Can dogs eat Avocado? The answer is not as straightforward as a simple Yes or No and requires a nuanced explanation. Avocados are touted as one of the most palatable and nutritious snacks for humans. Avocado toast choices are sweeping into humans’ daily meals, and they blend the creamy fruit into their smoothies.
But what about your four-legged furry friend? Is it safe for the dog to gulp Avocado? If so, how much of it is safe to use, and how to feed it to your dog while ensuring the safe side for your pup?
Choosy pet owners are very concerned to delve into the nitty-gritty details of every bit of food they feed to their furry friends. And the question that might click their mind while eating Avocado is, can I feed Avocado to my puppy daily or as an occasional treat?
Let’s explore together the health benefits and hazards of feeding Avocados to the dog and solve the other puzzles related to feeding avocados to dogs. Instead, if your dog has already eaten an avocado and is at risk of Avocado poisoning what can you do? Keep reading…
Can Dogs Eat Avocados?
Can a dog eat avocado? As mentioned above, the answer is more complicated than a simple yes, and it’s yes as long as you don’t treat your dog with a full avocado per day, and you stick to feeding only the creamy fruit portion to your dog. Ensure to remove the pit and don’t allow your dog to eat other portions of the Avocado plant or its fruit.
Avocados contain a fungicidal toxin called Persin that can push your dog to the death door if you’re not cautious enough while serving Avocado treats to your furry fido. Avocado’s fruit, leaves, pit, and seeds are full of Persin. Avocado has been potentially reported as unsafe food for horses and birds.
Although it is very harmful to various animal species, veterinarians suggest that you can feed a little Avocado slice to your dog for dinner as a nutritious treat. Luckily, dogs are more resistant to developing health issues related to avocados than other animals. Persin is more concentrated in the pit, leaves, skin, and Avocado seeds than in its flesh.
What is Persin?
Persin is a fungicidal toxin and a soluble oil chemical that is quite similar to fatty acids. It’s present in almost all avocado parts, including leaves, bark, flesh, pit, and seeds.
Its toxicology in pets like mice, dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, cows, goats, hares, pigs, rats, sheep, and ostrich (in fact, all birds) is highly reported.
What are the potential health benefits of serving avocado to dogs?
Avocado is full of fat and has a high nutritional value. You’ll be surprised to know that it contains about 20 different vitamins, including vitamin A, B, C, K, etc., and proteins. A medium-sized avocado is packed with 29 grams of fat and 320 calories. Avocados contain fatty acids, vitamins, folate, monounsaturated fats, fibers, potassium, and antioxidants.
So, to wind up its nutritional value, it contains:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Folate
- Potassium
- Antioxidants
- Fatty acids
- Fats
- Proteins
But above all is to be cautious about how much you feed your dog and which part of the fruit you are serving to your dog. Other foods like mango can also fulfill the nutritional requirement of the dog’s body, so why bother taking a risk?
What are the Potential hazards of serving Avocado to dogs?
How much avocado can a dog eat? The decision about the exact amount of Avocado that is lethal to dogs recommended by veterinarians is still up in the air. So, prevention is better than putting the poor little puppy at the death door.
Serving a dish filled with chopped avocado can cause vomiting, myocardial damage, diarrhea, itching, weight gain, gastrointestinal issues, pancreatitis, and choking, and these are the reasons why can’t dogs eat avocado. If your dog is already an overweight fluffy pooch or has an avocado allergy, it’s a big no-no to feed Avocado to your dog.
Avocados contain a high amount of carbohydrates which are a good source of energy, but extra amounts are bad. The same is the case with carbohydrate supply in pets; it can pose harmful effects instead of beneficial effects. High carbohydrate content can make your dog obese.
Avocado flesh is calorie-dense and can cause pancreatitis and weight gain. Although the avocado skin and avocado pit are notorious for their harsh and hard-to-eat nature, dogs still happily munch on these parts without realizing their potential hazards. So, never leave your dog unsupervised while eating Avocado.
Most of us indulge in perplexing thoughts because both dogs and humans are omnivores and the dogs enjoy a lot of foods side by side with humans while sharing their companionship with them. But it does not mean everything safe for you is safe for your pup too.
Can I feed avocado-containing food to the dog?
Regarding feeding avocado-containing foods like Avocado smoothies, Avocado oil, Avocado toast, and guacamole, the rules are the same as the simple Avocado.
However, the commercially available Avocado food (the dried and ground avocado flesh) is absolutely safe, and you can feed these foods to your dog without thinking twice.
What if my dog has already eaten Avocado?
If you have given your dog a small amount of Avocado, you can rest assured. But if unluckily your dog has gulped a big amount of it, notice the dog’s reaction after eating Avocado. You can wait for 24 to 48 hours. And if you feel anything wrong like vomiting, diarrhea, and choking, contact your doctor immediately.
How to diagnose avocado poisoning in dogs?
The doctor will judge the signs of distress and do a physical examination. The veterinarian may further advise the urinalysis test, biochemistry profile, and blood tests to rule out avocado poisoning. Ultimately the veterinarian will suggest you some medications or analgesics to ward off pain and distress.
If the pit of the Avocado is stuck in your dog’s intestinal tract, then the doctor may assess the blockage site by X-ray and will probably recommend surgery to remove the pit.
Interesting Articles for you
Following are some interesting articles that can help you take better care of your dog.
- Five Types of Dog Food for All Age Groups
- Dog Skin Allergies and Best Dog Foods for Allergies
- Top 10 Best Foods for Dogs to Gain Weight
Are avocado safe for dogs?
Avocados can be safe for dogs in moderate amounts. They are high in fat, which can cause digestive issues or pancreatitis if consumed in excess.
How much avocado can a dog eat?
Avocado can be given to dogs in small amounts as an occasional treat, but the pit, skin, and leaves should be removed due to potential toxicity risks.
Will a small piece of avocado hurt my dog?
A small piece of avocado is generally safe for dogs but monitor for any adverse reactions. Remove the pit, skin, and leaves when feeding avocados to your dog.
Final words:
Can dogs eat Avocados? Yes, but to be honest, avocado poisoning is more serious than its benefits. I am quite sure choosy pet owners will never prefer to feed Avocados to their dogs when they have a lot of alternative foods to fulfill the nutritional demands that an avocado can.
But if you can’t resist, give your dog a small slice and never make the mistake of leaving it unsupervised while eating Avocado. Make sure to remove the pit, peel it off and restrain the leaf and seeds.
In the end, if you feel any sign of avocado poisoning in your dog, contact the veterinarian.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.
Thank you for reading!