Avocados are very popular and safe among humans, but one may ponder if our furry friends should have them. So, can dogs have avocados? Let’s find out in this article.
No, dogs cannot eat avocados because they contain a fungicidal toxin called persin. Persin is harmful to our furry friends, and in a situation of avocado toxicity, it can cause vomiting, among other symptoms. In some extreme cases, it can cause death.
In this article, you will know why dogs can’t have avocados and the limit of avocados that can be dangerous to dogs. Furthermore, we shall see if dogs can have avocado oil instead and what to do if your dog has eaten an avocado.
But before that, let us know with full clarity whether dogs can eat avocados, as we read below.
Can Dogs Eat Avocados?
No, dogs can’t eat avocados because they contain a fungicidal toxin called persin. Persin can cause serious health problems for your furry friend. Even though our furry friends are more resistant to this toxin compared to other animals, it is still dangerous for them to eat it.
Persin is found in most parts of an avocado. In the fruits, leaves, seed, bark, and the growing plants themselves. Hence, the majority of avocado plants and parts are unsuitable for your dear Fido.
Can Dogs Eat Avocado Oil?
Yes, avocado oils are the only safe constituent of avocado for dogs, and they can eat it in small amounts. It does not contain persin, unlike the other parts such as the skin, leaves, flesh, pit, and barks.
If you still want your doggie to have avocado and do not want to affect it with the toxin, avocado oil is a good choice to add to their diet. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E, making it a good source of these nutrients for your furry friend.
Omega-3 fatty acids promote healthy brain health and reduce inflammation in dogs. And for vitamin E, applying the oil to your doggie coat can hydrate your doggie’s hair, soothe the skin, relieve itching, and prevent dryness.
Can Dogs Eat Small Amounts Of Avocado?
Although small amounts of avocados will likely not affect your furry friend, we do not recommend it. Small amounts of avocados can still cause harm to pooches suffering from pancreatitis or those who are allergic to it.
Avocado Toxic To Dogs?
Yes, avocados contain persin that is toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
When using avocados in your home, you should be mindful of not endangering your furry friend. If by any chance your canine buddy ingests avocados, or you suspect so, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.
How Much Avocado Is Toxic To Dogs?
Avocado is not recommended for your canine buddy, but if they inadvertently ate a small amount of it, it would be harmless.
Just one to three thin slices of avocados can be harmless to your furry friend. But anything above that is unhealthy for your doggie.
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats Avocado?
At times, your doggie may eat the flesh, pit, or skin of an avocado. When this happens, you need to have an estimate of the amount of avocado eaten by your furry friend.
With this estimate, you may need to monitor your pooch closely or call your veterinarian. If your canine buddy ate just a few slices, say, 1 to 5 slices, you should closely monitor it for about 24 to 48 hours and watch for signs of vomiting and diarrhea.
In a situation where your doggie consumed a large amount of avocado flesh or the pit, you should not hesitate to let your veterinarian know.
Dogs Ate Avocado Skin- What Should I Do?
The persin content found in avocado skin is more than that in the flesh. If you think your dear Fido ate avocado skin, you will need to closely monitor your pooch for stomach distress.
You should check out for diarrhea and vomiting. If you witness any of these symptoms, you should let your veterinarian know about them.
Can An Avocado Pit Kill A Dog?
Just a single avocado pit can be fatal to your doggie and possibly kill it if it doesn’t receive prompt help. This is because they could cause choking and breathing problems around the throat.
This happens because avocado pits are very hard to chew, and poor doggies who don’t know of the danger end up swallowing them.
The pits can stay for as long as three months in your furry friend’s bowels, causing obstructions. Depending on where the obstruction is, your pooch may have difficulty absorbing food eaten or in egesting waste.
My Dog Ate An Avocado Pit- What Should I Do?
The first thing is to be sure that your dog ate the avocado pit. If you are certain, you should contact your veterinarian and let them know about it immediately.
Nevertheless, if you are unsure whether it consumed the pit or not, you should still contact your veterinarian. The longer an avocado pit stays in your doggie’s bowel, the more progressive gastrointestinal problems will become. Therefore, it is better to avoid assumptions and inform your veterinarian.
The vet will perform an imaging test, such as an ultrasound, on your doggie. Ultrasound tests are better than x-ray tests in detecting bowel obstruction caused by avocado pits. With x-ray tests, the avocado pit may not be visible.
Alternatives To Avocado
There are other alternatives to avocados that are safe for our canine buddies. Some examples are oranges, cantaloupes, pears, peaches, and watermelons.
It is also important to remove the seeds and serve them in moderation when giving your doggies these fruits. Doing this allows your furry friend to derive full benefits from them without having any stomach distress.
