Nectarines Unleashed: Dogs’ Treat!
Yes, dogs can eat nectarines and they are good for them in moderation. There are a few things that you should know. While the flesh of the nectarine is safe for a dog to eat some parts are toxic to dogs. Small amounts of nectarine in a dog’s diet can help provide some essential vitamins and minerals along with some antioxidants.
Health benefits of nectarines for dogs.
Nectarines can offer dogs many health benefits if they are given in moderation. The nectarines have a bit of fiber, some vitamin A, and a small amount of vitamin C, they also have Lutein + Zeaxanthin. Both lutein and Zaexanthin are great for promoting healthy eyes in your dog. These chemicals are responsible for helping to filter out high-energy light in the dog’s eyes.
According to this Study, the two chemicals can have a measurable effect on a dog’s eye health. They supplemented the dogs in the study with 20 mg of lutein and 5 mg of zeaxanthin per day for a period of 6 months. The control group did not receive any for the 6-month study. In the end, they found a significant difference in the eye health of the dogs that received the supplement. They developed a method to measure the difference and it was statistically significant.
Nectarine Pits Pose Three Threats To Dogs:
- Choking and Obstruction Risks:
- Chewing on nectarine pits poses a choking hazard due to their size and shape.
- Swallowing a pit whole can lead to potential bowel obstruction, requiring medical intervention.
- Teeth Breakage Risk:
- Dogs that manage to break the pit while chewing risk damaging their teeth due to the hardness of the pit.
- Toxicity of Pit Pith:
- Once the pit is broken, the toxic pith becomes exposed.
- Ingesting the seed within the pit can result in the breakdown of hydrogen cyanide, a substance that causes cyanide poisoning.
- Cyanide poisoning is highly dangerous and can have severe health consequences for dogs.
Preventive Measures:
- Avoid letting your dog eat whole nectarines to prevent choking or a bowel obstruction
- Do not allow your dog to chew on nectarine pits to prevent teeth breakage
- Ensure that your dog is not exposed to the toxic pith by keeping the nectarine pits out of their reach.
- If you grown your own nectarines like I do at home, make sure you remove all the fruit that has fallen to the ground.
can dogs eat nectarines Canned?
Canned nectarines do pose a threat to dogs due to the added sugars. They are typically stored in syrup that is made of water and some sweetener. The excess sugar in the syrup is not something that a dog should consume as part of its daily diet. When a dog eats too much sugar, it can lead to obesity which can cause a multitude of health issues. Too much sugar on a daily basis can ultimately cause diabetes in the dog. It is best to avoid any canned fruits. The exception would be canned fruits that are just stored in water.
What to do if your dog ate a nectarine pit?
If your dog ate an entire nectarine pit there are a few things to watch out for. If the dog already swallowed it, you are past the first hurdle. The pit can easily get lodged in the dog’s throat if you have a smaller dog. If your dog is still chewing on the pit, take it away from it immediately.
If it did in fact swallow the seed, you need to be monitoring the dog for any changes. These types of pits can be very hard for a dog to digest. Smaller dogs may quickly end up with a bowel obstruction. If your dog starts to vomit, has diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, or any major mood swings, it would be best to schedule a visit with the dog’s regular veterinarian. These are all symptoms of a bowel obstruction which can be potentially life-threatening.
Can dogs eat nectarines and peaches?
Yes, dogs can eat both nectarines and peaches. They both pose the same exact threats to dogs. As long as you remove the pits from either of them they are safe for dogs in moderation. Do not feed a dog many at one time or the dog will likely have some GI issues. Introduce any new fruit in small amounts first, after you evaluate the dog’s tolerance to the fruit, you can feed more.
Can dogs eat dried nectarines?
Dried nectarines should not be fed to your dog. They are too high in sugar and are void of any of the benefits of fresh fruit. Dried nectarines will not kill your dog if it happens to eat some, but they should not be incorporated into the dog’s dietary routine.
Summary: Can Dogs Eat Nectarines?
- Dogs can safely eat the flesh of nectarines
- Remove the pits from the nectarines before feeding the flesh to your dog, the pit can cause bowel obstructions.
- Nectarines contain chemicals that promote eye health
- If your dog doesn’t like nectarines try these fruits: Watermelon, Honeydew, Mango, Pears, coconut.
