After Gretchen McKay's story on dining out with your dog was published last week, several readers e-mailed or called us to express their alarm that the accompanying "Doggiepate" recipe from Cassis restaurant contained onion. We did some checking and learned that small amounts of onion don't seem to pose a threat but took the onion out of the online version of the recipe. We asked the Post-Gazette's Pet Tales columnist Linda Wilson Fuoco to tell us more. Meanwhile, Cassis' Dianne Porter told us she's had no problem with the dish, but that she'll leave the onion out from now on.

Bob Batz Jr.

Dr. Safdar Khan, director of toxicology research at the ASPCA Poison Control Center, said large amounts of onions can cause damage to blood cells -- i.e., a form of anemia -- in dogs and cats. Cats, in fact, are more "sensitive" to onions and are more at risk.

"Large amount is a relative term," and it's not known how much would be too much, he said, "and no one knows the long-term effects" of small amounts eaten over a long period of time.

Are small amounts of onion powder in treats or recipes harmful? "We are not sure," Dr. Khan said. "Once again, we don't know the long-term effects."

He puts garlic in the same category as onions.

Not all dogs and cats will get sick from eating onions or garlic. "Some dogs and cats are more sensitive" to onions and garlic, especially, for unknown reasons, Japanese breeds of cats and dogs, including the Akita.

A pet owner won't know whether his or her pet is sensitive to onions or other food items until it becomes sick. So Dr. Khan suggests that onions and garlic be avoided.

The website of the American Veterinary Medical Association also puts onions and garlic on the list of "people" foods that should not be fed to pets. Also on their list are coffee grounds, chocolate, yeast dough, macadamia nuts, fatty foods, avocado, grapes/raisins, tea, alcohol, salt, and chewing gum, candy and baked goods that contain the sweetener xylitol.

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