can dogs eat avocado

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The short answer is No! Dogs should not eat avocado because the fruit, leaves, bark, skin, and pit contain a naturally occurring compound known as persin, which is poisonous to dogs.

While the flesh part of the fruit is considered to have very low amounts of persin, we strongly recommend that you avoid feeding avocado to your dog.

Your dog could still ingest small portions of persin when eating the pulpy part and it can be dangerous for them.

Furthermore, avocado is high in monosaturated fat & calories hence your dog could suffer when they get too much of it.

In this post, we are going to take a close look at avocado and dogs and why you should not let your dog eat one.




Is Avocado Bad for Dogs?

You might have wondered ‘is avocado safe for dogs?’ It is true to say that avocado is not safe for dogs. The main reason is the toxic compound which might cause a whole lot of health issues if ingested.

But there are other reasons that make avocado a bad choice for your pup.

Avocado is high in fat and calories, which might be fine for humans but can be very harmful to dogs’ health.

Avocado

These fats can build up in their bodies and cause serious health problems like obesity and heart conditions.

Dogs who eat avocado could also develop more serious conditions like pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) which is lethal if left unchecked.




My Dog Ate Avocado, What Should I Do?

An avocado piece has fallen from the kitchen table when preparing your salad, and on looking down you see your dog eating it up.

Should you be worried? No, an avocado piece is most likely not going to affect your pooch. It contains negligible amounts of persin.

The problem should come in when your dog eats avocado pit, skin, and leaves or they just ingest too much of the pulp.

If you are sure that they ate, then you should attend to them immediately. Do not wait for any unwanted sign for you to act, it might be too late and your dog might need an intense medical procedure for recovery.

You should call your vet right away to get your dog treated as soon as possible.




How Much Avocado is Toxic to Dogs?

The exact amount of persin that severely affects dogs is still unknown but your dog could suffer even with small doses.

When dogs eat too much avocado, they will have side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, or even myocardial damage in severe cases.

Green avocado

The fleshy part of avocado is full of fats, and your dog could get an upset stomach when they ingest too much of it.

The long-term effect of ingesting calorie-dense foods is weight gain and obesity which gives rise to a whole host of other common health problems in dogs.




Symptoms of Avocado Poisoning in Dogs

A dog will typically take between 24 and 48 hours to show the early symptoms of avocado toxicosis.

More severe symptoms usually come later on and can even take weeks depending on the health conditions of your pooch.

The following are some of the symptoms that will show that your dog ate avocado:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Coughing
  • Weakness
  • Respiratory distress
  • Lethargy
  • abdominal pain
  • Difficulty in passing stool
  • Gatrointestinal upset
  • Myocardial damage

If you notice any symptom that shows your dog is unwell, take them to the vet immediately for further diagnosis and treatment.




Home Remedy for a Dog That Ate Avocado

The best remedy for avocado poisoning in dogs is to visit the vet immediately. But as you wait for professional medical actions, you can give your dog some homemade remedy to settle their stomach.

We recommend that you use activated charcoal to arrest the toxins in your dog’s GI tract before they get absorbed into the bloodstream.

Take one tablespoon of finely powdered activated charcoal and mix it in ½ cup of warm water. Stir the mixture until most of the activated charcoal gets dissolved in water.

Since this is an emergency, you would want your dog to ingest the solution as fast as possible. And so, we recommend that you use a pet feeding syringe to get this done.

Do not feed your dog any food once you have administered this remedy until you get further instructions from your vet.

Make sure to inform your vet about the homemade remedy that you gave your dog and the time you did it.




FAQs on Dogs Eating Avocado

1. Can dogs eat avocado oil?

Yes, dogs can eat avocado oil. It does not have persin, it’s chock-full of healthy oils for the heart and a good source of Vitamin E.

Because it’s so rich in vitamins, avocado oil makes a great supplement for your dog to take daily, but in moderation. It will help your dog to take up some fat-soluble vitamins with ease.

However, there are some things you should have in mind when giving your dog avocado oil.

First, be sure to use very small doses or dilute them with water. While it is safe to give avocado oil directly to dogs, the high concentration of fat can cause problems if you go too strong and too fast.

Second, make sure you are giving your dog the right form of avocado oil. There are different types available, and not all of them are safe for dogs. The safest option is raw avocado oil, which you can get online or at a food store.

2. Can dogs eat avocado skin?

Dogs should never eat avocado skin because it has an even higher concentration of persin. Furthermore, the peels are very tough, difficult to chew, and almost indigestible. This could subject your dog to other serious issues that may be lethal if not handled in time.

3. Are Avocado Seeds Poisonous to Dogs

Avocado seeds are toxic to dogs because they also contain persin.

Avocado pits are huge and hard to swallow hence they present a choking hazard to dogs. Despite this, your dog could start chewing and potentially swallow small parts of the pit.

This is life-threatening because it can lead to obstruction in the intestinal tract of the affected dog.

If this happens, the dog might require surgery to remove the pits from the system. This is why you should always keep avocado seeds away from your furry family.

4. How much avocado will kill a dog?

Too much persin will cause myocardial damage in dogs which will obstruct the uptake of oxygen in the body and may cause death. The exact lethal dose is not yet known.

Fatality will also depend on the size of the dog, the health status, and possible underlying medical conditions.

5. How do I prevent my dog from eating avocado?

The best way to prevent your pooch from eating avocado is by keeping the fruit away from your dog. You can lock up the fruits in a safe kitchen cabinet or inside the refrigerator. Just a place where your dog can’t get easy access.

Consider investing in a dog-proof trash bin that will ensure your pooch does not access your kitchen scrap which might contain avocado seeds & skin.

If you have avocado trees in your yard, you need to get dog gates that will limit your dog’s access to the trees’ area.

can dogs eat avocado

Avocado leaves and bark are also toxic to dogs, and you don’t want a situation where your dog freely accesses poisonous items in your yard.

Give your dog a well-balanced diet. Ensure that they get all the nutritional content they need to stay healthy.

If you are looking to add more vitamins and phytochemicals to your dog’s diet, then we recommend that you go for the safe fruits for dogs, but in moderation.

6. What other fruits are bad for dogs?

As you try to keep avocado away from your furry family, these are the other fruits that dogs should not eat:




In a Nutshell

Can dogs eat avocado? No! Whilst the pulp might not be very harmful to them, it is best to avoid giving your dog this fruit completely.

Aside from the risks associated with persin, avocado must be avoided by dogs because it is very high in fat and calories. Hence, they can cause digestive problems and weight gain in the long run.

Written By

Laura is the founder of Furs'n'Paws. She is a also a pet writer and expert with more than 20 years of experience of working with dogs and cats. She developed a very strong love for animals at a young age. Her passion led her to establish a thriving pet sitting and dog walking business in Dubai. As an expert in pet training, behavior, and nutrition, Laura is committed to helping pet owners and pet lovers by offering high-quality information on a wide range of topics.

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