Many individuals treat their dogs as though they were family members, feeding them crumbs from their plates after meals. Dogs, for the most part, have a strong constitution and can eat a wide variety of foods. However, not everything you consume is suitable for your canine companion. Limes are harmful to dogs, so that lime you just squeezed into your drink or on top of your burrito might be a wonderful spritz of flavor for you, but it could be poison for your dog.
Limes, it turns out, are not a dog’s favorite food. According to the ASPCA, limes are poisonous to dogs. In fact, they’re toxic to both cats and horses.
That isn’t to say that if your dog eats a lime, it will die. A tiny amount of lime will not harm most dogs. The size of your dog, how much lime it ate, and which part of the lime it ate will all influence how your dog reacts to it.
It’s worth mentioning that your dog does not have to eat the lime to become ill. The components in a lime are poisonous to your dog to the point where it can absorb them through its skin.
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Lime Poisoning Symptoms
So, how can you tell if a lime has poisoned your dog? What should you be on the lookout for in terms of signs and symptoms?
The severity of your dog’s symptoms will be determined on the amount of lime he or she has been exposed to. However, there are a slew of negative consequences to consider.
Your dog’s stomach will almost certainly be upset. They may get diarrhea, lethargy, or excessive drooling if they consume more than a taste.
Liver failure, collapse, tremors, vomiting, and lack of coordination are among the more severe symptoms.
Lime poisoning, on the other hand, is extremely deadly and can cause your dog’s death unexpectedly.
Lime Poisoning Through Contact
Because limes are so toxic to dogs, even getting into contact with the substances found in limes can cause a reaction. This includes touching the lime tree’s leaves.
Many people have fruit trees in their backyards, especially citrus trees. However, if your dog plays around on the fallen lime tree leaves, it may be exposed to just as many toxic substances that can induce a reaction.
Look for rashes, red spots, or skin irritation if your dog has come into touch with limes or lime leaves.
If this happens, give your dog a bath very away after he or she has been exposed. To remove any residues of the lime’s chemical components, thoroughly wash their coat and skin with soap and water.
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Limes are poisonous to dogs for several reasons
Limes are harmful to dogs, as we’ve established. Why, though, is that?
Your dog is poisoned by three different chemicals found in limes. Limonene and linalool, two of these compounds, are both essential oils.
Limonene
One of the main components that contributes to the aroma of citrus is limonene. Many products contain it as a flavoring or aroma.
Linalool
Linalool is also a component of the citrus fragrance. Linalool, like limonene, is used in soaps and lotions as a scent, but it’s also an insecticide.
Both of these chemicals are extremely dangerous to dogs. They’re both found in large concentrations in the lime peel, but they’re also found in the flesh. Even the leaves of the lime tree are high in these chemicals, making them hazardous to dogs if they come into contact with them.
Psoralen
Even though this isn’t an essential oil, it’s nonetheless dangerous to dogs. Lime and other citrus plants contain a phototoxic chemical known as limonene. It’s used to treat skin problems in people. It has a variety of negative effects in dogs, including phototoxicity.
Don’t Limes Have Any Health Benefits?
Limes can provide a variety of health benefits to us. It’s a different story with our dogs. Even yet, dogs, like humans, require vitamin C. They, like humans, require some of it from their food sources.
Vitamin C can assist your dog’s immune system battle sickness, infection, bacteria, and toxins by boosting its immune system. It can also help with allergies.
It can also help your dog’s coat seem delicious. It also aids your dog’s bone and joint health. Finally, it can aid in the prevention of common joint disorders such as hip dysplasia.
Your dog, on the other hand, will need to receive vitamin C from somewhere else. The dangers of giving lime to your dog are simply too great.
Can My Dog Eat Any Other Citrus?
What about lemons or other sour citrus fruits if limes aren’t allowed? Lemons, on the other hand, are quite similar to limes, and they even contain the same components that can be toxic to your dog. Lemons contain the same compounds as limes: psoralen, linalool, and limonene.
However, it turns out that oranges are a much safer choice. Although you should still keep the portions small, a few bites of orange are entirely fine for your dog.
If you want to give your dog some vitamin C naturally, there are a variety of fruits and vegetables that can help.
You can also have pineapple, kiwi, and asparagus in addition to oranges.
All of them are safe for your dog to eat while still providing high vitamin C levels.
Read Also: Can Dogs Eat Blueberries? All You Need To Know
Can Limes Kill Dogs? What to Do if Your Dog Eats One!
Don’t be concerned if your dog has been exposed to a lime. It could be poisonous, but your dog is more than likely to become ill for a short period of time.
To begin, figure out how much your dog has consumed. Larger dogs can consume far more fruit before becoming ill. A small amount of food can be deadly for small dogs.
You can wait to observe how your dog reacts if you believe they didn’t consume too much. Make sure they drink plenty of water to help flush it out. You can also wait up to 24 hours before feeding your dog to observe how he reacts.
If your dog has consumed a lot of food or has been exposed to a lot of it, you should seek medical attention right once. It could be quite hazardous for your dog if it is not treated.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that limes appear to be a perfectly safe fruit, they are not safe for your dog. While a small amount of lime won’t kill a huge dog, excessive exposure can be fatal. Even just touching your dog’s skin can cause an allergic reaction. So keep the limes away from your dog and hunt for healthier options like oranges or asparagus.
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