We all know that chocolate, xylitol, and caffeine are "toxic" to dogs, but avocados, for years, have been controversial. So is the avocado good or bad for dogs? Today we discuss this issue in conjunction with research on avocados from some foreign institutions.

I. What is an avocado?

Avocado, also known as avocado, is high in nutritional value, contains a variety of fatty acids, and is good for fur health. Some dog food claims to contain "avocado", but the Internet and rumors can not give dogs to eat avocado. So can you eat it or not? Avocado (scientific name avocado) is a very high nutritional value the fruit, contains a variety of vitamins, rich in fatty acids and protein, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and other content is also high.
The content of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, etc. is also high, the nutritional value and cream equivalent, with the "forest cream" reputation. In addition to being eaten as a raw fruit, it can also be used as a dish and canned food.

There is a scientific explanation for dogs to be able to eat avocados, as they are highly resistant to the Persin component of avocados. Justine Lee, an American veterinary surgeon, emergency treatment specialist, and consultant for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), also says that avocados are safe for dogs and cats to eat. There are even times when veterinarians recommend avocado-based foods for dogs with skin and/or hair problems. Symptoms of hair loss, thinning hair, dry skin, skin infections, or hair or skin odor often indicate a deficiency of fats and antioxidants.

Dogs are resistant to the Persin content of avocados, but still, need to be careful with the kernels and shells of avocados. This is because the kernels and shells of avocados are difficult for puppies to digest. So if the puppy eats the kernels and shells, it may lead to symptoms such as intestinal obstruction and may require surgery. Therefore, when giving avocados to puppies, it is important to remove the kernels and shells and feed them in small amounts.

Avocados used for pet food are generally the fleshy part of the fruit with the skin and kernel removed, processed at high temperatures, and added in controlled amounts to be beneficial to pets

The ATSDR Poison Control Center has compiled a lot of information on pet toxicity data, including information on the avocado, which indicates that the leaves, rind, seeds, and bark of the avocado may contain a toxic ingredient known as persin, which is toxic to some animals. It can cause minor stomach upset in dogs, but is more problematic in horses, cattle, goats, and birds because their gastrointestinal structure is more complex than that of dogs.
Of course, for dogs, the avocado kernels are the biggest potential hazard and can cause a gastrointestinal blockage if accidentally swallowed, but no heart or reproductive problems are seen in dogs or cats as they are in other animals. There are many different varieties of avocados, and the Guatemalan variety, commonly found in stores, is probably the one that can cause the most problems, while other kinds of avocados may also have varying degrees of potential toxicity. So if the origin is an avocado from the Guatemala or Mexico region, try to pay some attention to it.

II. Avocado foods

For humans, avocado is a good thing. Avocado is rich in unsaturated fat, which helps lower cholesterol and is very beneficial to human health. And avocados are also rich in anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, antioxidants, fiber, vitamin B, and many other essential nutrients, so some pet food companies are also looking at avocados, and in their testing studies, when avocados are used in pet food, the persin content of the fruit has been removed, because persin content is mainly found in the leaves, peel, seeds, and bark of avocados. The persin content is mainly found in the leaves, peel, seeds, and bark of the avocado, which are not used in the preparation of pet food.

Is the nutritious avocado a good food for dogs? Can they eat it?
Good dog food contains the proteins, fats, and nutrients your dog needs for healthy growth. If a dog shows symptoms such as hair loss, thinning, dull hair, dry skin, dull coat, and bad smell, it may usually be missing certain nutrients.

Is the nutritious avocado a good food for dogs? Can they eat it?
Avocados are a natural superfood that is rich in nutrients, and crude fiber, and contains vitamins A, C, and E as well as B6. Avocados are rich in folic acid, potassium, niacin, and essential fatty acids that are vital for skin and coat health as well as overall health.

That's why some of the older pet food companies have introduced lines of products containing avocado ingredients that are also recognized by the public because users have found these products to improve the skin and coat of cats and dogs. And in the 2 or 30 years that the products have been online, millions of cats and dogs have consumed products containing avocado ingredients with no negative reactions.

Is the nutritious avocado a good food for dogs? Can they eat it?
Then some owners may feel that since they can make avocado into food for their dogs with no problem, then directly to hook overeating raw avocado fruit is also possible, moderate feeding can be, but do not overdo it, after all, eat too much, but also may be too high because of the fat content in the fruit, and lead to the dog's body is too fat.

III. Why it's bad for dogs

There are two main dangers of avocado for dogs. The first is its kernel, which can cause intestinal obstruction if your dog accidentally swallows it. There's no doubt about it. The second is that it contains a substance called glyceric acid (persin). According to the information, this substance is harmful to many animals such as dogs and cats. The American Society for the Prohibition of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) lists it as toxic food for many animals, including dogs, cats, and horses. The Avocado line of dog food is made from avocado oil, which is harmless to dogs (source: Wikipedia article "Avocado"). But I have not found any other more authoritative information about avocado poisoning in dogs and the dose of poisoning.

The book (Dog Meals) by Korean nutritionist Tae-Hee Kim lists avocados as a type of fruit that dogs can eat and provides a recipe for "Beef Avocado". In this recipe, she uses 1/4 of an avocado. In her book, Kim also mentions that avocados can cause diarrhea in dogs, so be careful to "not offer too large a portion.
Fresh avocado is not a problem for dogs, but the core is definitely not to be eaten. The kernel portion is very dangerous and can lead to gastroenteritis or intestinal obstruction, and vomiting is often the main indicator of intestinal obstruction.


Another potential problem is the fat content of avocados. Avocados have high-fat content and can cause pancreatitis. The toxic components of avocado can cause diarrhea and vomiting.

Dogs fed avocado oil can be given plant-activated charcoal before being taken to the hospital to effectively prevent the toxins from being absorbed, reduce the symptoms of poisoning, and shorten the duration of poisoning.

Dogs may be mildly poisoned by avocado consumption, but in other animals, such as birds and ruminants, ingestion can lead to moderate to severe poisoning. A toxin called paisley is found in the skin and kernel of the avocado. Therefore if a dog accidentally ingests any part of it, the following signs of illness may occur 1. diarrhea 2. nausea and vomiting 3. loss of appetite.

However, some people claim that this toxin has no effect on dogs, so dogs may not eat this toxic reaction. However, once a dog accidentally swallows the kernels, there is a risk of choking, leading to obstruction or suffocation.