Are you a pet owner and you keep asking yourself this question time and again: Can dogs eat watermelon?
Well, today I have good news for you, the answer is yes!
However, there are a number of things that you need to be on the lookout for before you give your dog this yummy fruit.
There are certain precautions that you need to take before giving your dog watermelon.
Here are a few things that you need to know even as you consider giving your dog a share of this sweet treat.
Watermelons are a great treat for both humans and dogs especially because they help to keep your dog hydrated during hot weather.
Giving your dog watermelon is a clever way to make sure that your furry friend takes enough water. This fruit boasts of having plenty of vitamins and nutrients and is therefore very beneficial to your dog’s health.
Watermelon is actually comprised of 92% water hence can come in handy during a hot day.
Nevertheless, we all know that too much of something is poison as the famous saying goes. You need to make sure that you remove all the watermelon seeds as well as the watermelon rind before giving it to your dog.
Watermelon seeds and rind can cause serious health problems to your dog such as intestinal blockages. It is therefore important that you need to know how to serve watermelon safely to your dog to avoid some health issues.
Here is everything you need to know about dogs and watermelon.
Table of Contents
Is Watermelon Good For Dogs?
Watermelon is a tropical fruit that is loved by both humans and dogs alike.
There are a number of health benefits. Watermelon contains a lot of nutrients that are beneficial to your furry friend and this gives you more reason to share this fruit with your dog.
It is loaded with potassium and vitamins A, B6 and C which your dog needs to grow healthy and strong.
Watermelon, like most fruits, has a high fiber content which makes it good for digestion.
Most dogs are poor water drinkers hence when you give your dog this fruit; you are rest assured that your dog will not experience any constipation issues.
Are you worried that your dog may put on excess weight when you give him this fruit?
Well, the good news is that watermelon is low in calories hence your dog is not going to get extra weight from eating this healthy fruit.
It is also very low in sodium and also cholesterol-free which actually makes it a healthier choice as compared to many treats we give our dogs.
Watermelon is good for your dog because being made up of at least 92% water, you can be assured that it will cool your dog especially on a hot day.
During summer you need to keep your dog cool and hydrated to make sure they don’t get affected by the heat wave and what other better way is there other than giving him a piece of this yummy fruit.
Can Diabetic Dogs Eat Watermelon?
This is also a common question when it comes to dogs and watermelon.
I don’t deny that watermelon does contain sugar; however there is natural sugar which is good even if you have a dog that is diabetic.
The amount of fiber in watermelon insulates the sugar and prevents it from being released into your dog’s blood stream quickly. This makes watermelon safe to eat even if you have a dog that is diabetic you need not to worry.
Watermelon also contains lycopene which is a good antioxidant that helps to prevent cancer in your dog’s body.
Is Watermelon Bad For Dogs?
You need to always remember that although watermelon is okay for your dog to eat, it should not take up much of his diet.
Just like any other treat, watermelon should only be given occasionally and in moderation. You should not substitute your dog’s diet with watermelon.
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In extreme cases your dog might also suffer from diarrhea which is fatal if it goes on uncontrollably for long periods of time.
There are dogs that just get stomach upsets when they are given something new that they have not eaten before.
When you give your dog watermelon for the first time, I would advise that you do so in moderation and observe to see how they react to the same. You can also consult with your vet on how to go about giving your dog some watermelon.
Can A Dog Eat Watermelon Seeds?
There are some parts of the watermelon that may be dangerous for your dog to consume.
Watermelon seeds, may pose a problem to your dog. It might not be fatal for your dog to accidentally swallow one or two seeds however, when he eats too many watermelon seeds, it may end up causing serious health problems.
Your dog may have a serious gastrointestinal blockage and this is very dangerous. The type of dog breed you have also matters.
If you have big dog breeds like the Husky and boxer dogs, they may be able to pass the watermelon seeds without a problem.
Smaller dogs like the Maltese, French Bulldog and Chihuahua may not be able to comfortably pass the watermelon seeds which may end up causing intestinal blockage and thus cause serious health issues.
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Rind?
Watermelon seeds and watermelon rind pose serious health risks for your dog hence you need to make sure to avoid them like plague.
The green outer covering forms part of the watermelon rind and the watermelon seeds are scattered inside the red edible flesh of the fruit.
The watermelon rind is also not safe for your dog to eat. This particular part of the watermelon is not edible and may prove to be hard and difficult to chew even for your little puppy.
Although there are times that you might notice your dog nibbling at the green inside of the fruit. This is a dangerous thing to allow your dog to do because he may end up swallowing the watermelon rind which may cause intestinal blockages.
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What do I do In case my dog swallows watermelon rind and seeds?
Just in case your dog accidentally eats the watermelon rind and also the seeds, you need to be keen and observe if you will notice any signs of intestinal blockage like vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain and even lethargy.
You need to contact your dog’s veterinarian right away to avoid further complications.
Actually, you need to be on the lookout for signs of issues like intestinal blockages for at least the next 24 hours after your dog consumes the watermelon rind or seeds.
Natural watermelon only
First and foremost, you need to be aware that there are sweet products in the market today that claim to contain watermelon.
These are artificially flavored watermelons that are not healthy for you or your dog.
Most of these artificially flavored watermelons contain preservatives and chemicals that are not healthy for your furry friend. They also contain a lot of artificial sugars that are not good for your dog’s health.
If you allow your dog to eat such that contain too much sugar, it may cause gastrointestinal upset in the short-term and serious illnesses like diabetes or even obesity in the long term.
You need to also bear in mind that some artificial sweeteners like xylitol are deemed to be toxic to dogs.
Therefore, you need to stick to giving your dog plain and natural watermelon that you have prepared yourself. That way, at least you are able to know what is in it and also make sure that it is safe for your dog’s consumption.
How To Feed Your Dog Watermelon
Feeding your dog watermelon doesn’t have to be a hard task.
First you need to slice the watermelon rind and expose the inner red edible flesh. Remove the watermelon seeds before offering the pieces to your dog.
Make sure that you cut the yummy fruit into small pieces that will make it easy for your dog to chew. This makes it a very simple and easy for your dog to chew.
The following simple steps summarize how you need to prepare and feed your dog watermelon:
1. Cut the fruit into two equal halves.
2. Place both halves, flat, face down on the tray or plate.
3. Remove the green outer coving, also called the watermelon rind.
4. After removing the rind, cut the red flesh into even slices that are about one inch.
5. Turn it 90 degrees and slice up the flesh into even one inch slices.
6. Dice the rectangle slices into small cubes, not any bigger than regular ice cubes.
7. Make sure to remove all seeds and give your dog seedless watermelon pieces.
You can decide to give him small pieces of fruit or you can also make watermelon juice for him. Watermelon juice can serve as a great treat for your dog especially in hot summer weather.
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How To Make Frozen Watermelon Snacks
You can also decide to give your dog frozen watermelon just to make it an extra special summer treat.
However, before doing so, you need to make sure that your dog’s teeth are healthy and strong enough to eat frozen watermelon.
The same applies to dehydrated watermelon. You can mix it up with other fruits like blueberries and make a healthy fruit mix for your dog.
Simply place the watermelon slices in a blender. Add 1:1 ratio of water and pour the smoothie into ice-cube trays. You can put the same in the deep freezer for at least 2 hours then serve.
How Much Watermelon Can My Dog Eat?
You must have come across an old saying “too much of something is poison” well this of course cannot be taken literally, however it simply means that when you over indulge in something it may end up causing more harm than good.
The same applies when you give your dog this yummy treat, you need to do so in moderation.
Just like with most fruits, there is a natural imbalance of certain minerals and nutrients in watermelon.
Watermelon is richly loaded with Vitamin A, B6 and C. Therefore, this essentially means that you need not consistently overfeed your little pup with fruits.
The best time you can give your furry friend this yummy treat is during hot weather as it helps him to stay hydrated. If you notice your dog loves watermelon too much, you can set it aside and use it occasionally during his obedience training sessions.
According to animal nutrition experts, your dog’s diet needs to contain only 10% of calories from snacks and treats. In addition to that, fruit and vegetables are supposed to only make up at least 20% of your dog’s diet.
If you have a dog that weighs roughly 25 pounds he should consume roughly 500 – 700 calories every day. This again is very much dependent on their age, physical activity and also whether they have been neutered.
If you want to use watermelon as a treat, then you need to use the maximum 10% rule that means, your dog should only eat 50 calories of watermelon a day, which translates to about 150 grams in total.
Health Benefits Of Watermelon To Your Dog
One of the best aspects about giving your dog watermelon is that it contains so much water content.
The water content in watermelon is over 90%, which makes it a good treat for your furry friend to enjoy especially in hot weather.
On those hot sunny days when your dog comes panting with his tongue out, you can help to hydrate them with some fresh watermelon.
Apart from its high water content, watermelon contains Lycopene which is an antioxidant. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Lycopene is also the reason why the inner edible part of watermelon appears red.
There are two main vitamins that your dog gets from eating watermelon:
Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, is used in many chemical reactions in your dog’s body to form amino acids.
These essential amino acids help to prevent tooth decay and also help to maintain your dog’s smooth coat. So if you want your dog to have a smooth and shiny coat, just give him enough watermelon!
Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a big role in your dog’s bone growth and tooth development. It also helps in reproduction and supports your dog’s vision.
If your dog lacks enough vitamin A, he is likely going to experience stunted growth, night blindness and also reproductive issues.
Watermelon also contains a lot of fiber to help your dog in digestion. It also has a lot of minerals such as potassium and calcium. That is enough to assure you that indeed watermelon is a super-fruit and falls under the healthy snacks category.
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Can Dogs With Kidney Disease Eat Watermelon?
Watermelon is safe for your dog to eat even if they are suffering from kidney problems. However, you should confirm this with your veterinarian before giving your dog any watermelon.
Can Pregnant Dogs Eat Watermelon?
Of course yes! Pregnant dogs can eat watermelon.
As a matter of fact, watermelon is good for your dog and her unborn puppies because of its many profound health benefits.
Just make sure to give your dog watermelon in moderation as too much of it may result in diarrhea which is not good especially in a pregnant dog.
Final Thoughts & Summary
Can diabetic dogs eat watermelon?
Yes, you can give your dog some watermelon even if he has diabetes.
Watermelon contains natural sugar which is not in any way harmful for your dog. You need not worry about too much sugar in this sweet tropical fruit because it is healthy and good for your dog.
You only need to be cautious and make sure that you do not give your dog any treat that claims to contain watermelon.
These treats that have flooded the market place do contain artificial sweeteners, chemicals, preservatives and other additives that are not good for your dog.
So Is Watermelon Safe For Dogs?
In a nutshell, watermelon is indeed a safe, natural and tasty treat for your furry friend. Make sure to give it to him in moderation.
Carefully remove the watermelon rind as you prepare to feed him this tasty treat. Also make sure that you have removed the seeds as well.
The watermelon seeds and rind may be a potential choking hazard for your dog. They also need to be removed to make sure that your dog does not experience any intestinal blockages and other gastrointestinal issues.
Remember that when you are giving your dog watermelon for the first time, give it to him in small bits first to see how he reacts to it.
Observe to see if he has any allergies. If you notice symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea then you need to stop giving him any more watermelon. If the symptoms persist then take him to the vet for check-up and treatment.
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