Can dogs eat starfruit? Humans love the flavor combination in starfruit. It has the subtle sweetness of ripe pear, the sour tang of a green grape, and the juicy citrus flavor of an orange. But is starfruit safe for dogs to consume?
The short answer is no; starfruit is highly unsafe and dangerous for dogs to consume. Only a small handful of fruits come with this kind of warning for dogs, such as grapes and raisins. Usually, this is because the fruit contains a compound that is toxic or unhealthy for dogs.
If you’re considering giving your dog starfruit, you must seek veterinarian advice on the hard facts about this fruit. In the meantime, here is what you should know about why starfruit is never okay for dogs to consume.
Why Is Starfruit Bad For Dogs?
When dogs consume starfruit, especially smaller breeds of dogs, what is known as “starfruit poisoning” quickly occurs. It’s a well-documented reaction to the fruit, and the dangers should be heeded.
Poisoning from starfruit occurs due to the fruit’s oxalate salts. Dogs absorb these salts into their intestinal tract. From there, the salts attach themselves to calcium vital to their health and begin breaking it down.
This kind of abrupt calcium disruption causes acute kidney failure in dogs, which manifests with vomiting, excessive thirst, excessive urination, blood in the urine, and diarrhea.
Furthermore, the absorption of oxalates causes crystal formations within the kidneys.
Some dog parents with larger breeds feel that it’s okay for their dog to eat starfruit since poisoning occurs more swiftly in smaller breeds. But the build-up of these oxalate crystals over time eventually causes inflammation and calcification, which can lead to kidney failure, all the same.
Less than one ounce of starfruit — about half of one fruit — is all that it takes for this poisoning to occur, due to the levels of oxalate salts present within this fruit.
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats Starfruit?
Starfruit poisoning is a serious matter for dogs, with swift and negative consequences. The smaller your breed, the quicker you must act to seek emergency veterinary care.
Do this regardless of if your dog had just a bite or ate an entire starfruit. Waiting to see how things play out could cost you valuable time is staving off the effects of acute kidney failure.
In general, dogs begin showing signs of starfruit poisoning within one to six hours after consumption. However, this is not a hard and fast rule, and we do not recommend waiting an hour.
Symptoms of poisoning include chronic hiccups, vomiting, confusion, seizures, blood in the urine, swelling of the abdomen, lethargy, weakness, and excessive thirst. In extreme cases, symptoms barely have time to present themselves before death occurs.
Treatment for this poisoning is very involved, frightening, and not always successful. Starfruit is simply not worth the risk.
Did you know starfruit is toxic to dogs? Do you make sure to keep this fruit away from your dog? Let us know in the comments below.
