Avocado Seed! Help!

[lookmomchickens]

I don't know how he got into the trash can but he did and took a chunk out of the avocado seed in the garbage! I don't know if he ingested any or how much! What do I need to do? It's been about 1 1/2 hours - stupid time warner!:soapbox He's acting fine right now...

What do I need to do?

[4skwerlz]

I don't know how he got into the trash can but he did and took a chunk out of the avocado seed in the garbage! I don't know if he ingested any or how much! What do I need to do? It's been about 1 1/2 hours - stupid time warner!:soapbox He's acting fine right now...

What do I need to do?

Henry has gotten into avocado and eaten the bad bits before--seed and skin. No ill effects. Let me see what I can find out.

If you're very concerned you can call one of these numbers for Pet Poison Hotline (they charge for the call, but you get to consult with a vet). I called one of them when Henry ate spackling compound and they were very helpful:

http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

National Animal Poison Control Center - 1 800 548 2423 - Cost billed to credit card - request current pricing

National Animal Poison Control Center - 1 900 680 0000 - Cost billed to callers telephone - request current pricing

[Jackie in Tampa]

Pit is supposedly toxic...however my wilds carry the pit away to the tree tops all the time...I feed one avacodo per day everyday for years, no problems so far! Keep us updated if anything changes! Call and make sure you know where a vet is on saturday, but I am thinking he is ok!

[Ardilla]

Fingers crossed he'll be OK.

:grouphug

[Gaea]

a rehab person will be on soon to help you.

His system needs to be flushed, those things are poisenous.
Have him drink lot's of water, & listen to what ever the rehab person says.

Good luck

[4skwerlz]

Avocado Toxicity
Persin is a fungicidal toxin present in the avocado, isolated only recently. It is generally harmless to humans, but when consumed by domestic animals in large quantities it is dangerous. It has been suggested as a treatment for breast cancer.

The chemistry of persin is not yet understood, but it is similar to a fatty acid, carried in an oil, and it leaches into the body of the fruit from the pits. Negative effects in humans seem to be primarily in allergic individuals.

Pathology

Feeding avocados or guacamole to any non-human animal should be avoided completely. The symptoms include gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, congestion, fluid accumulation around the tissues of the heart and even death. Birds seem to be particularly sensitive to this toxic compound.

In birds, the symptoms are: increased heart rate, myocardial tissue damage, labored breathing, disordered plumage, unrest, weakness, and apathy. High doses cause acute respiratory syndrome (asphyxia), with death approximately 12 to 24 hours after consumption.
Lactating rabbits and mice: non-infectious mastitis and agalactia after consumption of leaves or bark.
Rabbits: cardial arrhythmia, submandibular edema and death after consumption of leaves.
Cows and goats: mastitis after consumption of leaves or bark.
Horses: mastitis after consumption of leaves or bark.
Hares, pigs, rats, sheep, ostriches, chickens, turkeys and fish: symptoms of intoxication similar those described above. The lethal dose is not known; the effect is different depending upon the animal species.

Once again, we don't know for sure about rodents/squirrels. But in looking through numerous articles, although there were some ill effects reported in mice with consumption of leaves/bark (inflamation of mammary tissue), the fatalities have been in herbivores and birds--not rodents.

I'll keep looking....

[lookmomchickens]

Thanks 4s! He's doing ok so far.... running and playing & drinking water.

I'm watching for ANY sign of toxicity.

[4skwerlz]

Okay, I just found a case where a Floridian reported the wild squirrels were stripping her avocado tree of all fruit. (She was looking for a way to keep them off the tree--mothballs worked apparently.)

This is some good anecdotal evidence of non-toxicity to squirrels, since wildies have good instincts usually for which foods to avoid.

I'll keep looking....

[Momma Squirrel]

So glad to see things are still going well this morning. Keep watching him, which I know you will, and keep us posted :grouphug