With more and more people realizing the health benefits of eating avocado for themselves, many dog owners are starting to wonder whether avocado would be a good addition to their dog’s diet. Can dogs eat avocado? The answer is yes and no.
Avocados are from the laurel family of fruit and contain a toxin called persin, which is designed as a defense mechanism against fungal attacks. However, this toxic substance can be very harmful, and even deadly for many animals. Persin is found in varying concentrations across different parts of the avocado plant, being most concentrated in the skin and leaves.
However, the good news is that dogs, much like us, are much more resistant to persin than other animals, and so as long as avocado flesh is consumed in small amounts it won’t cause any issues in dogs whilst conveying potential significant benefits.
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How are avocados good for dogs?
Avocados are a great source of many vitamins and antioxidants such as vitamin A, B6, C, and E as well as other substances such as folate, niacin, and potassium. These vitamins are good for both bone and eye health. Healthy fatty acids contribute to a good quality coat and can be especially useful if your dog is prone to dandruff.
Avocado is also packed with fiber that aids in digestion and normal gut movements so, as can be seen, its reputation as a top healthy food is well earned. However, as mentioned before, don’t overfeed avocado as your dog can have too much of a good thing!
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Why are avocados bad for dogs?
As mentioned earlier, the persin found in avocado is the main toxin we are concerned about. However, dogs would have to eat a large quantity of avocado to experience any toxic effects and persin is much more harmful to other animals such as birds, horses, and cows.
The highest concentrations of persin are found in the thick skin, pits, and leaves of the avocado plant. In the home environment, we are most concerned with the skin and pits so it is essential to keep whole fruits outside of dogs’ reach to avoid them feeding on them. Not only is there the risk of consuming toxic persin, but the skins of the plant are also very hard to digest, so consuming them may result in gastrointestinal blockage or other serious implications.
The avocado pit poses a serious choking hazard and could be the most dangerous part of the avocado to the dog. This is the very hard stone-like seed within the avocado flesh so be sure to dispose of it carefully somewhere that your dog cannot access.
The persin content of the fruit reduces as it ripens so if you would like to feed your dog avocado, I’d be sure to choose a ripe one.
If you are wanting to introduce avocado into your dog’s diet, I’d recommend going easy on the amount. One ripe avocado for a medium-sized dog should be fine but any more may cause issues. Avocado is very high in healthy fats, but too much fat can cause gastrointestinal upset resulting in vomiting or diarrhea. This is especially true if your dog has ever been diagnosed with pancreatitis, as excessive fats can cause this to recur.
It’s also important to know that, much like us, dogs may have a genuine allergy to even the ripe fleshy part of the avocado. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from diarrhea to itchy skin and even anaphylaxis. If your dog reacts in this way, contact your vet immediately.
Symptoms of avocado poisoning to look out for.
If you are concerned that your dog may have eaten the skin, bark, or leaves of an avocado plant or even an unripe fruit then monitor them for signs of gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea. In most cases, this can be treated symptomatically with anti-vomiting medication and sometimes fluid therapy.
In severe cases, poisoning can result in respiratory distress and heart failure
Since the pit also poses a significant foreign body risk that may lead to blockage within the gut, your vet may recommend X-rays or an ultrasound scan if this is suspected. In severe cases, surgery may even be required to remove the pit.
Provided you follow all these precautions you should never find your dog with an avocado pit in its mouth, but if you think your dog may be choking on one get immediate veterinary attention.
What about guacamole?
Although delicious, guacamole often contains many other ingredients such as onions, garlic, tomato, and salt. Onions and garlic are very toxic to dogs and many shop-bought avocado products will have a whole host of other ingredients that might be harmful to your best friend. If you want to feed your dog guacamole that’s okay, but be sure to make it yourself and keep it very plain, excluding the harmful ingredients, and don’t give them too much.
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If you suspect that your dog may have eaten a toxic substance, call the Pet Poison Helpline, Animal Poison Control, or your local veterinarian immediately.
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The medical, nutritional, or behavioral advice we provide is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Our editorial content is not a substitute for formal or personalized medical advice from a veterinary professional. Only board-certified veterinary specialists who have examined your pet should diagnose medical conditions, provide personalized treatment, or prescribe appropriate medication. For questions regarding your pet’s health, or if your pet is exhibiting signs of illness, injury, or distress, contact your veterinarian immediately. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on our site.
