Can pets eat oranges, lemons and limes?
By animal
| Animal | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | In moderation | Orange flesh is harmless. Peel, pith and essential oils cause upset. |
| Cats | Risky | Cats are more sensitive to citrus oils, and generally hate the smell anyway. |
| Birds | In moderation | Flesh fine in small amounts. |
What it actually does
The flesh of an orange is sugar, water and citric acid, none of which is a poison. What causes trouble is the peel and pith, which contain concentrated essential oils and psoralens that irritate the gut and, in large amounts, cause depression and photosensitivity. Concentrated citrus oil — in cleaning products and essential oil diffusers — is a genuine hazard for cats, whose livers process such compounds poorly.
No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.
Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.
Fruit
| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Avocado | Toxic | Risky | Risky |
| Apple | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Banana | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
| Blueberries and strawberries | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Watermelon and melon | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Cherries, peaches, plums and apricots | Risky | Risky | Risky |
| Coconut and coconut oil | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
Common questions
- Can dogs eat oranges, lemons and limes?
- Fine in small amounts. Orange flesh is harmless. Peel, pith and essential oils cause upset.
- Can cats eat oranges, lemons and limes?
- Risky — depends on amount or preparation. Cats are more sensitive to citrus oils, and generally hate the smell anyway.
- What does oranges, lemons and limes actually do?
- The flesh of an orange is sugar, water and citric acid, none of which is a poison. What causes trouble is the peel and pith, which contain concentrated essential oils and psoralens that irritate the gut and, in large amounts, cause depression and photosensitivity. Concentrated citrus oil — in cleaning products and essential oil diffusers — is a genuine hazard for cats, whose livers process such compounds poorly.
Related pages
- Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants? Toxic — treat as an emergency
- Can pets eat avocado? Toxic — treat as an emergency
- Can pets eat apple? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat banana? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat blueberries and strawberries? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat watermelon and melon? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat chocolate? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar? Also an emergency
- Everything, for dogs 46 foods
- Everything, for cats 46 foods