No, dogs cannot eat chives as it belongs to the allium family. Chives contain organosulphoxides which can be poisonous to dogs. As a responsible and mindful pet parent, you should never feed your dog with chives.
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What Are Chives?
Chives are scientifically known as Allium Schoenoprasm. They belong to the Amaryllidaceae family, similar to garlic, onion, leek, shallots, and produce edible flowers and leaves. It is ubiquitous in Europe and North America. They are commonly used in dishes as herbs.
Chives have been grown in Europe since the Medieval Era, but they have been used for 5,000 years. They also were known as “rush leeks” at times. Marcus Valerius Martialis noted it in his “Epigrams” around 80 A.D.
Are Chives Safe For Dogs?
No, chives are not safe for dogs to eat. They belong to the Allium family, which contains organosulphoxides. This compound is toxic for dogs in various ways. From the chive bulb to leaves and flowers, they are harmful to your dog.
Why Are Chives Bad for Dogs?
Chives are closely related to onion and garlic. They are bad for dogs to consume. The component present in the vegetables of the allium family is Organosulphoxides. This component can cause severe damage to your dog’s body. The consequences of consuming chives are:
Gastroenteritis: Chives poisoning is hard to cure. They can affect your dog significantly in a few bites. The symptoms of eating chives are:
Nausea
Oral irritation
Drooling
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Red Blood Cell Rupture: Chives lead to oxidative damage of the red blood cells in dogs. Red blood cells carry oxygen to different body parts and organs. Hence, the rupture of red blood cells can be havoc on dogs. The symptoms are red blood cells rupture are:
Anemia
Lethargy
Pale gums
Elevated heart rate
Increase in respiratory rate
Weakness
Disinterest in exercise
Discolored urine
Kidney damage
Breathing problem
Collapse
Death
Dilates blood vessels: Allium relaxes the heart by dilating the blood vessel. This causes circulatory issues in the dog’s body. The symptoms of dilating blood vessels are:
Low blood pressure
Weakness
Issues in delivering oxygen
The incapability of blood clotting
Death
How Much Chives to Feed Your Dogs?
No amount of chives should be fed to dogs as they are life-threatening. In addition, chives belong to the allium family, which can be dangerous and cause severe health issues in dogs, even leading to death. Therefore, you must always skip chives.
What If Your Dog Ate Chives?
Chives can do significant harm to your dog’s body. Hence, if your dog manages to consume chives by any chance, consider visiting the vet immediately. The primary symptoms will be diarrhea and vomiting. However, the symptoms of chives poisoning take a longer time to appear, resulting in death in dogs.
Once you visit your vet, they will diagnose your dog through accurate history, as there is no specific laboratory test for chive poisoning. An accurate account is what you tell your vet about your dog’s recent consumptions and activities. Next, your vet will recommend a complete medical checkup for your dog to look for anemia, pale gums, increased heart and respiratory rates. After the accurate history, the vet will prescribe blood tests to reconfirm the issues and proceed with the treatment. There are three processes included in the treatment:
Decontamination
Gastrointestinal contamination by inducing vomiting followed by administering activated charcoal. This can aid in removing the poison from your dog’s system.
IV Fluids
IV fluids may also be given to your canine to stop further or control hemoglobinuria, dehydration, hypotension, and stabilize blood oxygen levels. In addition, crystalloids will be provided if your puppy has episodes of vomiting and diarrhea.
Monitoring
The dog would be monitored for a few days to monitor the levels of erythron or blood cells.
To prevent your dog from consuming chives, keep it away from his reach!
Alternatives to Chives
You should always choose healthy food for your dog. Chives are not a good option to feed your dog. Here are a few healthier alternatives for your dog:
No, dogs cannot eat onion as it belongs to the allium family. Furthermore, onion can lead to the death of the dog. Hence, it is best to skip onions for dogs.
Can dogs eat garlic?
Dogs cannot eat garlic since it is from the allium family. Garlic, too, can lead to the death of the dog. As a responsible pet parent, it is best not to offer garlic to your dog.
Can dogs eat scallions?
No, dogs cannot eat scallion since they are from the allium family. In addition, the component organosulphoxides present in the scallion can lead to the dog’s death. Therefore, do not offer scallion to your dog.
Final Thoughts
To conclude whether dogs can eat chives, we must be mindful that dogs never consume chives as they are deadly. Chives can lead to dogs’ death to the presence of organosulphoxides in them. The primary symptoms of chives poisoning are diarrhea and vomiting, but the other symptoms appear much later. Therefore, always opt for healthy dog foods which can ensure your dog a healthy and happy lifestyle.
