We read about them enough, so by now we have a fairly good idea of some foods to keep away from Tonka, your little canine friend. Chocolate and coffee should be easy to remember and both of them are easy enough to keep out of his reach. But there are other foods that we humans have no problems adding to our diet that if offered to Tonka can make him very ill.

Alliums: Those are Onions and Garlic to You

The first of those foods is onions. This one is more difficult to control than the chocolate and coffee because unlike those previous foods, onions are mixed in with so many things. It is easier to unknowingly, or accidentally, feed Tonka a treat that contains onions or onion powder. Onions are poisonous to dogs because of the thiosulfate they contain. Thiosulfate is a substance that dogs do not have an enzyme to digest. Organosulfer compound is also present in onions, and this can cause toxicosis.

The affects on Tonka's body from eating onions can be potentially fatal, so it is especially important to be aware to keep them away from him. If he eats small portions of onions on a regular basis, you won't see visible side affects immediately, but even these small bits of sauce or pizza with onions on it will over time be harmful to his health, even possibly fatal. The problems that can arise due to Tonka's ingesting onions are the following:

• Inflammation of the skin

• Vomiting

• Anemia

• Discolored urine

• Diarrhea

• General weakness

• Allergic reactions

• Asthmatic attacks

• Liver damage

One consequence of Tonka getting into onions not often discussed but is extremely dangerous is anemia, in particular 'Heinz body anemia'. This is the biggest issue to be considered about when it comes to mixing onions and your dog. This condition is caused when the red blood cells are destroyed, which is insidious and at the conclusion of that leading to anemia. 'Heinz bodies' weaken the cell by creating a bubble like projection that sticks out from the red blood cell and causes the cell to rupture prematurely.

Symptoms of Heinz body anemia can be diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, rapid heartbeat and respiratory rate, the gums appearing pale and his urine appearing reddish or brown. As with any serious condition, contact your veterinarian if you think your dog has eaten onions and you think he is displaying any of these symptoms. It is important to know that regardless of the symptoms Tonka has a propensity toward as a result of eating onions, toxicity is an issue whether you have cooked the onions or give them to him raw.

Garlic is another food that can be harmful to Tonka. This one is more controversial, however. Garlic belongs to the same family as onions, the allium group, and therefore can also cause an anemic reaction similar to the onion. Here is where the 'but' comes in: garlic is not as concentrated as onions, and less goes a long way and there are benefits to your dog if he has some garlic. Unlike the onion, which have no beneficial value to your dog, garlic is very good for Tonka's immune system as well as for keeping fleas away.

It is important with garlic to be careful how much you are giving your dog, take into account the size of your dog and talk to your veterinarian before regularly giving your dog garlic. Also be aware if your dog might have any allergies to garlic.

Tonka will stick his nose into anything, with no care whether or not it is good for him, and he will accept any treats given to him, which is why it is so important to be aware of what is and is not good for him. As his alpha leader, it really is up to you to keep him safe and living a long and happy life.