Benefits and risks
Benefits
- Contains healthy fats and vitamins
- A small lick of plain flesh is unlikely to cause serious harm
- Some dog foods use processed avocado meal
Risks
- The pit can cause choking or a serious intestinal blockage
- High fat content can trigger stomach upset or pancreatitis
- Guacamole contains onion, garlic and salt
If you choose to share
- Avoid offering avocado as a treat
- Keep avocados and guacamole out of reach
- If your dog ate a pit, call your vet
My dog ate avocado. What should I do?
A small amount is unlikely to cause serious harm in a healthy dog. Remove any remaining food, offer fresh water and watch for vomiting, diarrhea, a painful belly or lethargy over the next 24-48 hours. Call your vet if your dog ate a large amount, is small, young or has health problems (such as pancreatitis), or if the food contained onion, garlic, chocolate or xylitol.
Safer treats to give instead
These are safe for dogs in treat-size amounts:
Planning treats? Check your dog's full daily needs with the dog food calculator or dog calorie calculator.
Avocado and dogs: FAQ
Can dogs have avocado?
It is best not to feed avocado to dogs. Avocado contains persin, which is mainly a problem in birds and rabbits, and dogs are relatively resistant to it. The bigger risks for dogs are the pit (choking and blockage) and the high fat, which can cause pancreatitis.
Is avocado toxic to dogs?
The ASPCA lists avocado as a problem mainly for birds, rabbits and some large animals. Dogs are more resistant to persin, but the pit and fat make it a poor treat choice.
Can dogs eat guacamole?
No. Guacamole usually contains onion and garlic, which are toxic to dogs.
My dog swallowed an avocado pit. Is that an emergency?
It can be. Pits can lodge in the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Call your vet right away.
Can puppies eat avocado?
No. Puppies are smaller and more vulnerable than adults, so it is best avoided entirely.
More "can dogs eat" guides
Browse lists: all fruits dogs can eat · human foods dogs can eat · foods dogs can't eat
Sources
This guide is general information for healthy adult dogs. Dogs with medical conditions (such as diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease or food allergies) may need different advice from their vet.