Watermelon Wonder: A Refreshing Dog Treat!

Watermelon is a beautiful fruit that is enjoyed all around the world during the summer months. It can be delicious and quite refreshing on a warm summer’s day. You may be wondering if this is something that you can share with your furry friend. Can dogs eat watermelon?

Yes, dogs can eat watermelon. There is nothing in the watermelon that is toxic or poisonous to dogs. So your dog can enjoy a fresh slice right along with you. However, there are some precautions. First, don’t give your dog watermelon if you plan to take the dog in the car, or plan to go out for an errand. It will surely have to pee fairly quickly after consuming the watermelon. It is best to get the seedless variety, the seeds can cause a blockage in the intestines if too many are consumed. Also, avoid feeding your dog the watermelon rind.

Just like dogs, watermelon is also safe for puppies to eat. If you are currently working on house training your puppy, it is not advisable to give a lot of watermelon to it. Watermelon is made up of about 92% water. So the puppy must be let outside much more often until all the excess water passes through its digestive system.

Watermelon also has some essential nutrients that are only found in fruits. One of the essential nutrients is lycopene. This mineral has many health benefits for your dog. It has anti-cancer properties, and can also promote healthy eyes. Watermelon is also high in vitamin C, Potassium and has zero fat, cholesterol, or sodium.

Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Seeds?

Watermelon seeds should not be fed to your dog. A few seeds will not be harmful to larger dogs, however when your dog eats a larger amount of watermelon seed it may have a GI issue. The seeds are hard for the dog to digest, and as a result, they can cause bowel obstruction. If too much watermelon is consumed at once time, the dog can form a mass of seeds in the GI tract that needs to be surgically removed. The best kind of watermelon to give to a dog is the seedless variety.

can dogs eat watermelon rinds?

If your dog happens to grab a rind out of the garbage and eat it, there is nothing to worry about. Chances are pretty high that the dog will not have any issues with just one rind. however, if your dog gets into the garbage or your compost pile and eats a lot of rinds there could be some issues. Watermelon rind is not poison to dogs, however, it can cause some GI tract issues. If too much is consumed, the dog may end up vomiting or have some diarrhea. You should also be on the lookout for the possibility of a GI blockage. While this is not common from the rind, it can happen.

how much watermelon can dogs eat?

The amount of watermelon you can feed your dog is based on a percentage of their daily food intake. This really does depend on the diet you are feeding your dog. Only having experience with raw-fed dogs, I can say that fruits do not exceed 2% of my dog’s diet. If you feed kibble I have heard you can use up to 10% of other items per day as treats.

It is really just a rough guideline so you do not throw the dog’s diet out of balance. Use common sense, do not give your dog a whole large watermelon or your asking for trouble. The dog could end up peeing all over your house or worse yet, I will leave that up to your imagination. It is best to only give your dog a small amount as a treat, and always test its tolerance using small amounts. If your dog handles it fine and does not have underlying health issues, you can give more each time up to the 10% guideline.

Can dogs with kidney disease eat watermelon?

Watermelon can be fed to dogs with kidney disease. Some dogs will lose their appetite as the disease progresses, watermelon and other fruits can be used to stimulate their appetite. A 100-gram serving of watermelon contains just 11 mg of phosphorus. Its low phosphorous content makes it an ideal treat for your dog.

Can diabetic dogs eat watermelon?

Just like humans, dogs with diabetes should have a diet that limits their sugar intake. Watermelon is not a low-sugar fruit, they are almost 6% sugar by weight. So if your dog is suffering from diabetes, you should only give the dog a small amount of watermelon if any at all. Look for low-sugar alternatives such as mung bean sprouts, cauliflower, or cucumbers. Many of the fruits that are safe to eat for a healthy dog are not safe for a diabetic dog due to the sugars.

Can watermelon give dogs diarrhea?

Unfortunately, any new food that you give your dog has the potential to give a dog diarrhea. Just like humans, not all dogs can tolerate the same foods. The best way to avoid upsetting your dog’s delicate GI tract is to access tolerance to the watermelon. This can be done by giving your dog a small piece the first time. Wait a day or two before you give the dog any more. This gives your dog time to fully digest it, and you can see if there are any side effects.

What should I do if my dog eats watermelon?

There is really nothing to do in most cases. It depends on how much was eaten. If it was a small amount and you do not suspect the dog has a bowel obstruction from the rind, you have nothing to worry about. However, if a large amount was consumed you should be prepared to walk the dog often for the next few hours until all of the excess water is expelled. Vomiting and diarrhea can occur, if this happens hold off on new food for 24 hours. Once it’s been 24 hours without vomiting or loose stools, you can start the dog on a bland diet.

Summary: Can Dogs Eat Watermelon

Dogs can eat watermelon safely in moderation
Dogs with diabetes should not be fed a large amount of the fruit due to its high sugar content
Watermelon has some necessary vitamins that benefit a dog’s health
If your dog does not like watermelon try the following: Honeydew, Pears, and Mango.