Most Americans love watermelon. When people purchase watermelon and bring it home, they sometimes give it to their dogs. Our furry friends usually enjoy watermelon, too, but is it healthy for them? Let’s take a close look below at this important question.
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Can Dogs Have Watermelon?
Most health experts say it is fine for dogs to eat watermelon in moderation. Watermelon is a healthy fruit that is good for people and dogs. For instance, watermelon has high quantities of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and vitamin B6.
Regarding calories, watermelon only contains about 50 calories per cup. So, feeding your dog watermelon is unlikely to make them heavy. Plus watermelon is more than 90% water, so it will hydrate your pup in the summer.
What Should You Do About Watermelon Seeds?
Feeding your dog watermelon is fine, but your dog should not have watermelon seeds. Watermelon seeds are not toxic to dogs. However, they can block the intestines if they eat too many of them. Watermelon seeds are hard for your dog’s stomach to digest. When you give your dog a watermelon treat, you don’t want to take him to the emergency room.
Many people who give their dog this treat say they buy seedless watermelons. These melons still have seeds but they are very small and will not cause digestive problems. If you can’t get seedless watermelon, take the seeds out before giving them to your dog.
How Does Watermelon Benefit Dogs?
Watermelon is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It also contains mostly water which is good for the digestive system. Watermelon also contains a lot of fiber that also is good for your dog’s health. Plus, the high sugar content in watermelon does not have as much of an effect on your dog because of the fiber content.
Watermelon also has high amounts of lycopene which can prevent cancer in dogs and people.
Best Ways To Feed Watermelon To Your Dog
It is fine to give your dog watermelon as a treat, but they should have dog food more than anything else. Safe ways to give watermelon to your dog are:
- Small chunks: Cut the watermelon into chunks and remove the seeds and rind. Seeds and rind are difficult to digest and can cause intestinal problems.
- Frozen: After removing the rind and seeds, put the watermelon chunks in the freezer. After a few hours, take it out and give to your pup. This treat will keep them busy for a few minutes.
- Watermelon ice cream: Puree frozen watermelon chunks with plain yogurt and freeze it. You can put the ice cream on top of your dog’s regular food. Or, put the ice cream inside a Kong toy to keep them busy.
Many people say their dogs are particularly fond of frozen watermelon. This frozen treat is a delight for your pooch on hot summer days. But you shouldn’t give your dog too much watermelon, or they could get diarrhea. It is always best to give your dog a good dog food as their primary diet.
What Should You Do With The Rind?
When giving your dog watermelon, don’t give them the rind. It is fine to let them nibble on the light green section. But the outside rind is too difficult for the dog to properly chew and digest. If the digestive tract does not break it down, it could cause health problems. Remove the rind and seeds before giving watermelon to your pup.
Can The Dog Eat Too Much Watermelon?
The old adage is too much of anything is a bad thing. This includes giving watermelon to your dog. Veterinarians say 90% of your dog’s diet should be good dog food. Watermelon and other treats are fine every few days. But those items should only be 10% of your dog’s diet.
Too much fruit of any kind can make your dog’s stomach upset. If you have a small dog, make sure you only give them a small amount of watermelon.
Summary
Everyone likes to give their dogs a treat from time to time. Watermelon is a great, healthy choice. This popular fruit has plenty of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. When you cut the watermelon up and prepare it correctly, it is a good food to give them. Your dog will be so excited when he sees the watermelon!
However, as noted earlier, giving your dog watermelon rinds or seeds is not recommended. They can cause issues with the digestive system. Cut the watermelon into small chunks and give it to the dog.
Also, you should give the dog watermelon slowly at first, just as you would with any new treat. You want to see how well they digest the fruit before giving them more.
If you follow these ideas when you give your dog watermelon, he will be healthy and happy for years to come.