Are Limes Bad for Dogs? [Safe]
The simple answer to this question is going to be that it is not recommended for you to feed your dog limes. If your dog does somehow end up eating this tart and citrus fruit, they are more than likely going to start experiencing some very intense upset stomach pains, or even worse, choke. This is going to be especially true if your dog decides that they are going to not only eat the plant material of the lime, but the peel of the lime as well. Here is what you need to know when it comes to your dog and why they should not be eating limes.
The Benefits of Limes
It is no secret that limes are one of the fruits that humans should be eating on a regular basis, as they are chocked full of vitamin C (which is an extremely powerful antioxidant that has the power to help you increase your immune system), boost your iron absorption rates, and even help to promote how healthy your skin is. As if that weren’t enough, lime juice is believed to have some very powerful antifungal and antibacterial properties that are also going to be very beneficial to you. Essentially, limes are simply going to be a very versatile fruit that can have literally all of its parts used. This includes the lime’s juice, zest, fruit, and even the peel.
While all of the above-mentioned health benefits are going to be great if you are a human, the same benefits that limes provide are not going to be something that will translate over to your pet, especially your dog. When you feed your dog a balanced and complete diet, they are already going to be getting each and every nutrient that they require in order to be healthy from that food. This means that your dog is not going to require you to feed them any kind of extra vegetables or fruits in order to fulfill their daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. With that being said, there are many dogs who do actually enjoy eating the vegetables and fruits that are considered safe for them to eat. So, if you do have a dog that loves to eat extra fruits and vegetables, you are going to want to be sure that you are only sharing the ones that they are going to find much more palatable. These can include things such as carrots, oranges, and even a wide variety of apples.
The Hazards of Feeding Your Dog Limes
When you do feed your dog limes or allow them to eat limes while they are outside and unsupervised, it has the potential to cause them some very serious health issues. While a single lime or even two may not necessarily cause them any type of significant health problems, over time, they will begin to feel the adverse effects of the limes and it is only going to end up bad for your four-legged friend. This is going to be due to the fact that the peel of the lime is going to contain some very powerful essential oils. This means that when your dog does eat limes, they are going to be at risk for some serious digestive upset, excessive vomiting, and even diarrhea. If this doesn’t deter them from eating limes and lime peels, the consumption of larger qualities of the lime’s essential oils can eventually lead to your dog becoming poisoned.
If your dog has been eating lime peels and you are unaware, they will start to show signs that they are not feeling well and something is definitely wrong with them. Some of these symptoms can include them acting lethargic, having an increased sensitivity to light that would not normally pose them any type of problems, give them very low blood pressure, cause them to have a loss of coordination that would make doing even the most routine tasks that they normally do on a daily basis much more difficult, and eventually lead to your dog suffering from liver damage, potentially putting their life at risk if some major medical attention is not given to them.
As if being one of the most toxic fruits to your dog isn’t enough, lime peels and even the seeds that are stored on the inside of the lime can pose a major choking hazard. If your dog does manage to get all of the lime seeds and the lime peel down, once it has entered your dog’s digestive system, there is a very good chance that some type of internal blockage is going to be had. If this does happen, some very serious surgery will need to be done on your dog in order to remove the blockage. If not, the possibility of your dog not surviving this particular condition is going to be a very real thing.
While it is true that most of the dogs out there are not going to even try to seek out limes or other similar types of fruits as they are not necessarily going to be fans of the sour tastes associated with them, it is still going to be in your very best interest to keep both limes and lime peels out of the reach of your dog. If not, there is always going to be the opportunity that they can get ahold of one and will eat it. If that does happen, be sure to keep an extra eye on your dog and keep a lookout for any of the symptoms that have been mentioned above. If your dog does start to display any of the above-mentioned symptoms, be sure that you contact your veterinarian as quickly as possible. This is going to be the only way that you will be able to ensure that your dog receives the treatment that they will require, as well as any other medication to help them get past that situation. And as always, be sure to follow up with your veterinarian to make sure that your dog is all cured.
