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Can Dogs Eat Watermelon

Can Dogs Eat Watermelon
Latest posts by Tom Goemaere (see all)

Summer is synonymous with huge watermelons. We all know that once you open one up, the clock starts ticking before it goes bad. You and your family might not be able to finish a large one in time. So, you might be thinking about getting some aid from man’s best friend, your dog.

So, you have a huge watermelon lying around, and you want to share it with your buddy. The single most important question to ask yourself when giving your dog something new like watermelon is if it is healthy and safe for your dog to eat. 

You might be wondering if giving your dog watermelon is bad and if you are better off just throwing it away. Well, the answer is:

Yes, your dog can eat watermelon. However, that doesn’t mean you should start buying watermelons to feed them to him. There are a couple of important things you should keep in mind. 

What Is in Watermelon, and How Should I Feed it to My Dog?

Dog and Watermelon

Watermelon has a lot of nutrients that are healthy for humans and can be beneficial for your dog. It has low calories, a decent amount of vitamins A, B6, and C. There is also quite a bit of potassium in it.

The best thing about the watermelon is how good it is to quench your thirst. It has over 90% of water content and is easy to freeze into chunks, making it perfect for both you and your dog on a hot summer day in the park.

There are multiple ways you can feed your dog watermelon. Most of them are pretty safe for your dog, as long as you take into account the tips I am giving in this article. 

Fruit is not an essential part of the diet of your dog. That means it should not be a common part of the diet. Give your dog watermelon in moderation, and make sure you can control how much your dog eats. The best way to do this is through one of the serving options below:

Fresh Chunks

The most obvious way to give your dog watermelon is to cut it into small cubes. Make sure you remove the rinds from the watermelon and any seeds. This makes it a lot safer for your dog. If it is the first time giving your dog watermelon, you should only give a couple of small pieces. Even though it is quite rare, it is possible that your dog is allergic to fruits like watermelon. 

Frozen

The same as regular fresh chunks but frozen. Of course, you will also need to remove the rinds and the seed of the watermelon. You need to put the watermelon in the freezer and not let it thaw until you want to give them to your dog. Refreezing will mess up the taste and quality of the watermelon. It is a great way to hydrate your dog and cool your buddy off on a hot summer day. 

Purée

You will need to use fresh fruit to make watermelon purée. First, you need to remove the seeds and the rind. Then you can smash it with a fork or just use a blender. Make sure you give it to your dog right away, as it will start to oxidize and rot very quickly. 

What Benefits Does Watermelon Have for Dogs?

Dog and Watermelon

Watermelon has a lot of great stuff in it. There are a lot of vitamins in it, there is fibre in it, and it is a good source of potassium. Even though there is sugar in it, it does not contain as much as, for example, peaches or cherries. Watermelon also has lycopene. This is an antioxidant that helps prevent cancer and liver disease. 

Another good thing about watermelon is that there are – despite it being tasty – there are almost no calories in it, it is also very low in sodium, there is little fat in it, and it can be a great choice to pick over store-bought treats and snacks. 

Another benefit that watermelon has is that it hydrates your dog due to its high water content. Over 90% of this fruit is water, and it is easy to bring. Even when you freeze it, it is pretty convenient to bring and feed it to your dog if you cut it into small frozen pieces. 

What to Look Out for When Giving Your Dog Watermelon

Dog and Watermelon

What You Need to Know About Watermelon in General

Watermelon is a snack for your dog and should not be an essential or even large part of your dog’s diet. When you give too much watermelon to your dog, this can cause quite some problems for his digestion. Dogs that eat a lot of fruits can get a tummy ache and diarrhea. 

This could also be the case when you give watermelon for the first time. If your dog is not used to eating watermelon – or other fruits – he might get an upset stomach. This is why you should always give your dog new food in moderation. 

If you do not know if you should give watermelon, or if you are afraid it will harm your dog, ask your veterinarian, or just abstain from giving it.

Not Every Part of the Watermelon is Safe

Watermelon has the flesh, the rind, and the seed. Let’s start with the seeds. While your dog won’t have any problems after eating a seed or two, you should still make sure you remove as many of them as possible.

If your dog eats a large amount of these seeds, his digestive tract might get blocked. While most dogs have little to no problem passing the seeds, a smaller dog might have a lot more issues passing seeds. 

The rinds or the skin of the watermelon is the most dangerous part of the watermelon. While a lot of dogs know that they should not eat it, some dogs do eat them completely without care.

The rinds are very hard to digest for dogs. If your dog eats it and does not chew it very well, it can cause an intestinal blockage. While large dogs will probably be able to pass the rinds without too much problem, the smaller dogs have a lot higher risk. 

