For the love of fruits and healthy foods, most pet owners feed their dogs anything they see as juicy and sweet. One of the most popular of these sumptuous and attractive fruits is watermelon. It wouldn’t hurt to consider if dogs can eat watermelon.
It is well known that watermelon is quite nutritious as it contains major vitamins like vitamin B6 and vitamin A and is rich in Vitamin C. it is hard to say that this innocent fruit could be of any harm or danger to any animal.
Regardless of its benefits, there are certain things to avoid if your dog craves watermelon. In this article, you will better understand the dos and donts of the watermelon diet in 2023.
Table of contents
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?
The answer is yes. Dogs can eat watermelon, but with a great number of precautions. This is a beautiful treat to share with your dog and enjoy with family and friends. When fed correctly, it has never been heard that the sweet juicy fruit has killed any of the world’s cute furry pets.
However, there are specific measures you must take when giving watermelon to your dog. Before your dog can eat that watermelon you so readily prepared for it, you must remove the large seeds in the fruit to avoid it being swallowed by your pooch. It might not have much of an effect on a giant breed of dog, that is if he ate a few. But smaller dogs might end up with a blocked intestine.
Also, the watermelon rind is another component to consider, as the dog can not eat it. When ingested, the greenish outer covering of the fruit poses a threat to your dog’s digestive tract.
Generally, watermelon has various nutritional benefits and can serve as the best treatment alternative for your dog on hot days. If you are skeptical about letting your dog have its watermelon fill, you can seek your vet’s opinion.
You’ll need to take a few precautions, such as removing the large seeds, as these can cause intestinal blockage if too many are consumed, mainly if your dog is a smaller breed. Another thing to be aware of with watermelon is the rind, which can cause gastrointestinal upset.
Watermelon is also high in sugar, like many fruits, which means it should not feed too regularly or can contribute to the risk of obesity and diabetes. If you doubt your dog munching on watermelon, always ask for your vet’s advice.
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Is Watermelon Safe For Your Dog?
If you are wondering how safe watermelon is for dogs, it is not such a simple answer to give. Your dog can eat the flesh of the watermelon and will not be harmed. It even has many benefits that could enhance your dog’s health. It increases the number of vitamins and minerals in the dog’s diet.
Watermelon has a high water content, as the name indicates, which makes it a great way to stay hydrated. You may even make whole fruit juice and store it for future use. If you seek a good way to boost your dog’s immune system and keep it fresh, dogs can eat fruits like watermelon to get all that.
However, the other parts of the watermelon may be unsafe for your pet. For instance, when swallowed, the seeds can cause a painful blockage of the animal’s intestines. If not properly taken care of immediately, this could advance to a high-risk situation where surgery might be required.’
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Health Benefits of Watermelon for Dogs
Watermelon itself is a nutritional powerhouse, being high in potassium, vitamins A, B6, and C, and low in calories. Additionally, the fruit is 92 percent water and only has about 50 calories per cup, making it a fantastic source of hydration on a hot day.
It is essentially guilt-free because it contains neither fat nor cholesterol.
Watermelon has many nutritional advantages for dogs in addition to being a tasty summer treat.
- high in A, B1, B5, B6, and C vitamins
- high in potassium and magnesium, among other minerals
- high in antioxidant carotenoids like lycopene and beta-carotene
- very few calories
- a lot of water for beneficial hydration
- And eating it is enjoyable!
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How To Feed Watermelon To Dogs
There is no magical way to feed your dog watermelon. If you can remove the seeds and rind from the watermelon, it is ready to be feasted on. If your dog has specific nutritional needs, do not neglect this and, if possible, contact your doctor and seek counsel before starting them off on the fruit and how to feed watermelon to your dog.
There are, however, some nice, safe ideas that come to mind if you are trying to be creative in presenting snacks like watermelon to your dog, such as;
- Serve the watermelon treat as frozen chunks. Do not give your pups this treat if their teeth are not mature enough to chomp down on frozen food. Also, ensure that your dog has no gum or caramel deficiencies; only then can your dog or dogs eat frozen watermelon. This is so as not to damage their teeth further.
