Research is showing that humans benefit from healthy fats by increasing our immune systems, assisting in our cognitive function, and improving the health of our bodies.
This might leave you wondering how healthy fats can help your dog’s health. Avocados are tasty and full of nutrients and antioxidants, but are they safe to feed to your dog?
Can You Feed Your Dog Avocados?
The meat of avocados are quite healthy with their dense concentration of nutrients and fatty acids, but the skin and core of the avocado can be toxic because they contain persin, a chemical that is poisonous to some animals.
Guatemalan avocados, the most common kind found in grocery stores, have the highest amount of persin. Of the most common household pets, birds and rabbits are the most sensitive to avocados and they can experience difficulty breathing, fluid build-up around the heart, and congestion.
Some can die depending on how much they’ve eaten or how sensitive they are to the persin.
Dogs, luckily, won’t show these more severe symptoms. Some dogs might end up with mild stomach upset, but they won’t show the deadly side effects their avian counterparts might. The biggest danger comes from eating the pit.
Because of its size, it can wind up getting wedged in the intestines and cause an obstruction. Intestinal obstructions can be deadly if they aren’t treated with surgery. If you suspect your dog ate the pit, you should seek veterinary attention immediately.
The Dangers of Too Much Fatty Foods, Like Avocados
Too much fat in your dog’s diet has similar effects on dogs as it does humans. Of course, too much fat will lead to your dog becoming overweight or obese. Dogs that are significantly overweight are more prone to developing diabetes, which can be difficult to manage in dogs.
Smaller dogs are also more likely to wind up with joint problems from carrying too much weight. These can vary from mild knee problems to disorders requiring expensive orthopedic surgery.
But the biggest danger from excessive fat consumption is pancreatitis. While gradually eating excess fat everyday won’t lead to the disorder, the same can’t be said for gorging on fat in one sitting.
Eating a lot of avocados can cause pancreatitis, so if your dog seems to have a taste for them, it’s important to keep them where your dog (especially if he’s a counter-surfer) can’t reach them.
Pancreatitis is a very painful inflammation of the pancreas. Dogs affected will have no appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, a very painful abdomen, and a fever. Dogs with a painful abdomen will walk around with a hunched back and seem like they’re tip-toeing around when they move.
Options Besides Avocado for Fat in the Diet
If your vet has recommended your dog needs more fat in their diet, there are a few ways to do so. Dogs get their omega-6 fatty acids in meat products, but omega-3 acids are found in plants and fish. With your vet’s guidance, you can supplement your dog’s diet with fish oil capsules or things like soybean or flax oils.
If you’re feeding your dog something that isn’t quite natural to their diet, it’s important to talk to your vet before letting him have it. Like everything, some things are better in moderation than excess.
Can Dogs Eat Avocados? The Ultimate Guide For Pet Owners
Can dogs eat avocados? Many health-conscious pet owners are now wondering if their canine companions can have avocados – the most popular superfood in the world right now. Well, avocados are healthy for humans, and dogs can eat them, but they can also be harmful to dogs. Let’s tell you more.
The avocado mania has taken the world by storm. The internet has become obsessed with this fruit – yes, avocado is a fruit, not a vegetable. In the past few years, avocado toast has become the most common go-to breakfast meal option and snack. Even many restaurants and cafes around the world have added avocado toast to their menus.
It’s safe to say that avocados are one of the biggest food trends of the decade. The sudden surge in the popularity and demand of avocados is mainly due to the modern world’s obsession with fitness, health, and wellness.
For humans, avocados are one of the most nutritious and healthiest foods. It is also super versatile. But can dogs eat avocados?
This will talk about whether can dogs have avocados, avocados’ health benefits and risks for dogs, and how to feed avocados to your dog. So, let’s dig right in!
Can Dogs Eat Avocados?
Yes, dogs can have avocados. They contain healthy fats and nutrients, which make them a good addition to your dog’s diet. However, there are some things you need to keep in mind before feeding avocados to your dog.
Avocados contain a fungicidal compound called persin which can be toxic to dogs. This is why you should only give avocados to your dog in moderation.
Do Dogs Like To Eat Avocados?
Most dogs enjoy eating human foods. So, many dogs also like to eat avocados. But that doesn’t mean that you should fall for those puppy dog eyes and let your pup munch on avocados. Only give a small amount of avocado to your dogs under supervision.