If your dog has eaten rinds or seeds, it is best to bring your dog to the vet if he starts to vomit or seems to be suffering from constipation. It can take more than 24 hours before you start seeing signs of your dog suffering from constipation from the watermelon, so keep an eye on him. 

Only Give Fresh Watermelon

If you still want to give your dog watermelon, you should make sure it is as fresh as possible. Do not give canned watermelon or watermelon that could have been treated with artificial sweeteners, chemicals, or other bad things. 

Watermelon that is not fresh usually has more sugar than the regular kind of watermelon. This can give your dog gastrointestinal upsets and might even lead to diabetes and obesity after a while. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Giving your Dog Watermelons

Dog and Watermelon
Question: How Much Watermelon Can a Dog Safely Eat?

Answer: The amount of watermelon a dog can safely eat in a day depends on the size of your dog and how tolerant he is to fruit. You should not push any limits, as watermelon is a snack and should not be an integral part of your dog’s diet. A good amount of watermelon for a dog is about a cup.
This watermelon should be diced, and the seeds and rinds should be removed. It is important not to give too much watermelon to your dog, as this can give the dog a couple of problems. Most importantly, your dog can get diarrhea if you give too much watermelon. If you do not remove the seeds, it is also possible that your dog’s intestines will get blocked. 

Question: What Are Healthy Fruits for Dogs to Eat?

Answer: Keep in mind; dogs are carnivorous. This means that fruits are not an essential part of their diet and should only be given in moderation. Fruits can be good for your dog, but only in small amounts. Your dog should get its nutrition from regular dog food; anything else that fruit adds to his diet is a bonus, not a replacement.
Apple – Dogs can eat apples. They have a bit of vitamin A and C and useful fibre. Your dog will like them if you remove the seeds and the core first. Since they are low in protein and fat, they are a great snack for older dogs. 
Bananas – You can give a couple of pieces of bananas to your dogs. They have a lot of vitamins, biotin, fibre, and copper in them, so they can be added to the diet of your dog. However, the main problem with bananas is how much fructose (sugar) there is in them. Giving too much banana can cause a stomach upset or cause diabetes in the long term.
Blueberries – Your dogs will probably look at you eating blueberries with longing eyes. You can feed them a couple, as it wouldn’t hurt them. They can even be healthy for your dog if you give them in small amounts. Blueberries have a lot of essential vitamins and minerals. Another good thing about blueberries is that they are full of antioxidants. This can prevent cancer and has a good effect on the liver. However, they should only be given one by one in moderation. You can give your dog these as a treat while training instead of other regular in-store food.
Peaches – Dogs can eat peaches too. They are a good source of vitamin A and contain a lot of healthy fibre. However, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind when feeding your dog peaches. First, you should wash it very thoroughly, and second, you need to make sure you remove the stone (the peach pit) before giving it to your dog, and, of course, you should not give too many.
Pears – Dogs can eat pears too. They are one of the best snacks to give to your dog. The pear contains quite a bit of copper and a lot of fibre. It also has a good effect on the hearts of both humans and dogs. However, you need to make sure your pears are fresh and washed. Canned pears covered in syrup are unhealthy.

Question: Why Do Dogs Like to Eat Watermelon?

Answer: Dogs mainly like watermelon for the taste and how refreshing it is. While it is sweet, it is not too sweet for them. If you give them a fresh, cool watermelon, they will enjoy the fact that it hydrates and cools them off. Some frozen chunks of watermelon are a good choice if you are looking for a good snack for your dog to help him get through a warm day. 

Question: Can I Give My Dog Watermelon Every Day?

Answer: No, you should not make watermelon a regular part of your dog’s diet. At most, it has some benefits as a snack and adds some vitamins to his diet.
However, giving it as a portion of your dog’s daily food is going to upset your dog’s stomach and might give him diarrhea or worse. You should also make sure you remove all the seeds, as that too can be harmful to your dog’s digestion system. 

Conclusion: Watermelon Can be a Decent Occasional Snack for Your Dog

Watermelon is a good snack to give your dog when he/she is a good boy or girl. However, you should only give it in moderation. Giving your dog some watermelon that is frozen or very cool is a good way to cool him or her off during a hot summer. 

If you are giving your dog watermelon, you should always keep a couple of important tips in mind. First, you will need to remove as many seeds as possible. Dogs – and smaller ones in particular – can have a blockage in their intestines. Second, the rinds should also be removed to make sure your dog does not eat, as this can also cause a blockage. 

If it is the very first time giving your dog watermelon, give him only very small fresh pieces. Dogs’ stomachs can get upset when they eat a certain kind of food, and fruits in particular. This can give them stomach aches and diarrhea. Starting with very small chunks is also a good way to see if your dog is allergic or not to watermelon. 

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