In a nutshell- no, dogs cannot eat a lemon. Lemons have no nutritional value, and their acidic nature can make your dog ill. Moreover, dogs don’t like the taste of lemon or any other citrus fruits because of their bitter taste. They have the ability to taste sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavors. Like humans, dogs also don’t like the sour and bitter taste. So it is recommended not to give lemon or lime to your dog.
Lemons Can Be Harmful To Dogs
Lemon contains essential oils and psoralens compounds, which can be toxic for your dog when taken in a large quantity. It can also make your pet’s stomach upset. You should keep lemon or other citrus fruits away from your pet. Like lemon, grapes are also toxic for dogs. Eating too much lemon can also result in vomiting and diarrhea to your pet, and sometimes it can also cause light sensitivity (photophobia). If, by mistake, your dog swallows lemon seed or peel, it could cause intestinal obstruction.
Symptoms In A Dog After Consuming Lemon
Dogs do not like the lemon taste. But if in case, while playing with lemon, if they swallow lemon peel or seed, you can observe the following symptoms-
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Light sensitivity
- Skin irritation
- Choking
These symptoms are alarming and should be treated immediately. If you see these symptoms, call a veterinarian ASAP or take your pet to a veterinarian for observation.
Conclusion
So, it’s recommended not to feed lemon or lemon-flavored food to your dog. Most of the cleaning products are lemon-scented and can make your pet sick if they lick the floor or can get skin irritation. So take extra care while choosing a house cleaning product. Keep lemon out of reach from dogs.
For more food option take a look at our guide to different fruits for dogs.