![]() ![]() If your dog is already vomiting because of the fruit, the vet may give an antiemetic to stop the vomiting to help your dog feel better. This acts to bind and neutralize the toxins of the grapefruit before the body absorbs it. If too much time has passed since ingestion, and your vet is unable to induce vomiting, they may give your dog activated charcoal. This can only be done if you discover that your dog has eaten grapefruit and get veterinary assistance promptly. This involves giving your dog a drug that makes it vomit, emptying your dog’s stomach of any remaining pieces of grapefruit before the body absorbs it. The treatment your dog receives will depend on the symptoms they are currently showing. You may also like our article on Dog Food for Kidney Disease. Your vet will also run a series of blood tests to determine how your dog’s organs are handling the toxin and possibly a urine test to evaluate your dog’s kidney function. If your dog is showing any skin-related symptoms, the vet will scrape off a thin layer of your dog’s skin for examination under a microscope to rule out any other causes. ![]() Dogs with grapefruit poisoning may become more sensitive to light which can cause skin reactions. Any diarrhea will be collected and tests will be run to rule out any other causes. The vet will perform a physical examination of your dog and will also take a close look at any vomit your dog brings up. It is important to give your vet as much information as possible to help them know how to advise you. ![]() For example, the flesh is very acidic but is not toxic like the rind. Different parts of the grapefruit are harmful to dogs in different ways. If you discover that your dog has eaten grapefruit, you should call your vet to arrange an urgent appointment. What Should You Do if Your Dog Eats Grapefruit? Grapefruit, or more specifically, Psoralen, can be fatal so if you suspect your dog has eaten grapefruit, you should take them to the vet immediately. As the toxicity progresses, they may become sensitive to light, start to drool excessively, and eventually, they may be unable to walk or stand. If your dog eats grapefruit, they are initially likely to show common gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. If the peel and seeds are removed from the grapefruit, it does reduce the level of toxicity to some extent, but it is not worth the risk. The peel, seeds, and pith are the most toxic parts as they contain the most Psoralen. The main risk to dogs from eating grapefruit comes from an ingredient called Psoralen, which is very toxic to dogs. Grapefruit flesh is very acidic, which can cause digestive issues for dogs and the rind contains essential oils which are toxic to dogs. There are no other known benefits of eating grapefruit for dogs. So, one of the main benefits of eating grapefruit for humans may actually cause harm to your dog as it may result in too much Vitamin C in your dog’s body. However, dogs, like most animals can produce their own Vitamin C. Grapefruit contains Vitamin C, which is great for humans as we are unable to produce our own. So, if dogs don’t generally like the taste of grapefruit, should we still try to give it to them? Does it have any health benefits? The short answer is No. Of course, this isn’t always the case as anyone whose dog has stolen chocolate from the Christmas tree knows! ![]() But is it healthy or even harmful to our canine friends? Do Dogs Like the Taste of Grapefruit?ĭogs generally don’t enjoy the bitter, acidic taste of grapefruit and this is usually a good indication that food is not good for dogs – the dog’s taste buds naturally steer them away from foods that may be harmful. We know that grapefruit is healthy for humans as one of our five a day. ![]()
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