Benefits versus toxicities of garlic (<i>Allium sativum</i>) in dogs

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a plant with therapeutic/toxic properties in dogs, depending on the variety, place of origin, its preparation method or extraction method of its compounds and the dose administered. There are reports in preclinical and clinical investigations that active organosulfur compounds (OSCs) of garlic potentially exerts a series of beneficial activities in dogs. such as being an endoparasiticide, antithrombotic, hypotensive, diuretic and natriuretic, antimicrobial, cell antiproliferative, antioxidant, activator of the Nrf2 transition factor, antiarrhythmic, immuno modulator, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and ectoparasiticide. While they also potentially exert toxic effects on gastrointestinal system and erythrocyte cells of dogs. However, there is still no review on its possible beneficial and toxic effects. or hypotheses of its underlying mechanisms in dogs. The aim of this paper was to summarize the preclinical and clinical investigations on the effects of garlic and its OSCs in dogs, as well as the findings on their possible proven or presumed underlying mechanisms. We conclude that further in vivo and toxicity studies are needed to prepare specific herbal formulations for dogs with relatively low concentrations of garlic phytocompounds. We also emphasize that. regardless of the preparation method, dog owners should be advised that it is not safe to provide or add garlic to their dogs' food.