Dogs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They are adored by people all over the world, from the diminutive teacup poodle to the enormous great Dane. In fact, if it weren’t for humans’ centuries-long selective breeding and domestication of dogs, they might not even be around today. No one is certain when dogs first entered our homes (or our hearts), but one thing is certain: there are some things they simply shouldn’t eat. Lemons are a bright yellow fruit, but are they safe for dogs to eat, or should we put them on the “no-no” list for our furry friends?
Let’s examine what the science has to say about dogs eating lemons and what to do if your dog eats this or any other dubious food.
Signs Your Dog Got Their Paws on Lemons
Like we mentioned above, if your dog accidentally licks a lemon or another citrus fruit, it won’t make him or her sick. However, if your dog gets his or her paws on an entire lemon, things could get messy.
It may be time to check on your dog and make sure they haven’t eaten all of your citrus fruits if you notice that some of them are missing. Check for symptoms of irregular digestion, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and other irregular bathroom behaviors like incontinence, if you have a suspicion that they might have.
Additionally, your dog may experience skin conditions like dermatitis, rashes, and general irritation. Other potential issues for your dog include system depression, unusual light sensitivity, and other neurological symptoms, but those would only appear after consuming a significant amount of lemons relative to the dog’s body weight.
If you think your dog may have consumed lemons, keep an eye out for the following body language indicators:
If you suspect your dog ate lemons, look out for the following additional signs:
The History of Dogs Eating Lemons
People frequently use lemon juice as a sour, bitter punishment for their puppies when training dogs. The argument is that if your dog associates the behavior that got them there with a bad taste in their mouth, they probably won’t repeat it.
Numerous websites claim that combining vinegar and lemon juice can be the best spray to prevent your dog from acting out, but this is actually a dangerous blunder. The acidity of the lemon juice in your dog’s no-no spray can cause serious GI issues, even though your dog won’t be ingesting the peel and the seeds, where the toxic materials are; this can be a painful experience for your dog as well as a serious case of clean-up for you.
But more likely, a lemon-infused spray might really irritate their eyes, which you probably want to avoid.
Even a small amount of lemon can cause serious problems for your dog, even though its level of toxicity isn’t quite as high as that of other foods consumed by humans. What, however, is it about lemons that causes your dog such problems?
The real problem is a chemical called psoralens that is present in the majority of citrus fruits. The skin and seeds of the lemon contain the highest concentration of psoralens, putting dogs at serious risk when they eat lemons that are grown outside on trees.
Lemon juice without the skin is still harmful because the high acidity can seriously upset your dog’s digestive system. However, it should be noted that essential oils are simply concentrated lemon, and it is never safe for your dog to ingest them due to the highly concentrated psoralens. Various online sources will extol the virtues of lemon essential oils for battling external parasites.
Some people use lemon juice as a “naughty” punishment or a deterrent for puppies to keep them from chewing on inappropriate objects. Because the citric acid in the lemon juice can make your dog ill, this could do more harm than good. This won’t only fail to change the behavior, but it will also require extensive cleanup on your part. Keep shoes, clothes, handbags, and other prized possessions out of the reach of young puppies or dogs who might think they look like fun toys if you want to prevent your puppy from chewing on the couch or a favorite shoe. You can also try distracting your puppy with a chew toy or bone when you see them heading for it.
Additionally, you ought to refrain from giving your dog any lemonade or other sweetened lemon products. Even though the taste may be more pleasant, it still contains a lot of citric acid. Additionally, sugar adds calories, and your dog doesn’t need those since they can cause them to gain weight. Additionally, since xylitol is toxic to dogs, artificial sweeteners should be avoided.
Due to the high concentration of citric acid in too much lemon juice, it can cause stomach irritation in dogs. Your pup may experience vomiting or diarrhea as a result. Your dog may even exhibit an unusual sensitivity to light if they’ve consumed a lot of lemons.
Additionally, keep an eye out for choking or an intestinal blockage. If your pet ingests too much lemon peel, it could result in an intestinal blockage and the lemon seeds could pose a choking hazard.
Not only should you avoid giving your dog lemons as a snack, but you should also refrain from giving your dog any other citrus fruit, such as grapefruits and limes. Oranges are the only exception to this rule, but even then, they should only be shared occasionally. This is due to the fact that they contain citric acid in addition to a lot of sugar, both of which can cause obesity. Additionally, you want to ensure that your dog only consumes the fruit itself and not the peel.
FAQ
What happens if dogs taste lemon?
Lemons and lemon-based products can damage a dog’s gastrointestinal tract and erode their tooth enamel. Additionally, psoralen compounds—chemicals that can cause unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting—are found in lemon trees and fruits.
Do dogs like the taste of lemon?
No. One such example is that dogs don’t like the flavor of sour citrus fruits like lemons and limes. However, dogs cannot consume the psoralen compounds and aromatic oils found in lemons because they can upset their stomach.
Is the smell of lemon toxic to dogs?
Citrus fruits, whether they be oranges, lemons, grapefruits, or limes, are generally unappealing to dogs. The only saving grace is that even though they detest the smell, it is not harmful to them and can be used around the house and in the yard.
Why does my dog like lemon?
They are drawn to their appearance and texture and curious about their distinct and enticing smell, but they are also put off by it and the lemon’s acrid flavor. They begin to behave strangely and hilariously around them as a result, bouncing back and forth and making oblique attempts to bite them or hit them with their paw.