If you have noticed your pet pooch diving for scraps on the floor, you might be wondering what they can and can’t eat. In this article, we’ll answer the question: can dogs eat lemons? We’ll also discuss the potential health benefits of citrus in your dog’s diet and if you should incorporate common fruits like lemons.
Keep reading to learn all about dogs and lemons!
Can Dogs Eat Lemons?
Some fruits, like apples and blueberries, are very healthy for dogs. Others, like grapes, are highly toxic.
But when it comes to citrus fruits like lemons, the answer is a bit more complicated. Technically, yes, your dog can eat lemons in moderation. But they probably won’t want to.
That’s because lemons are bitter, and dogs associate bitterness with rancid or rotten food. In fact, you might notice your dog has a strong negative reaction if you put citrus fruit in front of them.
However, there are exceptions to every rule. You might find that your dog does occasionally enjoy a bit of lemon. In small amounts, lemons won’t hurt your dog, though too much can cause stomach upset and occasionally even vomiting.
Can Dogs Eat Lemons for Health Benefits?
Lemons are not very healthy fruits for dogs. Though the vitamins they contain are a vital part of your dog’s diet, they also have plant compounds that can be highly toxic if consumed in large quantities—and your dog would have to eat a lot of lemons to gain any health benefits from them.
Though lemons themselves are not a good idea, they contain vitamins that your dog needs, including vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and calcium. Make sure your dog gets enough of these vitamins from other safe foods, including healthy dog food and pup-friendly fruits.
A good citrus alternative for dogs is oranges. Oranges are safe for dogs in appropriate quantities. They are much lower in citric acid and bitter plant compounds, but your dog still might not be interested. If they are, make sure you give your pup oranges only as an occasional treat, since they are high in sugar and do contain citric acid. Don’t feed them the peel, as this has the highest concentration of essential oils and can cause stomach upset.
Health Concerns Of Lemons for Dogs
As we’ve mentioned, your dog is highly unlikely to try to eat lemons. Their reaction to bitter tastes is an evolutionary development that reduces their risk of ingesting poisonous foods. But if your dog does get hold of a lemon and for some reason eats a significant amount of it, here is what you should know.
Lemons are high in essential oils and plant compounds known as psoralens. These can be toxic if consumed in large quantities. They are found in the rind of the lemon, not the fruit, so if your dog licks up a bit of lemon juice, there is no cause for concern.
Large quantities of lemon juice can also be harmful, however, since it contains high levels of citric acid. Dogs are extremely sensitive to this and it can cause gastric upset.
If your dog eats lemon skin or rind, you should call your vet and monitor them for signs of poisoning. These compounds are extremely difficult for dogs to digest, so you might notice your pup might get sick almost immediately. Minor poisoning from citrus fruits will manifest as gastrointestinal distress, including diarrhea and vomiting.
In severe cases, your dog might suffer from: poor circulation, lethargy, sensitivity to light, drooling, skin irritation, low blood pressure, panting, fur on end, difficulty standing or walking, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, collapsing, if extreme cases go untreated, even death.
Although these symptoms are frightening and should be addressed immediately with an emergency veterinarian, remember that they’re rare. Dogs dislike citrus for a reason, and they rarely try to eat it, especially not in large quantities.
If your dog does happen to eat more than a small amount of lemon, do the following:
- Wash their mouth out
- Contact your vet
- If instructed by your vet, induce vomiting
How To Get Your Dog To Eat Lemons
The short answer is that you shouldn’t want to coax your dog into eating lemons, and they are unlikely to want to eat it anyways. To help them get the health benefits of citrus fruits, stick to other vitamin-rich fruits that are safe for dogs. These include apples, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, oranges, mangoes, peaches, pears, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, and watermelon.
Remember that fruit should be an occasional treat for dogs. Despite its high vitamin content, fruit contains a lot of natural sugars, which can be dangerous for dogs, especially if they are overweight or diabetic to begin with. A good rule is the 10 percent rule: treats, including fruit, should make up no more than 10 percent of your dog’s regular diet.
Dog Treat Recipes
There is really no point in including lemons or lemon juice in any homemade dog treats, because the bitter taste will make your dog unwilling to eat them. Instead of lemons, try making homemade dog treats that include pup-friendly, delicious fruit, like pumpkin treats or peanut butter blueberry treats.
Can Dogs Eat Lemons FAQs
Why Do Dogs Have Such a Strong Reaction To Lemons?
Dogs have a strong negative reaction to most citrus fruits, including lemons, limes, and grapefruits. This is thanks to an evolutionary response that they developed to bitter tastes, such as the essential oils and other plant compounds in lemon skin.
Much like rancid food tastes sour to humans, it tastes bitter to dogs. This is a way for biology to warn them away from eating food that could potentially make them sick. For this reason, eating something bitter like a lemon tells their brain that the fruit is rotten and might be harmful. It tastes so bad that your dog might drop the fruit as soon as it touches its tongue!
Why is Citric Acid In Lemons Bad For Dogs?
Citric acid is harmful to dogs, especially in large quantities. It can cause extreme stomach upset, and even vomiting and diarrhea. Lemons are high in citric acid. Though a single lick of lemon or lemon juice probably won’t turn your dog’s stomach, too much of it can make them feel very sick.
What About Other Citrus Fruits?
As we mentioned above, dogs don’t care for the vast majority of citrus fruits. That includes lemons, limes, and grapefruits as well as others.
The single exception to the rule is oranges, which are much lower in harmful plant compounds, essential oils, and citric acid. Some dogs enjoy eating oranges, though you should always serve them in small amounts and avoid giving them the rind or seeds.
What About The Health Benefits Of Vitamin C?
While lemons are a great source of vitamin C—and it’s true that dogs need this vitamin — there are plenty of safer sources. Apples, strawberries, oranges, pineapple, and mango are all great sources of vitamin C and much safer for your canine friend.
Can Dogs Eat Lemons? They Shouldn’t!
While lemons have some amazing health benefits for humans, they aren’t palatable or healthy for your dog and can actually cause them to become extremely sick. Now you know how to answer the question, can dogs eat lemons? It is best to steer clear of giving your dog anything containing lemon and get them emergency medical care if they eat more than a small amount. Instead, stick to fruits that are healthier and safer for your pup. Drop a comment below to share what fruits your dog enjoys!
If you’ve also got feline family members, find out if cats can eat lemons.
Ready for more lemon content? Next, visit our lemon trees page to discover more useful and fun information on lemon planting, growing, harvesting, cooking, and more!