Lemon juice

What is lemon juice?

Lemon juice is the juice that is squeezed from the lemon. The lemon is a yellow citrus fruit that tastes very sour and contains a lot of vitamin C. Lemon juice is often used as a preservative, flavor enhancer or remedy.

Why is lemon juice harmful to dogs?

Lemon juice is harmful to dogs for several reasons:

• The high acid content can irritate your dog's sensitive stomach and lead to vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain .
• The essential oils it contains can trigger allergic reactions or poisoning.
• The seeds of the lemon contain amygdalin, a precursor of hydrocyanic acid, which is toxic to dogs.
• Dogs do not need additional vitamin C as they can produce it themselves in the liver.

When can lemon juice be useful for dogs?

There are only a few situations in which lemon juice can be useful for dogs:

• As a natural remedy for fleas, you can apply a lemon water spray to your dog, which you make from boiled water, a sliced lemon and some vinegar. The spray kills the fleas and keeps them away. However, you should only leave it on for a short time and then rinse thoroughly to avoid skin irritation.
• As a disinfectant, you can apply diluted lemon juice to small wounds or scratches to clean and heal them. However, make sure that you do not treat any open or bleeding wounds and that your dog does not lick the juice.

How much lemon juice can my dog have?

If you want to give your dog some lemon juice as an exception, you should observe the following rules:

• Only give him the flesh of the lemon and remove the peel and seeds.
• Dilute the juice with plenty of water or mix it with a little honey or yogurt to soften the acidity.
• Only give him a small amount (less than a teaspoon) and watch his reaction.
• Never give him pure lemon juice or lemonade as these are too acidic and too sweet.