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Can dogs eat onions?

Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.

No. Never share onions with dogs; call your vet or a poison line if some is eaten. Pet Poison Helpline says onions and the rest of the allium family are poisonous to dogs. They can damage red blood cells, which can lead to anemia, and can upset the stomach. If a dog eats onion, call a vet or Pet Poison Helpline.

Checked October 29, 2026.

By Peabody editors. How we write and check.

Never: call nowKeep it away from them.

Why

Pet Poison Helpline says onions and the rest of the allium family are poisonous to dogs. They can damage red blood cells, which can lead to anemia, and can upset the stomach. If a dog eats onion, call a vet or Pet Poison Helpline.

Good to know

Onion, garlic, chives, leeks and shallots are all the same plant family, and the harm is to the blood's red cells, so it is not just a stomach problem.

Watch for: Onion hides in gravy, stuffing, soups and baby food, so a bite from a dinner plate can count.

Already ate it?

Call now, even if your pet seems fine. Say what was eaten, how much and when, and have your pet's weight ready.

Poison emergency? Call now

ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.

For the children

"Onions can make dogs very sick. Never share this food, and tell a grown-up right away if a pet gets some."

A job: Be the label reader. Before a grown-up shares any food with the dog, check this page, and ask a grown-up if the food is not on it.

A fridge sheet

Never give dogs onions.

If dogs eat some, don't wait. Call right away, even if they seem fine.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435, 24 hours. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-ups included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.

This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Your own vet knows your dog. Dogs differ.

Sources