So I have been making dog 'cookies' for my pups for awhile. I've been looking up different recipes and several contain garlic. I was recently reading that garlic isn't healthy for dogs? Is that true or a myth. Obviously the amount in the cookies wouldn't be that much, but would rather not have any garlic in them if they aren't supposed to have them.

i think this is one that gets flopped around about good or bad... i think in a small amount it is ok. i have used it in the past

Garlic is good and even healthy in small doses (I didn't know this at first either ). Garlic in LARGE doses can be fatal, but your dog would have to eat like a whole head.

It's onions that are bad pretty much no matter in what quantity.

Koda wrote:

Garlic is good and even healthy in small doses (I didn't know this at first either ). Garlic in LARGE doses can be fatal, but your dog would have to eat like a whole head.

It's onions that are bad pretty much no matter in what quantity.

That is correct!
If you prefer, you can omit the garlic in the recipe.

Yep, garlic is good for dogs. Massive quantities are bad but the amount in dog foods and dog food/treat recipes is fine.

I add garlic straight to my dogs' food at least 4 times a week not only for their health but also to repel fleas and ticks. I put about 1/16th of a teaspoon in their food (about 1/3 to 1/2 a single clove depending on the size of a the clove).

Just trying to warn all: onions AND garlic are very bad for dogs! I know we've been taught in the old natural health for dogs books that garlic is actually GOOD for dogs -- but please research this on the internet, because both garlic and onions contain a chemical that is very bad for dogs!

This is just a sidebar post from my veterinarian's website:

"Human Foods That Are Dangerous for Dogs and Cats:
Garlic and onions contain chemicals that damage red blood cells in cats and dogs. Affected red blood cells can rupture or lose their ability to carry oxygen effectively. Cooking these foods does not reduce their potential toxicity."

So, I am not going to post links, etc, at the moment (atm) (I am sorry, but I am just too busy today, maybe later I will post links) ...but please research this yourselves, to learn new evidence that onions AND garlic are poisonous to our beloved furry friends!

Thanks for listening

If it is completely dangerous, It would not be put in any commercially made dog food or treats, and it can be abundantly found in both. I work in a vet hospital, and the vets there say that garlic is okay in tiny amounts, its the larger amounts that are dangerous. I've done plenty of research on it, there are always the extremist websites for both sides. I try to find the ones that just give out facts.

Hi Annie, in multiple posts across the board you have posted this and always end with that you have no time to post links to back up your information. Many members here routinely feed garlic as part of a holistic approach to pesticides with no negative effects. I would ask that you do please provide credible sources to your claims We would all like to read.

@ arooroomom:

Sure! Sorry, I get kicked off the computer all of the time here at my home, lol. But here are some links:

http://www.holisticdog.org/badfoods.shtml

http://suite101.com/article/is-garlic-good-or-bad-for-dogs-a192130

http://www.city-data.com/forum/dogs/497058-garlic-powder-good-bad-dogs.html (note: this is a forum, so you will see differing opinions)

http://www.petalia.com.au/Templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?Story_No=257 (note: read down to find garlic info. It DOES say small amounts aren't harmful -- but who wants to take the risk?)

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-pet-nutrition/is-garlic-toxic-to-pets
(note: this is the ASPCA site)

Okay, I used to feed my dogs garlic also! I had read, and believed that it is okay for them. I understand that onions are the worst, and garlic may not be so bad. But garlic still contains thiosulphate, which is poisonous to dogs. So all I'm saying is do you really want to risk it by giving your beloved friend(s) just a tiny bit of poison -- or would you rather just avoid it altogether??

I am certain that there are still many sites that recommend garlic, and even onions, for a natural health supplement for your dog. I don't want to be an alarmist, but, please look at the evidence!

Really! I used to feed my dogs each a garlic capsule each day, to naturally prevent fleas, and for whatever other health benefits. I never knew it was poison.

Garlic and onions are great for people. Then again, so are grapes and chocolate, which are also a poison for dogs.

Thanks for listening, and please also do your own research, thereby relieving me of being the sole source of info on this subject, because I don't want that responsibility! seriously!

Take care, and please check out the links I found.

I do not feed my dog garlic but I am sure in small doses as many on here have said that it is okay and even healthy for dogs. I'm not trying to start anything or be rude but I believe Annie that the people above were just asking you to state the resources in which you came across your information. No one asking you to do their research for them but thank you for the links!

@Robinhuskylover

Oh! No no no, I didn't mean it THAT way! I did not mean that anyone expected me to do their research for them! I am only trying to say Please do your own research, (in addition to my links, or lack of links in some cases) so that I am not the only source of info. I never thought that anyone was asking me to do the research -- I am sorry if you misunderstood (my fault).

