Not Safe for Dogs
Medium dog serving: never
Key warning: all lime — flesh juice and peel all problematic
Can Dogs Eat Limes? No — Same Psoralen Toxicity as Lemons
This food is NOT safe for dogs. Keep it away from your pet.
Limes are not safe for dogs. Like lemons they contain psoralen compounds and essential oils that are toxic to dogs. The extreme acidity causes immediate digestive upset. The peel is more toxic than the flesh. Never give dogs limes in any form.
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Warning Signs & Symptoms
Psoralen compounds: photosensitivity skin reactions. Essential oils: toxic digestive upset. Extreme acidity of flesh: immediate vomiting. Lime peel: highest psoralen concentration. All parts problematic.
If Your Dog Ate This
Call vet or ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 if significant amount consumed.
What to Avoid
all lime — flesh juice and peel all problematic
Preparation & Serving
Monitor for vomiting and photosensitivity. Call vet if significant amount consumed.
Did you know?
Key limes — the small round yellow-green limes used in Key lime pie — are botanically different from the larger Persian limes sold in most supermarkets. Key limes are smaller more acidic and more flavorful. They originated in Southeast Asia and reached the Florida Keys through Spanish explorers. The Florida Keys named their variant Key lime pie a state pie in 2006. The psoralen compounds that make limes toxic to dogs are also responsible for lime juice's use in photosensitizing treatments in dermatology.
Portions & nutrition
- Serving (small dog)
- never
- Serving (medium dog)
- never
- Serving (large dog)
- never
- Calories (per 100g)
- 30
- Safe frequency
- Never
Source
What You Need to Know
Limes carry the same toxicity concerns as lemons — psoralen compounds and essential oils in the peel combined with extreme acidity in the flesh. The peel has the highest concentration of toxic compounds. Lime juice added to water is sometimes suggested as a deterrent spray for dog areas — the irritating nature of lime compounds to dogs is precisely what makes them toxic when consumed.
Not sure what to do next? Read our emergency guide What to Do If Your Dog Eats Something Toxic
Want to know what other dangers are hiding in your home?
Take the 60-second kitchen safety quiz to find out your dog's risk score.
Take the safety quizIf Your Dog Ate This — Act Now
- Dog Food Toxicity CalculatorCheck severity based on your dog's weight
- Emergency GuideWhat to do in the next 60 minutes
- Dog Poisoning SymptomsKnow what to watch for
- Dog Poisoning TreatmentWhat vets actually do
- Emergency Vet CostHow much will treatment cost?
- Best Pet InsuranceBe prepared before the next emergency
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