Hydrogen Injections Help Dogs Recover from Onion Poisoning
Therapeutic Effect of Hydrogen Injected Subcutaneously on Onion Poisoned Dogs
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress · Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (dog)
- Authors
- Jinghua Zhao, Ming Zhang, Yue Li, Zhiheng Zhang, Mingzi Chen, Tao Liu, Jiantao Zhang, Anshan Shan
- Journal
- Journal of Veterinary Research
- Year
- 2017
- PMID
- 29978119
- Study Type
- Dog
- Participants
- 16
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 0.2 mL/kg subcutaneous injection for 12 days
- Duration
- 12 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 3 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Injecting hydrogen under the skin may help reduce blood and oxidative damage in dogs poisoned by onions.
Key Finding
Subcutaneous hydrogen injections reduced signs of red blood cell damage and oxidative stress in dogs poisoned with onion powder, while also improving bone marrow's ability to produce new blood cells.
Summary
Researchers gave dogs onion powder to poison them, then treated half the dogs with hydrogen injections under the skin for 12 days while leaving the other half untreated. The hydrogen-treated dogs showed improvements in blood markers related to red blood cell damage and oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules), and their bone marrow produced blood cells more effectively. However, kidney function did not improve in either group.
Practical Takeaway
This is an animal study only and does not directly apply to humans. While the results suggest hydrogen may help counteract certain types of poisoning-related damage in dogs, much more research—including human studies—would be needed before any conclusions could be drawn about hydrogen's therapeutic value for people. The study's relevance to healthy individuals using hydrogen water is unclear.
Abstract (excerpt)
Abstract Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of hydrogen on the therapy of onion poisoned dogs. Material and Methods: A total of 16 adult beagle dogs were divided into two groups (control and hydrogen) and all were fed dehydrated onion powder…