Watermelon is a sweet, juicy fruit that both people and their pets can enjoy. But this raises the question – is watermelon for dogs safe? With so many toxic fruits on the market, finding a fruit that is safe for our furry friends can be exciting. Fortunately, watermelon is one of these safe fruits, and with a few precautions, you and your pup can enjoy watermelon with no risks.
Dogs eating watermelon became a viral trend in 2018 when videos surfaced online. Dogs were filmed tucking into slices of watermelon, and many owners turned to their own dogs to see if they would enjoy the fruit, too. But is watermelon safe for dogs? The short answer is, yes. Watermelon is packed with essential vitamins and carbohydrates that give a healthy boost to any dog’s meal. However, any good thing can have a negative impact when given too much. Just how much watermelon is safe for dogs? What risks are there when feeding watermelon to a dog? Here, we discuss how to give watermelon to a dog safely, how much to give, and the side effects of giving too much. Read to find out more? Read on with us!
Safety
Watermelon is safe for dogs with a few precautions. Firstly, you must remove the seeds before giving any to your pup, as these are a choking hazard. As well as this, smaller dogs may suffer blockages of the digestive tract when they swallow watermelon seeds.
Second, you must not allow your dog to eat the rind of the watermelon. Not only does watermelon rind cause gastrointestinal upsets, but it can cause deadly blockages, too. Intestinal blockages are medical emergencies that require prompt veterinary treatment. Generally speaking, however, your dog is free to enjoy watermelon – just watch out for vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, and constipation.
Dosage
Watermelon is best given in small servings. Like any fruit, watermelon should not make up the majority of your pup’s diet. If your dog eats too much watermelon, it can cause diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems. And, as always, introducing a new food too quickly can cause further gastrointestinal problems.
So how much watermelon is suitable for a dog? Just one cup of seedless watermelon offers a huge range of benefits. One cup of diced watermelon provides around 11.5 grams total carbohydrates and 12.5mg vitamin C! Just be sure to dice the pieces so that they are a suitable size for your furry friend – large chunks are a choking hazard for any dog.
Pros & Cons of Feeding Your Dog Watermelon
Watermelon is, in general, a healthy treat for any dog. But what makes it beneficial for dogs, and what are the downsides to it? Here, we discuss what makes watermelon great for your pup, as well as the potential downsides to feeding it in excess.
Pros
First and foremost, watermelon has extremely high water content. Watermelon is at least 92% water, which can help to hydrate your pup, as well as keeping them feeling fuller for longer. As far as fruit goes, watermelon is among the lowest in calories – it contains fewer calories than berries!
Just one cup of diced watermelon also contains vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B1, B2, and B6. Quite conveniently, all of these vitamins are vitamins that your dog needs to stay healthy. While watermelon does not contain significant amounts of the other essential vitamins, which are vitamins D, E, and K, the vitamins that it does provide are extremely important to your pup’s health.
This fruit is also high in carotenoids like beta-carotene and lycopene. Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants and immune modulators that help to regulate cellular and immune responses. Lycopene, while also able to cause diarrhea, comes with a huge range of benefits for your dog. One of the most interesting benefits is its suppression of tumor growth in laboratory and animal experiments. Lycopene may do this by stimulating communication between the tissue cells, limiting the growth of abnormal cells. It also has antioxidant properties. This means that lycopene is effective at scavenging the free radicals in the body that would otherwise damage cell membranes.
Cons
Watermelon is abundant in lycopene, a phytonutrient that gives the watermelon its color. While beneficial in smaller amounts, lycopene can directly cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract in excess. These problems include indigestion, gas formation, and diarrhea. This, coupled with the high water content, may cause diarrhea and accidents in the home.
So, while lycopene is generally a highly beneficial phytonutrient for a dog to eat, it is possible to give too much of it. The rind of a watermelon is not safe for dogs, either. Dogs will struggle to digest watermelon rind, which can cause blockages in the digestive tract. For small dogs, even the seeds may be enough to cause blockages.
Watermelon For Dogs: FAQ
Have any more questions about watermelon for dogs? Feel free to refer to our Frequently Asked Questions section for more details. If in doubt about watermelon for dogs, it’s best to ask your vet for advice.
In excess, watermelon can cause diarrhea in dogs. This is due to three reasons: the high water content, the introduction of a new food too quickly, and the abundance of lycopene in the fruit. When feeding your dog watermelon, be sure to monitor them for signs of diarrhea. Stop giving them watermelon right away if you notice your pup’s stool becoming watery.
Allow your dog some time to recover before introducing any watermelon again, and give it in a smaller amount when you do. If your dog frequently gets diarrhea after eating watermelon, stop giving it entirely and consider the other symptoms. Some dogs develop fruit allergies, including allergies to watermelon. Speak to your vet about your dog’s symptoms to get to the bottom of their adverse reaction to watermelon.
Watermelon is sweet, juicy, and hydrating – and, much like us, dogs can taste sweet things! Not only this, but dogs are omnivores, meaning that they naturally eat fruits and vegetables as well as meat. So, a dog enjoying watermelon is not unusual. However, each dog is unique, and your furry friend may like or dislike watermelon based on their own preferences. Some dogs may not enjoy watermelon at all, and others might ignore it entirely.
Not all fruit is safe for dogs. Cherries, for example, are extremely toxic to dogs. While the flesh of the cherry may only cause digestive upsets, the cherry pit, stem, and leaves contain cyanide. Ingesting cherries causes symptoms like dilated pupils, red gums, and difficulty breathing.
Similarly, raisins and grapes can cause irreversible kidney damage and failure even in small amounts. If your pup eats grapes or raisins, or you suspect that they have, get them to your vet right away. Avocado is another potentially toxic fruit for dogs. An avocado’s skin, leaves, and pit contain persin, a toxin that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. Lastly, the unripened fruit of the tomato is toxic to dogs, too. This is because the green parts contain solanine, a highly toxic substance. While your dog would need to eat a significant number of tomatoes to become sick, it’s best to skip them altogether to eliminate the risk!
Plenty of fruits are healthy for dogs and can be given in moderation. Such fruits include: watermelon, apples, blueberries, cantaloupe, cranberries, mangoes, peaches, pears, bananas, pineapples, raspberries, and strawberries. If you’re looking to add a healthy topping to your pet’s dinner, or simply wish to share your snack with your pet, any of these fruits are safe additions to your dog’s diet. However, do not be tempted to give your dog too many pieces of fruit. Each of these fruits is high in sugar and can cause digestive upsets in your dog. Save them for special occasions rather than feeding them every day!
Dogs need vitamins C, A, D, E, K, and B-complex to stay healthy. Luckily for your dog, watermelon contains vitamins C, A, and vitamins B1, B2, and B6. However, watermelon does not contain or contains negligible amounts of vitamins D, E, and K. This means that, while watermelon is very healthy for your dog, it is not enough in itself to meet your dog’s nutritional requirements. Always provide your dog with a complete and balanced food that is suitable for their life stage. Speak with your vet if you have any concerns about your pet’s vitamin intake!
Watermelon is a healthy, juicy, sweet snack that many dogs tuck in to with no problem. Just be sure to remove the seeds and the rind before giving it to your pooch, and monitor them for signs of an upset stomach! Watermelon provides several essential vitamins and hydrates your dog as they snack, making it a safe and enjoyable superfood for your furry friend.