Interesting. I had seen that AvoDerm had avocado in it. It has a very small amount of avocado oil in it. Here’s what the ASPCA says about the use of avocado in dog food:
I noticed your avocado information in the recent issue of ASPCA News Alert. Do you have any information about the safety of avocado in pet food?
– Nicole K.
Good question, Nicole. As you read in News Alert, avocado leaves, fruit, seeds and bark contain a toxic principle known as Persin. The Guatemalan variety, a common one found in stores, appears to be the most problematic. Other strains of avocado can have different degrees of toxic potential.
Avocado is sometimes included in pet foods for nutritional benefit. We would generally not expect avocado meal or oil present in commercial pet foods to pose a hazard to dogs and cats, but we advise against giving avocado flesh or peel to dogs and cats, as mild stomach upset may occur if the animal eats a significant amount. Ingestion of the pit can lead to obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract, which is a serious situation requiring urgent veterinary care.
First they say that it contains Persin, which is toxic to dogs, and then they say that besides the pit, the biggest risk is stomach upset. And BCnut said that the biggest risk, besides the pit, was the fat. Now I’m confused.
