Most of us love avocados, not only because they taste great, but they are also super-healthy.
With all the nutrients, natural oil, the good saturated fat and great taste, avocados are in many of our refrigerators or in our fruit bowl getting ready to ripen.
When doling out avocado slices or cooking with it, your dog might want to sample some.
If you are asking yourself…
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Is Avocado Safe for Dogs?
The answer is no. Avocados are bad for dogs because they have a fungicidal toxin called persin which and cause serious health issues in dogs and many other animals.
Dogs are more resistant to persin than other animals, but it’s best for your dog to stay away from avocados to be on the safe side.
Why You Should NEVER Feed Your Dog Avocados
It isn’t really known why persin is very dangerous to dogs, but if consumed in large amounts, persin can cause diarrhea, vomiting and even pancreatitis due to the high fat content.
Persin is in the avocado itself, the leaves, pit and even some of the plant, so all of these parts of the avocado are potentially toxic to your dog.
The pit in the avocado can cause choking if you dog happens to find one and swallows it.
However, if your dog gets into the avocado without you realizing it and you need to take them to the vet, pet insurance will help with the cost of any treatment or medical bill that occurs during this visit.
Related: 10 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance
We recommend Healthy Paws as the #1 pet health insurance provider!
If you are growing avocado outside your home, make sure that your dog can’t get to the avocado tree or any part of it.
Some veterinarians say that a little of the avocado fruit itself is safe in small amounts and as long as the avocado is ripe.
Most dog owners, however, don’t want to even try avocados due to the potential danger it might cause. If your dog accidentally consumes a piece or two of avocado, he should be OK.
Common Symptoms If Your Dog Eats Avocado
If your dog eats too much avocado, he might experience the below symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatitis – In serious cases
- Choking – if they were to eat the seed
If any of the above occurs, it’s important to get your dog to the vet right away for treatment.
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Keeping Your Dogs Away From Avocados
If you or anyone in your home enjoys eating avocados, make sure to educate all members of your family to the dangers of feeding your dogs any avocado or any other human food that is unsafe.
If you put the pit in a trash can or any of the outer parts of the avocado, it’s best to empty the trash can immediately since the pits are so dangerous to dogs. And we know they love to scour the trash cans!
Safe Fruit Options For Dogs
While avocados are not a good idea to share with your dogs, the following fruits can be enjoyed by your pups (in small amounts):
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Watermelon (no seeds)
Grapes and raisins are very toxic to dogs and should never be fed to dogs.
Having Pet Insurance Can Help If Your Dog Eats Avocado
Hopefully, your dog won’t ever get the point where he eats too much avocado that he needs emergency vet care (or the skin or core).
This can be a huge relief, particularly, if it’s an after-hours emergency care vet visit and the bill can be very costly.
Plans like Healthy Paws and Petplan can cover from 80 to 90% of all of the vet or medical bills for this or any other medical conditions that might occur.
It’s at times like these when your monthly premiums certainly offset the cost of vet bills!
Final Thought on Avocados For Dogs
While there are some vets who think it is OK to feed avocado in small amounts in dogs, it is up to you to decide if it is worth the potential side effects.
Just like any other food, discuss it with your vet first to see his or her thoughts on how avocado might affect your dog.
And either way, everyone is in agreement that the skin and avocado pits can be very dangerous for your dog. So, make sure to watch for those if you do eat avocados at home.
If you would like more information on what your dog can or can’t eat, our ultimate safe food guide for dogs can help!
Other articles you may find helpful:
Is Exotic Pet Insurance Necessary?
The Best Pet Insurance By State
What Is Pet Insurance?
Fun Facts, Dog FAQ, And Unsolicited Dog Advice
5 Training Commands to Save Your Dog’s Life
The Ultimate Guide to Safe Foods for Dogs
Dog Health Problems
Dog Breeds
CAT FAQ
Cat Health Problems
Cat Breeds
Finding safe alternative foods for your dogs to eat can be tricky. We have a long list of articles about every food you could possibly consider feeding your dog. One thing we recommend is that you consider looking into pet insurance for your pet and you can start by checking out the best rates for dog and puppy insurance.
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