Friday, August 3, 2012

Are Avocados Really Poisonous to Dogs

By Jerry Welsh


Avocado is considered to be the most nutritious fruits. Although avocado does not have the sweetness of other fruits, it is favored by most people because of the vitamins and minerals it contains. Bananas are rich sources of potassium but avocado has higher levels of potassium than bananas. Fruits generally have low fat content but avocados have high levels of monosaturated fat. Monosaturated fat is the friendly fat as it is kind to the heart and does not cause obesity. Because of the creamy goodness and the minerals and vitamins avocado contains, it is considered as luxury food that only the royalty can afford. These days, more than half of the households in US consume this fruit.

Avocados have become popular but due to some misconceptions, some people would not dare eat this highly nutritious fruit. It is commonly believed that because of the high fat content, avocados bring about hypertension attacks and obesity. The unfunded beliefs about the dangers of eating avocados is not only confined to humans but also to dogs. ASPCA has warned dog owners about allowing the pet to eat avocados.

Avocado is believed to be dangerous to dogs because it contains a toxic substance known as Persin. Once avocado is eaten by the dog, this toxic substance would cause fluid to accumulate in the dog's throat, chest and abdomen. Buildup of fluid in the dog's chest will prevent the normal functioning of the heart. The fat content of avocado is another concern as it is believed to cause obesity. Dog owners are careful about giving the dog a kind of diet that will result to obesity knowing that obese dogs have the tendency to develop various health concerns. A blockage in the throat or in the gastrointestinal tract caused by the avocado seed is one more reason why dog owners steer the pet away from this fruit. Dogs have the tendency to swallow food. To save the life of the pet; the seed may have to be surgically removed.

If avocados are really unsafe foods for dogs why is the fruit used as a main ingredient in one brand of pet food. Many dogs owners have verified that by giving the pet avocado, health of the skin and coat is maintained. Dog owners have resolved the dog's chronic skin problems, excessive shedding and poor coat quality by giving the pet AvoDerm, the pet food that has avocado as the main ingredient.

Some dog owners have proven the healthful benefits of giving avocado to the pet. Others would keep the pet away from this fruit. Would you give the dog avocado?




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