Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Find out Now!

What are the Health Benefits of Watermelon for my Dog?

Watermelon is not just an excellent snack among human foods, but it is also a fantastic treat to offer your pup.

The 92 percent water content in the fruit makes it a very hydrating fruit for hot days, but that doesn't stop these low-calorie and high fiber fruits from packing some powerful health benefits too.

“Is Watermelon good for dogs?”

Here are some nutritional components of watermelon that make it good for dogs.

• Water Content: Watermelon is the perfect summer fruit to help your pup stay hydrated. It has a high water content of 92% and will ensure that their body doesn't dry out while playing in hot weather.
• Antioxidants: They are the best components to protect your dog’s body from decay. Antioxidants are the soldiers of their cells, protecting them against environmental stress and aging by repairing any damage done in their wake.
• Lycopene: It makes watermelon and tomatoes red, but it’s not just a pretty color. It also strengthens the immune system in dogs to help them stay healthy against cancerous cells that may develop on their skin. It also helps when their eyesight deteriorates.
• Potassium: Potassium is a mineral that helps keep their muscles healthy, regulates fluid levels in the body, and supports kidney function. It also provides bone density support as well as heart health.
• Vitamin C: Pets need vitamins too! Vitamin C is one of the most important supplements your dog needs. It boosts their immunity, reduces inflammation, and strengthens blood vessels, which help to prevent heart disease or strokes in dogs.
• Fiber: Watermelon is a great source of fiber. It is important to keep your dog's digestive tract running smoothly. This can be achieved through a high-fiber diet, which helps prevent constipation and bowel disorders.
• Vitamin A: Vitamin A is essential to your dog's overall health because it supports the quality and functioning of their skin, coat, and muscles. In turn, this makes them look healthy and strong.
• Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is a vital coenzyme for your dog's body because it regulates fluid balance, builds proteins, and helps regulate hormones. It also supports neurotransmitters in the brain with its powerful antioxidant properties.

What about the Sugar Content in the Watermelon?

Watermelon is a natural fruit high in sugar. However, when your pup eats watermelon, the high fiber slows down the sugar absorption in their bloodstream.

But, if a dog has diabetes and is already on medication that regulates blood glucose levels, they might have difficulty regulating their insulin to process any additional sugars from something like watermelon.

If Coco has diabetes, make sure he doesn't have more than 2-4 ounces of watermelon. Although you should prefer consulting with his vet about how much he should be having on any given day.

How Should I Feed Watermelon to My Dog?

Watermelon is a healthy and refreshing fruit to offer to your dog, but it should be given in moderation.

Here are some tips on how you can give watermelons safely:

• Chunks of Watermelon: The next time you grab a watermelon for your dog, think about cutting it into chunks, removing the seeds, and rind. The fresh fruit is healthy and easy to chew and digest if they are cut up beforehand.
• Frozen Watermelon: When summer comes around, there are a lot of different ways to keep your dog cool. One easy way is by freezing watermelon chunks and giving them occasional treats on really hot days.
• Watermelon Puree: Pureed watermelon is a good way to keep your dog cool on hot days. Simply remove the seeds and rind, puree them in small batches, place them into ice cube trays or other silicone molds. Then freeze them until they are ready.
• Watermelon Ice cream: ‘Can dogs eat watermelon ice cream?’ Dogs are notorious for having a very sweet tooth. If you're looking to give them something special, try these doggie ice cream treats.

  Pureed watermelon and some other dog-safe fruits like blueberries, bananas, or pineapple, along with yogurt or peanut butter until it is smooth enough to freeze in an ice cube tray. Once frozen into cubes, they can then be served as is. Or, you can also serve it as a smoothie.

• Dehydrated Watermelon: What's better than a chewy fruit treat? A dehydrated one! Dehydrate the fruit, excluding the seeds and rind, for a new, chewier experience your pup will love.

Which Parts of the Watermelon Should My Dog Avoid?