Some dogs can also be allergic to avocados. If your dog shows any signs of avocado allergy, do not feed avocados to your dog and consult your vet.
Are Avocados Safe For Dogs?
Dogs can eat avocados, but they are not 100% safe for dogs. Here are the reasons why avocados are not safe for dogs:
Contains Persin
Avocados have persin, which is a toxic compound. All animals on the planet cannot and should not eat persin as it can be poisonous. Thus, this makes avocados potentially poisonous to dogs. Persin disrupts your dog’s digestive system and results in severe side effects,
including:
High in Fat
Avocados are low in calories overall, but they are actually very high in fat. Even though avocados contain healthy fats, too much of it is actually bad for dogs. Dogs are built to eat high-protein diets.
So, eating too much carb or fat-rich foods can disturb their digestive system and lead them toward obesity. Obesity in dogs further causes a risk of serious health concerns such as diabetes, pancreatitis, fatty liver, kidney dysfunction, heart disease, and even mobility issues.
Dogs are Carnivores
Dogs are carnivore animals, meaning they are meant to eat meat to survive and thrive. So, a dog’s natural diet contains high protein meaty foods like chicken, beef, fish, etc. Even commercial dog food (kibble) is a high-protein food made with dried-up meat and other ingredients.
Thus, plant-based foods are not suitable for a dog’s natural diet. So, you need to be careful when feeding fruits and vegetables to dogs as it can cause different side effects like gastrointestinal issues.
Both persin toxicity and the risk of obesity in dogs from eating avocados can be controlled and avoided by feeding avocados to dogs in moderation.
Are Avocados Good For Dogs?
Undoubtedly, avocados are one of the best foods out there. It has numerous health benefits for both humans and pets. Here are a few ways how avocados can be good for your dog:
Nutritious
Avocado is a nutrient-dense fruit. Avocados are packed with good fats, vitamins, and minerals, including:
All these nutrients offer a range of benefits to a dog’s health and improve bodily functions.
Improves Skin and Coat
The vitamins in avocados, especially vitamin E, are excellent for keeping the skin and coat of your dog shiny and healthy. They also aid in improving bone density and eye health.
Mobility and Joints Health
Eating avocados can also help lubricate the joints and improve mobility. This is because avocados have omega-3 fatty acid, which is excellent for improving bone and muscle health. Moreover, it also prevents hair fall and dryness.
Anti-Inflammatory
Avocados are also anti-inflammatory as they contain many antioxidants and niacin. The antioxidants and niacin help fight free radical damage, boost immunity, and improve metabolism in dogs.
High in Fiber
Fiber is good for all animals as it improves digestion and prevents constipation. The fiber content in avocados, along with magnesium and amino acids, will improve your dog’s digestive system.
Benefits Of Avocado For Dogs
We already discussed how avocados can be good for dogs. Now, let’s take a closer look at the benefits of avocados and how avocados impact dogs.
Here are some awesome benefits of feeding avocados to your dog in moderation:
Improves digestion:
Avocados have fiber which improves digestion in dogs. If your pup often suffers from constipation, try adding some avocado to his diet to help with bowel movement.
Improves bodily functions:
Avocados contain many nutrients that offer a number of benefits to a dog. It improves organ health, protects against diseases, and improves overall health.
Improves strength and mobility:
Feeding avocados to dogs can help strengthen their bones, improve joint health and increase muscle flexibility. All of this improves mobility and prevents diseases like arthritis.
Healthy Snack:
Avocado can be a healthy snack or treat for your pup. Instead of feeding your dog processed commercial treats, feed him avocado. It is organic, natural, and unprocessed.
Prevents Nutritional Deficiencies:
Feeding avocados to your dog can help prevent nutritional deficiencies. Dogs are prone to get deficient folate. Low folate can lead to many issues in dogs, such as anemia, irritability, depression, etc. Avocados contain a good amount of folate, which can help improve the levels of folic acid in dogs.
The Risks Of Dogs Eating Avocado
Here are a few risks of feeding avocados to your dog:
Persin Poisoning:
Critical signs of persin or avocado poisoning in dogs are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, difficulty producing stools, respiratory distress, and heart damage.
Obesity:
The high-fat content of avocados is bad for dogs as it can lead to weight gain. Dogs do not need fats or carbs, so even consuming a small quantity regularly can result in obesity.
