Leek
ToxicLeeks are Allium ampeloprasum and cause the same oxidative Heinz-body hemolytic anemia as onion and garlic. Scallions and Welsh onions belong to the same genus and carry the same hazard.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Do not offer as a treat
There is no recommended treat portion for this hazardous item. If swallowed, contact a vet with the amount, time and product details. Do not induce vomiting yourself.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Lethargy
- Pale gums or mucous membranes
- Weakness
- Jaundice
- Haemoglobin in urine
More about this food
Leek sits on both the ASPCA and Merck Allium lists for the same reason onion does: organosulfur oxidants damage hemoglobin, Heinz bodies form, the spleen removes the affected red cells, and the dog becomes anemic.
One honest caveat belongs up front. No dog-specific g/kg toxic dose for leek has been published. Until that data exists, leek is handled as onion-equivalent, meaning the 15-30 g/kg clinical-sign dose for raw onion is the working assumption. The absence of a number is not evidence of lower risk; it is a reason to be more conservative, not less.
The genus is where US owners get caught. "Leek" on a toxic-foods list reads as a specialty vegetable, but scallions, green onions, spring onions, shallots, ramps and chives are all Allium too. Realistic exposures are potato-leek soup, quiche, chicken stock and bone broth simmered with leek tops, loaded baked potatoes, and green-onion garnish scraped off a plate into the dog bowl. Broth counts: the compounds leach into the liquid.
Signs follow the Allium timetable. Vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy can appear within hours, while the dangerous part -- pale gums, weakness, jaundice, and port-wine or coffee-colored urine from hemoglobinuria -- typically shows at 3-5 days as the anemia develops.
Call your veterinarian, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (fee applies), with the amount, form and time of ingestion. Do not induce vomiting at home. Ask for a CBC at 24 and 72 hours to track Heinz bodies and packed cell volume, even if your dog seems well.
Frequently asked questions
- Are scallions and green onions as dangerous as leeks?
- Yes. Scallions, green onions, spring onions and Welsh onions are all in the same Allium genus and carry the same oxidative risk to red blood cells. A list that only names "leek" is not clearing the rest of the genus.
- My dog drank broth that had leeks simmered in it. Is broth safe?
- No. The organosulfur compounds leach into the liquid, so leek or onion broth, stock and soup all count toward the dose. Note how much was consumed and when, then call your vet or the APCC at (888) 426-4435.
- How many grams of leek are toxic to a dog?
- No dog-specific g/kg figure has been published for leek. Until one exists it is treated as onion-equivalent, using onion's 15-30 g/kg clinical-sign dose as the working threshold, which means the safe answer is to treat any meaningful amount as a vet call.