Can Golden Retrievers Have Avocados?

Wondering if your Golden Retriever can enjoy some avocado?

Avocados are generally healthy and are rich in good fat.

I love having avocados in the morning to have some good and healthy fat in my diet and, my dog loves to sit around and beg me for a taste.

But, most people foods aren’t safe for dogs to consume.

So, it is always a good ideal to look a certain food product up before feeding it to your furry friend---after all, you don’t want him to get sick, right? It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

In this blog post, I will answer the question, “Can dogs have avocados?” in as much detail as I possibly can.

Let’s get started!

Can Dogs Have Avocados?

According to the American Society of Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals, Avocados contain a toxin named Persin which is toxic to many pets including horses, goats, cattle, and birds.

However, dogs are known to be more resistant than most animals to this toxin.

In theory, yes, your Golden Retriever can have avocados.

However, keep in mind that just because a particular food isn’t toxic to dogs, doesn’t mean it is safe for him to consume. If given in small quantities, avocados aren’t harmful to dogs and can even have health benefits.

Avocados can cause your doggy friend to have an upset stomach and can even lead to gastrointestinal disturbances.

The biggest problem with avocados is the large size of the pit which makes it a choking hazard. Not just that, the pit can even cause gastrointestinal disturbances and lead to the blocking of your dog’s intestines which is very painful and may also require surgery!

So, while avocados aren’t toxic to dogs, they are still risky to give, anyway.

Why Is Avocado Good For Dogs?

Avocados provide your furry friend with some of the essential vitamins and nutrients around. In this section of the blog, I will share a few health benefits of avocados for dogs when they small quantities of skinned and pitted avocados.

Avocados are:

• Rich sources of potassium and contain 60% more of this mineral than a banana does!

• Excellent sources of dietary fiber

• Rich in essential omega fatty acids or “good fats”

• Good at helping your dog’s coat condition and skin health

• Anti-inflammatory properties

• Rich in antioxidants that are beneficial to the immune system

• Rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and folate

• Great sources of niacin

• One of the best sources of protein as they contain 18 essential amino acids that aid in muscle development

Skinned and pitted avocados in small quantities are completely safe for dogs to consume and they do have health benefits for your furry friend. You should try and avoid leaving them laying around on the kitchen counter as your dog may accidentally get his paws on them.

Accidental or unintentional consumption can be extremely dangerous.

My Dog Ate Avocado! What Should I Do?

Dogs sometimes eat what we don’t want them to but, they do it anyway.

As I mentioned earlier, the pit poses the most significant threat as it contains Persin and is a choking hazard. I would advise you to call the vet immediately and look for tenderness in your dog’s stomach.

However, if you have only had a bite off of the fruit, you are safe as the flesh isn’t toxic to dogs and doesn’t pose any long-term health risks.

In any case, give your vet a call and carefully monitor your dog after he’s had avocado.

Vomiting is one of the significant signs of gastrointestinal obstructions. Call emergency services immediately in case your dog starts vomiting.

Another problem that you face when you get your furry friend avocado is that it has too much fat in it. The high content of fact can cause your furry friend to develop a potentially life-threatening disease such as pancreatitis.

Signs That Something’s Not Right

It is true that some premium dog foods do have avocados in them as a good source of nutrition, but, they need to be given to dogs in just the right quantity and with the right preparation.

If your furry friend got his paws on some avocados while you weren’t watching then, look for the following signs:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Lack of stool production

These signs indicate that something is wrong with your furry friend. So, in case you observe any of these, it will be a good idea to get in contact with your vet as soon as possible.

You may even need to seek emergency care.

Can Dogs Have Avocados?

Avocados aren’t toxic to dogs, and they can even be beneficial if given to them in the right quantities and with the proper preparation. An avocado must be washed, skinned, and pitted if you are serving it to your dog.

However, since they are high in fat, they should be given to dogs in a limited quantity.

Your dog doesn’t need any supplements in his diet as he gets all the nutrition that he needs from his kibble. So, it is best not to give your dog avocados.

That being said, pitted and skinned avocados are generally safe for dogs to consume in small quantities. But, do keep in mind not to leave them lying around the house because their accidental consumption will be dangerous for your furry friend.

Did I answer all your questions? If not, let me know in the comments, and I will get back to you as soon as I can!