All I'm saying is: Here is what I've learned, but check it out yourself, because I am no authority, really, so I will tell you what I know, and you can also check it out yourself to verify, because I don't want the responsibility of being the only source of information or disinformation.

I hope that makes sense. I am sorry for the misunderstanding. I know that no one is asking me to do their research for them. Poor choice of words on my part.

Anyway, personally, though I have always in the past given my dogs garlic, I would now never again do so, because it does contain a poison (thiosulphate) for dogs. And I don't want to argue or start anything, thus the "please do your own research" statement -- because I don't want to be held responsible for individual findings, all I want is to warn of something that, in my personal opinion, is a poison to dogs. You (or anyone) may find better or different information, even from your veterinarian, so I don't want to stamp my findings in stone, if you know what I mean.

That is why I say please do your own research. My opinion is not something etched in stone, it is only my opinion, from my own findings and research.

I'm only trying to help, and maybe alert fellow husky-owners to something that might be dangerous to their pups.

I hope this clears up any misunderstandings.

In my opinion and in my research garlic is completely healthy in small amount and has great anti pest qualities. You can read all about garlic and its benefits in dr. Pitcairn guide to natural health in dogs and cats. I also have other sources, but they are books not.internet articles. It may sound crazy but I am okay with that. I give it every other day. But, I take a holistic approach to my animals and only vaccinate against rabies and feed raw. All of these are pretty controversial in the dog world.

Thank you for claryifying, just wanted to check and bring it to attention and now everyone can be sure about the miscommunication and understand what you were saying

I have done plenty of research on the pros and cons of garlic for dogs. None of the provided links tell me anything that I did not already know, and I am still an advocate of small amounts of supplemental garlic. I wouldn't give it to my dogs if there was even a hint of doubt in my mind. Nor would it be found in a large number of pet foods and treats if it were truly dangerous in small quantities.

We have always mixed garlic in our dogs food, we fed them the tiniest bit with their kibble when we fed them that, now that we make their food we add it into the mix before we divide it up to freeze for the week. We have not had any bad side effects from it, and it does do a great job at repelling fleas. We did plenty of research and spoke to various vets to get their opinion before we started feeding garlic to our guys, and made sure we were 100% comfortable with adding garlic to their food.

If you are not comfortable with feeding your fur babies garlic then it is not something you have to do, many people have different opinions on whether it is bad or good and each will have had different experiences with it, but at the end of the day you have to make sure that you are happy and comfortably with what/how you feed your woofers, if you aren't comfortable with it then don't do it

So sorry, I am NOT trying to cause a problem here, but I feel so strongly about this subject! Every day I see more evidence that GARLIC can cause a blood disease in dogs, causing damage to the red blood cells, even in small quantities given over time.

I know that garlic has been touted (recommended) as a miracle substance/natural cure-all/remedy for canines in all the old natural healing books and sites --- however, this is not true! Garlic, even in small amounts can cause this blood disease.

I see the proof, as I mentioned, every day, on television and on the internet. Sure, I know that you can't believe EVERYTHING you read or hear, right? But I have seen enough from different sources to convince me. Is it worth it to put your beloved pooch at risk?

Here is one more statement that I came across just today, by accident:

Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic in all forms -- powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated -- can destroy a dog's red blood cells, leading to anemia. That can happen even with the onion powder found in some baby food. An occasional small dose is probably OK. But just eating a large quantity once or eating smaller amounts regularly can cause poisoning. Symptoms of anemia include weakness, vomiting, little interest in food, dullness, and breathlessness.

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat

I don't mean to beat a dead horse here, but I used to feed my dogs garlic and garlic capsules, freely, every day, mistakenly thinking it was good for them. Garlic (and onions) in ANY form, in ANY amount, are poisonous to dogs!

Please, for your dog's sake, reconsider this! The pest-repelling and possible antibiotic qualities of garlic are just not worth the risk. I could, and can find at least a hundred more sources/pieces of information to confirm that garlic is poisonous to your dog -- in ANY amount! Do I need to list all of these sources, as I find them, each day?? Please, listen to me!

Thanks for listening. Good health to you and your wonderful, special and very loved doggies.

-- Annie (and Tundra)

Annie,

You need to remember the majority of your sources are from pet food companies and vets - none of these people are fully trained in nutrition. Not to mention, for every 100 posts you find about Garlic being bad, you can find the same for it being fantastic.

I'm gonna trust my holistic vet and mentor (for showing)...she just had a dog pass at 17, fed garlic every day her entire life.