Can dogs eat cloves?
This dog blog will answer the major question, “Can dogs eat cloves?” we will also cover the cons of consuming cloves for your dog, the possible benefits of cloves, and how many cloves are safe for your dog.
Can dogs eat cloves?
No, dogs cannot eat cloves. Cloves are not safe for your dog to eat because they have eugenol which is a compound that can cause liver dysfunction in your dog. The other harmful effects of cloves are gastrointestinal tract irritation and stomach upset in your dog.
What are the bad things about cloves for your dog?
Following are the bad things about cloves for your dog:
Liver problems
Cloves have a compound called eugenol which is toxic for your dog. This is because they build up in the body. The body of your dog is unable to process it properly so it will lead to toxicity in dogs.
Moreover, the liver is the central metabolic station in your dog. If it fails to remove a compound, it can build up in the body which leads to liver dysfunction if the toxicity lasts for long.
Gastrointestinal upset
The next problem is gastrointestinal upset in your dog. Cloves are a kind of spices and adding spices to dog food is not a good idea. The major reason is they can cause stomach upset as they are not digested properly in the body of your dog.
Following are the major signs, you should look for if you suspect that your dog is suffering from stomach upset:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness
- Weight loss
Gastrointestinal tract irritation
One thing that spices can cause is gastrointestinal tract irritation. It is the major reason for vomiting.
When the cloves enter the gastrointestinal tract, it irritates the gastrointestinal mucosa of the body, especially the stomach. It triggers the receptors in the mucosa which leads the signal to the brain and the brain in turn activates the vomiting center and induces vomiting in your dog.
Brain damage
The major signs of toxicity include nervous signs. All types of toxicities affect the brain. It can cross the blood-brain barrier which ultimately leads to nervous signs in your dog.
You should look for the following signs in your dog in case of brain damage:
- Seizures
- Incoordination
- Coma
- Tremors
Usually, when your dog starts showing clinical signs related to brain damage, it tells us that the condition has become severe and immediate vet help is needed.
Respiratory distress
Cloves can also cause respiratory distress in your dog. Respiratory distress can prove very deadly for your dog and it can lead to respiratory collapse and death of your dog.
The major signs of respiratory distress are:
- Dyspnoea
- Tachycardia
- Forced respiration
- Panting
You should look for these signs and take your dog to the vet.
Opportunistic infections
When your dog’s body is under stress, it leads to opportunistic infection in the body. This means that the bacteria that are living in the body and doing no harm to the body will activate and cause infection in the body. This is because they will take this as an opportunity and will harm the body.
The major infection is in the gastrointestinal tract and it will lead to stomach upset in your dog.
Can dogs eat clover oil?
No, dogs cannot eat clover oil. Clover oil is used in baking and cooking in our homes. It is safe for us but not for your dog. It is better to avoid this type of spice in your dog’s diet.
Your dog cannot digest clover oil and it can cause an allergic reaction in your dog which can lead to:
- Severe respiratory distress
- Itching
- Rashes on the skin
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Lethargy
What are the possible benefits of consuming cloves?
Cloves may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are suitable for humans but not for all dogs.
They have several vitamins like vitamin C and K, but again that is beneficial for you and may not benefit your dog. A small amount of clover may be beneficial for some dogs.
How many cloves are safe for your dog?
Although we said that cloves are toxic for your dog, some dogs can consume a small number of cloves.
The safe dose of cloves is 0.2 mg/kg for dogs. It is toxic in cats, and it shouldn’t be fed to cats, even in small amounts.
A half teaspoon of cloves is safe for some dogs but not all. It is better to avoid giving cloves to your dog.
Conclusion
In this dog article, we entertained our major question, “Can dogs eat cloves?” we also covered the cons of consuming cloves for your dog, the possible benefits of cloves, and how many cloves are safe for your dog.
References
https://www.petfriendlyhouse.com/can-dogs-have-cloves/
