Can dogs eat fruits? What are the ten best fruits for dogs? You might find these questions in a silly way, but this is a good argument to have on your Sunday brunch or during high tea with friends who love dogs. You can discuss with your friends about the best fruits for dogs. This article speaks about selecting the best fruits for your dog and answers the question of whether dogs can eat fruit.
When adopting dogs we always think about the best meat for the dog, but nevertheless have we thought about giving fruits for dogs or giving vegetables for dogs? It is true, many of the fruits and vegetables that are being consumed by us can also be given to our pet dog, but you must be cautious about the type of fruit or vegetable you are going to feed your pet since some fruits or vegetables could be dangerous causing diarrhea or vomiting. When giving fruits for dogs you should be very specific since in general fruits consists of a high level of sugar compared to vegetables.
When giving fruits to your dog you should always make sure that you remove the inedible skin, rinds, seeds, and pits before feeding. You should also wash the fruits always when you feed fruits for your dog.
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Why are fruits good for dogs?
A recent research conducted has shown a reduced rate of cancer in Scottish Terrier who has had leafy greens three times a week. Also, many other promising studies have proved that giving fruits and vegetables to your dog is good for dog’s health. Though dogs are carnivorous it would be a better treat for them to be given a fruit once in a while. Given a fruit to your dog would help in with stomach upset, freshen your dog’s breath, boost its immune system and the heart health and also help to tidy up the digestive tract.
What are the healthy fruits for dogs?
After looking into the question why fruits are good for dogs, we should now find out what fruits are good for dogs. Just like us, dogs can eat Bananas, blackberries, pineapples, blueberries, apples, kiwis, oranges, strawberries, pears, and watermelon. Research recommends the above list of fruits as the best fruits for dogs. These fruits give similar health benefits to dogs as well as what they give to us humans. These fruits help in digestion, antioxidants, boosts immunity, gives better eyesight, and gives healthier skin and hair.
But you should also remember what fruits are not good for your dog. For an example, you should never feed your dog with avocado. Avocados have a toxin called Persin in its skin, pit and the leaves. This toxin often causes vomiting and diarrhea in dogs even though it is very good for the dog owner. Likewise, before giving fruits to your dog you should always check whether it is good for your dog.
Now we will discuss briefly the ten fruits which have been identified as the best fruits for dogs.
01. Bananas
This is the best low-calorie fruit for your dog. This fruit is high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. High fiber in bananas helps your dog if it is having gastrointestinal problems. Magnesium in bananas helps the growth of the bones of your dog and absorb vitamins.
You can mash the banana and mix it with your dog food or you can mix it with a little yogurt or peanut butter and feed it. One inch of Banana is the best portion for your dog’s meal.
But you should always make sure that you do not feed your dog with banana peels since it contains toxins which can be hard for dogs to digest and might even cause blockage in the digestion system.
02. Blackberries
The Blackberries are the source of antioxidants, polyphenols, tannin, fiber, manganese, folate, omega-3 for your dog in your list of fruits for your dog. Blackberries are also high in vitamin C, K, A, and E.
A treat of two or three blackberries is a good size of the treat for your list of fruits for dogs.
03. Pineapples
Raw pineapples also healthy fruits for dogs. It is enriched with Vitamin C, B6, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and folate. This fruit also has minerals which include manganese, copper, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus and zinc. This helps your dogs’ immune system and the digestive health. Pineapple should always be fed in smaller quantities since it contains high amounts of sugar and feeding in larger quantities can result in digestive problems in your dog.
If your dog gets diarrhea or an upset stomach after been fed with pineapple, then it is not the best fruit for your dog. Also, ensure that you feed only the flesh of pineapple avoid feeding the skin of the fruit because of its spiny skin. During summer you can feed your dog with frozen pieces of pineapple. You should always feed your dog with small amounts of raw pineapple. This would turn out to be a perfect snack for your dog.
04. Blueberries
This is a super fruit which is rich in antioxidants and which is best in your list of fruits for dogs. They also have fiber and phytochemicals. Blueberries are very low in calories. They also have high counts of vitamin C and fiber which could boost the immune system of your dog. Blueberries are one of the best fruits for dogs since it helps strengthen the immune system by fighting free radicals naturally.
Having more antioxidants in your dog’s meal can reduce the effects of brain aging. There is no specific measurement in feeding your dog with blueberries, you can make him learn to fetch by throwing blueberries into the sky. Blueberries are high in fiber and too much of feeding blueberries o your dog can cause gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea.
05. Apples
The Apples are the best source of Vitamin A and C for your dog. Apples are also the best source of fiber for your dog. Apples are the best fruit for your older dogs since it is very low in protein and fat. But you should always make sure that you remove the seeds and the core before feeding them. Seeds contain cyanide which is toxic for dogs. The core can be a choking hazard for the dog.
