Introduction
The verdict is your dog can safely eat apricots - sort of.
Apricots are generally harmless for pups, but you definitely shouldn't let them eat any of the seeds! Apricot seeds (and other parts of the plant) contain trace amounts of cyanide, and cyanide can be super-harmful (or fatal) if eaten in large portions!
Apricots are a pretty good provider of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants, however, as stated, the seeds, leaves, pit, and stem should not be eaten. In short, if your dog eats small amounts of the apricot fruit alone, all should be well. To be on the safe side, though, don't give the whole fruit to your pooch.
Signs Your Dog Might Have Apricot Poisoning
Signs of toxicity can be noticed as early as 15 minutes after ingesting apricot, so you'll need to notice and react quickly. Your dog might have a hard time breathing if he's experiencing apricot poisoning. His pupils might dilate and he also may have bright red gums. Your dog could exhibit signs of fatigue, weakness, and lethargy - especially noticeable in high-energy dogs. Your dog can also suffer from shock in response to apricot poisoning, a very serious symptom that can lead to death!
Body Language
- Weakness
- Raspy panting
- Lack of focus
- Sweaty paws
- Lips pushed forward
- Pupils dilated
- Whale eye
Other Signs
- Choking
- Bright Red Gums
- Shock
- Lethargy
- Raspy Breathing
Historic Causes of Apricot Poisoning
Sometimes though, dogs can get into things lying about the house without your control. This is one of the biggest causes of apricot poisoning in dogs - their curiosity gets the best of them, they go for an exploring trip, get into the apricots, and eat way too many.
That's why it's important to always know the symptoms that go with apricot poisoning - you may not always know what your dog ate, but if you know the signs to look for, you may just be able to save their life! If you keep apricots in the house, keep them out of reach from your dog so they can't over-indulge.
Science of Apricot Poisoning in Dogs
Cyanide is a salt or ester of hydrocyanic acids containing the anion CN- or the group - CN. In other words, they're the specific chemicals that are known to the cyano group. in the cyano group, each carbon atom possesses three chemical bonds to the nitrogen acid. In nature, cyanides come from specific types of algae, fungi, and bacteria and are even found in certain plants.
The reason plants have cyanide in them is to prevent animals from eating them - it's a fruit defense mechanism! The cyanide toxin inhibits cytochrome oxidase, an enzyme that's necessary for cellular oxygen transport, which prevents appropriate oxygen uptake by the cells. When your dog ingests toxic amounts of cyanide, they can die fairly quickly!
How to Train your Dog to Stay Away From Apricots
The treatment following apricot poisoning might include medicine, so make sure your dog is comfortable taking pills from your hand, eating it in their food, or is good with a throw-and-catch game for their medicine.
How to React if Your Dog Eats Too Much Apricot
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Call your vet right away!
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Hide the apricots in your home somewhere your dog cannot get to them.
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Prepare your dog for detoxification.
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Prepare your dog for shots.
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Listen to your vet for specific recovery options.