Can Dogs Eat Garlic Salt?

Every meal loves garlic salt.

We use it to season hamburgers, taco filling, ground beef, or casseroles to elevate their taste.

While we might enjoy this jar of goodness, you may wonder if garlic salt is safe for your dog to eat.

So, can dogs eat garlic salt?

No.

You shouldn’t feed your dog garlic salt as it is partially made from dehydrated garlic, which can be toxic for dogs.

Garlic contains compounds like thiosulfates that can cause gastrointestinal upset and anemia.

It also has too much salt, which can result in salt poisoning in dogs.

This article will discuss everything garlic salt and dogs.

It will also explain what you should do if your dog accidentally takes garlic salt.

Can dogs eat garlic salt

Is garlic salt safe for dogs?

No, garlic salt is not safe for dogs to consume as it can cause severe health issues depending on the amount consumed, the size of your dog, age, and general health profile.

If your dog only took a tiny amount of garlic salt, he should be fine as it may not cause serious harm. 

Your dog may experience diarrhea, vomiting, increased heart rate, and thirst which should disappear within a day.

However, garlic salt is made from dehydrated garlic which can damage your dog’s red blood cells and cause gastrointestinal upset including cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

It may also cause respiratory issues.

Another reason why garlic salt is not safe for dogs is because of the excess salt which can cause salt poisoning in dogs.

Too much salt can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, incoordination, and seizures in dogs.

If you notice any of these symptoms after your dog ingests garlic salt, consult your vet immediately.

garlic salt

Harmful ingredients in garlic salt for dogs

Garlic salt is a seasoning that may contain harmful ingredients that may be detrimental to your dog’s health.

These include:

  • Salt – Garlic salt has a high sodium content that can lead to dehydration or high blood pressure over time. Your dog can also suffer a condition called salt poisoning, which presents symptoms like difficulty urinating, diarrhea, fever, excessive thirst, seizures, and tremors
  • Dried garlic – Garlic in whichever form, including dried, raw, fresh, or cooked, is highly toxic to dogs as it can adversely impact their red blood cells, overwhelming their antioxidant properties. This may cause decreased energy, organ failure, anemia, or even death
  • Anti-caking agent – Some garlic salt may contain calcium silicate, which can cause indigestion in dogs, resulting in nausea and vomiting. If your dog ingests large amounts of garlic salt, it can result in effects as severe as kidney failure

When does garlic salt become dangerous for dogs?

While a tiny lick of garlic salt is unlikely to cause irreparable harm to your dog, it might still cause severe issues, depending on your dog’s size or overall health.

Garlic salt is a mixture of dehydrated garlic and table salt with an anti-caking agent like calcium silicate.

These ingredients are potentially lethal for dogs, especially when consumed in large amounts regularly.

Some of the health issues your dog may experience include:

  1. Salt poisoning

Garlic salt contains too much salt that can cause several health risks for your dog, especially when consumed in large amounts.

If your dog consumes garlic salt in excess, he may need to drink water as the salt can cause dehydration.

However, if your dog can’t access fresh drinking water, the cells in his body may start to release water to counterbalance the salt levels in the blood.

This, in turn, may destroy brain cells, resulting in dizziness, headache, and seizures.

The excess salt in the bloodstream may also cause the muscles to lose moisture, wilt, and become stiff, leading to shaking and jerking.

Salt poisoning may lead to coma, convulsions, or death if left untreated.

The most common symptoms of salt poisoning include:

  • Confusion
  • Coma
  • Convulsions
  • Excessive thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Headache
  • Cramping
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • High fever

If you notice any of these symptoms, rush your dog to the vet as he may require urgent vet care.

Your pup may be admitted for closer observation as he may require oxygen, IV fluid therapy, and electrolytes to handle dehydration.

  1. Garlic poisoning

All plants in the allium family, including garlic, contain an organosulfur compound that can adversely impact your dog’s health.

The organosulfur may cause damage to your dog’s red blood cells, overwhelming their antioxidant properties.

This further causes rapturing of the red blood cells, leading to low oxygen levels being transported to your dog’s organ tissues and muscles.

As a result, your dog may suffer hemolytic anemia, decreased energy, organ failure, or death. 

Some of the symptoms of garlic poisoning in dogs include:

  • Anemia
  • Abdominal cramping and tenderness
  • Bloody urine
  • Collapse
  • Dehydration
  • Lack of muscle coordination
  •  Diarrhea
  • Drooling
  • Yellow skin and eyes
  • Elevated heart and respiratory rate
  • Lethargy
  • Pale gums
  • Seizures
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness

If your dog ingests garlic salt and is experiencing these symptoms, consult your vet immediately for further guidance.

  1. Kidney disease

The high sodium content in garlic salt may relapse existing health conditions in dogs with kidney disease or heart-related issues.

The excess salt may increase blood pressure, worsening kidney damage, especially in older dogs.

Kidneys aid in filtering excess salt from the bloodstream, but when their functioning is lowered, additional salt can quickly accumulate in the bloodstream to dangerous levels.

What to do if your dog eats garlic salt

While garlic salt in tiny amounts may not be entirely safe for dogs, it’s not likely to be lethal either.

However, your dog may experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramping, but it should be self-limiting.

If your dog accidentally took copious amounts of garlic salt, you should:

  • Give plenty of water – Garlic salt has a high sodium content which may cause excessive thirst or result in dehydration. Worse still, your dog may also experience a condition called sodium toxicity. Ensure your pup has access to clean drinking water
  • Monitor your dog – Look for signs such as lack of coordination, unrest, seizures, tremors, or sickness. If your dog shows any of these signs over the next few days, call your vet for assistance
  • Take the product ingredient label with you to the vet – Carry the product ingredient label with you to the vet as it will allow him to get a better idea of how many toxins your dog ingested

In summary

Even in small quantities, garlic salt can cause severe adverse reactions for your fido, so it’s best to avoid it at all costs.

Always consult your vet before feeding your dog any human foods or seasonings, including garlic salt, to prevent poisoning.

Megan Turner

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *