Is It Dangerous to Feed Your Dog Avocados?

This is a trendy question since avocados emerged as a very healthy food for humans, but for dogs, they can be both good and bad and it would depend on the way they are prepared. Some people are wondering if they can give them an avocado as a substitution for some of the best dog training treats and many don't know if they can hurt their dog.

The problem with avocados is the compound known as persin which is a toxin that researchers and doctors believe might cause problems for the dog, specifically if it gets raised to some high levels when the fruit is given to the dog as a whole with all the seeds and skin. This is mostly dangerous to birds and large animals but most dogs are resistant to this toxin. Since not every dog is resistant to this toxin, it's always a good idea to ask your veterinarian about it and follow the advice he or she gives you.

Why avoid giving your dog Avocado?
Even if your dog is resistant to persin giving him avocados might cause other problems especially you give him the entire fruit. The skin, stems and pits of the avocado are extremely hard to digest and it may cause blockages and stoppages in your dog's gastrointestinal tract.

Another thing that might happen when a dog swallows the hard pit is cause the dog to choke on it because it's large and pretty hard to break.

Also, if your dog has a condition where it should get a lot of fats through his diet, avocados won't do him any good. They have high fat content and giving this to your dog with a certain medical condition might worsen the entire situation.

Benefits of giving Avocado to your dog
If the veterinarian gives you a green light and you can give avocado as part of some best training treats to your dog here are some of the benefits.

The fruit is packed with healthy nutrients that may increase your dog's health and some of those nutrients include vitamins A, C, E and B6 but it also contains a lot fiber that improves the digestive system. It contains fatty acids that may improve the dogs coating, antioxidants that are important for fighting against diseases and cancer but it also has important compounds including niacin, potassium and folate.

The popular "good fat" in avocados may reduce the cholesterol levels although even if your dog can eat fat without any problem, overfeeding him with avocados isn't a good idea because it might lead to pancreatitis.

Final Thoughts
Avocados can be both good and bad for your dog and before replacing the best dog training treats with an avocado, make sure you consult your veterinarian about it and get his or her opinion on the matter. If your veterinarian ran tests and ensures that avocados can benefit your dog, make sure that you're preparing them the right way by getting rid of the stem, skin and pit. And most importantly, give him avocados in moderation without overfeeding your dog because he might develop unwanted diseases.