Chives — (c) Pohled 111, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Photo by (c) Pohled 111, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)iNaturalistCC BY-SA
dog safety reference

Is Chives safe for dogs?

Allium schoenoprasum

Chives are a popular culinary herb in the onion family that contain compounds capable of damaging red blood cells in pets. Ingestion of any part of the plant can lead to gastrointestinal upset and more serious systemic issues.

Allium schoenoprasumChives
Light
Full sun to partial shade
Habit
Clumping, upright
Care
Low

Safety status

Dogs

Potentially toxic

Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.

Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.

What this means for your dog

Chives are toxic to dogs per ASPCA, in the same Allium family as onions and garlic. The N-propyl disulfide in the leaves can damage red blood cells and produce a delayed hemolytic anemia — so a dog that ate chives and seems fine that evening may still need monitoring for the next few days.

What to watch for

Early: drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. Later (hours to days): pale gums, weakness, fast heart rate, panting, exercise intolerance, dark or bloody urine. Larger or repeated ingestions are riskier than a single nibble.

Time window

ASPCA notes that Heinz body changes can appear within 24 hours of ingestion, but clinical anemia signs may take several days to show. GI signs typically begin within a few hours.

When to call the vet

Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) if your dog ate any meaningful amount, especially small dogs. Don't wait for anemia signs — clinical anemia can lag the ingestion by a day or more.

Sources: ASPCA (no first-aid guidance).

If a pet has chewed or swallowed plant material and is showing symptoms, contact a veterinarian or poison resource immediately. This product is for structured reference, not diagnosis.

Dogsconcern notes

Common signs

Drooling, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness.

Escalation note

The N-propyl disulfide in chives can cause damage to red blood cells, resulting in anemia. Seek veterinary care if your dog has ingested this plant.

Safer alternatives

No hand-picked alternatives for this plant yet. You can still pick your own using the Compare button on any other plant.

Source evidence

Cats & dogs pagecats pageMy dog ate Chives

Same dog verdict

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