Dogs can eat a wide range of fruits in moderation. So, you may be wondering, can dogs eat pomegranate? The short answer is maybe. Unfortunately, it’s not a clear-cut answer as a simple yes or no. While there are health benefits to feeding this fruit to your pup, some ingredients within the fruit can make your dog sick.
In other words, it will depend on your dog and its digestive system. Some pups will be able to handle the pomegranate while others can’t. You’ll also want to be careful of your dog’s size. Larger dog breeds will be able to handle more human food before getting sick than small dogs. As always, be sure to check in with your veterinarian before trying any new foods with your pet.
What are the health benefits of feeding dogs pomegranate?
No matter how you feed this fruit to your dog, whether it’s a fresh pomegranate, juice, or extract, there are quite a few nutrients that your pooch will get into their system. For instance, pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and folic acid. All of this means that your dog’s immune system will get a nice boost, and the pomegranate will help stave off certain diseases. The fiber will help with your dog’s digestive system as well.
Pomegranates contain tannins, which are believed to help prevent heart disease for dogs. On the flip side, this is also believed to cause a stomach upset for dogs when they eat the fruit. The good news is dog treats that contain pomegranate as ingredients show little tannins within the nutrients. So, while giving your dog the fruit may be up in the air, you can certainly feed your dog pomegranate-flavored dog treats to be on the safe side.
What are the risks of feeding dogs pomegranate?
Every dog’s digestive system is different. This fruit causes some to get sick while others might be able to handle it better. However, that doesn’t mean you should feed your dog a whole pomegranate. Some say to avoid this fruit altogether, which is why speaking to your veterinarian about it first is a good idea. If you decide to try this fruit with your dog, be sure to do so in small quantities and only in moderation.
Parts of the pomegranate
The skin of the pomegranate should be thrown away immediately. The peel is rough for your dog to chew and, if swallowed, it could create an obstruction, thus causing your pup to get sick. Alternatively, the skin poses a choking hazard. Because it’s tough to chew (some dogs forget to chew altogether), then large pieces of the peel might get lodged in your dog’s throat, and they will begin choking.
The only safe part of this fruit is the seeds. Even then, the seeds pose a problem. The pomegranate juices are inside the seeds, and humans know enough to eat the seeds, extract the juices, and then spit out the seeds. The seeds can be ingested, but some people don’t like them. Dogs don’t know to spit out the seeds. If they eat too much of it, then they may get an upset stomach or begin vomiting.
What happens if dogs eat too much pomegranate?
If your dog eats too much of the fruit or they eat parts of the fruit, they’re not supposed to, that’s okay. The best thing to do is call your vet immediately to let them know. Give your dog plenty of water and monitor their reaction for the next day or two.
When the pomegranate doesn’t agree with your dog’s system, they will try to expel the fruit through vomiting. This is normal, and your dog will quickly recover when it’s over. However, if you notice the vomiting is severe and it’s lasting longer than it should, that’s when you should call your vet to be seen possibly.
Eating too much pomegranate won’t be fatal for your dog, but it might be best to stay away from this fruit just in case. Tossing them a few seeds here and there may be okay, as long as their system agrees with it. If you want to give your pooch some pomegranate in their diet, you can certainly try some of these homemade dog treat ideas.
- 3-Ingredient Pomegranate Dog Treat Recipe
- Gluten-Free Pomegranate Tapioca Dog Treats
- Honey Pomegranate Chicken
- Pomegranate Dog Treat Recipe
Should you give your dog pomegranate?
Can dogs eat pomegranate? Technically, yes, in small quantities and moderation. If you’re unsure about how this fruit may react with your dog’s digestive system, then it’s probably better to stay away from the fruit. However, you can always talk it over with your dog’s vet to be on the safe side. Pomegranate can give some health boosts to your doggo, but it could always make them sick. So, feed pomegranate to your dog only if it’s okay with their vet.
Similar reading: what else can dogs eat?
