Can dogs eat prickly pear?
This dog blog will answer the major question, “Can dogs eat prickly pear?” we will also discuss the major unhealthy effects of prickly pear on your dog’s health, what you can do if your dog ate prickly pear, and whether your dog can consume cooked prickly pear.
Can dogs eat prickly pear?
No, dogs cannot eat a prickly pear. It is not healthy for your dog to consume prickly pear because it can cause stomach upset, toxicity, and skin rashes in your dog. Moreover, it has oxalates in it which can cause kidney problems. You should protect your dog from the toxicity of prickly pear.
What are the major unhealthy effects of prickly pear on your dog’s health?
Following are the major unhealthy effects of prickly pear on your dog’s health:
Toxicity in your dog
Prickly pear is a form of cactus which is not healthy for your dog because it has oxalates in it which can cause toxicity in your dog. Consuming more and more prickly pear can cause the death of your dog.
Following are the major clinical signs of toxicity in your dog:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Excessive salivation
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Increased heart rate
- Increased respiratory rate
The major organ that is affected by the toxicity is the liver which is the central metabolic station in your dog’s body.
Fluid therapy is one of the best treatments for toxicity in your dog which should be given by a vet or performed under the supervision of a vet at the hospital.
Kidney stones in your dog
The oxalates in the prickly pear can form calcium oxalate crystals in the body which can lodge in the urinary tract of the body, especially the kidneys. They can be very painful for your dog to bear.
Following are the major clinical signs of kidney stones in your dog:
- Kidney pain
- Decreased appetite
- Blood in the urine
- Difficulty in urination
- Irritation in the lower urinary tract.
Stomach upset is risky for your dog
The next thing is the stomach upset in your dog because dogs are not able to digest the flesh of prickly pear. You shouldn’t include this form of cactus in your dog’s diet.
Following are the major clinical signs of stomach upset in your dog:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
Skin irritation is disturbing for dog
The next thing is the skin irritation in your dog. Skin is the delicate organ of the body that can be damaged by the spines of the prickly pear cactus. You need to be very careful if you have such a plant in your yard.
The dogs have the habit of exploring everything in their way so they will explore the prickly pear cactus and there is a greater chance that the skin is irritated by the spines in the cactus.
Continuous skin irritation can lead to rashes on the skin which can ultimately lead to skin scar formation and other deadly conditions of the skin in your dog.
Mouth lesions are painful in your dog
The next thing is the mouth lesions in your dog because the spines can hurt the internal mucosa of the mouth which can lead to bleeding of the mouth.
Can dogs eat cooked prickly pear?
No, dogs cannot eat cooked prickly pear. It is not safe for your dog to consume cooked prickly pear because it still has oxalates in it. Cooking can deactivate much of the oxalates of the prickly pear but it still has oxalates in it which can damage the liver of your dog and can cause toxicity in your dog.
What can you do if your dog ate a prickly pear?
If your dog ate prickly pear you shouldn’t panic and lose your temper because it can upset your dog.
The first thing you need to do is to check how much of the prickly pear your dog has consumed. If your dog consumed too much prickly pear, you should call your vet and ask for his advice. You should act according to the advice of your dog.
You should monitor your dog’s bowel movements and check if there is any form of vomiting in your dog. If there is such a thing in it you should immediately take your dog to the vet.
Your vet will examine your dog and will treat it according to the condition of your dog. You should also devise ways to prevent your dog from eating prickly pear in the house.
Conclusion
In this dog blog, we answered the main query, “Can dogs eat prickly pear?” we also discussed the major unhealthy effects of prickly pear on your dog’s health, what you can do if your dog ate a prickly pear and whether your dog can consume cooked prickly pear.
References
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/can-dogs-eat-cactus
https://www.candogseatit.com/fruit-veg/prickly-pears
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/first-aid-for-bleeding-in-dogs
