Already eaten — what now?
For dogs and cats
Remove the sauce, keep the package and check the ingredients. After a small lick of ordinary ketchup with no symptoms, observation and access to water are usually enough. Call the clinic if the ingredients or amount are unknown, the label lists onion or garlic, or your pet ate a large amount. If a dog may have eaten xylitol, call immediately. Do not induce vomiting yourself.
Variants and ingredients
Ordinary ketchup with no onion, garlic or xylitolFor dogs and cats: With restrictions
Tomato sauce with salt, sugar, vinegar and spices, without the hazardous additions described in the other variants.
For dogs and cats
Conditions and restrictions
Do not offer it as a treat. This variant applies only when the ketchup contains no xylitol, onion or garlic.
Benefits
There is no benefit for a pet.
Risks
- A large amount may cause thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain.
Already eaten — what now?
After a small lick with no symptoms, observe and leave water available. Call a veterinarian after a large amount or for repeated vomiting, marked diarrhoea, pain or lethargy.
Ketchup with onion or garlicFor dogs and cats: Dangerous · Urgent help needed
The ingredient list includes onion, garlic, onion powder or garlic powder.
For dogs and cats
Conditions and restrictions
Do not offer it. Onion and garlic are hazardous even as powders, and cats are especially susceptible.
Benefits
There is no benefit for a pet.
Risks
- Sulfur-containing oxidants damage red blood cells and may cause haemolytic anaemia. Lethargy, poor appetite, rapid breathing or heart rate, pale or yellow gums, dark urine and collapse are possible.
Already eaten — what now?
Keep the package and call the clinic with the species, weight, ingredients, time and possible amount. Do not wait for signs because anaemia may take several days to appear. Do not induce vomiting yourself.
Ketchup containing xylitolFor dogs: Dangerous · Especially dangerousFor cats: With restrictions
A sugar-free or reduced-sugar product whose ingredient list explicitly names xylitol, E967, birch sugar or wood sugar.
For dogs
Conditions and restrictions
Do not offer it and keep it out of reach. Check for xylitol, E967, birch sugar or wood sugar on the label.
Benefits
There is no benefit for a dog.
Risks
- Xylitol can rapidly cause profound hypoglycaemia, weakness, poor coordination, seizures and coma. Some dogs develop severe liver injury.
Already eaten — what now?
Call the clinic immediately and travel when instructed, even if the dog still looks well. Bring the package and report the dog's weight, time, product name and possible amount. Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian tells you to.
For cats
Conditions and restrictions
Do not offer it. A study in six healthy cats found no hypoglycaemia or liver injury after single doses, but it did not test prepared ketchup or regular exposure.
Benefits
There is no benefit for a cat.
Risks
- Evidence in cats is limited, and other ketchup ingredients may be hazardous regardless of xylitol.
Already eaten — what now?
Keep the package and check the complete ingredient list. Call the clinic if the amount is unknown, the product contains onion or garlic, or vomiting, weakness, poor coordination, tremors or seizures develop. Do not induce vomiting yourself.
Conditions and risks
For dogs and cats
Conditions and restrictions
Do not use ketchup as a treat. If your pet accidentally licks it, read the label and leave fresh water available. The rating depends on the complete ingredient list.
Benefits
Ketchup offers no needed benefit to a dog or cat.
Risks
- Salt, sugar, acidity and spices may cause thirst or digestive upset; regular use adds unnecessary calories.
- Onion and garlic powder can damage red blood cells, and signs may not appear for several days.
- Xylitol can rapidly cause dangerous hypoglycaemia and liver injury in dogs; evidence in cats is limited.
Ketchup is made from ripe tomatoes, but the other ingredients determine its rating. Compare the amount of sugar and salt, then check the spices and sweeteners.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Tomato Plant
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals
- Robertson et al.: Heinz body formation in cats fed baby food containing onion powder
- Tang et al.: An experimental study of hemolysis induced by onion poisoning in dogs
- Lee et al.: Hematologic changes after intragastric administration of garlic extract to dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Salt Toxicosis in Animals
- FDA: Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs
- Jerzsele et al.: Effects of orally administered xylitol in cats
- WSAVA Nutrition Committee: Feeding Treats to Your Dog
- WSAVA Nutrition Committee: Feeding Treats to Your Cat
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