep them on just dog food -- I didn't know that about
>> onions or my vet would have had a late night call -- the same he got when
>> Zack ate Mitch's chocolate frosted brownie.  ( You see the problem is not in
>> training the dogs, but training the husband about counters.<VBG>).
>> 
>> Are there symptoms I should look out for -- and would one large onion cause
>> the problem -- (there were three dogs, but my guess is Casey got the lions
>> share)?
>> 
>> One again thanks for the heads up -- Always glad for information.
>> 
>> Tea
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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