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No, dogs cannot and should not eat onion rings. Your canine should avoid onions in any shape, including cooked, raw, diced, and even powdered. Although they taste good, onion rings can actually give your canine serious health problems because it contains poisonous organosulfur compounds (sodium n-propyl thiosulfate and N-propyl disulfide).

Onion Rings
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Dangerous: This food is generally considered a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of dogs. Please contact your vet, a veterinary hospital or pet poison control if you suspect your dog has eaten this food recently.

How Many Onion Rings are Toxic for Dogs?

Ideally, your dog shouldn’t eat any human food that contains onions. This also includes onion rings. Even though one onion ring might not hurt your dog, the compounds can stay in your dog’s system and accumulate over time. Such a thing can lead to onion poisoning and death in worse cases.

Signs Your Dog Ate Too Many Onion Rings

The accumulation of organosulfur compounds in your four-legged friend’s body will likely cause onion poisoning over time, especially if you give them one onion ring daily. Symptoms of onion poisoning in dogs include dermatitis, fatigue, hemolytic anemia, discolored urine, vomiting, diarrhea, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and liver damage.

What to Do If Your Dog Ate Too Many Onion Rings?

It is recommended to take your dog to the vet if they exhibit any onion poisoning symptoms soon after eating any amount of onion ring. If your dog suffers from onion toxicity and is in critical condition, your local vet can perform the required tests and treatments through IV injections and fluids.

Common Onion Ring Ingredients

  • Onions-Onions are very toxic for dogs because they contain the organosulfur compoundssodium n-propyl thiosulfate and N-propyl disulfide. These can cause onion toxicity in dogs.
  • Flour-Flour is generally safe for dogs in moderation. However, large amounts can cause weight gain. Plus, some dogs are gluten intolerant, so it’s best to avoid it.
  • Chilies-Chilies contain capsaicin, which can leave a burning sensation in your dog’s entire mouth.
  • Salt-Salt is extremely dangerous for dogs in large amounts because it can cause salt toxicosis and heart problems.
  • Eggs-Eggs are safe for dogs in moderation. In fact, they are an excellent source of protein for your dog.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If your dog eats too many onion rings, it’s best not to wait and take it to the vet immediately. Chances are your dog might suffer from onion poisoning.

  • Typically, onion poisoning occurs if your dog eats around 0.5 percent of onion rings per body weight. Of course, the chances of this happening are low, but not zero.

  • Thiosulfinates and disulfides are two types of chemicals found in onions. They can harm your dog’s red blood cells and result in hemolytic anemia. Therefore, you should call your vet immediately if your canine overate garlic, onions, or leeks.

About the Writer
Dan Greco , Dog Dad

Having been a dog dad for 5 years, I know how hard it is to make sure your dog gets the right nutrients and stays away from hazardous foods. With the help of a veterinarian who specializes in nutrition, I created this blog to help dog owners quickly access food information they need.

photo of vet holding a pup
About the Contributor
Dr. Hillary Wolfe , Veterinarian & Certified Food Therapist

Dr. Wolfe holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Kansas State University and holds nutrition certifications from the NAVC and CIVT. Her business, Tula Veterinary Nutrition, hosts online courses that teach owners how to cook for their pet for optimal health and longevity. Follow her on Instagram at @doctorwolfe.dvm for dog nutrition tips, recipes and insights.