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Toxic fruits for dogs should be something that every dog owner has.
Whether you like to spice up your dog’s food with little treats or you have that one family member who just doesn’t seem to understand that you don’t want your dog to have table food, it’s important to know the toxic fruits for dogs.
Toxic Fruits For Dogs Can Seem Safe
Almost as dangerous as what toxic fruits for dogs can do to your buddy is the fact that they seem utterly harmless.
After all, these fruits are foods that we eat every day.
To us humans, they’re perfectly safe, very healthy, and appear to be completely innocuous.
For our dogs, however, they can have effects that range from mildly irritating to life-threatening.
So let’s take a look at the fruits you should always avoid.
Toxic Fruits for Dogs
The following list of fruits may surprise you.
While they’re great for our bodies, they can wreak havoc on our dogs’ systems.
Be sure you never, ever give your dog these fruits or allow anyone else to give them to your dog.
1. Avocado
At first glance, avocado seems like a great fruit to give our dogs.
After all, it’s full of omega fatty acids which are good for a dog’s skin, coat, and more.
However, the pit, skin, and leaves of avocados contain a chemical called persin.
Persin is toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
You may think you can simply give your dog the flesh of your fruit, however, even the flesh contains persin in enough concentration to be dangerous to your dog.
2. Cherries
While the flesh of cherries is safe, the pits are not.
Cherry pits contain cyanide, a powerful toxin.
Cyanide disrupts cellular oxygen transportation, meaning your dog’s blood cells – and, consequently every part of his body – don’t get enough oxygen.
While it might seem like the obvious solution is to give your dog cherries that have had their pits removed, bear in mind that pit pieces can still be in some of the cherries.
It’s better to err on the side of caution and simply avoid cherries altogether.
3. Apricots
Much like cherries, the flesh of apricots is safe for dogs, however, the seeds, leaves, and stems of the plant are not.
Like cherries, apricot pits contain cyanide.
We all know that dogs are impatient, so peeling and pitting an apricot leaves your dog plenty of openings to simply grab an apricot and scarf it whole.
It’s much better to simply avoid the fruit altogether and keep your dog from getting into the habit of eating it.
4. Grapes
One of the biggest foolers on the list of toxic fruits for dogs, grapes are literal killers.
Grapes and raisins (dried grapes) should never under any circumstances be given to dogs.
These little fruits have been proven to be severely toxic to dogs no matter their breed or age.
In fact, they’re so toxic that they can cause acute, sudden kidney failure.
Dogs almost never survive initial acute kidney failure, and if they do, their long-term prognosis is about 4 years at the very most.
So stay away from grapes at all costs.
5. Currants
Just like their less-fancy cousins, grapes, currants are severely toxic to dogs.
Like grapes, these little fruits can cause catastrophic and sudden kidney failure.
6. Tomatoes
While ripened tomatoes are considered generally safe for dogs, the plant and unripe tomatoes contain solanine, a substance that is toxic to dogs.
Your dog would have to eat a considerable amount of the plant to become sick, however, so if you do feed him tomatoes, be cognizant of removing all stem pieces.
7. Apples
The flesh of apples is perfectly safe for dogs and makes a great, healthy treat for them, however, the seeds of these fruits contain cyanide.
Although your dog would have to eat a considerable amount of seeds to get sick, it’s not unheard of.
If you give your dog apples, be sure you never give him the core.
Know the Toxic Fruits for Dogs
It’s okay to spice up your dog’s diet with fruits and vegetables as long as you know what you can and can’t give them.
Remember, outside of apples and tomatoes, these toxic fruits for dogs should never be allowed near your dog’s mouth.
And even in the case of tomatoes and apples, you have to be careful.
So know your toxic fruits for dogs, be careful about what you feed them, and be sure everyone around your dog knows what to avoid, as well.
For a list of fruits that are safe for dogs, read this blog post here.
