 Avocado: Need some more opinions/Info
#281009 - 06/22/2010 02:33 PM |
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So, in an ealier thread I had mentioned that I will give underweight dogs avocado cubes in small amounts to help put some weight on.
Of course, I am then told that they are on the "do not give" list of dog toxic foods.
So, after looking I found that some places say go ahead and feed while others say it is a definite no-no.
This morning I picked up my "Cesar's Way" magazine (Cesar Milan's magazine) and inside I found a small article about Avocado. The "toxic" chemical (starts with a "P", the magazine is still in the car) is only found in the leaves and the skin but not the actual edible part of the fruit.
Anyone with other sources saying different. I am looking for research from reliable sources. I am hoping to gain some more info for future foster/rescue's sake!
Thanks
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Re: Avocado: Need some more opinions/Info
[Re: Niomi Smith ]
#281015 - 06/22/2010 04:21 PM |
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The toxic compound is called persin.
How much there is in the fruit (as opposed to the pit, plant, and skin) depends on the type (Guatamalan, etc.).
There are a couple of reliable sources here:
http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/261335/page/0/fpart/4
The newest Merck Vet Manual says:
Ingestion of avocado ( Persea americana ) has been associated with myocardial necrosis in mammals and birds and with sterile mastitis in lactating mammals. ...
and
Ingestion of fruit, leaves, stems, and seeds of avocado has been associated with toxicosis in animals; leaves are the most toxic part. The Guatemalan varieties of avocado have been most commonly associated with toxicosis.
I think many dogs have eaten avocado with no ill effects. Anecdotal evidence is abundant.
But since persin accumulates, and the toxic "floor" amount for dogs hasn't been determined, I'd rather skip them completely for the dogs.*
JMO, however.
* According to my vet manuals, primates are the only animals known to be unaffected by persin toxicosis.
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Re: Avocado: Need some more opinions/Info
[Re: Niomi Smith ]
#281016 - 06/22/2010 04:38 PM |
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Well, dang. I just went and looked up avocado oil, thinking maybe it was persin-free, but no.
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Re: Avocado: Need some more opinions/Info
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#281018 - 06/22/2010 04:47 PM |
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Re: Avocado: Need some more opinions/Info
[Re: Tracy Collins ]
#281022 - 06/22/2010 04:53 PM |
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I think the name (and the pictures on the package) of that food is just irresponsible. When confronted with persin toxicity, the manufacturer said (among other responses) "well, we don't use very much." Um ... so it is toxic but you don't use much? 
Merck mentions 2 dogs developing "myocardial damage secondary to avocado ingestion." Yes, only two -- but that's enough for me, considering that myocardial damage secondary to avocado ingestion sounds to me like something very unlikely to be correctly diagnosed often.
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Re: Avocado: Need some more opinions/Info
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#281024 - 06/22/2010 04:59 PM |
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Back to the OP's question about avocado as a way to help put weight on an underweight dog (presumably because avocados are high in fat and therefore calorie-dense.)
How about the same size hunks of fatty meat? I imagine avocados are dear in the Yukon, anyway.
Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon |
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Re: Avocado: Need some more opinions/Info
[Re: Tracy Collins ]
#281025 - 06/22/2010 05:06 PM |
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... How about the same size hunks of fatty meat? I imagine avocados are dear in the Yukon, anyway.
Heck, they're dear here.
Raw fat is well-tolerated and well-used by healthy dogs. And dogs, of course, don't have the human's cholesterol issue, or the kind of heart disease that plagues humans (coronary heart disease: circulation in coronary arteries obstructed by plaque buildup).
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Re: Avocado: Need some more opinions/Info
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#281027 - 06/22/2010 05:23 PM |
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Thanks for all the great links guys!
We get avocado here year round. It is of course picked hard as rock and basically rots to a sort of "ripe" state. Avocados were my sons first food. He LOVED them and would eat them everyday until he was about 2. He still does like them, but has moved on to other fruits 
I do use fatty meats as I try to put all of my fosters onto a raw diet while they are with me. But I do like to give a variety, so I know that there are certain foods that some people swear by and others say no to. (Garlic is another one that comes to mind)
Thanks for the replies though. So now I am wondering if I should forward the links to the editor of the magazine. Only because there are many people who would read the small article and go out and put their dogs on an all avocado diet (ok, exaggerated a little) The article did mention that the avocado based dog food only uses the fruit part and that is why the food is safe.
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Re: Avocado: Need some more opinions/Info
[Re: Niomi Smith ]
#281029 - 06/22/2010 05:28 PM |
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Only because there are many people who would read the small article and go out and put their dogs on an all avocado diet ...
Bingo!
Yes, I agree with you completely. Calling a dog food a name suggesting avocado for skin benefits and articles like the one you read don't seem like wise moves. I would imagine that the odd avocado fruit here and there is going to be little or no problem to most dogs, but it doesn't seem like a good plan to focus on it, exclaiming about benefits. Humans (me too) are often inclined to think that "If a little is good, then a lot is better!"
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Re: Avocado: Need some more opinions/Info
[Re: Niomi Smith ]
#281037 - 06/22/2010 05:48 PM |
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.... We get avocado here year round. It is of course picked hard as rock and basically rots to a sort of "ripe" state.
How much do they cost there?
I'm curious. The price here in California blows me away. The wonderful Hass avocados are around $1 in the season (spring through fall) and sometimes close to $2 in the off-season. And they grow here! 
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