My dog

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Can dogs eat it?

Can dogs eat onions?

No, toxic No. Onions damage a dog's red blood cells and can cause anaemia. Raw, cooked, dried and powdered onion are all toxic.

Why

Onions contain sulphur compounds that damage red blood cells, which then break down and cause anaemia. Raw, cooked, dried and powdered onion are all toxic, and powders, dried flakes and soup mixes are the most concentrated. Even a small amount can be dangerous, so call your vet or an animal poison line straight away. Signs usually appear a few days after eating, so a dog can seem fine at first. Onion hides in sauces, stuffing, bread sauce and some baby food, and AKC says food cooked with onion is unsafe even if the pieces are picked out.

Signs to watch for

If your dog ate onions

Call your vet as soon as possible, even if your dog seems well: signs of anaemia usually take a few days. If it was within about four hours, your vet may make your dog sick and give activated charcoal. Tell them roughly how much was eaten and whether it was raw, cooked or powdered. Do not try to make your dog sick yourself.

If your dog has eaten something toxic

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet now. Do not wait for signs, and do not make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to. Take the packet with you.

Australia: poison advice lines
  • Animal Poisons Helpline: 1300 869 738. Open 24/7. Its own home page says consultations with a Poisons Information Consultant are available from $75 AUD. Older pages still call it free: RSPCA Australia's knowledgebase (last updated December 2023) and the helpline's own 2019 launch news, so ask about the fee when you call.
United States: poison advice lines
United Kingdom: poison advice lines
  • Animal PoisonLine: 01202 509 000. Open 24 hours, run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service. £35 per call 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, £45 at all other times including bank holidays, paid by card (Amex not accepted). If your pet shows collapse, seizures or breathing difficulty, it says to contact your vet immediately instead.
Canada: poison advice lines
  • Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. Its own site says it is available throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, 24/7. A USD 89 per incident fee applies, which includes follow-up consultations.
New Zealand: poison advice lines
  • Animal Poisons Helpline: 0800 869 738. Open 24/7, the same service as in Australia. New Zealand's National Poisons Centre says it is available to all New Zealand pet owners and that charges do apply; the amount for New Zealand callers is not stated.
  • National Poisons Centre (for people). New Zealand's National Poisons Centre handles human poisonings and says it is not expert in animal poisonings. For a pet, call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline.

This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. Puppies, small dogs and dogs with a health condition can react to smaller amounts. Check with your own vet before changing what your dog eats.

Other foods people ask about

Asparagus Yes, in moderation Yes, cooked and cut small. Raw spears are hard to chew and digest, and the asparagus fern in the garden is not safe. Aubergine (eggplant) Yes, in moderation Yes, a little plain cooked aubergine. The leaves and flowers of the plant are the parts to avoid. Beetroot Yes, in moderation Yes, a little plain beetroot, cooked or raw. Skip it if your dog has had bladder or kidney stones, and do not panic at pink wee. Bell peppers Yes, in moderation Yes, plain sweet peppers of any colour in small amounts. Never chilli or jalapeño peppers. Broccoli Yes, in moderation Yes, in very small amounts. Plain raw or steamed broccoli is fine, but too much irritates the stomach. Brussels sprouts Yes, in moderation Yes, a sprout or two, cooked and plain. More than that can cause wind and an upset stomach.

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Sources

Last reviewed 2026-09-29.