Why Can't They Agree On A Single Thing? Garlic For Dogs: Yes Or No?

Becoming a proactive health advocate for your dog is the most important and, sadly, also the last simple decision you will make on behalf of your dog.

What is the right thing for my dog?

That is a question I agonize over several times a day. Should you go through with a surgery? Should you agree to this or that treatment? Should you give this or that vaccine?

Photo Zsuzsanna Kilian

As if those questions weren't difficult enough, there is never a straightforward answer to any of them. It all depends on whom you ask.

We're about at the point when you can believe anything you want, and find an authority to back it up.

Should you feed your dog commercial kibble, home-cooked diet or raw? Are grains good for dogs or bad?

It really doesn't matter what question is on your mind, the possible answers are many, and often conflicting.

Doesn't that make you feel like a mouse in a maze?

Which turn should you take to get to the desired result? It can make your head spin and the experts do little to make things easier on us.

So where is the truth?

There are a few things they all do agree on. Those are, however, few and far in between.

For example, all experts happen to agree that onions are toxic for dogs. What a relief! OK, onions are a no for dogs. How about garlic then?

Both onions and garlic contain organosulfoxides (sulfurs). These are damaging to the red blood cells of dogs. Not a good idea to give your dog either of them, right?

Do you think that you will get the same answer from all experts when you ask them about garlic?

Think again.

I heard every answer from no garlic for dogs, to toxicity is dose-dependant and dogs can tolerate quite a bit, to moderate amount of garlic is beneficial for the immune system and Qi.

Jasmine's TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) vet wants to include garlic in Jasmine's recipe. Many commercial dog foods and treats contain garlic. Garlic is being used for flea and tick prevention.

"Even water is toxic at certain amounts; does that mean that any amount of water is toxic?"

Can you feel your head spinning?

"It is a common myth that a small amount of onions or garlic is not harmful to dogs."
Source: The Dangers of Onion Toxicity

"Garlic is a GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) ingredient according to AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officers). Garlic also has anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as anti-infectious organism and anti-cancer properties."
Source: Clinical Signs, Infectious Diseases, and Natural Treatment Options for Fleas

"I believe that any amount of garlic or onions is unacceptable, because it always causes damage on a cellular level, whether or not we notice the effects of the damage and label it “toxic.”"
Source: The Dangers of Onion Toxicity

"Garlic is theoretically poisonous to dogs and cats. In practice, it doesn't appear to be very toxic. This is especially true in dogs."
Source: How Poisonous is Garlic?

"The health benefits of garlic for dogs are boosting of the immune system, fighting bacterial/viral/fungal infections, enhancing liver function, lowering blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, cardiovascular tonic, tick and flea repellent."
Source: Garlic for Dogs

"If your pet has ingested onions, garlic or foods containing either, call your veterinarian right away." 
Source: The Dangers of Onion Toxicity

These are just a few examples, if you have nothing better to do, you can play with the subject further.

Does this answer the question whether we should or should not give garlic to our dogs?

Shouldn't this be a pretty simple question with a pretty straightforward answer?

I still have no idea whether I should agree to adding garlic to Jasmine's diet or not. Perhaps I should toss a coin after all?

Don't worry, it gets worse.