It is not advisable for dogs to eat guacamole due to potentially harmful ingredients.
Guacamole, or guac, is a popular Mexican dip. Sometimes used as a spread or salad, guacamole consists of an avocado base. The fruit is peeled, mashed, and combined with other ingredients. These may include salt, lime juice, onions, and cilantro, but some variations are made with basil, tomatoes, and/or sour cream.
When making guacamole at home, dog owners should be wary of the avocado pit that can cause airway and intestinal obstruction when accidentally consumed. Your dog may also come into contact with the antifungal compound called persin. This may be found on the avocado’s leaves, skin, and flesh. However, unless consumed in large amounts, this toxin only causes mild irritation.
Dogs should avoid eating guacamole because of the possibly harmful ingredients found in the dip. Salt, onions, and lime are some of the key ingredients not suitable for canines.
What to do if your dog accidentally eats guacamole: Review the list of ingredients found on the nutrition facts label of your store-bought guac. If any of the aforementioned ingredients are in the guacamole, get in touch with your veterinarian immediately.
Salt can cause extreme dehydration in dogs. Because of it, he may experience incontinence, an inflamed stomach, an electrolyte imbalance, or even sodium ion poisoning.
On the other hand, onion consumption can lead to gastrointestinal irritation. It may also damage his red blood cells and result in hemolytic anemia and methemoglobinemia.
Lastly, lime juice may affect your dog when he consumes a substantial amount in one sitting. The fruit juice may irritate his throat, stomach, and digestive tract.
In summary: Err on the side of caution and refrain from giving your dog guacamole. If you’re really keen on letting your dog try it, get your veterinarian’s consent beforehand. Give your pup homemade guac using canine-safe ingredients.
Instead of giving him guacamole, find out which vegetables and fruits you can feed him under our “can dogs eat” category.
References:
The Scoop on Avocado and Your Pets
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