In recent years, avocados have become increasingly popular in the health food industry. Like many popular health foods, dog owners want to know if it's also good for their dogs, especially given the potentially conflicting information available.
Are avocados good for dogs?
Avocados are known for being rich in so-called "good" fats, which can lower cholesterol. However, they're not just rich in healthy fats. They're also a good source of vitamins A, B3 (niacin), B9 (folic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), C, and E. They're also rich in potassium, antioxidants, and easily digestible fiber.
As avocados gain popularity as a health food, some so-called BEG diet brands (i.e., specialty diets, exotic protein diets, and grain-free diets) have begun incorporating avocado oil and/or avocado powder into their formulas as a source of vitamins and minerals.
Risks of feeding your dog avocados
While a little avocado flesh is unlikely to be a problem for most dogs, you should be aware of several risks.
The seeds, leaves, and skin contain high concentrations of persin toxin.
Avocados contain vitamins, fiber, and fats, as well as a fungicide called persin. This toxin is present in almost every part of the avocado plant, including the pit, leaves, peel, stem, and even the flesh.
However, the highest concentrations are found in the seeds, leaves, and skin. It is present in only trace amounts in the flesh. The toxic dose of persin is unknown, but the amount in the flesh is small enough to be safe for human (in most cases) consumption by dogs.
Of course, just like humans, not all dogs react to food the same way, so one dog might eat an avocado while another might not. Other companion animals, including horses, birds, and guinea pigs, are more sensitive to persin, and avocados are considered unsafe for these pets.
Avocados are high in fat.
Avocados are also high in fat. While this fat is considered healthy and cholesterol-lowering, it is still fat. Some dogs are more sensitive to fatty foods than others.
If your dog happens to have this intolerance, feeding them avocados may cause gastrointestinal upset or even pancreatitis. Symptoms of feeding your dog fatty foods can vary, ranging from mild diarrhea to vomiting and loss of appetite.
Of course, even if your dog doesn't experience gastrointestinal upset from the fat content of avocados, you might still start to see weight gain if it eats too much.
There is a risk of suffocation in the pit.
Another danger posed by avocados is the pit itself. If a dog tries to eat the whole avocado pit, it can cause a choking hazard or even lead to obstruction.
A foreign object in the gastrointestinal tract requires immediate veterinary attention. If discovered early enough, the pit may still be in your dog's stomach. In this case, it may be possible to remove it via endoscopy—a camera is inserted through the dog's esophagus so that special tools can be used to locate and remove the pit. If the pit has entered your dog's intestines, surgery may be necessary to remove it.
Avoid giving your dog avocado sauce
While avocados are delicious on their own, they are sometimes just an ingredient in a main dish. For example, guacamole (if available) will contain garlic, onions, tomatoes, and salt. All of these ingredients may be unsafe for your dog for various reasons.
Small amounts of garlic and onions can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, while large amounts can cause anemia.
Tomatoes are members of the nightshade family. While ripe red tomatoes are harmless to your dog, unripe tomatoes, as well as all the green leaves and stems associated with the plant, are poisonous. If a dog eats an unripe tomato, you may experience signs of gastrointestinal upset, muscle weakness, loss of coordination, tremors, or even seizures.
Salt can sometimes cause gastrointestinal upset and disrupt a dog's electrolyte balance. In extreme cases, excessive intake can lead to hypernatremia, where blood sodium levels rise to dangerously high levels. This can have harmful, and sometimes even fatal, effects.
Therefore, if you want to share avocados with your dog, be sure to do this before making your favorite Mexican sauce.
What should you do if your dog eats an avocado?
If your dog has eaten an avocado and you are unsure whether it ingested the peel, leaves, or pit, you should seek veterinary help immediately.
Even if you're certain your dog only ate the avocado flesh, they may still experience stomach upset if they ate a lot or are allergic to fatty foods, so it's still worth consulting your veterinarian about their condition.
