Are you wondering about “can dogs eat leeks?” If yes, then you are at the right place! This green, crunchy veggie might be a great addition to human meals, but not so much for dogs.
You should never feed your dog leeks, even in small amounts, or “My dog is making puppy eyes—I think it can have one bite!” because NOPE! In this article, we will give you all the reasons why leeks are bad for dogs and what to do if your dog ate one!
Are Leeks Bad For Dogs?
As mentioned in the introduction, leeks are not good for dogs and can lead to health hazards if consumed in large quantities. There are several reasons that make leeks a toxic human food for dogs. Like onion and garlic, leeks come from the same Allium family, famous for being poisonous to dogs. This vegetable also contains toxic compounds such as thiosulphates and disulphates, which can cause oxidative damage to red blood cells and oxygen supply to a dog’s body.
This particular condition is called anemia, where the red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be produced (study). In addition, Heinz bodies can form, creating abnormality in hemoglobin. Not only this, but even if your dog only had a tiny amount of leek, it can cause gastrointestinal upset. This can then further lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, discomfort, or anemia.
We are not trying to scare you, but it is essential to know that you should keep your dog as far as you can from human foods like garlic, onion, grapes, raisins, chocolate, etc. Even though they might not be 100% fatal, they can put your dog in a life-threatening situation.
Neither do leeks hold much nutritional value, nor are they magical for your doggo’s health. Hence, please do not experiment with adding small amounts of it for “dietary needs” because, believe us—it’s not worth the nightmare!
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Leeks?
If your dog ate leeks, they will start showing up the symptoms, whose intensity depends on individual preferences. Here is what you can do:
1. Be calm
Panicking will not help the situation! As a responsible dog owner, you should stay calm and rational. This can be a life-threatening situation for your pooch. Hence, even if you doubt that your dog might have hidden leeks in their kennel and eaten them—you should call your veterinarian immediately.
2. Call your veterinarian
We recommend that you call your veterinarian or seek medical help immediately. This way, the medical team will be ready with all the information they need about your dog. Always remember the earlier you get your dog’s veterinarian’s attention, the easier it will be to cure your pooch.
3. Home remedies—yes or no?
This is something that many dog owners might do in emergencies. However, unless your veterinarian guides you, you should not experiment at home. Home remedies might worsen the situation because no one is better at medical jobs than a vet.
Note: Always keep a medical dog supplies kit at home.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, we can say that you should never feed your dog leeks or any vegetable from the Allium family. Leeks can be very poisonous or even life-threatening! So to avoid that risk, please keep an eye on your dog and observe if they shows any symptoms of toxicity after consuming leeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Potatoes are safe for dogs, but the same cannot be said for leeks. Leeks are poisonous and toxic to dogs, so even small amounts might make your dog sick. The worst it can do is put your pooch in a life-threatening situation.
No! Cooking the leeks will not decrease the risk of the toxic compounds. Hence, keeping your dog away from this human food will be best.
Leeks can cause gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain if a small amount is consumed. If your dog has it in large amounts, it can be life-threatening.
There is not much evidence to state that leeks are deadly to dogs, but they can cause near-death experiences if not treated on time. Hence, please avoid feeding your dog leeks.
