Safety guide
Is Lemon safe for dogs?
Use with caution
Not toxic in a single lick, but very acidic and best avoided.
Lemons are very acidic, and the citric acid plus the essential oils in the peel and pith can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs. Most dogs strongly dislike the sour taste and will avoid it. A quick lick is not dangerous, but larger amounts — especially of the peel — can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, so lemon is best kept away from dogs.
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy (with large peel/oil ingestion)
What to do immediately
- 1Remove the lemon and any peel from reach
- 2Offer fresh water
- 3Withhold further treats and monitor the stomach
- 4Watch for vomiting or diarrhoea over the next few hours
When to call your vet
Call your vet if your dog ate a large amount of peel, or has ongoing vomiting, diarrhoea or lethargy.
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