It’s important to find a dog food that meets your dog’s nutritional needs.
With that said, you can also supplement your dog’s diet with human food. Of course, it’s important to make sure that the foods that you choose for your pet are safe to feed your dog [1]. If you’re interested in feeding your dog watermelon, you probably have some questions.
You can find the answers you’re looking for below.
Can Your Dog Eat Watermelon?
Some fruits, like grapes and raisins, can be toxic to dogs. Thankfully, watermelon is safe for dogs to eat. With that said, dogs can struggle to digest watermelon seeds. You should give your dog seedless watermelon or remove the seeds from the melon before serving it to your pet [2].
Dogs can safely eat the fruit itself, but they shouldn’t eat the rind of the watermelon.
The rind is difficult to chew, which means dogs may swallow it whole. This can be a choking risk, and it can also cause digestive issues. You may want to give your dog small chunks of watermelon so that it’s easier to monitor what they eat.
If you do decide to give your dog watermelon, you’ll have lots of different options. The easiest way to feed your dog this fruit is to slice up the fruit into pieces your pet can easily eat.
You can also make a smoothie for your pet. You can combine watermelon with other foods that can benefit dogs, like carrots and apples.
What Are The Risks Of Feeding Your Dog Watermelon?
As mentioned above, some parts of watermelon aren’t safe for your dog to eat. If your dog does eat a watermelon’s seeds or rinds, you’ll want to monitor them for symptoms of intestinal blockage.
If your dog is vomiting, or if they seem unusually fatigued, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Your dog may also have digestive issues if they eat too much watermelon. Eating large amounts of watermelon can cause diarrhea in dogs, and it can cause them to experience abdominal pain as well. You’ll want to be especially cautious about the amount of watermelon your dog eats if they’re on the smaller side. Small dogs have small stomachs, which means they’ll only be able to tolerate a little bit of watermelon.
Like with many things, moderation is key. Watermelon can be a healthy treat for your pet, but you might run into issues if you give them too much fruit. Be aware of the risks so that you can give your dog this treat safely.
Are There Benefits To Giving Your Dog Watermelon?
While you should be careful about feeding your pet watermelon, this fruit can actually be very beneficial! It’s packed full of nutrients like vitamins A, C, and B6. Watermelon is also high in fiber, which means it can help dogs with digestive issues if it is consumed in small quantities.
Watermelon mostly consists of water. A 12-ounce watermelon is about 92% water [3] Because of this, it can be very hydrating. It can be a wonderful treat to give your dog on a hot day.
Watermelon is low in calories, which means it can be a great treat for dogs that are on a diet. One cup of watermelon contains approximately 45 calories. It also contains lycopene, which can reduce the risk of cancer in humans [4] it’s possible that it could provide the same benefits to dogs.
There are many anti-inflammatory antioxidants in watermelon, such as lycopene and vitamin C. A study conducted on lab rats found that watermelon can reduce oxidative stress, which can lower your dog’s risk for a number of chronic diseases [5]
What Kind Of Watermelon Should You Feed Your Dog?
Generally speaking, seedless watermelon is the best choice for your dog. You can feed your dog other types of watermelon, but you will have to remove the seeds beforehand. Ideally, the watermelon should be cut into bite-sized cubes before it’s given to your pet.
If the weather is especially hot, you might want to freeze the fruit before feeding it to your pooch.
You can safely feed your dog watermelon, but you should avoid any watermelon-flavored products unless they are specifically designed for dogs. Many of these products contain artificial sweeteners, which can be harmful to dogs. Stick to natural fruits; you shouldn’t give your dog processed treats.
Should You Talk To Your Vet Before Feeding Your Dog Watermelon?
You should speak with your veterinarian before introducing a new type of food to your dog. Every dog has its own dietary needs, and it’s possible that your vet will advise against giving your pet watermelon. Your vet will also be able to give you tips on safely feeding your dog watermelon.
Summary
Watermelon is a treat that anyone can enjoy, including your dog! With that said, you’ll want to take a few precautions before feeding this fruit to yourself.
You can definitely let your pooch snack on watermelon, but you’ll want to make sure you take steps to avoid risks.
Resources
- Ashely Garrett, MyPoof.com, Resources and Tips for Your Pets. Retrieved at https://mypoof.com
- Mike Clark, Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Is Watermelon Safe for Dogs? Dog Time. Retrieved at https://dogtime.com/dog-health/dog-food-dog-nutrition/58895-can-dogs-eat-watermelon
- Jessie Szalay, Watermelon: Health Benefits, Risks & Nutrition Facts, Live Science. Retrieved at https://www.livescience.com/46019-watermelon-nutrition.html
- Ambreen, Naz, et al., Watermelon lycopene and allied health claims, EXCLI Journal. Retrieved at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4464475/
- Hong, MY., et al., Watermelon consumption improves inflammation and antioxidant capacity in rats fed an atherogenic diet, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University. Retrieved at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25631716