- To make this more interesting, you can add water, coconut milk, or on some occasions, plain, low-fat, or non-fat yogurt to watermelon bits and freeze them. This will give the treat a unique flavor and texture, making it more enjoyable for the dog.
- Smoothies are another safe and exciting option for watermelon treats. You can add other natural food items that are completely safe for your dog to make the smoothie. Dogs eat this kind of watermelon treat with so much delight.
- You could as well make watermelon jerky if you have a dehydrator. Remove the seeds and then slice the watermelon into strips and dehydrate it to make chewy watermelon jerky. Keep in mind that this method reduces the water content benefits of watermelon.
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How Much Watermelon Can Dogs Eat?
Many animals, dogs included, may react negatively to new foods in their diet. If you want to feed your dog watermelon, it is wise to start with small portions. This will enable the animal’s stomach to get accustomed to the fruit.
Still, how much watermelon can dogs eat?
Watermelon should not comprise a large percentage of what you feed your dog, as excess can cause some ill feelings in your dog. Watch out for signs of diarrhea or stomach upset when your dog overeats watermelon, and attend to it immediately to curb the effect.
Treats are expected to constitute only about 10% of your dog’s diet, while the rest of the 90% account for regular dog food. Too much of any treatment will be a challenge for the dog. It could result in obesity or diabetes if not taken occasionally.
As for watermelon, its water content will serve to keep your dog hydrated in the hot summer, but overfeeding will bring about gastrointestinal concerns, a gross imbalance of vitamins, leaky bowels, and much more. The level of disturbance of excess fruit or dog food varies with the different breeds and sizes of dogs. Smaller dogs will be affected by this to a higher degree than larger dogs.
When it comes to such food, moderation has never sounded so good. You can always consult with your vet on the right amount of watermelon to feed your breed and the size of your dog.
What Part Of Watermelon Can Dogs Eat?
The soft and juicy inner flesh of watermelon is the best and only part entirely safe for a dog to eat. Dogs can eat this nutritious part of the watermelon, but the seeds in this part of the fruit can put your dog at risk. Once you remove the roots, your dog can munch on them as much as they want.
Another part of watermelon your dog must not eat is the rind. This part is hard to chew and unsafe to let your dog eat. The rind will not only cause problems for your dog’s teeth but digesting it is another tale entirely. The hard nature of this part of the fruit proves difficult for the animal’s stomach lining to absorb.
Even though the seeds and rind of watermelon are not toxic, their difficult nature can cause an intestinal blockage and make it difficult to defecate. All these will only further make the dog uncomfortable and sick, if not lead to riskier situations.
Conclusively, It is important to note that all the nutritional benefits of watermelon for dogs are contained in the soft inner flesh of the fruit, thereby emphasizing the irrelevance of the seeds and rinds to the dog’s diet.
What To Do If My Dog Ate Watermelon Rind
Watermelon rind can be very dangerous to your dog’s health and must be avoided at all costs. When ingested, immediate medical attention must be sought. At this point, we are past asking if dogs can eat watermelon rinds or not, but what to do when such a disaster occurs.
No matter how much you try to watch some dogs and what they eat, you will be surprised at what they can get themselves into. Especially when snacks are involved, you could feed them yourself, but they end up eating something they shouldn’t eat occasionally. Things like watermelon seeds and rind are the primary reasons dog owners worry if their dogs can eat watermelon.
In a situation where your dog winds up eating the watermelon rind. Observe the dog for the next 24-36 hours. Most of the time, issues may not arise immediately. Take your furry friend to the vet immediately when he shows signs of constipation, vomiting, or pain.
If your pet is already enrolled in a pet insurance scheme, you can contact an emergency animal clinic. Describe the situation and where treatment is required, your insurance should cover it.
Here’s how pet insurance works and all you need to know; What Does Pet Insurance Cover? How it works in 2022
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Without Seeds?
