Can Dogs Eat Star Fruit?
No, dogs can’t eat star fruit! While small amounts probably won’t harm your dog, start fruit contains a lot of oxalates that can be potentially dangerous to your dog’s kidneys. It also has a neurotoxin called caramboxin that people can manage in small doses, but I’m not so sure about dogs.
I wrote before about oxalate-rich foods and how they are really not that big of a deal when it comes to healthy dogs.
Some foods high in oxalates are:
Healthy dogs that don’t have kidney issues can have small servings of spinach or beets as a part of their diet, and they can enjoy the nutritional benefits of these veggies without the risk.
But it looks like the form of oxalates plays a key role here, and while spinach and beets have oxalic acid, star fruit has oxalate crystals!
Star fruit is high in oxalates and is not safe for dogs
So how can dogs eat spinach and beets if they have oxalates, but they can’t star fruit?
It took some time to figure this out, so I’ll be sharing two sources here from the studies I found on oxalates and their form. Star fruit has oxalates in a different form than spinach, which makes it toxic for dogs!
The difference in oxalate forms in spinach and star fruit
Spinach
Check the source here: Oxalate content of foods and its effect on humans.
Star Fruit
Check the source here: Star fruit nephrotoxicity: a case series and literature review.
So, the key difference is that spinach has free oxalic acid, and star fruit has pre-formed calcium oxalate crystals, which can directly cause physical damage to tissues and are more harmful to the kidneys when consumed in large quantities.
This is what makes star fruit very dangerous to dogs! I hope this explanation helped!
Star fruit has a neurotoxin which makes it dangerous to dogs
Star fruit has a neurotoxin called caramboxin. This neurotoxin is usually not dangerous, as it is normally processed by our system (our kidneys). However, if there is something wrong with the kidneys, this toxin can build up in the bloodstream.
In severe cases, it can cause never-ending hiccups, seizures, and coma.
This neurotoxin can be dangerous to people, too, but for dogs, it’s even more concerning as their bodies are smaller and much more fragile compared to ours.
What will happen if a dog eats star fruit?
If your dog eats a small piece of star fruit, they will likely be fine. A small amount of star fruit won’t cause any harm, but you should still keep this fruit out of their reach.
Now, if you have a dog with kidney issues and they eat some star fruit, you may notice symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, even from a small amount.
If your dog eats a lot of star fruit, they can develop oxalate toxicity. This happens because the oxalates in star fruit can bind with calcium in the blood, leading to a dangerous drop in calcium levels and kidney issues. Symptoms of oxalate toxicity in dogs might include:
If this happens, call your vet immediately!
Because of these risks, the best answer to whether dogs can eat star fruit is a simple NO!
There are better tropical fruits out there that you can share!
Love, life, and fur forever!
FAQs
Can star fruit cause kidney problems in healthy dogs?
Star fruit won’t cause kidney problems in healthy dogs, certainly, not in small amounts. However, if your dog eats a lot of star fruit and eats it frequently, they may experience oxalate toxicity that can damage their kidneys. Avoid giving star fruit to your dog.
What should I do if my dog accidentally eats star fruit?
If your dog eats a small piece of star fruit and is healthy, you don’t have to do much, but you need to watch it for vomiting or diarrhea. If vomiting doesn’t stop, then you need to call your vet.