What should I do if my dog eats cooked onions?

If your dog eats cooked onions, it's important to contact your vet right away. Here are some things to know:

• Onions contain compounds called N-propyl disulfides and thiosulphate which can damage dogs' red blood cells and cause gastrointestinal upset.

• Symptoms of onion poisoning in dogs may include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and lethargy. They can also experience trembling or weakness.

• The amount and type of onion ingested determines the severity of symptoms. Even a small amount from cooked or processed foods can potentially cause problems in small breed dogs.

• Call your vet immediately if you see any symptoms or your dog ate a large amount of onions. The vet may induce vomiting or perform bloodwork to monitor red blood cell damage.

• Keep track of what was eaten and how much for the vet. Give your dog extra water to help flush their system.

• Treatment depends on the severity but may include IV fluid support, medication for vomiting/diarrhea, overnight hospitalization for monitoring, or blood transfusions in severe cases.

Even if no symptoms are seen, it's still a good idea to call your vet, who may want to monitor your dog or run bloodwork as a precaution.  Act quickly if any symptoms arise after onion ingestion.