Your dog’s best shot at getting all the promised benefits of watermelon is with a seedless watermelon. Watermelon contains seeds that can create havoc in your pet’s gastrointestinal system. Seedless watermelon is the best choice for dog nutrition.
As much as seedless watermelons are less harmful, they could still contain small white immature seeds. These white seeds may not be big enough or in high enough volume to cause a blockage in your dog’s stomach, but you still need to be mindful of their concentration.
Just a small quantity of seedless watermelon can go a long way in strengthening your pooch and its immune system. Take as much time as possible to carefully select the seeds from the watermelon your dogs can eat the watermelon. You could try smashing it into a puree or dicing it into a cup to feed your furry friend, and your dog’s health will thank you for it!
Watermelon Tips & Treats for Dogs
While watermelon is a delicious and healthy snack for humans, it can also be a healthy treat for dogs in moderation. Here are some tips for feeding watermelon to your dog:
- Remove the seeds: Watermelon seeds can cause intestinal blockages in dogs, so removing them before giving your dog a slice of watermelon is essential.
- Only feed the flesh: Only feed your dog the flesh of the watermelon, as the rind can be difficult for them to digest.
- Watch for signs of stomach upset: While watermelon is generally safe for dogs to eat, some dogs may have an upset stomach if they overeat. Watch for signs of vomiting or diarrhea after giving your dog watermelon, and adjust their portion size accordingly.
- Introduce it gradually: If your dog has never had watermelon before, it’s best to introduce it gradually to avoid digestive issues. Start with a small piece and see how they react before giving them more.
- Serve it fresh: Serve fresh watermelon to your dog, and avoid giving them canned or packaged watermelon that may contain added sugars or preservatives.
- Don’t rely on it as a main source of nutrition: While watermelon is a healthy snack, it shouldn’t be relied on as a main source of nutrition for your dog. Ensure your dog gets a well-balanced diet that includes protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients.
FAQs
Is watermelon toxic to dogs?
No. Dogs can take watermelon without having side effects as long as it’s not the rind. Watermelon is as safe as other fruits you can share with your dog. Its nutritional value is high and serves as additional hydration for your dog in hot weather. Just make sure you feed them correctly with no rinds or seeds.
Why do dogs love watermelon?
Many dogs like watermelon because of the soft and tender texture of the fruit, and they can even play with it in their mouth. Your dog must also love that watermelon has a sweet taste and high water content, as most dogs enjoy the extra hydration from enjoying the fruit.
How often can dogs eat watermelon?
Watermelon should be an occasional indulgence for dogs, as should any other treat. When given excessively create stomach problems for your dog. Also, feeding your dog watermelon regularly forms excess sugar in your pet’s system, which is not safe.
Can dogs eat yellow watermelon?
Yes, your dog can eat yellow watermelon. Yellow watermelon is rich in vitamins A and C and also contains beta-carotene. All kinds of watermelons are safe for your dogs if you remove the seeds and rind them before feeding them to your dog.
Will watermelon hurt dogs?
The watermelon’s flesh is a healthy and safe treat for dogs, but the fruit’s other edible parts should not be given to your dog.
Conclusion
Watermelon is a beautiful treat choice for your dog. Once you remove the seeds and rind of the fruit, it poses little threat as long as it is eaten in moderation. When it comes to health benefits, the fruit is hard to beat. The hydration given alone can compensate for many other sugar deficits in watermelon.
Nevertheless, if your pet is new to this, don’t force it. Allow the dog to gradually get used to the texture and sweetness of the fruit and observe the effects on the dog’s body and health. You can also check in with your vet to be safe.
Hopefully, this article has helped clear up some of your watermelon confusion. So next time you are out on that picnic or simply snacking on a nice piece of watermelon, and your pup seems interested, you know exactly what to do and how to do it.
References
- pawlicy.com – Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Here’s Everything You Need To Know.
- wildearth.com -Can dogs eat watermelon
- hillspet.com – Can dogs eat watermelon?
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