Pancreatitis:
A high-fat diet often causes pancreatitis in dogs. The pancreas of dogs gets swollen and inflamed, causing abdominal pain, low appetite, and vomiting.
Choking Hazard:
Ingesting an avocado sto0ne is a serious choking hazard for dogs. It can also cause intestinal obstructions. If the stone is causing a blockage, the vet will remove it through endoscopy or surgical methods.
Allergic Reaction:
Two dogs of the same breed can react completely differently to the same food. Some dogs, especially puppies, may exhibit signs of an allergic reaction after eating avocados. In such a case, stop feeding your pup avocado right away and contact your vet.
Digestive Upset:
Each individual dog is different. Some dogs have sensitive stomachs, so they cannot properly process and digest human foods. Eating avocados may cause digestive upset in your dog. So, if your pup has a sensitive stomach, do not feed avocados to your dog.
Given the risks of avocados for dogs, this fruit should be avoided. This includes all parts of the avocado plant, including leaves, stem, peel, and especially pit or stone.
Can Dogs Eat Avocado Pits?
NO. Dogs should never eat avocado pits or stones. Avocado seeds are notorious for being hard. They can be a major choking hazard for dogs, so always remove the pit when feeding avocado to your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Avocado Peel?
The avocado peel contains persin, a toxic fungicide. Persin can be highly toxic to pets and may even result in death. So, never feed avocado peel to dogs. Always remove the peel and only serve the fruit pulp.
Can Dogs Eat Mashed Avocado?
Well, the answer to this question depends on what’s in the mashed avocado. There is no harm in feeding your dog mashed avocado.
However, mashed avocado should be kept away from dogs if it contains any harmful ingredients like chopped onion, garlic, or seasoning. This is because all these ingredients are toxic to dogs and may lead to serious side effects.
So, only serve plain avocado mash to your pup. Don’t serve any avocado dips, sauces, or mash that has harmful ingredients.
Can Dogs Eat Avocado Oil?
Yes, dogs can eat avocado oil because it is safe and does not contain any toxic compounds. So, avocado oil is nonpoisonous for dogs.
However, dogs should not eat any oils in general. Oils are fat, and fats are bad for dogs. Consuming oils can cause weight in dogs and may result in many health concerns like blocked arteries, high cholesterol, pancreatitis, fatty liver, IBS, etc.
Commercial Avocado Dog Food
There are many avocados-based commercial dog foods available today. A growing number of pet companies are manufacturing safe, healthy, and nontoxic avocado treats for dogs. So, if your dog does not like fresh and raw avocado flesh, try out these yummy treats from Amazon:
- AvoDerm Natural Dry & Wet Dog Food
- AvoDerm AvoHearts Beef and Avocado Formula Dog Treats
- Chicken Burrito Bistro Bowl Meal Mixer For Dogs
Best Healthy Alternatives Of Avocados For Dogs
If you are still skeptical about feeding your dog avocados. Here are some safe, dog-friendly avocado alternatives to try out:
Other Fruits:
No worries if you don’t want to feed your pup avocados. There are plenty of other fruits you can try. Dogs love bananas, mangoes, apples, and raspberries. Plus, they are all safe! Just remember to feed fruits to your dog in moderation.
Fruits should only be incorporated as snacks and treats or meal toppers. Never replace your dog’s high-protein meal with fruit.
Vegetables:
Like fruits, there are many healthy dog-friendly vegetables to feed your pup. Some of the healthiest veggies for doggos include carrots, broccoli, beets, cucumber, and zucchini. Avoid onion, garlic, and chives at all costs, as they are super toxic to dogs.
Commercial Dog Treats:
There are a plethora of commercial dry and wet dog treats you can get. These include flavored dog biscuits, kibble, jerkies, etc.
Meat and Bones: You can feed your dog chicken and other meats as treats. Dogs also love licking bones. Just remember not to give your dog boiled or cooked bones.
Conclusion | Can Dogs Eat Avocados?
Avocados have become a staple in everyone’s pantry. Thanks to their nutritional benefits, more and more people have started incorporating avocados into their daily diet. But what happens when your dog eats avocado?
Avocados contain a toxic component called person, which causes vomiting, diarrhea, and other issues in dogs. However, eating a small amount of avocado flesh does not result in persin toxicity in dogs.
So, if you are wondering, “can dogs eat avocados?” they can. Just remember to feed your dog avocado in moderation and under your supervision.
