Why it is Not Recommended To Share Guacamole With Your Dog?

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Most dog owners like to share human food with their pets, and one of the things your dog might want to piece is guacamole. The most important thing you should know as a dog owner is what human food you can and can't share with your dog, so if you were wondering, “Can dogs eat guacamole?” the answer that all dog experts, owners and vets will tell you is - no. Here is why guacamole is not a good choice to share with your dog.

Is guacamole safe for dogs?

Before you decide to include any human food in your dog’s diet, you should know whether it’s safe for dogs or not. The most important question about this dip and your dog is whther guacamole is safe for dogs. The answer, again, is NO. You will understand why this dip is not safe for your dog if you look at the list of ingredients guacamole contains. Here are the most common guacamole ingredients;

• Avocado - Guacamole is an avocado-based dip. Avocado is commonly used in our diet but unsafe for our dogs. It has a high-fat content and contains a toxin called persin. You can read more about it here - Can dogs eat avocado?
• Lime juice - Lime juice is another ingredient that all guacamole recipes should include. It might not be toxic to dogs, but dogs don’t like the sour taste of lime juice.
• Salt - Salty food, in general, is not safe for dogs. Dogs have delicate sodium levels, meaning salty foods can tip that balance and cause different health issues. The same is true for humans; we should avoid eating too salty foods. To better understand all the health risks connected to salt, read this article - Is Salt Bad For Dogs? When To Worry?
• Garlic - All experienced dog owners know garlic is toxic to dogs. Dogs can tolerate small nibbles; some owners even claim garlic will help the dog’s digestion and keep parasites away. Nevertheless, garlic contains thiosulfate, which destroys the dog’s red blood cells.
• Onion - Onion is included in guacamole, and even though it is delicious, it is not safe for our dogs. This plant comes from the same “family” as garlic but contains more thiosulfate. Dogs that eat too much onion can become anemic; if they don’t receive veterinary attention, they could die.
• Jalapeno - Spicy guacamole should contain jalapeno or cayenne papers. This is another ingredient unsafe for dogs. If your dog eats it, it will likely develop diarrhea and vomiting. Here you can read more about dogs and jalapenos.
• Tomatoes - Tomatoes are commonly used in different guacamole recipes. The good news is that they’re not toxic to dogs. If given moderately, dogs can safely eat tomatoes.

Persin in avocados

We already mentioned that the most dangerous thing found in avocados is a chemical persin. This chemical can be found in the leaves, stems, and bark. The good news is that it is rarely present in the ripe “fleshy” part of the plant. However, if your dog eats the unripe avocado, persin will become a problem. This toxin can cause breathing problems, nasal congestion, diarrhea, and vomiting.

What are the symptoms my dog can experience after eating guacamole?

Symptoms your dog could experience will depend based on your dog, his general health, and the amount of guacamole he has ingested. Some dogs may experience serious symptoms only by eating a small amount, while others may eat more and not have so many symptoms. The best thing you can do is not to test this and not allow your dog to come near guacamole.

These are the most common symptoms dogs tend to exhibit after eating guacamole:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Abdominal pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the face, neck, or tongue

How much guacamole will hurt my dog?

There is no correct and precise amount of guacamole that we can say will hurt your dog. All dogs are different, and while some can have serious problems after only eating a small amount of guacamole, others can eat a lot more and not experience symptoms. It is essential that you closely monitor your dog if you noticed that he managed to ingest guacamole and contact your vet for additional advice. 

It is possible that your dog doesn't show symptoms right away, so you must closely monitor him for the next day to ensure that the guacamole did not cause harm to him.

What if my dog ate guacamole?

Despite our best efforts, dogs can sometimes grab things when we’re not looking. Imagine if you go to the toilet or grab a glass of juice, and by the time you get back to your guacamole bowl, your dog can eat the whole thing. Dogs that spot something they like can be pretty sneaky and fast. They will need only a couple of seconds to down an entire bowl of guacamole dip.

If you notice your guacamole is missing, and you can see your dog is licking their lips, chances are they ate it. There are a few factors to consider;

1. How large is the dog? - As you can imagine, the same amount of guacamole is not the same for St. Bernards and Chihuahuas.
2. How much guacamole did the dog eat? - If you dropped a tiny bit and your dog licked it off the floor, they’ll probably be alright. However, if your tiny dog ate a whole bowl, you should call your vet.
3. What are the ingredients? - If you prepared guacamole yourself, you should know if you included toxic ingredients to dogs. If you did, call your vet.
4. How long ago did it happen? - You will have different options if you know exactly when your dog ate guacamole and how much. If it happened a few minutes ago, vomit-inducing might be an option. If it happened hours ago, you should take your dog to the pet ER.

What you do will depend on the answers you give to these questions. If you know them, you will know what to do. The first thing you should do is call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680. They can help you and lead you through the process.

The key thing to do is monitor your dog in the next few hours and see how the situation develops. If your dog seems completely fine, you can consider yourself lucky. That is mostly the case with large dogs. However, small dogs can get severely sick, and worst cases can result in deaths.

What should I feed instead of guacamole?

If you can't help yourself and you decide to share human food with your dog, at least you can ensure that you only give him food that is safe for him. Instead of guacamole, you can offer your dog.

1. Fresh vegetables - choose vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, or green beans and avoid vegetables such as onions, garlic, and avocados
2. Fresh fruits - choose fruits like apples, bananas, or blueberries, and avoid fruits like grapes.
3. Plain and cooked meat

Whenever you decide to share human food with your dog, it would be wise to consult with your vet because even though certain human food is generally safe for dogs to consume, the same food can cause certain health issues for your dog. Your vet could give you the best possible advice about your dog and human food.

In conclusion

There are different things our dogs would love to eat. However, not all of those things are safe for them. Whatever you decide to include in your dog’s diet should serve a purpose, and your dog should benefit from it. It makes no sense to include something your dog will have no use for and only eat because they want it. Regarding the question, “Can dogs eat guacamole?” the correct answer is NO. You should never give guacamole to your dog, no matter how hard they beg you.

World Dog Finder team