Can Golden Retrievers Eat Avocado? No, Can Be Dangerous!

If you’ve got a golden retriever, chances are high that you’ve wondered before if they can eat avocado. Avocados are an incredibly healthy fruit, so it’s natural to wonder if your pet can get in on the action.

But before you go letting your dog chow down on guacamole, there are a few things you should know about whether dogs can eat avocados—and how it might affect your golden retriever.

Is avocado poisonous to golden retrievers?

Humans love avocados. They’re filled with good fats and make a great base for a delicious salad or guacamole. But what about golden retrievers? Are avocados safe for our furry friends?

The answer is no. While avocado pulp isn’t poisonous to golden retrievers, the peels and pits can be lethal to dogs—even if they just ingest a small amount. So we don’t recommend feeding your golden retriever avocados.

If you’re wondering why you shouldn’t give your golden retriever avocados, the answer lies in a substance called persin. Avocado peels, leaves, and pits all contain high levels of this chemical compound—but it’s found in much lower concentrations in the flesh of an avocado. That’s why small amounts of pulp are typically considered safe for golden retrievers to eat.

However, even small amounts of persin can cause heart damage and breathing problems in dogs—and large quantities can be fatal. So it’s important that you never let your dog get at the peel or pits of an avocado. If they accidentally ingest some, take them to the veterinarian immediately.

Can golden retrievers eat avocado pit?

The answer is no. Avocado pits can pose a choking hazard to your dog, and they also contain a more concentrated amount of persin than the fruit’s flesh. Persin is a fungicidal toxin that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and intestinal obstructions in dogs.

The avocado pit can be swallowed whole or pulverized by the dog’s teeth. If your dog has swallowed an avocado pit, contact your vet immediately and monitor their symptoms. Your vet will probably do blood work to make sure everything is okay with your pup.

Can golden retrievers eat guacamole?

Feeding your dog guacamole may seem like a safe and okay thing to do, but it can actually be dangerous for your furry friend.

The first thing about guacamole that might be harmful to dogs is the fact that it contains avocados. Avocados contain a toxic compound called persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in both dogs and cats. Persin is found in the leaves and bark of the avocado tree, as well as the pit, skin, and flesh of the fruit itself.

But even if it were possible to safely remove all traces of persin from guacamole and avocados before feeding them to your dog, it still might not be safe for your dog to eat. A lot of guacamole recipes call for quite large amounts of avocado pulp, and all that fat could lead to pancreatitis if your dog eats too much of it in one sitting.

And most guacamole recipes include added ingredients like onions and garlic that are toxic to dogs as well. In short, keep your golden retriever out of your guacamole bowl.

Can golden retrievers eat avocado oil?

Avocado oil is an excellent food for golden retrievers. It’s loaded with vitamins E and D, along with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These nutrients are great for your golden retriever’s coat, skin, joints, heart, and brain.

They make avocado oil from the flesh of an avocado but it does not contain persin, a toxin found in the flesh that causes these digestive issues.

So there you have it! Your golden retriever can safely eat avocado oil.

What if my golden retriever eats avocado?

It depends on what part of the avocado we’re talking about!

Let’s start with the flesh: most experts agree that avocado flesh is mildly toxic to golden retrievers, but a slice of peeled avocado is unlikely to make your dog sick. The danger becomes more pronounced if your golden retriever eats a large amount of avocado, so it’s important to monitor for 24-48 hours after exposure and contact your vet if you notice any abnormal symptoms (including vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or difficulty breathing).

The skin is also a concern because it contains a high amount of persin. If your golden retriever contacts the skin, it’s important to take them to a vet immediately.

The pit can be dangerous if swallowed because it doesn’t digest well and can cause intestinal obstruction. Look out for symptoms like straining, constipation, or vomiting and contact your vet immediately if you notice any of those things.

Are there any benefits of of avocado in golden retrievers?

Peeled and pitted avocados have some health benefits as they contain antioxidants, vitamins and fatty acids. But like any fruit or vegetable, if you offer them in moderation, it will not harm your golden retriever.

However, there are safer treats that provide the same nutrients, so why take the risk?

How to feed avocado to your golden retriever?

We get it. Avocado is delicious. But unfortunately, it’s not a good food to give your golden retriever. Avocados contain persin, which is a toxin that can be fatal for dogs.

However, if you do insist on giving your dog some avocado, here’s how to make sure they stay safe:

Only give your golden retriever the fruit itself—not the skin or pit, which are more likely to contain persin.

Only give your dog plain avocado—meaning no added salt or spices, which could also be dangerous for your pup to consume.

Keep the portion size small—only one or two bites of avocado for a snack.

Can golden retrievers eat mashed avocado?

If you’re trying to figure out if your golden retriever can eat mashed avocado, the answer is yes, in moderation. This is especially good for senior golden retrievers who have trouble chewing on tougher materials like meat.

Avocados are great sources of monounsaturated fats, vitamin K and C, which is great for your dog’s heart health and skin.

However, make sure that you only feed golden retrievers the inner flesh part of the avocado, not the skin or pit.

You’ll also want to consult with your vet about how much avocado to feed your dog at a time. It’s usually recommended that small dogs get only one-eighth of an avocado per day, and larger dogs can have up to 1/3 of an avocado a day.

How to stop accidental ingestion of avocado in golden retrievers?

Are you worried about your golden retriever’s health because of the accidental ingestion of avocados? Then, you are not alone. Avocado is dangerous for dogs, especially for golden retrievers. The reason is that avocados contain a toxin called persin that causes vomiting and diarrhea in your golden retriever.

Even though avocado has many health benefits for humans, it has bad side effects on the health of your dog. It can also cause the death of your golden retriever if you do not seek medical attention immediately after eating it by mistake.

You can avoid these problems by taking precautions to protect your golden retriever from eating avocados.

First, educate your family about the danger of avocado in golden retrievers so they store it where your golden retriever can’t reach.

Store it where your golden retriever can’t reach. Avocado is a popular snack, so it can be tempting to keep it out on the counter or in an easy-to-reach place. This makes it more likely that your golden retriever might get into it and accidentally ingest it. Store it in a place where your golden retriever cannot access it.

Use a baby-gate to keep your golden retriever out of the kitchen and eating areas. It may seem inconvenient, but if you have a kitchen with open spaces, this may be necessary if you want to prevent accidental ingestion.

Teach them the ‘’leave it’’ command when he or she sniffs at food on the floor or table. This will help them stop from eating foods that could be harmful to them.

Crate train them to ensure your golden retriever doesn’t eat avocado when you are not supervising your golden retriever. Make the crate comfortable and safe place for your golden retriever by offering toys, treats, etc.

Find out if your golden retrievers can eat other treats

So, can golden retrievers eat avocado?

No, golden retrievers shouldn’t eat avocado. Unfortunately, golden retrievers are extremely sensitive to their diet.

Even though avocado is a delicious fatty fruit that is great for humans, it’s dangerous to dogs—especially if eaten in large quantities.

Avocado contains a toxin called persin, a fungicidal that is found in the plant’s leaves, fruit, seeds, and bark. Persin can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. And while most dogs will be okay with small amounts of avocado flesh (like a few skins left on the floor), large amounts can be toxic.

Since we know golden retrievers to eat anything they see lying around (including fruits like avocado), you should not give them avocados to avoid any potential health problems.

Because of their propensity to eat any food, they find and because avocados can be dangerous to them, don’t let your golden retriever get into avocados or feed them deliberately.