Garlic, regarded by many as "nature's antibiotic"; the Soviets even call it “Russian Penicillin”, is also known to be a powerful anti-fungal, anti-pathogen and is also valued for its anti-oxidant properties. Garlic is most commonly used in preventing internal parasites & flea controls in dogs.Recently, some research cautioned about feeding garlic to dogs. Studies showed that garlic contains thiosulphate, which can damage red blood cells and cause anaemia.
"Garlic Flea Remedy Dangerous For Dog". Posted on People's Pharmacy:
Q. I heard that garlic could keep fleas from biting, so I put some in my dog's food for about a week. He became lethargic and couldn't even climb the lowest stairs. I thought this might be a reaction to the antibiotics I had him on to heal sores from the original flea bites.
I took him in again to check for infection, but there wasn't any. I casually mentioned the garlic, and the vet said that garlic is toxic to dogs. It causes something called Heinz body anemia. Please warn other readers.
A. Both garlic and onions can cause anemia in dogs. Cats are even more susceptible.
People often assume that they can give their pets the same things they take themselves, but that's not necessarily a good idea. Always check with the vet before giving your pet any medicine or extra treats like chocolate or raisins, which are also toxic to dogs.
Source: http://www.healthcentral.com/peoplespharmacy/408/61174.html
Heinz Body Hemolytic Anemia With Eccentrocytosis From Ingestion of Chinese Chive (Allium tuberosum) and Garlic (Allium sativum) in a Dog:
A 4-year-old, intact male miniature schnauzer was presented with anorexia. The dog had ingested some Chinese steamed dumplings 2 days before, which contained Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum). Hematological examinations revealed severe Heinz body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis and an increased concentration of methemoglobin, which was thought to result from oxidative damage to erythrocytes by constituents in these Allium plants. In this case, eccentrocytosis was a hallmark finding and could be detected easily, suggesting that this hematological abnormality is useful in diagnosing Allium plant-induced hemolysis.
Case Report: http://www.jaaha.org/cgi/content/abstract/41/1/68
Some branded kibbles also contain garlic. Therefore, it may be likely that it is all right if given in small quantities, although no one knows if it will be harmful if given on a long term basis. Prevention is better than cure. It may be good to refrain or be very careful when giving garlic as a supplement.
