Pet Safety / Compounds / Allium organosulfides (onion/garlic)

Is Allium organosulfides (onion/garlic) safe for dogs and cats?

High risk for pets

Dose-dependent Heinz body hemolytic anemia; threshold ~0.5% body weight for onion; garlic 5× more potent; cooked just as toxic.

What is allium organosulfides (onion/garlic)?

The IUPAC name is 3-prop-2-enylsulfinylsulfanylprop-1-ene.

Also known as: 3-prop-2-enylsulfinylsulfanylprop-1-ene, Allicin, Diallyl thiosulfinate, Thio-2-propene-1-sulfinic acid S-allyl ester.

IUPAC name
3-prop-2-enylsulfinylsulfanylprop-1-ene
CAS number
539-86-6
Molecular formula
C6H10OS2
Molecular weight
162.3 g/mol
SMILES
C=CCSS(=O)CC=C
PubChem CID
65036

Risk for dogs

High risk

Dose-dependent Heinz body hemolytic anemia; threshold ~0.5% body weight for onion; garlic 5× more potent; cooked just as toxic.

Risk for cats

High risk

More sensitive than dogs; smaller threshold dose; baby food with onion powder is common accidental source.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Allium organosulfides (onion/garlic).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
US FDA—GRASGenerally Recognized As Safe

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where pets encounter allium organosulfides (onion/garlic)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Allium organosulfides (onion/garlic):

  • Safer process chemistry; Green chemistry alternatives; Exposure controls
    Trade-offs: Requires R&D investment to redesign synthesis routes; may reduce yield or throughput initially; long-term benefits include reduced waste treatment costs, regulatory compliance, and worker safety; 12 Principles of Green Chemistry framework available.
    Relative cost: 2-5×

Frequently asked questions

Is allium organosulfides (onion/garlic) safe for pets?

Dose-dependent Heinz body hemolytic anemia; threshold ~0.5% body weight for onion; garlic 5× more potent; cooked just as toxic.

What products contain allium organosulfides (onion/garlic)?

Allium organosulfides (onion/garlic) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

See Allium organosulfides (onion/garlic) in the pets app

Look up products containing allium organosulfides (onion/garlic), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (2)
  1. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Onion, Garlic, Leek, and Chives (2020) — report
  2. Salgado BS et al. Allium species poisoning in dogs and cats. J Vet Med Sci. 2011;73(9):1231-1233. (2011) — journal

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →