| Verdict for dogs | Don't feed |
| Severity | 2 / 5 — Mild — usually stomach upset; watch them. |
| Safe amount | None |
| Category | Fruit |
| Source | ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets; ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high |
Sour, acidic and heavy in the essential oils and psoralens the ASPCA flags in citrus — the peel most of all. Expect drooling, vomiting or diarrhea rather than poisoning, but there is nothing here a dog needs.
Don't feed it. If your dog has already eaten some, call your vet or poison control with the amount and the timing and follow their advice.
Never induce vomiting and never give any medicine unless a vet tells you to — it can do more damage than the poison. What we will and won't tell you.
Can cats eat lemons and limes? — Don't feed it to cats either.
No — lemons and limes should not be given to dogs. If yours has already eaten some, call your vet. Sour, acidic and heavy in the essential oils and psoralens the ASPCA flags in citrus — the peel most of all. Expect drooling, vomiting or diarrhea rather than poisoning, but there is nothing here a dog needs.
Watch for: Vomiting; Diarrhea or loose stools; Loss of appetite; Belly discomfort or unusual tiredness. Some signs lag by a day — call, don't wait.
The safe amount is none, as an occasional treat rather than a daily habit. Large amounts mainly cause stomach upset; if that doesn't settle within a day, call your vet.