Avocado is a tree native to Central America and its fruit is also known as avocado. The fruit is pear-shaped, with a green, tough, rough peel and a large, round core. When ripe, the fruit, located between the peel and seeds, is soft and beige to light green in color. Avocados are now grown in many places because of their popularity in human foods, such as guacamole. The English scientific name of avocado is Persea Americana, commonly known as crocodile pear.
The answer to the question “Can dogs eat avocados?” is yes. Dogs can certainly eat avocado, and they love its soft texture, so you can feed it as a healthy snack. Avocados are low in carbohydrates, high in antioxidants, and are a good source of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamins A, E, and C.
Can dogs eat avocados? There is no short yes or no answer. Avocados are dangerous for dogs, although reports that avocados are actually poisonous are sometimes exaggerated. Avocados are generally safe for dogs as long as they are prepared properly.
Much of the controversy surrounding avocados has to do with Persian, a toxin found in all parts of the avocado, especially when unripe, although Persian levels in ripe fruit drop to nearly undetectable levels. This toxin mainly affects birds and large animals such as cattle.
Dogs, like humans, are quite resistant to Persians, and as long as dogs only eat the ripe fruit of the avocado, without the skin, stems, pits, or leaves, they are generally fine and may even get some health benefits from eating avocados.
Not all dogs are like this, and there are some words of warning you should consider before feeding your dog avocado. You should ask your veterinarian before sharing human food with your puppy.
Here’s what you should know about feeding your dog avocado.
What are the benefits of avocados for dogs?
The ripe green fruit of avocado contains many beneficial nutrients that can give your dog a health boost. They are even used in some dog foods.
Avocados are a source of vitamins A, B6, C and E, as well as fiber for digestive health, coat-healthy fatty acids, folate, niacin, potassium and antioxidants that help fight disease and cancer.
Avocados contain what some call "good fats," which may help lower cholesterol. However, too much of a good thing is never a good thing. Dogs that eat too much fat may develop pancreatitis, although it may take a lot of exposure to avocados for this to become a problem.
However, some dogs have medical conditions that require a low-fat diet. Other dogs may experience gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, or diarrhea if they eat too much avocado.
Discuss these issues with your veterinarian before giving your dog avocado.
Why are avocados bad for dogs?
When researching the safety and dangers of avocados for dogs, there are some factors to consider.
The first is the risk of possible gastrointestinal blockage. Some large fruits or seeds can easily cause blockage in the dog’s digestive tract, causing gastrointestinal discomfort. In addition, avocado peels are not easily digested and can cause intestinal obstruction.
The second is the risk of choking when eating seeds or peels. It is recommended to place all seeds and skins in a covered bin out of reach of your dog.
Third, the debate over whether it is safe to feed dogs avocados is largely due to the toxic substance in avocados called “persin.” It is found primarily in the peel and pit of avocados, but also in the leaves and bark of trees. In this regard, ingestion of leaves, peels or bark may cause toxic effects to dogs. However, ingestion of small amounts does not appear to have any effect on dogs and cats, according to the Animal Poison Control Center. But if large doses are ingested, symptoms of toxicity may include: diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and stomach pain. The toxin primarily affects horses and cattle, causing them to suffer from respiratory distress, heart failure and swelling.
While avocado fruit is considered safe, consuming large amounts of any fruit can cause serious problems, especially gastrointestinal upset. What doesn't annoy some dogs, may annoy another. The same thing happens to people. Some foods can bother one person but not another.
Can dogs eat avocados?
The safest way to give avocado to your dog
The safest way to give your dog an avocado is to give it sliced without the skin and seeds.
Persimmon content is higher in unripe fruits and lower in mature fruits.
If the dog only eats ripe fruits, the possibility of poisoning is extremely low. However, some dog owners may still be concerned and choose not to feed their dogs avocado.
The main danger to dogs who eat avocados comes from the stems, skins and pits of the avocados. The stems and bark are difficult to digest, and the pits are difficult to digest, even if it is ground up. Eating these parts of the avocado can cause gastrointestinal obstruction and lead to serious complications.
Additionally, hard pits present a choking hazard. It is not safe for your dog to eat these avocados. If you have an avocado tree on your property, make sure your dog cannot have access to the fruit.
Even properly prepared fruits can cause gastrointestinal upset in some dogs, especially when eaten in large amounts, and the high fat content of avocados may make them a poor choice for dogs with certain medical conditions.
Like other foods, it's possible that your dog is allergic to avocados. This can lead to an allergic reaction, a potentially life-threatening condition.
If you see signs of an allergic reaction in your dog, including sneezing, coughing, swelling, hives, or difficulty breathing, stop giving your dog avocado and contact your veterinarian.
Should you feed your dog avocado? Before deciding what human food to share with your dog, you should ask your veterinarian or nutritionist.
Avocados may worsen certain diseases, so not all dogs should eat avocados. If you are worried about Persian poisoning, you can choose other foods.
If you decide to offer avocados to your dog, choose organic, ripe ones that are free of chemicals and additives. Remove pits, skin and stems.
It's best to serve avocados plain, or you can mix them with your dog's other regular foods.
Again, it's best to ask your veterinarian before offering these human foods to your dog.