You can treat your dog with Dog Apple Pretzels. Feed the dogs with apple slices. But be on alert about the amount of apple you feed since too many apples can cause bellyache and diarrhea.
Apple also helps to clean the residue off teeth and freshen the breath.
06. Kiwis
By feeding Kiwis you can give your dog a lot of Vitamin C, potassium, fiber and beta-carotene. You must be prudent of the kiwi portion that you feed your dog since too much of kiwis could cause a possibility of an upset stomach or doggie diarrhea. Kiwi can protect against cellular oxidative damage. Kiwi can also improve respiratory diseases which are specifically asthma due to its high level of Vitamin C. The flavonoids and carotenoids in Kiwi make them a fabulous anti-cancer food. Kiwi should always be kept as a special treat in your list of fruits for dogs.
Half a slice or once slice of Kiwi is the best size of a treat for your dog. Dogs should not eat the seeds or the skin of the fruit since seeds are toxic and the skin is a choking hazard. You can feed your dog with raw or cooked kiwi. If you choose to feed dried kiwi to your dog, make sure that you select the brand with a low level of sugar since kiwi has a considerable amount of sugar in kiwi. Kiwi should be cut into slices and fed. This should be a treat in your list of fruits for dogs. Kiwi could ease the pain and discomfort of hip dysplasia, arthritis, and spinal issues.
07. Oranges
The Oranges are one best source of Vitamin C, potassium, thiamine, folate and fiber to dogs while being low in sodium. Oranges should be fed in smaller quantities and you should feed it without the peel and the seeds since they are hard to digest, but orange peels are not toxic to dogs, yet it is best to peel off and feed. Oranges will not be a good fruit for obese dogs since oranges contain natural sugars and could cause digestive upset in some dogs. In order to test whether oranges suit your dog’s diet the best way is to start by feeding a portion or two and then gradually increase with the level of reaction.
However, the consumption of oranges should always be limited to one orange per day and not more than one. The best portion is a segment of two of an orange. Overconsumption of oranges can always cause the digestive upset of your dog. However, eating oranges could have a positive effect on the immune system of your dog.
08. Strawberries
Do you want to let your dog have a set of white teeth? Then feed him strawberries. The enzymes in strawberries help to whiten the teeth of your dog. Strawberries are full of vitamin C and fiber. Yet you should always pay attention to the portion that you feed since strawberries have a high sugar level and they could always be recommended being fed in moderation. When feeding your dog with strawberries you should always cut the strawberry into small pieces to avoid choking and help digestion. Strawberries contain fiber which helps in digestion. It also has Omega 3 which is good for the skin and coat health. This should also be included in your fruits for dogs list during Summer.
Strawberries could be best loved during the summer season. Strawberries are also a good source of vitamin C, B1, B6 and K, potassium, iodine, magnesium and folic acid. This fruit gives your dog a health boost whilst being the yummiest fruit in the list of fruits for dogs. However, too many strawberries can result in gastrointestinal upset. There could also be times when your dog becomes allergic to strawberries, this could rarely lead to anaphylaxis which could potentially be a life-threatening situation.
09. Pears
Pears are high in copper, vitamin A, C, E B1 and B2, folic acid, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, copper, pectin, and fiber. Feeding this fruit for dogs can reduce the risk of having a stroke by 50 percent. When feeding pears to your dogs make sure that you cut pears into bite-size pieces to avoid choking and remove the pit and seeds. The seeds of pears contain cyanide. Like other fruits feeding too much of pears could cause an upset stomach to your dog. You should only serve on a slice of pears to your dog. Fresh ripe pears are the best for your dog. Canned pears are harmful to your dogs since they contain too much sugar. Keep in mind that you should never give your dog a rotten pear. Rotten pears can cause severe stomach ache and problems in your dog.
10. Watermelon
Watermelons are another important addition to your list of fruits for dogs during the summer. Watermelon is a health-food powerhouse which is low in calories and packed with vitamin A, B6 and C, and potassium. This fruit has only about 50 percent of calories and 92 percent of water. Watermelons are best for your dog during the summer season since it is great for hydration for a hot day. When feeding your dog with watermelon you should always remove the seeds and keep away the skin. The skin could be a choking hazard and seeds could cause intestinal blockage. Chewing the rind can also cause gastrointestinal upset.
Watermelon also has plenty of beta-carotene and magnesium. Watermelon can always cause a certain level of diarrhea to your dog. This could also increase the urination of your dog. As a precaution giving a few slices is best advised. Watermelon could be cut into small pieces and fed to your dog.
As teacup dog lovers we should always give very clean and healthy meal for our dogs to keep them healthy and live longer. Feeding dogs with the fresh fruits also very important thing to make them healthy. If you have a doubt about which fruits for dogs are good, our article will help you to choose best and healthy fruits for dogs.