Some fruits are safe for dogs. Watermelon is one of them, but not all watermelons are the same. There is a major difference between mature and immature fruit.

Immature melon has soft seeds that don't pose any risks. They will just digest like everything else that your dog eats.

But then there are those pesky hard seeds found among the flesh of more mature watermelons. They can cause intestinal blockages and other digestive issues. A smaller dog may even choke on it.

So, you need to be wary of the seeds.

Is Seedless Watermelon the Safest Option?

“Can dogs eat watermelon seeds?’

Seedless watermelon is the ideal treat for your dog. Unlike traditional cantaloupe or honeydew, seedless watermelons are much more easily digested and pose less of a threat to their digestive tract.

You should be careful about how many seeds they might ingest in any given bite of a normal watermelon. But, we recommend a seedless watermelon as a safer alternative if you want them to indulge in some fruit.

Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Rind?

Watermelon is a tasty and refreshing fruit, but not all of it. The rind part of a watermelon isn’t safe to eat. They can nibble on the light green parts but should avoid eating any other pieces.

The hard skin should especially be avoided as the canines can not digest them, and even the big dogs can choke while ingesting them.

When is Watermelon Bad for Dogs?

Watermelon is one of the most popular summer fruits. But be wary when your pup gobbles it down because they may get gastrointestinal upset from eating too much. This fruit contains too much sugar and natural juices.

Dogs have sensitive stomachs, so it is important to introduce them slowly when they try new foods. Start by giving them only small portions and check if there are any adverse health effects of the fruit.

If you find them avoiding the fruit or have visible health problems, just stop and check with your vet before feeding it.

How many Watermelons can my Dog Eat?

“How much watermelon can I give my dog?”

Too much of anything can cause problems, and watermelon is the same. Munching on too many pieces at a time can lead to tummy cramps or diarrhea for your pup.

Generally, your dog should not have more than 10% of its diet as treats per day. So, this snack would be best used as an occasional treat rather than an everyday food item. 90% of their diet should be other nutritional dog foods.

Big dogs are also susceptible to constipation with excessive fruit intake because it is difficult for them to digest fiber-rich foods such as watermelon.

So, feed them watermelon in moderation only.

Is Natural Watermelon the Only Good Option for Dogs?

No, not necessarily. You can mix the natural watermelon with some other safe dog ingredients that are low in sugar.

But, it might not be a good idea to feed artificial watermelon products to dogs. Sweet watermelon treats will most likely have high amounts of artificial sweeteners, fillers, and preservatives, among countless other ingredients.

These types of foods could potentially cause some serious side effects.

Watermelon Feeding Tips for your Pup

If your dog is a big fan of watermelon, it can be really beneficial for him.

Follow the tips mentioned below to ensure that you safely feed it to them.

• Start by giving them a small amount of the food to see if their body possibly reacts to it. If it doesn’t, then you can move on to feeding it to them properly.
• Artificially flavored watermelon treats and candy might contain ingredients that are detrimental to your dog's health.
• It is important that you only give seedless varieties of the fruit and make sure they don't get any seeds inside their mouth or stomach because some can be poisonous to dogs.
• Remove the red part of the watermelon separately in a bowl for your furry friend. Do not let them eat the rind of the watermelon.
• Do not make it habitual for them to have watermelon all the time. The high sugar content can cause problems, and it may spoil your pet also.

Should I Give Watermelon to my Dog? Yes!

Watermelon is one of the best fruit choices as a treat for your dog. Its high moisture and fiber content, along with densely packed nutrients, place it in the superfood category.

However, moderation is the rule to remember when feeding watermelon to your dog.

Prepared properly, it is an excellent and quick snack when you want to give your pup something nutritious on hot days. Your dog will love watermelon!

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Other fruits your dog can have;

• • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Tomatoes
  • Apples
  • Cantaloupe
  • Mangoes
  • Peaches
  • Blackberries