Avocados and Dogs - What is true?

BenBurch

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BenBurch
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So, as a dog owner who wants to keep the little miscreants happy and healthy, I read stuff on what is good for them.

And I read conflicting things on Avocados.

On one side, I read years ago when there was a bumper crop of Avocados and insufficient market that the farmers fed the surplus to their dogs, and I found at least one dog food brand BASED on avocados; http://www.breeders-choice.com/dog_products/avodermdog_veg.htm

On the other side I read dire warnings that Avocados are poison to dogs; http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-news/...Articles-_-dog-news/2006_11/2006_11-08news002

WTF?

What is true?
 
I don't KNOW! But I want to! I love to eat advocado... and my dog thinks anything I eat has to be better than what he has....
 
I find it amazing that an animal that will routinely eat cat poop straight from the litter box, grass, insects, hair elastics, and socks* (!!) would be at all put out by an avocado. Is there some sort of funny avocado chemical that isn't found in cat poop, grass, insects, hair elastics and socks??

*at our house anyway, your results may vary
 
Yeah, what is that about the Kitty FecalTreats?

<---This one eats them like they were candy.
 
Screw the dog... give me the avocado. Dogs get dog food. Hey, I have a larger brain and opposable thumbs - I win :)
 
Why feed the dog avocados in the first place? It seems really unlikely that they are going to reap the benefits of avocados as described in the first link, and I know my dogs have eaten avocados previously without dying, so if Rover accidentally gets ahold of a piece, I'd wait to see if there are any symptoms at all before worrying.

It's sort of like dogs being poisoned by chocolate. Sure it happens, but it generally takes an awful lot of chocolate for any result at all. If avocados are actually toxic, it's going to take a big dose to do much unless the dog is sensitive.

In any case, what's wrong with dog food?
 
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If your dog eats poop. try some live yeast and yogurt.

My puppy did that, until I fed her some live-culture yogurt and the dregs from some homebrews. Stopped in a day or so.

And back on topic, a friend had a dog and an avocado orchard. Seems the dog learned to 'retrieve' the wind falls, gather them up, and let them ripen, before eating. Owner claims the dog even arranged them in order from hardest to softest. I don't know about it, dogs ARE smart, but I've know dog owners have been known to exaggerate, once or twice. ;)

Any how, the owner did steal some from his pup from time to time, and make a huge bowl of guacamole. But it wasn't so good. Toooo much cilantro.
 
Avocado tress are close relatives of the Bay Laurel and Sassafras. Leaves of both are used as flavorings in human food. Bay leaves, and File Gumbo, respectively. I've never tried avo leaves in cooking though. But the pup sure likes to chew on the bay leaves from the soup.
 
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MattusMaximus said:
Screw the dog... give me the avocado. Dogs get dog food. Hey, I have a larger brain and opposable thumbs - I win :)
Click to expand...

I have this discussion with our dogs all of the time.

I normally end it by laughing at them, pointing my thumbs out to them, and gesturing to my skull.

I then call them "evolution's losers" (they used to be wolves for god's sake!) and give them crunchy food.

If I am feeling particularly mean, I will throw handfulls of it into the backyard while calling "Chook! Chook! Chook!" to them....

:D
 
Yeah, that's right. "Listen, dog, I'm the boss here! I pay your vet bills! I serve you food several times a day! I give you your medicine! I take you out when you need to go! I pick up after you... Heyyy, wait a minute..."
 
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