Birds, horses and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado toxicity. Sheep and goats can also develop serious clinical signs, so it's important to keep avocados away from them as well.
The answer is yes and no. Avocados contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that can cause serious health problems— even death—in many animals. According to veterinarians, dogs are more resistant to persin than other animals, but that doesn't mean avocados are 100% safe for your dog to consume.
Because of the high fat content, it's also possible for dogs or cats to develop pancreatitis (painful inflammation of the pancreas).” So, while avocado is fairly safe for our dogs and cats to eat, the best bet is to limit their access to just small amounts of the fruit itself.
Persin is found in all parts of avocados and in the bark and leaves of their tree. A lethal dose of avocado in budgies is approximately 3.5 grams, cockatiels 20-30 grams and canaries 2 grams. The adverse effects in birds have been as quickly as 15-30 minutes after ingestion.
Birds and livestock exposed to avocado plants or fruits are at greatest risk of avocado toxicosis.
The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, and more serious signs in other animals due to a wide range in sensitivity across species. Birds, horses and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado toxicity.
In horses that ingest avocados, the toxin can cause colic, irregular heartbeat, respiratory distress, neurologic dysfunction, edema, and other signs of illness. Horse owners should not feed avocados to their horses, and should not allow the animals to graze in areas where they might have access to avocados.
A few other foods should be avoided because they contain toxins that can make birds ill or even be fatal. Avocado pits and skins are toxic to chickens as they contain a toxin called persin. The flesh of the avocado is fine for chickens.
Typically, rats and mice feed on a variety of fruits; for example, oranges, avocados, peaches, lemons, and figs. They are also very fond of walnuts and almonds. So, it's vital that all fallen fruit and nuts should be regulated removed, and discarded as soon as possible.
Avocado skin and pit
While you shouldn't feed your pig a lot of avocados, the occasional treat is healthy. When serving avocado to your pig, be sure to remove the flesh from its skin. Unfortunately, the skin of an avocado can be toxic to pigs. Furthermore, always remove the pit.
While a staple of the Australian diet today, avocados are harmful for our dogs. as they contain persin, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting and heart congestion. If your dog ate a small piece of avocado, it will probably be okay, but ensure you monitor your dog for any symptoms.
Avocados contain an oil-soluble compound called persin. Structurally, it's similar to a fatty acid. Persin is poisonous if consumed in large quantities. If the cat does swallow a few flecks of skin, they will most likely be fine.
Avocado is not highly toxic to dogs; however, after consuming parts of an avocado your dog may develop specific symptoms. Symptoms can include: Vomiting. Diarrhea.
Peeled and pitted, avocados are fine for dogs to eat and may even provide some health benefits, but they must be served in moderation and prepared with care.
Avocado contains a toxin called persin, but only certain species of animals are poisoned by persin. While dogs and cats are rarely affected by persin, avocado poisoning can be deadly to birds and large animals (such as cows, goats, sheep).
While avocados may not seem like a powerful odor, they have a rich flavor that cats enjoy. Give a cat one little bite of your avocado toast, and it may keep coming back begging for more. Animals are also often instinctually drawn to foods that provide the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
When you think of ideal rabbit snacks, fresh fruits and veggies probably come to mind. Avocados, however, should never be included in your bunny's diet. According to Small Pet Select, this fatty fruit can be deadly if ingested by a rabbit.
Rats and mice feed on a variety of fruits including oranges, avocados, peaches, lemon, and figs. They are fond of walnuts, almonds, and peanut butter. All fallen fruit and nuts should be regularly removed and discarded in the trash.
In addition to plants, rats also dislike certain spices like peppermint, cloves, cayenne pepper, and chili. The smell of these near your bird feeder will also deter rats.
Similarly, you want to avoid feeding goats avocados because they contain persin, which is a fungicidal toxin that goats can't dissolve. This includes not just the avocado fruit, but also the leaves and seeds. Just like avocados, potato skins contain a toxin called solanine, which goats can't have.
Dogs can eat small portions of an avocado's mesocarp (inner area). Large portions can cause vomiting & diarrhea due to persin - a toxin in avocados. Persin is more prevalent in the leaves and skin of avocados and the seeds are choking hazards, so if your dog eats an entire avocado, contact your vet.
This bird favors fruits of the avocado family, which it swallows whole before regurgitating the pits. In this way, the quetzal acts as a "gardener," helping to disperse trees throughout forests. Its diet also includes insects, small frogs, snails, and lizards.
While avocado skin is not poisonous, it's bitter, tough, and generally unpleasant to eat, which is a good reason to eschew the peel. But to take advantage of its antioxidant benefits, there are a few ways to make peels more palatable.
Any kind of a fruit that has a “stone” in it (or pit), like whole peaches, avocados, and cherries, can be dangerous for a horse, because they could choke on the pit. If your horse consumes any of these three things in excess, then it can lead to very bad gas and colic problems that could hurt them.