Dogs can eat small portions of an avocado’s mesocarp (inner area). Large portions can cause vomiting & diarrhea due to person a toxin in avocados. Persin is more prevalent in the leaves and skin of avocados and the seeds are choking hazards, so if your dog eats an entire avocado, contact your vet.
Can Dogs Eat Avocado Skin and Pits?
No, dogs shouldn’t eat avocado skin or the avocado pit. Avocado skins contain persin, which is a natural fungicide. Persin can be harmful to dogs and is found in higher concentrations in the pit and leaves of avocados.
Avocado pits also have a person and they can also be a dangerous choking hazard for your dog, possibly causing esophageal, intestinal, or bowel obstruction.
Why can’t dogs eat avocados?
Persin can be found in the “fruit, pits, leaves, and the actual plant” of an avocado, the AKC explains. While humans can ingest this toxin safely, the AKC says many animals will encounter “serious health problems” if they eat food containing persin.
The pit of an avocado serves as another obstacle. The pit contains persin but also can be a choking hazard for pets.
What If My Dog Eats Avocado
Things happen, and despite your best efforts, your dog might get hold of this fruit. Here is what you need to know about how to respond to the consumption of each part of an avocado.
Flesh: Since avocado, flesh is mildly toxic to dogs, a slice of peeled avocado is unlikely to make your dog sick, but consumed in larger quantities or avocados eaten whole (stolen from your counter or gathered dropped from an avocado tree), it can be a concern.
If your dog does eat avocado in any amount, keep an eye on them for 24-48 hours after eating avocado flesh, and report any vomiting, diarrhea, or decreased appetite to your veterinarian.
Skin: Not only does the skin have a larger concentration of the toxin persin and therefore pose a greater risk of vomiting or diarrhea even if eaten in smaller amounts, this outer layer is tough and difficult to digest. If your dog manages to eat the skin of an avocado, watch for symptoms and consult your vet immediately.
Pit: The pit of an avocado doesn’t digest particularly well in a dog’s intestinal tract and might cause a gastric or an intestinal blockage. Once a dog eats an avocado pit if the dog’s system is not able to process it the pit will become stuck partway through the intestinal tract.
Always contact your vet for recommendations soon after the pit is ingested. If you notice your dog is vomiting, straining to poop, in pain, or acting lethargic, have them examined by a veterinarian right away.
