Limes are a fruit that is loved by many for their delicious taste and versatility in cooking.
credit: pixabay
But Limes are also popular for the medicinal benefits that some dog owners try to share with dogs.
In recent years, limes have been used as a form of alternative medicine. Some people believe that they can help cure heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux.
However, lime is not a good option for dogs, especially those who are prone to sensitivity or allergic reactions to citrus.
Limes contain limonin which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and cause kidney failure in some dogs.
Learn more about the dangers of limes for dogs.
Why Limes Can Be Dangerous to Dogs
credit: pixabay
Limes are a fruit loved by many people for their tasty and versatile taste in cooking. But what about lime and dogs?
What are the risks to having these citrus fruits as ingredients in dog foods?
While many people enjoy limes in cooking, it can be a problem for some dogs.
The biggest risk with lime is not its taste but how it impacts our canine companion’s digestive systems.
Lime interferes badly with your pet’s ability to absorb certain essential nutrients (vitamins and minerals).
Minerals such as calcium are essential to dogs’ overall health.
This can actually lead to vitamin deficiency and a serious condition known as hypocalcemia, which is the name for low levels of calcium in your dog’s bloodstream.
If you find that your pet is losing its appetite or has diarrhea after having lime products, it could be due to this mineral deficiency from consuming these foods without adding calcium into his diet.
Some people believe that limes can help cure heartburn, indigestion, or acid reflux due to high acidity.
However, they are not the best option for dogs, especially those who are prone to sensitivity or allergic reactions to citrus.
credit: pixabay
Limes contain limonin which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney failure in some dogs.
Dogs are more sensitive to lime than humans because of their different digestive systems.
What many don’t know is that it’s not just the juice that’s dangerous to them, but also the rind of the lime.
While most people know not to feed their dog any type of citrus fruit, they may believe that it’s okay because they don’t eat the rinds of oranges or lemons.
Sadly this is not the case as just one small piece of lime can bring about serious damage to their intestines and stomach.
If your dog ingests even half a piece it could result in severe vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia (loss of appetite), seizures, or death.
Sometimes permanent organ damage and arthritis may occur which affects other systems within their bodies.
If you do want to give your dog a slice of lime occasionally for his health benefits (such as fighting off scurvy), using non-acidic lime is a good idea.
One study found that organic limes, with no seed and without any added chemicals, have minimal effects on dogs’ health when given daily for as long as 90 days.
How To Identify If Your Dog Is Sensitive To Citrus
It’s very possible that your dog is “sensitive” to Citrus, but he may not seem to know.
credit: pexels
Doing a skin test can help determine the level of sensitivity and if it needs some TLC from you.
If your dog is showing symptoms of sensitivity or an allergy to citruses, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and eye irritation, then they may be sensitized (sensitization is the process by which a person’s body becomes allergic).
If you suspect your dog is sensitive to citrus, speak with your vet about diagnostic testing and treatment options.
Why Should You Avoid Giving Lime To Dogs?
We’ve all heard the phrase “dog’s best friend” before. But is it really true?
credit: pexels
Many people love their dogs and consider them a part of the family. And, oftentimes, they want to give their puppies everything that they want.
This may include sweets like chocolate or limes. However, both of these items are toxic to dogs and could cause issues for your pup’s health.
Limes are especially dangerous because they can cause stomach upset, kidney problems, and even death in some cases.
Dogs who are prone to sensitivity to citrus fruits should avoid eating limes at all costs!
How Can You Prevent Your Dog From Eating Lime?
To avoid the negative effects of limes, you should take a few precautions.
credit: pixabay
First, if you have any citrus fruit at home, be sure to keep it out of sight and reach of your pet. This includes oranges, grapefruit, and limes.
Keep them in a safe place that is inaccessible to your dog – for example, on a high shelf – until you’re ready to use them.
Next, if you do give your dog some food with lime juice in it (such as fresh salsa), be sure to monitor and supervise him while he eats.
If he starts vomiting or becomes lethargic, take him straight to the vet as these can be signs of kidney failure or other issues.
Finally, make sure that any foods containing limes are kept away from your pets as well as their habitats (trees and yards).
Lime peel and citrus peels are sometimes added to compost as fertilizers for plants. Make sure to keep your dogs away from your garden if you are using this for fertilizer or pesticide.
