Can dogs eat leeks or spring onions?

Leeks and spring onions look and taste gentler than a brown onion, which leads some owners to assume they are safer. They are not. They contain the same sulfur compounds that attack red blood cells. Shallots are closer in strength to garlic.

The amount needed to cause harm depends on the dog's size and the quantity eaten, which is why vets want to hear about any exposure.

Leek and potato soup, cheese and leek pie, spring onion garnishes on noodles, shallot dressings and stir-fries are typical sources. Chopped spring onions fall off chopping boards easily, and dogs waiting under the counter can snatch them. Vegetable peelings in an open compost caddy are another route.

Dried leek and spring onion also turn up in stock powders, instant noodle sachets and packet soups, where they are easy to overlook. Check labels on anything savory before sharing.

Stomach upset may come first: vomiting, drooling or diarrhea. Signs of anemia usually follow a few days later and can include low energy, pale gums, faster breathing, a quick heartbeat and reddish or brown urine. Repeated small amounts over time can also build up to cause problems.

In vegetable beds, these crops grow at nose height, and puppies may dig them up and chew them. Fence off allium crops or grow them in raised beds your dog cannot reach. Dispose of trimmings in a closed bin.