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A few weeks back , I received an email alert from the ASPCA about "avocados". Here is what it said:

"Thinking of giving Polly a little something extra with her cracker? While there are a few foods that both humans and pets can enjoy, there are others that, while perfectly safe and healthy for people, can be dangerous to our animal companions. "Avocado leaves, fruit, seeds and bark contain a toxic principle known as persin," says Dana Farbman, CVT, of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC). "The Guatemalan variety, which is the most common variety found in stores, appears to be the most problematic."
"The primary concern in dogs is with gastrointestinal irritation, including vomiting and diarrhea. Typically, these effects are seen in dogs who have scavenged on significant quantities of fruit or branches. Birds and rodents appear to be particularly sensitive to avocado, and ingestion can result in respiratory distress, congestion, fluid accumulation around the heart and even death. For additional information, please visit ASPCA online. "

There is one key phrase in the ASPCA's assessment of the avocado and that was "significant quantities".

I was a bit perplexed by this since there is a very well known dog food that uses avocados in their products and I happen to use that product from time to time. So, if I used this product everyday, would that be considered a "significant" quantity - something like slowly poisioning the furkids? So, I sent the company an email.

Here is the reply from the company - Where you see "X" I have removed any identification of the company and the brand:

"Dear Ms. Bounds:"

"We're well aware of the ASPCA position on avocados and we understand your
concern. Here is some information we hope will be helpful and reassuring.

FROM: XX VICE-PRESIDENT
The XXXXXXXX line has been manufacturered by XXXXXXXXXX for over 25
years.

XXXXXXXXX contains the "oil" and the "meat" of the avocado. This product is
sold nationally and in 20 countries around the world. The toxins are
primarily in the leaves. We use only the flesh of the Avocado - no leaves
or pits/seeds.

Each XXXXXXXXXX formula includes Avocado oil. The avocado oil is full of
vitamins A, C, D, E and are B6. Avocados are also rich in potassium, niacin,
essential fatty acids and many other nutrients essential to good skin and
coat health. Avocados have zero cholesterol, very little sodium, and are
high in monounsaturated fats, the same kind found in olive oil. Ounce per
ounce, the avocado is simply one of the most nutritious fruits there is.

The process of removing the oil from the avocado is a lengthy process.
Briefly, this process begins by washing the ripened fruit, removing any dirt
or unwanted substances that may have collected on the skin. The fruit is
then cut in half and the pit is removed. The oil is separated through
mechanical extraction, using a centrifuge that rotates at 400 cycles per
second. This process separates the pulp and skin, leaving a golden green
liquid full of natural goodness.

FROM THE CALIFORNIA AVOCADO COMMISSION:
In spite of the very occasional and almost always indirect reports of
avocado toxicity to dogs and cats there is a huge body of evidence to the
contrary.

As you point out there are several pet food formulations containing avocado
on the market and these are being fed to hundreds of thousands of dogs every
day world-wide with no reported problems. Also, in California there are
around 7,000 family farmers who grow avocados and almost every one has dogs
that actively seek out fruit that has fallen from the trees to snack on.
The happy, well-filled out and shiny-coated orchard dog is a familiar sight
to anyone in this industry and we have NEVER had a report of a family
orchard dog getting sick from eating avocados and they eat LOTS AND LOTS
of them. Also, the US Forest Service and UC Santa Barbara are about to
publish a paper on the importance of avocado orchards in California to
sustaining carnivore populations (bears, coyotes, mountain lions, foxes and
small cats) during drought conditions. All of these animals are known to
eat the protein and nutrient rich fruit that has fallen from trees. Some
bears have learned to pick the fruit, lay it on the orchard floor and come
back to eat the fruit when it ripens!"

So, there you have it.

My Maria loves raw avocados and while I don't give her a lot, since she is only 10 pounds, I have given her pretty fair sized pieces thinking that it is good for her coat. I have never seen a reaction but, again, I am not giving her an entire avocado!

I was more than a bit concerned so I asked the Vet. It was confirmed that "yes", avocados are toxic - leaves, fruit and the pit.

The Manufacturer is correct in one aspect, they have been making the product for years. So, that has me wondering - are we slowly poisoning our furkids, or is there so little quantity of the avocado in the dog food preparation that it has never been a concern, or, does the actual manufacturing process "kill" any toxic ingredient that is present?

I am going to err on the side of caution.

AvoDerm Natural and Avocado Safety

You can feel quite confident in AvoDerm Natural pet products safety and nutritional value. In the 25 years since Breeder’s Choice first introduced this product line, millions of dogs and cats worldwide have consumed AvoDerm products with no negative reactions from avocado oil or meal. The avocado is full of vitamins A, C, D, E, and B6. Also, avocados are rich in potassium, niacin, essential fatty acids and many other nutrients for excellent skin and coat condition. AvoDerm Natural pet products use only carefully selected suppliers of avocado meal and avocado oil. Years of problem-free consumption of these products indicate that AvoDerm products are not only safe for dogs and cats, but also provide vital nutrients for them.

Concern has been expressed by the ASPCA about the consumption of the leaves, fruit, bark, and stems from the avocado tree, with the exception of the avocado fruit which is used for the oil and meal; none of these parts are factors in any of the AvoDerm Natural pet products formulations.

Dr. Art Craigmill, UC Davis, Professor and Extension Specialist in Environmental Toxicology has said that his studies and other research in the United States and Australia have shown that the problem of toxicity is in the leaves and the pit of the Guatemalan variety; the avocado meat of the fruit and oils have not been shown to be toxic. AvoDerm Natural pet products do not utilize any Guatemalan variety avocados, nor do we use any leaves or pits of any variety of avocados for our avocado meal and oil.

The avocado meal and oil used in the AvoDerm Natural pet products comes from the meat of the fruit and does not contain leaves, bark, skin or pit of the fruit. The oil is extracted from ripened fruit in which the meat pulp has been separated from the skin and the pit. Through a mechanical separation process the oil is extracted and filtered and placed into sealed containers. The pulp of the fruit is dried, ground, and screened before being placed into its final packaging and than shipped to our facility.

Dr. Guy Whitney, Director of Industry Affairs and Research of the California Avocado Commission, has stated: “...in California there are around 7,000 family farmers who grow avocados and almost every one has dogs that actively seek out fruit that has fallen from the trees to snack on. The happy, well-filled out and shiny-coated orchard dog is a familiar sight to anyone in this industry and we have NEVER had a report of a family orchard dog getting sick from eating avocados. Also, the US Forest Service and UC Santa Barbara are about to publish a paper on the importance of avocado orchards in California to sustaining carnivore populations (bears, coyotes, mountain lions, foxes and small cats) during drought conditions. All of these animals are known to eat the protein and nutrient rich fruit that has fallen from the trees. Now birds are a different creature and it IS known that avocados are toxic to birds. Avocado leaves are known to be toxic to horses. Avocado seeds (pits) are NOT edible and are toxic to animals.”

Our AvoDerm Natural formulas put dogs and cats on the right nutritional track with healthy skin and coat on the outside and the right nutrients to keep them healthy on the inside as well.

Avocados?

AvoDerm Natural and Avocado Safety