What Fruits Can Dogs Eat Safely as Treats?
What Fruits Can Dogs Eat Safely as Treats?. As a pet parent, you’ve seen the looks those pleading big eyes are giving you when you pull out that juicy apple or delicious strawberry and think to yourself that you should share. Well, before you throw a piece to your canine friend, you’re going to want to know the fruits.
Not all fruits were created the same for the canine. Some fruits are super foods loaded with nutrition for dogs, while others have the potential to send dogs into renal failure or cause their death.
Fruits for Dogs: Why Bother?
Commercial dog treats are typically filled with fillers, preservatives and sweeteners and sugars. When you give your dog a fruit, they can receive vital vitamins A, C and K as well as other vitamins, minerals and fiber.
Fruits support an improved:
- Immune system
- Digestion
- Hydration
- Low calorie weight management
Make sure you are following the 90-10. Rule as part of your dogs daily diet. 90% should be a healthy dog diet, treats 10%.
What Fruits Can Dogs Eat Safely as Treats?
Here are the best fruits to share with your dog, ranked by safety and nutritional value.
1. Apples
Your dog can benefit from the vitamin A and C as well as the fiber that an apple can offer. Apples can also work like a natural toothbrush helping to scrape your dog’s teeth.
- Warning: Make sure to remove the seeds, as they are poisonous and will cause Cyanide toxicity if consumed by a dog.
- How to serve: Cut them into apple sized bites.
2. Bananas
A single banana has a relatively small number of calories and a wealth of potassium and fiber which is great for muscle development and blood pressure.
- Warning: Bananas are high in sugar so don’t feed them to your diabetic or overweight dog.
- How to serve: One or two thin slices to a medium dog per day.
3. Blueberries
The best treat on our list for you and your dog. Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants that prevent your dog from damaging their cells from too many free radicals and reduce inflammation.
- Warning: Just be careful not to feed your dog too many, and thoroughly wash to get rid of the pesticides.
- How to serve: A small handful to a larger breed and 5-6 to a small breed.
4. Watermelon
The 92% water content is guaranteed to give your dog all of the benefits that they require when it comes to hydration. They contain a heart health boosting antioxidant known as lycopene.
- Warning: Make sure to discard any of the rind, seeds, etc. As they could be the cause of an intestinal blockage.
- How to serve: Cubed fleshy meat only.
5. Strawberries
It contains an enzyme that may have teeth- whitening effects that comes in the form of malic acid. Strawberries also offer dietary fiber as well as a large source of vitamin C.
- Warning: Do not over feed your dog. They are very high in sugar and the fruit should never be fed in syrup or in a tin.
- How to serve: finely diced to avoid a choking hazard.
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6. Mango
These are a rich source of vitamin A, B6, C and E that is excellent for a dog’s coat and skin.
- Warning: The pit is large and the skin is hard to digest and therefore a major choke hazard as well as a contain of small levels of cyanide.
- How to serve: Pitted, or cut into large diced cubes.
7. Oranges
Packed with potassium and vitamin C your dog is sure to find these citrus fruit tempting to sniff and eat.
- Warning: The acidity can cause problems with some dogs’ stomachs, and the hard peel will cause a blockage.
- How to serve: One to two segments per dog.
8. Pears
It is a great source of copper and vitamin K and it offers many of the same benefits as an apple, but it is also less allergenic.
- Warning: Just make sure to remove the seeds.
- How to serve: cubed.
9. Raspberries
These are packed with fiber and provide some inflammation relief for your older pets.
- Warning: While they are safe when fed in small quantities there are containments that include tiny amount of xylitol so a whole bowl is certainly off limits.
- How to serve: One per 10 pounds of body weight
10. Cranberries
Both dried and raw Cranberries can prevent harmful bacteria from clinging to the walls of your dogs’ bladder which reduces the risk of UTIS.
- Warning: You may want to forgo the cranberry sauce though as this is not dog safe!
- How to serve: A tablespoon of cranberries per dog per day.
The DANGER List: Fruits to NEVER Feed Your Dog
Some Fruits You Absolutely Can’t Give Your Dog. You May Be Surprised
1. Grapes and Raisins
These are perhaps the most common and toxic fruit for dogs to ingest even one grape can cause acute kidney failure. The science hasn’t quite figured out exactly why, but even if the dog seems fine at first, he could still fall ill later on.
Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and dehydration.Best to eliminate these from your home completely.
2. Cherries
Despite being yummy, cherries are also one of those fruits dogs should avoid. The problem is not the fleshy fruit, but rather the leaves, stem and pit contain cyanide and could be an obstruction as your pet tries to digest the pit.
3. Avocado
If your pet has a habit of snooping around garbage cans, he might get his paws on this popular fruit.
Avocados contain a fungicidal toxin that dogs aren’t typically bothered by –persin.
However, larger amounts of a ripe avocado (the pit or skin especially) could trigger vomiting, diarrhea, or pancreatitis in a sensitive dog.
Safe for Dogs
How To Feed Your Dog Fruit Keep this in mind:
- Wash it: Wash off or scrub away any dirt or pesticide off the flesh of the fruit.
- Chop it up: Remove any seeds, pit, rind, core and chop the fruit up into easy-to eat bite-sized pieces to prevent your dog choking on the pieces.
- No additives: Just the fruit. No added salt, sugar, chocolate or whipped cream for your dog.
- Feed sparingly: Give just one type of fruit to your dog to see how it reacts to the fruit before giving them too much.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will dogs eat applesauce?
Yes, but plain unsweetened apple sauce without added sugar, preservatives or spices, such as cinnamon. Beware of the ingredients list of store-bought apple sauces as many contain xylitol and/or nutmeg. Fresh made is best.
Can puppies eat fruit?
They can, but in very small portions and only once their systems can tolerate it. Offer puppies mashed banana and pureed pumpkin to them after about 8 weeks of age. Avoid offering large chunks of hard fruit like raw apple to your puppy until their teeth are developed.
What if my dog eats one grape?
Your veterinarian should be called immediately. A single grape or two could be fatal for a 10-pound Chihuahua but potentially harmless to a 90-pound Labrador Retriever. Only induce vomiting under the direct instruction of your vet, and the quicker the better.
Can dogs eat fruit in a can?
Absolutely not. Canned fruits are often covered in a heavy syrup or made with artificial sweeteners which lead to obesity and even pancreatic issues or diabetes. Only feed your dog fresh or frozen fruits.
Will diabetic dogs eat fruit?
They can eat fruit, but their choices need to be low-glycemic foods such as raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Avoid bananas, cherries and mangos. Consult your vet for the specific types of fruit appropriate for your dog.
How much is too much fruit?
Fruit should make up no more than 10 percent of a dog’s total daily caloric intake. Dogs 20 pounds or more 2-3 strawberries, or 4 blueberries, day. Dogs eating to much fiber will get the trots.
Can dogs eat kiwi?
Yes. Kiwi actually has more Vitamin C in it than an orange, so to be sure your dog don’t choke; be sure to peal the fuzzy skin off, and to cut in small pieces first.
Will dogs eat pineapple?
Yes. It also has a bromelain an enzyme that helps the body to absorb protein, but to much can have a harsh affect, so a small pieces at a time are best. Dogs eating of prickly or fibrous fruits should be wary of choking; especially if eating of the hard core of the pineapple and the extremely prickly surface that can pose an impalement risk for the dog’s mouth and throat.
Will dogs eat frozen fruits?
Yes! Freezing watermelon, bananas, or berries is great if the weather is hot, or if your dog is teething; however, cut them into small chunks to prevent breaking teeth.
Fruit seeds harmful for dogs?
Several types are. The seeds from apples, cherries, peaches, and plums can cause cyanogenic glycosides that in turn release cyanide into a dog’s body. Remove all fruit seeds before offering them to dogs.
Final Verdict
Adding fruit to your dog’s diet. You can give fruit to your dog. The safe fruit variety is excellent addition to your dog’s diet.
These foods are beneficial and make an excellent and nutritious treat.
These include being too acidic, containing seeds and thus are not a good choice for dogs. It’s always good to introduce new foods in very small quantities and remember never to serve your dog the pits of any fruit. Don’t serve fruit to a dog that has been diagnosed with serious health issues like diabetes, pancreatitis or kidney disease, and always confirm with your veterinarian before introducing any new foods to your dog’s diet.
