Can Dogs Eat
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10 min
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Let’s delve a little deeper into why dogs can’t eat avocado…
Avocado isn’t a safe food for dogs, as all parts of the fruit - the flesh, skin and stone - are toxic to a dog’s body. Alongside this, the high fat content of avocado could cause issues for dogs susceptible to pancreatitis.
The pit/stone is a really problematic part of the avocado fruit. When eaten, it’s indigestible and almost always leads to a gut obstruction if vomiting isn't induced quickly.
Though a small bit of avocado accidentally eaten is unlikely to do too much harm, it should never be considered a safe food for dogs.
Avocados are toxic to dogs because of a compound called persin - which is found in all parts of the avocado. Though it’s safe for humans to consume, it has toxic effects in dogs and other animals, and could cause stomach problems such as diarrhoea and vomiting, as well as heart issues.
If your pooch slurps up a small bit of avocado flesh, it’s unlikely to harm them. If they’ve wolfed down a whole fruit, however, this is more a cause for concern.
Keep an eye on your dog, and if they show any signs of persin poisoning (below), get them to a vet immediately.
If you spot one or more of the following symptoms of persin toxicity after your pooch has consumed avocado, you should contact a vet straight away:
It’s not safe to feed your pooch any avocado at all. However, if they accidentally eat a small amount, it’s not likely to cause them any serious harm. Keep a watchful eye on them to be sure.
The best way to deter your dog from eating avocado is to never offer it to them, that way they’ll have no experience of tasting it or even knowing what it is! If you eat avocado with a meal, be sure to prepare it well out of reach of your dog, and throw away all the discarded skin, stone and leftovers into a secure bin that can’t be snooped in.
Here are some extra details about other avocado-based products that a dog might want to eat…
Ideally, no. For humans, avocado oil is sometimes used as an alternative in place of olive oil or rapeseed oil, for instance. There isn’t the toxicity in avocado oil that there is in the fruit itself - that said, the high fat content of avocado oil means it isn’t recommended for dogs. It could be especially unhealthy for pooches prone to pancreatitis.
No - dogs shouldn’t eat avocado flesh or skin. All the parts of an avocado contain persin, which could be toxic to dogs if eaten, and is very high in fat too.
If you’re worried about other foods that are toxic to dogs, here are a few others to remember!
Probably the most well-known no-no for dogs, chocolate is very toxic due to its theobromine content and should be avoided at all costs.
Avoid grapes and raisins, their sundried cousin. They are mysteriously toxic to some dogs and can cause kidney issues, though some may eat them without issues.
Tomatoes contain a compound toxic to dogs called solanine, though this is present in much lower amounts in ripe tomatoes.
Allium is the toxic substance found in onions and garlic - it impacts red blood cells in dogs which can lead to anaemia or even cause a dog to collapse.
The artificial sweeteners found in a lot of human foods are poisonous to dogs - specifically Xylitol. Eating it can cause blood sugar levels to fall dangerously low, which can result in kidney dysfunction in dogs.
If you’re looking to feed your dog a nutritious snack, there are plenty of other tasty options:
Apple is a crunchy fruit full of fibre and vitamins, yet much lower in fat than avocado.
Blueberries are similarly nutritious as avocado, without the high fat content.
Cooked eggs are a great source of protein and don’t contain any toxic compounds.
Pumpkin is a squidgy source of vitamins and fibre, that’s gentle on digestion too.
Salmon Oil for Dogs is a safer option than avocado oil for being nutrient dense and a source of essential fatty acids. However, you should avoid this if your pooch is prone to pancreatitis.
To feed your dog nutritious, whole foods that are gentle on their digestion try our Pooch & Mutt grain-free dog food, powerful dog supplements and healthy dog treats.