Can Dogs Eat Limes? Is Citrus Toxic To Dogs?
When it comes to getting the right thing in your dog’s body, you won’t want to skim over anything that might be unhealthy.
Citrus fruits are a great source of vitamin C and other nutrients that can be beneficial for dogs. However, some citrus fruits contain high levels of acidity which may cause stomach upset in dogs.
This is why it is important what kind of citrus fruit is safe for your dog.
The short answer to this is: no, dogs cannot eat limes. You should not even give your dog lime juice. This is because lime contains some toxins that are extremely harmful to dogs. We’ll have a look at the rest of the article to see why this is.
Can You Feed Your Dog Limes?
Lime is one of the most common types of citrus fruit available in grocery stores today. It has a sour taste and is often used as a garnish or ingredient in many dishes.
However, there are certain types of citrus fruits that are toxic to dogs. These include lemons, oranges, grapefruit, kumquats, pomelos, and limes.
The reason these fruits are considered toxic is that they contain high amounts of linalool and psoralens.
This might not be lethal for your dog, but it can cause some serious stomach upset.
What Are Psoralen And Linalool?
Psoralen and linalool are two compounds found in citrus fruits. They are both naturally occurring substances that occur in plants.
These compounds are also present in many other foods such as parsley, celery, carrots, and potatoes.
They are also found in many herbal supplements like St. John’s wort, echinacea, ginseng, and licorice root.
These compounds can cause severe side effects when consumed by animals. Some of them include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches.
In addition, they can damage the liver and kidneys if taken in large quantities.
How Can Limes Be Dangerous To Dogs?
Limes are acidic fruits with a pH level of 3.5-4.0. This means that they are very acidic compared to other fruits.
It is very easy for your dog to consume too much of an acidic substance without realizing it. This is especially true if he eats something sweet after eating the lime.
When your dog consumes too many acidic foods, his stomach will start producing more hydrochloric acid. This causes him to vomit, loose stools, and experience heartburn.
When you buy limes at the store, make sure that you get organic ones. These are usually grown in soil that does not use pesticides.
Can You Feed Your Dog Lemons?
Another type of citrus fruit that is harmful to dogs is lemon. Lemon is slightly less acidic than limes and has a pH level of 2.8-3.2.
Like limes, lemons contain high concentrations of psoralen and linalool.
While these compounds are harmless to humans, they can cause bad symptoms in dogs.
If you feed your dog lemons, make sure that you do so in moderation. Also, try to avoid giving him any food containing sugar right after consuming a lemon.
These fruits are also very high in sugar, which will cause your dogs to become obese if they are fed them in the long term.
What Should You Do If Your Dog Eats A Lime?
The best thing to do if your dog accidentally ingests a lime is to take him to the vet immediately. He needs to be treated before any further harm occurs.
There are several ways that you can treat your dog. One way is to administer activated charcoal. Activated charcoal removes toxins from the digestive tract.
You should give him this treatment within 24 hours of ingesting the lime. Another option is to induce vomiting.
This can be fatal in your dog if they ingest too much. This is why you should take them to the vet regardless of what happens.
There are other symptoms that can occur after your dog has eaten lime:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Seizures
Your dog might also have skin irritation and might even develop depression-like symptoms. You should monitor your dog’s behavior closely after it has eaten lime or lime juice.
Can Puppies Eat Lime?
This will all depend on how many limes there are in the vicinity and how much lime your puppy has consumed.
As mentioned earlier, puppies are still growing and their bodies are developing. Therefore, they need smaller amounts of nutrients than adults.
Puppies who eat too much of anything could experience problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss.
Puppies who eat too many limes may also develop seizures.
You should try and make sure that your dog drinks plenty of water after it has eaten limes. This will help the dog wash out the harmful toxins that are in its system.
How Can You Prevent Your Dog From Eating Limes?
One way to prevent your dog from eating limes is by making sure that no one else gives them to him.
If your dog eats too much of something, he might want to consume more of it.
Therefore, you should keep an eye on your dog when he is around others.
What Happens If Your Dog Gets Lime On Its Skin?
If your dog gets lime on his skin, you should remove it immediately. The only way to do this is with soap and warm water.
Try to clean him up as soon as possible. Make sure that you rinse off all of the lime that is stuck to his fur.
Do not use harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia because they can damage your dog’s skin. Instead, use milder cleaning products.
The lime could cause skin irritation, so if you notice it going red or sore, then you should take it to the vet.
Do Dogs Like Citrus Fruits?
Dogs love citrus fruits. They enjoy chewing on these tasty treats. However, they do not always like the taste of citrus fruits.
Some dogs find the smell of citrus fruit unpleasant. Others dislike the sourness of it.
Citrus fruits contain citric acid which makes them acidic. These acids can irritate the mouth and throat of some dogs.
Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C helps maintain healthy gums and teeth. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure.
Can Your Dog Have Too Much Vitamin C?
Too much vitamin C can lead to diarrhea and stomach upset. It can also affect your dog’s heart rate.
However, it is important for your dog to get enough vitamin C. If he does not get enough, then he might become sick.
It is best to give your dog a supplement containing vitamin C.
There are numerous benefits to giving your dog or your puppy a lot of vitamin C:
- It improves your dog’s immune system
- It reduces inflammation
- It strengthens bones
- It protects against cancer
- It promotes wound healing
- It helps treat ear infections
Vitamin C also contains a lot more antioxidants which will help your dog to fight off certain illnesses. This is very important if you want your dog to remain healthy and strong.
Vitamin C also comes with a lot of collagen, which is great for skin and bone health. This might help prevent hip dysplasia, which is often common in smaller breeds of dogs such as French bulldogs.
What Other Foods Can You Feed Your Dog?
Your dog can be fed a wide variety of foods. Some of the most popular ones include:
- Chicken
- Fish
- Beef
- Pork
- Lamb
- Turkey
You can also feed your dog some vegetables such as broccoli, kale, green peppers and Brussels sprouts, as these are great sources of vitamin C.
Our Final Say
We hope that our guide to dogs and limes has helped give you a better idea about whether or not you should feed your dog this citrus fruit. Make sure that your dog doesn’t get too near limes, although the chances are they will not like the taste anyway!
