Garlic & Dogs Pt2(sorry it was to long first try) - Page 1

Blood smears prepared from treated dogs demonstrated an abnormal percentage of eccentrocytes, which are erythrocytes with hemoglobin that appears dense and contracted to one side. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy revealed contracted spheroid regions in these cells and spiked projections ftom thin, collapsed areas. Eccentrocytes have been documented in cases of onion-induced hemolysis and are believed to result from direct oxidative injury to the erythrocyte membrane. In garlic-treated dogs, the percentage of eccentrocytes increased to a high value of approximately 15 percent on day 7 compared with an absence of eccentrocytes in control dogs. Heinz bodies were present in the blood of treated dogs, reaching a maximum of seven percent on day 8. Again, no Heinz bodies were detected in blood smears ftom control dogs. In treated dogs, MetHg concentration increased slightly on day 3 and then retumed to a normal value. In contrast, the GSH concentration increased significantly on day 5 and did not return to normal until day 30. The presence of eccentrocytes in treated dogs, coupled with the increased GSH concentration, supports the conclusion that garlic extract causes oxidative injury to erythrocyte membranes and subsequent hemolysis. The absence of significant MetHg and the relatively low percentage of Heinz bodies - compared with acetaminophen toxicity, for example - suggests that oxidative injury to hemoglobin is secondary. The lack of clinical evidence of hemolysis suggests that erythrocyte GSH, an important antioxidant, acts as an effective scavenger of free radicals produced by garlic-induced injury. Damaged erythrocytes were likely sequestered in the spleen and phagocytosed by macrophages. The authors concluded that garlic has the potential to oxidize erythrocyte membranes and hemoglobin and should be avoided as a dietary supplement in dogs. ________ http://www.aspca.org/apcc/vettech_0801.pdf Note: "Sulfur Compounds Found in Onions The toxicity of onions is based on their disulfide concentrations, which is increased when they are grown in soil that is high in sulfur. Sulfur is a widely distributed element found in abundance (ranked as the 16th element) in both free and combined states. Huge subterranean deposits are found in many parts of Louisiana and Texas as well as in Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming, and California. In addition, sulfur dioxide is an air pollutant released into the atmosphere during combustion of fossil fuel (e.g., gas, petroleum, coal). Plants can take up this sulfur content." I consulted with one of our veterinary toxicologists about your question. She states that "Actually, garlic is supposed to have more of the disulfides in it (gram for gram) than onion." She also referred me to another link that you might find interesting. This abstract addresses garlic administration in dogs. Keep in mind that cats are even more sensitive than dogs. Feline hemoglobin dissociates10X more readily than other species. You have our permission to post my response elsewhere as long as the text is not altered and the credit remains with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center including phone number and web url. You may have some difficulty reaching our site for the next day or two (technical difficulties). An option for reaching the site immediately is go to http://www.aspca.org/, then click on Animal Poison Control. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=3DRetrieve&db=3DPubMed&= list_uids=3D11108195&dopt=3DAbstract ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 1-888-426-4435 http://www.napcc.aspca.org/