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My senior dog on kidney medication found a whole clove and chewed it — should I be concerned?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

Yes, you should be concerned, especially because your dog is already on kidney medication and a senior. Cloves contain eugenol, which is irritating in quantity and can affect the liver, and a compromised kidney or liver makes your dog more vulnerable to even small exposures. Watch closely for vomiting, drooling, or changes in behavior over the next few hours, and call your vet to discuss whether an examination is needed.

Cloves — Food safety facts

Feed with care · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Contain eugenol, which is irritating and can affect the liver in quantity.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Feed with care), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Cloves is not poisonous to dogs, but it is easy to over-feed. Rich fat, salt or seasoning can bring on vomiting or diarrhoea within a day, and repeated large portions are a recognised trigger for pancreatitis.

If it ate some before you noticed, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or a painful, swollen abdomen over the next 24 hours. A one-off small amount in a healthy adult usually passes with water and rest; repeated exposure, a puppy or kitten, a senior, or a pet with an ongoing illness is a reason to call your vet the same day.

Cloves can turn up now and then, but not as a daily habit: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Cloves food facts page.

Open the full food page: Cloves food facts →