Hematologic changes associated with the appearance of eccentrocytes after intragastric administration of garlic extract to dogs

Objective-To determine whether dogs given garlic extract developed hemolyti c anemia and to establish the hematologic characteristics induced experimen tally by intragastric administration of garlic extract. Animals-8 healthy adult mixed-breed dogs. Procedure-4 dogs were given 1.25 ml of garlic extract/kg of body weight (5 g of whole garlic/kg) intragastrically once a day for 7 days. The remaining 4 contol dogs received water instead of garlic extract. Complete blood cou nts were performed, and methemoglobin and erythrocyte-reduced glutathione c oncentrations, percentage of erythrocytes with Heinz bodies, and percentage of eccentrocytes were determined before and for 30 days after administrati on of the first. dose of garlic extract. Ultrastructural analysis of eccent rocytes was performed. Results-Compared with initial values, erythrocyte count, Hct, and hemoglobi n concentration decreased to a minimum value on days 9 to 11 in dogs given garlic extract. Heinz body formation, an increase in erythrocyte-reduced gl utathione concentration, and eccentrocytes were also detected in these dogs . However, no dog developed hemolytic anemia. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The constituents of garlic have the pote ntial to oxidize erythrocyte membranes and hemoglobin, inducing hemolysis a ssociated with the appearance of eccentrocytes in dogs. Thus, foods contain ing garlic should not be fed to dogs. Eccentrocytosis appears to be a major diagnostic feature of garlic-induced hemolysis in dogs.