Is Avocado Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)

Dogs and cats are far less sensitive to persin than birds, rabbits, and some livestock, for whom avocado can be fatal — GI upset is the main concern for dogs and cats, plus a separate choking/obstruction risk from the large pit.

The toxic component in Avocado is persin (dogs and cats are comparatively resistant to persin compared to birds and some livestock).

Avocado has an outsized reputation for pet danger that mostly stems from its severe toxicity to birds and some livestock — dogs and cats are considerably more resistant to persin, making typical avocado-flesh exposure a mild GI concern rather than the emergency it's sometimes portrayed as, though the large pit remains a real choking hazard.

Scientific name

Persea americana

Family

Lauraceae

Also known as

Avocado, Alligator Pear

Typically found

outdoor