Wondering can dogs eat watermelon? While it shouldn’t be a habit to feed your dog people food, you can certainly give them watermelon. Not only is it a tasty treat and a refreshing snack for your pooch, but it also has plenty of health benefits for them too.
What are the health benefits of feeding my dog watermelon?
Watermelon is made up of 92% water. This makes it the perfect summer treat on a hot day as it will boost hydration for your dog. The benefits of watermelon don’t stop there. This juicy fruit is packed with nutrients, such as:
- Vitamins A, B1, B5, B6, and C
- Minerals including potassium and magnesium
- Antioxidants including beta-carotene and lycopene
- Fiber content
- Low in calories
Vitamin A is good for eye, cell, and immune health. B6 helps your dog’s coat and skin stay healthy, and vitamin C will boost their immune system.
Fiber will help your dog’s digestive system. The antioxidants will help fight free radicals, which can damage your pup’s cells.
This fruit also contains sugar, so you’ll want to be wary of that as well. Luckily, watermelon is true to its name and contains mostly water content which will boost hydration.
What parts of a watermelon can dogs not eat?
Keep in mind that parts of the watermelon, the seeds, and the rind that your dog can’t eat.
Watermelon rind
While the rind isn’t toxic for dogs, it is difficult to digest, resulting in issues with their digestive tract. Also, it’s tough to chew, which can hurt your dog’s teeth and gums.
Watermelon seeds
The seeds may cause intestinal blockage, especially in small dogs. Too many seeds will cause them to get sick and hurt their digestive tract, making it harder for your dog to go to the bathroom, causing more problems.
Feeding your dog this healthy treat will allow them many health benefits since watermelon contains many nutrients. Just be sure you serve it to your pet the right way.
How to feed your dog watermelon
So, how can dogs eat watermelon? Fresh fruit is always the way to go when giving your dog this healthy snack. Watermelon flavored food is something to stay away from as these typically contain added sugars and artificial sweeteners. When buying watermelon, be sure to buy organic so that it’s free of pesticides, even though you won’t be giving your dog the skin or the rind. Buying seedless watermelon is a great idea, as well.
It’s always a good idea to check the watermelon for seeds anyway. Cut the watermelon into bite-sized chunks for your dog to safely eat. This way, you’ll be able to cut off the rind easily and pick out any seeds you happen to notice.
Fresh watermelon is the healthiest way to give watermelon to your dog. However, you can add watermelon to your dog’s diet in many ways. For example, you can freeze watermelon ice cubes to put into their water bowl on a warm day. Frozen watermelon will also be a sweet treat to give your dog, like a popsicle.
You can also blend fresh or frozen watermelon and create a slushy texture for your dog to lap up in their bowl. This fruit is also soft and easy to chew, but pureed watermelon will make it even easier if your dog is older or feeling under the weather.
If you have a dehydrator at home, you can also give your dog watermelon jerky. These treats will make a great alternative for training treats, though this process will take out most of the water.
Check out some of these yummy watermelon recipes to feed your dog
You can give your pet this yummy food in a few unique ways. Here are some clever watermelon recipes for your dogs. Be sure to talk to your vet before trying anything new with your pet.
- Frosty Watermelon Dog Treat
- Frozen Watermelon, Blueberry, and Yogurt Dog Treats
- Watermelon Carrot Pupsicle
- Watermelon Dog Treat Popsicles
How much watermelon is too much?
90% of your dog’s diet should be their commercial dog food. While seedless watermelon is safe for dogs, too much can pose a problem. For instance, your pet may get an upset stomach, constipation, or diarrhea.
Watermelon for dogs makes healthy dog treats
Dogs eat watermelon in many different ways. While it does have sugar, your dogs can happily munch on this tasty fruit. Be careful about the rind and seeds so that your pet doesn’t accidentally eat or chew those parts. A little bit of watermelon can go a long way, especially for small dogs.
Watermelon is great for your pet, but always check in with their vet before trying anything new.
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