Even if they don’t eat the lime outright, they may chew on the leaves which can then cause mouth sores or other digestive problems.
Is Citrus Safe for Dogs?
credit: pexels
Citrus is a relatively toxic fruit and will cause dogs to experience many problems when ingested.
If your dog has an allergic reaction or digestive tract problem, it can be potentially dangerous for them at any dose you provide especially if ingested in large amounts.
Lemon rinds are especially sweetening treats for some like the lime.
But, it has cross-reactive symptoms of citrus ingestion include itching/scratching, excessive drooling, vomiting up food content from their stomach.
It may lead to diarrhea or dehydration if the stomach itself is upset.
The juice contains oils that affect a dog’s kidneys causing damage to those vital organs responsible for regulating animal health.
This is most likely caused by acidosis which leads to hypokalemia or low levels of potassium within the body fluids and cells.
This happens very quickly when lime intake is excessive as it affects pets fast after ingestion.
What Happens If A Dog Licks A Lime?
credit: pixabay
If a dog licks a lime, then the lime will be dissolved by the acids produced in the dog’s mouth.
The acids will be transferred to the dog’s bloodstream and then transported to other organs throughout their body.
This can lead, eventually, to dilution of the overall acid load within their bloodstream and this leads them into an early case for shock (pulmonary edema).
Dogs that accidentally lick limes should visit a veterinarian as soon as possible after ingestion.
This will make way for treatments and for lemons’ elimination from your pet to prevent irreversible damage.
What Does Lime Do To Dogs?
If a dog licks or swallows the juice of a lemon, then it can result in mild to severe stomach pain and symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea.
The lime will dissolve inside the stomach leading to infection if it is too large.
If this happens after your pet has already ingested either raw citrus or dried lemons occasionally through their prey (such as birds, rodents) then they may be able to vomit up all of the lime which they can’t normally digest.
If the lime is too large, then it could cause intestinal obstruction and ultimately peritonitis.
This can result in death if not treated on time with proper medication and surgery (this occurs most commonly when a dog swallows a grapefruit whole).
Can Dogs Be Around Lime?
credit: pexels
Limes are not poisonous to dogs, but they can irritate their mouth and lung tissue if ingested.
A dog that licks citrus fruit should be kept away from the lemon, lime, and orange tree until they are fully recovered.
If a pet has been around people who have had too much lime in their diet then he can also accidentally eat it as well (check on your dog often just to be sure).
Lime juice can burn your dog’s tongue and the inside of a dog’s lungs.
This will make your dog feel like there is burning or an after-burn sensation in his esophagus when he breathes out (this is called “tongue-breath”).
So try not to let your dogs be around lime.
Does Lime Neutralizes Dog Urine On Grass?
Generally, the answer to “does lime neutralize dog urine on grass?” is no. Lime, because of its high citric acid content does not neutralize pet urine.
Due to the pH level of lemon and lime being about 4.5 giving it a medium base alkaline so that if your dog’s urine is not too strong then it might neutralize the urine on grass.
However, lime will still give off an acidic smell which keeps dogs from wanting to play in the green lawn and urinating less.
What about if you fill your dog’s water bowl with lemon or lime juice?
If you have your dog’s water bowl with lemon or lime juice, then yes it will help but only in lessening the acidity of the poop.
When a dog does his business on the grass, he has certain solvents (pH 1-4) for wiping to soften and break up urine crystals that aren’t acidic.
So naturally, your dog’s poop should be neutralized.
The lemon and lime are fine for your garden, but you do want to be careful when using them near dogs.
Conclusion: Will Lime Hurt Dogs?
credit: pixabay
No matter the reason, if you have a dog, it is important to understand the dangers of limes and how they can affect them.
The lime fruit contains a compound called limonin.
This compound can be harmful to dogs who are prone to sensitivity or allergic reactions to citrus. This can cause oral and digestive issues.
Another source of lime toxicity is the consumption of any part of the lime in large quantities, resulting in corrosive damage to the gastrointestinal tract (GI).
Large amounts have been known to destroy teeth as well.
Also, keep yourself updated with all dog products for better knowledge about limes and their safe dosages.
There have been cases where animals have been poisoned from eating limes or drinking water that contained lime juice.
If your dog does ingest lime, it’s important that you take them to the vet immediately for treatment.
