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Leeks are among the more potent members of the onion family, and they are usually eaten in volume rather than as a garnish. Cooking offers no protection, and signs of anemia can be delayed by several days.
Check Leeks for your dog
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Why Leeks is dangerous
Leeks are among the more potent members of the onion family, and they are usually eaten in volume: a leek in a soup or a gratin is a lot of allium by weight, not a garnish. Same mechanism, oxidative damage to red blood cells leading to anemia, with cooking offering no protection. The onset is delayed, so clinical signs may not appear for several days.
Signs to watch for
Weakness, pale gums, dark urine, lethargy, panting, collapse in severe cases, vomiting, reduced appetite
What to do next
Work out roughly how much was eaten and in what dish, then call your vet, and plan to watch your dog for several days, not just tonight.
Most allium accidents involve a trace. Leeks are the exception, because they are treated as a vegetable.
1. A soup portion is a real dose
Where onion usually reaches a dog as seasoning, leeks reach it as bulk. A serving of leek and potato soup or a gratin can represent a substantial fraction of a small dog's reported toxic threshold in one go, and neither simmering nor roasting reduces the organosulfur compounds responsible. Allium potency by form, and the reported dose figures →
FAQ
How much Leeks is dangerous?
Toxic by weight; reported problem doses for onion sit around 15 g/kg and leeks are in the same potent bracket. Because they are eaten in quantity, a bowl of leek soup is a more serious exposure than most people expect.
Can I treat this at home?
No, not for a real portion. Anemia develops out of sight over days and needs bloodwork to catch.
When should I call the vet?
Any real amount, any small dog, a Japanese breed, or any weakness, pale gums, or dark urine at any point in the week after.
•ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, people foods to avoid feeding your pets (onions, garlic, chives)
•Pet Poison Helpline, onion and garlic toxicity
•Merck Veterinary Manual, Allium species toxicosis
Compiled from veterinary poison-control and medical reference sources, including the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, the Pet Poison Helpline, and the Merck Veterinary Manual. This is general educational information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for examination by your veterinarian. DogSafe's severity ratings are our own assessment, calculated from published guidance and your dog's weight. In an emergency, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.