Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Health Benefits & Precautions

Watermelon is a lovely summer classic, making our summer picnics memorable. But is it okay for our dogs to eat it? If you are feeling bad eating Watermelon while your pet watches your face in hope and wondering, Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Your instincts may have been partially correct if you’ve been enjoying this sweet treat but haven’t given any to your Dog out of concern for their well-being. However, when adequately offered to dogs, Watermelon can be a nutritious treat. So let’s check out the Can dogs eat watermelon article from here.

Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?

Yes!

Packed with good nutrients, Watermelon is a pink, juicy fruit that is helpful to humans and our furry friends. As clear as it is, Watermelon is full of lots of water, making it a hydrating sweet retreat for our Dogs. Let’s check out more about on Can dogs eat watermelon guide.

Watermelon is also a fantastic source of vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and lycopene. This melon has no fat or cholesterol and is low in calories. It also has fibre, which can support a healthy digestive system. It contains some sugar, which is mostly part of water and shouldn’t increase unhealthful blood sugar.

Health Benefits of Watermelon for Dogs:

Though it has already been discussed above, here is a detailed overview of Can Dogs Eat Watermelon and its health benefits for Dogs.

1. Gives relief to constipation: Watermelon has about 92% water making it an ideal fruit for Dogs as they require water for almost every bodily metabolic function.
2. Healthy summer treat: Watermelon has 7.5 % carbohydrates, no cholesterol, and is low in calories
3. Improves the immune system of Dogs: Watermelon is also loaded with amino acids, antioxidants, and many types of vitamins.
4. Loaded with nutrients: Some nutrients which Watermelon contains are vitamins A, B6, C, lycopene, and  L-citrulline.
5. Quick overview of each vitamin:

• L-citrulline:  eases muscle soreness after a long run of Dogs, especially if your Dog is athletic; Watermelon is a go-to fruit.
• Vitamin A: Gives your Dog’s immune system a boost and also protects the Dog’s body from free radical damage.
• Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties that inhibit the spread of carcinogenic particles in your Dog’s body.
• Lycopene: Helps in the overall well-being of the Dog’s body by preventing any cell damage. Especially useful for Dogs having cardiovascular disease or cancer.

How to Feed Watermelon to Your Dog?

Now that you have the answer to Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? The next doubt on this Can dogs eat watermelon is, How should you give your Dog this treat? It would be best if you did little preparation while serving Watermelon to your puppy.

Some recommendations you should remember in this Can dogs eat watermelon guide are:

• Only Feed the Watermelon Flesh:

Watermelons have seeds and rinds, as most fruits do. Make sure to avoid both. Watermelon Rind though non-toxic could cause choking in Dogs. The shell also makes it hard for the digestive system of Dogs to break down. This means the watermelon rind could cause digestive problems like GI (gastrointestinal tract) obstruction and upset stomach.

Watermelon seeds are also potential causes of digestive problems when given to Dogs. Here, seeds include the black and the white seeds engaged in the Watermelon. Use a melon baller or a knife to extract the fruit. While large Dogs would not face many problems if they accidentally consume seeds but it is a natural hazard for small Dogs. You should immediately consult a vet if your Dog ingests any large items by chance.

• Feed-in Small Pieces:

When giving any new fruit to your Dog, cut it into small pieces to avoid any intestinal damage. For example, feed the amount of Watermelon according to Your Dog’s size; if you have a small Dog, don’t feed the entire piece at once.

Some giant dogs have the habit of swallowing the whole thing at once, which could cause problems. Also, while introducing any new fruit, consider aiding it with a probiotic to prevent any uneasy digestive mess. Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Yes, they can, but you must prepare it before feeding it to them.

• Only Feed Natural Watermelon:

Since store-bought fruits and juices are mixed with sweeteners, additives, and chemicals to keep them fresh for months, give your Dog actual Watermelon. Store-bought treats are high in sugar than the raw version of the same fruits.

These could be harmful to Dogs as it is heavy and hard to digest. Also, avoid artificially flavoured watermelon candies or treats as they may include additional substances, sugars which are again damaging for Dogs. Instead, stick to basic, freshly prepared Watermelon instead of artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Any sweet treat containing Watermelon but not Watermelon itself does not answer Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?

• Make it a Frozen Treat:

Watermelon is a highly hydrating fruit; the water content increases even more when frozen. Some of the ways we suggest are to make watermelon puree and ice cream or serve watermelon ice cubes to Dogs.

For the watermelon cubes, cut them into small pieces. Freeze the fruit in the freezer and feed it to your Dog on a hot summer day. For Watermelon ice cream, blend the watermelon pieces with unsweetened yoghurt. In this case, it is good to be careful about your Dog’s preferences, like lactose intolerance. If any allergies exist, match the fruit with the appropriate appetizer.

Do not forget to remove watermelon seeds (both black and white) and rinds in all cases before cutting them into pieces.

When is Watermelon Harmful to Dogs?

If you have come this far, you have the answer to Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? But some precautions to follow are essential to know. First, according to Preventive Vet, treats of any form should not account for more than 10% of your Dog’s daily caloric consumption. So even if you might feel tempted to share your seasonal delicacies with your pup, your Dog should acquire the nutrients they need from their regular pet food.

Dogs who consume too much Watermelon are likely to have stomach pain, diarrhoea, or other gastrointestinal distress symptoms. In addition, make sure to consult your veterinarian before giving your dog any human food.

Watermelon contains sugar, but the high amount of fibre acts as an insulator for sugar, letting it into the bloodstream slower than sugar. But, if your Dog has diabetes, the Watermelon should not be fed until your vet advises the size and make it a part of your Dog’s diet.

Final Thoughts:

Hope you like this Can dogs eat watermelon guide from here. No doubt, Watermelon is a juicy, hydrating, and sweet summer classic; and is an excellent source of good nutrients. This makes an ideal fruit to share with your puppy. However, when giving any new fruit to your Dog, prepare it beforehand to block unwanted problems as long as it is administered safely and sparingly. It isn’t easy to top Watermelon as a dog treat. So this is all about the Can dogs eat watermelon guide.

Provide each fruit in moderation since nearly all fruits have natural sugars which are hard for dogs to digest. Back to our fundamental doubt – Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Well, they definitely can. You can unwind by giving your Dog a few nibbles of seedless Watermelon. If you have any more doubts about this Can dogs eat watermelon article then you can comment here below?

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) –

1. How Much Watermelon Can I Give to My Dog?

Your Dog can benefit from only one cup of diced, seedless Watermelon by Maintaining immune system health.

2. Can Watermelon Give Dogs Diarrhoea?

A stomach ache, diarrhoea, constipation, or even long-term obesity and diabetes can result from consuming too much of any one delicacy, even Watermelon. So do not forget to limit treats like Watermelon to 10% or less of your Dog’s diet.

3. Why Do Dogs Love Watermelon?

Since 92 per cent of Watermelon is, you guessed it, water, the juicy fruit is excellent for hydrating animals and avoiding heat stroke. Additionally, it is loaded with vitamins A, B6, and C, which help strengthen your Dog’s immune system, improve the shine of your Dog’s coat, and maintain healthy eyes and teeth.

4. What to Do if My Dog Accidentally Ate Watermelon Seeds/Rind?

Get your Dog to the animal doctor as soon as possible to avoid significant complications if your Dog ate the seeds or rind of a watermelon and you notice the symptoms of an intestinal blockage, such as vomiting, constipation, lethargy, and abdominal pain.

For at least 24 hours following your Dog eating the rind or seeds, you should keep an eye out for indications of intestinal blockage.