Is avocado healthy for dogs, and how much of it can make a dog sick? Avocado has long gained a reputation as a superfood among us humans. But what about dogs? We’ll explain how the green fruit stands with our canine friends.

Can Dogs Eat Avocado?

Not everything that our human stomachs can handle is suitable for a dog’s belly. Some of our favorite foods can be toxic to our dogs, leading to life-threatening poisoning in even the smallest ones and seriously impacting your dog’s health.

The same applies to the green berry-like fruit: Avocados are toxic to dogs and should definitely not find a place in your furry friend’s bowl.

Are Avocados Toxic to Dogs?

So, when the question arises about whether and why dogs should not eat avocados, the answer truly lies “at the core” of the matter. Avocados contain a substance called persin, which can cause damage to the heart muscle in dogs and lead to cardiac arrest. Additionally, avocados have an extremely high fat content, and the pit in the middle, which has the highest persin content, is prone to being swallowed. Even if the flesh of the avocado contains less persin, caution is advised. Avocado is toxic to dogs in most parts and is not suitable for them.

If you prefer a green meal for your dog, with iHugDogs GREEN, you can offer your furry friend a particularly sustainable alternative—because insect protein is environmentally friendly and is also highly appreciated by dogs taste-wise.

How Much Avocado is Toxic for Dogs?

Your dog has eaten avocado, and now you’re wondering how dangerous or toxic it is? As with most foods that are toxic to dogs, the quantity makes the difference. In no case should you intentionally feed avocado to your dog. However, if your dog snatched a piece of your bread from the table, which you lovingly adorned with avocado slices, the question arises about the amount at which avocado truly becomes toxic to your dog.

The amount of avocado that is toxic to dogs depends on the size of your dog. Small amounts of the flesh, like a slice, are less harmful to your dog. It might cause some stomach discomfort and digestive issues.

Swallowing or eating the pit can lead to shortness of breath, trembling, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe weakness within a short time. Every minute is crucial in such cases. The same applies to the avocado skin: If your dog eats some of the skin, they will ingest much larger amounts of the toxin persin than what is contained in the flesh.

What to Do if My Dog Ate Avocado?

Your dog grabbed some avocado, but it was only a small amount, and your furry friend belongs to the larger dog breeds? Then keep an eye on your beloved pet—most likely, they will recover with some stomach discomfort.

If you observe that your dog is restless, in pain, and something is definitely wrong, please contact your veterinarian immediately. If your dog has ingested the pit or the skin of the avocado, or even a whole half or the entire fruit, do not wait and seek veterinary advice promptly and have your dog examined.

Do Dogs Need Unsaturated Fatty Acids?

Avocado has become popular among us humans, not least because of its richness in unsaturated fatty acids as a healthy food. Dogs also rely on essential fatty acids for a healthy immune system and cell development—hence, many might think that avocado can benefit our four-legged friends too.

Even though the thought is nice, avocados remain toxic to dogs. Our furry friends are provided with sufficient unsaturated fatty acids through other foods and especially through their healthy diet.

Did you know that salmon, in particular, shines with essential Omega-3 fatty acids? Knowing this, we’ve developed our irresistible wet food “Salmon with Rice, Peas, and Potatoes” for your furry friend, which is an absolute hit among dogs.