can dogs eat watermelon

Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?

Dog owners commonly ponder about the toxicity of foods. The questions about the safety of different foods increased after learning that certain foods were toxic which led to a lot of press coverage. The most important foods are Chocolate, Grapes and Raisins, and Peanut Butter. Exposure to the dangers of these foods has encouraged pet owners to ask about other human foods such as can dogs eat bananas. Learn more about what dogs can and can’t eat in this article: The Ultimate Guide to What Dogs Can’t Eat.

Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?

Watermelon is a large fruit of a plant from the gourd family that grows on the ground on a vine. It has green striped skin, red pulp with high water content, and seeds. There are new “seedless” varieties of watermelon. The flowing watermelon plant is cultivated from West Africa.

When researching the safety and danger of watermelons for dogs, there are a couple of considerations. First is the potential for blockage from the stems, seeds, rind, and leaves. Dogs that have exposure to gardens and eat the leaves can develop gastrointestinal upset and potential blockage. The same is true for dogs that eat the rind or large amounts of seeds. The second is the risk of choking when eating large pieces or in some cases whole large pieces of watermelons.

The answer to the question, can dogs eat watermelons…the answer is yes. Dogs can eat watermelon. Dogs often love the crunchy soft texture and enjoy it as a healthy snack. Watermelon is a good source of water (watermelon is about 92% water), nitric oxide, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium.

Although watermelon is considered safe, any food can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs. What does not bother some dogs does bother others. The same can happen in people. Some foods can bother one person but not another.

The Dangers of Watermelons to Dogs

Ingestion of large amounts of stems, seeds, rind, and leaves of watermelons can cause a gastrointestinal blockage. A few watermelon seeds are not likely to be harmful but it is best to cut out the seeds before giving to your dog. The watermelon rind is not very digestible and can cause gastrointestinal upset and intestinal blockage.

Do Dogs Need Watermelons?

There is nothing in watermelons that dogs require. What dogs do need is a high-quality AAFCO approved dog food. Learn more about Nutrition for Dogs.

The Safest Way to Give Watermelons to Dogs

The safest way to give watermelon to your dog is to offer small pieces or sliced watermelon without the rind and seeds. You can purchase the unseeded watermelon varieties which are great options.