# can this kill my dog? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 22, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677 "2008-02-22T03:28:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lynwood\_Slim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Lynwood\_Slim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynwood_Slim)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/1 "2008-02-22T03:28:14Z")
I have a sturdy dog and I hate PC. A PC friend is telling me about what to feed and not feed my dog, and emphasizes “no chocolate” and “no onions” Just to piss her off I make my dog onions fried in chocolate when she is around. Now my dog loves it! I make it for him a couple times a week, just two or three chocolate covered onion rings at a time. My fried is really freaked out, so I am enjoying this immensely, but I don’t want to kill my dog, either. Will this addition to what is otherwise a pretty good dog (lots of chicken bones 🆒 ) diet hurt him?. He seems very happy and robust, but maybe he is just picking up on my good spirits. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/2 "2008-02-22T03:43:29Z")
Chocolate, or more accurately the theobromine (a chemical similar in structure and effect to caffeine) in chocolate, is toxic to dogs. In sufficient amounts, yes, it can be lethal. It’s unlikely the amount in two or three chocolate-covered onion rings is enough to cause problems, but the real danger is now the dog has a taste for it, and is likely to take advantage of any opportunity you leave him to get more. If he manages to gorge himself on a large amount of it, it could make him very sick, or even kill him. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/3 "2008-02-22T04:30:41Z")
Onions can cause [Heinz body anemia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz_body) in dogs and cats. > [@Wikipedia](#): > > In veterinary medicine Heinz bodies are associated with the consumptions of onions by cats, dogs, and various primates, and a symptom of paracetamol poisoning in cats. Thiosulfate compounds in the flesh of onions have been identified as the cause. From [here](http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/storytemplate_process.cfm?story_no=257): > [@](#): > > Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or with repeated meals containing small amounts of onion. A single meal of 600 to 800 grams of raw onion can be dangerous whereas a ten-kilogram dog, fed 150 grams of onion for several days, is also likely to develop anaemia. The condition improves once the dog is prevented from eating any further onion. And for the record, cooked chicken bones can splinter in the dog’s digestive system and rip it to shreds. Raw chicken bones are considered more safe (some say not safe raw or cooked…but most everyone says at least raw). Also, what is “PC”? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/4 "2008-02-22T04:36:51Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] Also, what is “PC”? [/QUOTE] The OP appears to be misusing the term “politically correct.” ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/5 "2008-02-22T05:48:25Z")
Maybe you should make some potato eyes and rhubarb leaves for yourself while you’re poisoning your dog… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/6 "2008-02-22T05:52:00Z")
[The Master speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_211.html) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/7 "2008-02-22T05:59:34Z")
[QUOTE=Lynwood Slim] Just to piss her off I make my dog onions fried in chocolate when she is around. Now my dog loves it! [/QUOTE] Why would you potentially threaten the life of your dog just to score ego points with your friend? Irresponsible at best; possible animal cruelty at worst. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/8 "2008-02-22T06:01:56Z")
Why would you even risk your dog’s health just to spite someone else? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/9 "2008-02-22T06:02:02Z")
As a pinko lefty professor of liberal sciences can I say to you that it would be not so much politically incorrect but more politically _totally unacceptable_ for you to feed your dog large amounts of rat poison. In fact, I forbid you from doing it. If you do it, it will annoy me intensely, totally freak me out, and be as if you turned upon me a firehose of urine. ---
**Author:** ![brownsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@brownsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/10 "2008-02-22T06:34:41Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] The OP appears to be misusing the term “politically correct.” [/QUOTE] “Political correctness” is meant in the first use of the abbreviation. “Politically correct” is meant in the second. Sounds right to me, but I concur that it’s a reprehensible way to treat an animal. **Lynwood Slim** , go forth, and sin no more. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/11 "2008-02-22T06:41:08Z")
Strange but true, grapes are also toxic to dogs. Though I hate to mention it for fear **Lynwood Slim** will now deliberately give the dog grapes too. Lynwood, I have no idea why your friend keeps coming back. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/12 "2008-02-22T06:46:51Z")
[QUOTE=CairoCarol] Strange but true, grapes are also toxic to dogs. Though I hate to mention it for fear **Lynwood Slim** will now deliberately give the dog grapes too. Lynwood, I have no idea why your friend keeps coming back. [/QUOTE] Or your dog. ---
**Author:** ![brownsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@brownsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/13 "2008-02-22T07:15:24Z")
The more I think about it, the more the OP has ruined my night. This seems to approach a Michael Vick level of cruelty. I have a pretty thick skin, but hell, feeding chocolate to dogs? What next? Microwaving cats? There’s no ignorance being fought in this thread, only a primer on how to be cruel to animals. The grapes comment, while probably well-intentioned, could be used by some sick individual to kill a dog. I humbly suggest you consider closing this thread. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/14 "2008-02-22T07:39:58Z")
[QUOTE=Lynwood Slim] He seems very happy and robust, but maybe he is just picking up on my good spirits. [/QUOTE] My BSometer is also in excellent spirits. It’s always happiest when it’s ringing so loud it’s about to shake itself apart. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/15 "2008-02-22T08:02:14Z")
[QUOTE=brownsfan] The more I think about it, the more the OP has ruined my night. This seems to approach a Michael Vick level of cruelty. [/QUOTE] Oh, get over yourself! Are you trying to show us how _caring_ you are about animals or something? You are just showing how foolish you are! The OP was talking about 2 or 3 onion rings. Probably 20-30 grams of onion. That is 1/20th of the minimum dangerous dose. And this is cooked onion, which is not as bad as raw onion. And the amount of chocolate used to cover 2-3 onion rings is probably an ounce or two. So unless his dog is smaller than 5 pounds, this is not a lethal dose, either. The OP is being foolish, but unlikely to even give his dog a stomachache, much less threaten its life. If you think this is at the level of Michael Vick cruelty, you are seriously deluded. Or wildly exaggerating here. Did you read what Michael Vick did to his dogs? How can you seriously compare that to this OP? You trivialize that level of cruelty when you compare it to something like this. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/16 "2008-02-22T08:09:59Z")
Please ignore the first paragraph of my above reply. Sorry, I forgot I was in GQ here, and got too personal. ---
**Author:** ![brownsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@brownsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/17 "2008-02-22T08:38:26Z")
[QUOTE=t-bonham@scc.net] Please ignore the first paragraph of my above reply. Sorry, I forgot I was in GQ here, and got too personal. [/QUOTE] If you want to go to the Pit, I’ll argue this. You seem to be coarse and cruel. Not very nice. I normally avoid the Pit, but if you have issues with my statement, have at it. You’ll lose any argument, because it is impossible to defend any argument advocating cruelty to animals. You seem to be defending the OP. I still maintain it’s cruelty. Nana nana boo boo. See you in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/18 "2008-02-22T09:31:38Z")
[QUOTE=brownsfan] See you in the Pit. [/QUOTE] Try [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=456969) ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/19 "2008-02-22T10:08:18Z")
[QUOTE=Lynwood Slim] I am enjoying this immensely, but I don’t want to kill my dog, either. [/QUOTE] My suggestion is to find a hobby other than feeding your dog foods that may kill it. Maybe you could try playing with your dog instead, then you, the dog and you friend can all be happy at the same time. Sure, feeding your dog poison is great for a laugh, but your dog may wind up dead, and that could put a damper on your fun. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677/20 "2008-02-22T10:43:35Z")
I feed my daughter salt on a regular basis. No one seems to care You probably don’t either [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-kill-my-dog/438677.md?page=2)