Can dogs have watermelon? Yes, your dog can have watermelon.
As a dog owner, we know you care about your pet’s nutrition and health. However, it’s always safe to be careful about all the human foods you feed your dogs. It is better to seek expert advice before introducing any new food to your dogs that they haven’t tried before.
Not All Parts of Watermelon Are Good For Dogs
Can Dogs Have Watermelon Seeds?
Few seeds are okay. Too many watermelon seeds can cause abdominal pain as a result of intestinal blockage. You should remove most of the seeds before you feed watermelon to your loved companion. Most of the supermarkets today carry seedless watermelon.
Can Dogs Have Watermelon Rind/Skin/Peel?
While watermelon rind has some vitamins and nutrients, it’s difficult to chew and hard to digest for dogs and might cause tummy upset. You should not allow your dog to eat watermelon skin. It may end up upsetting your pup’s gastrointestinal system.
Can Dogs Have Watermelon Leaves?
Watermelon leaves are not proper food for your dog. Any dog that consumes watermelon leaves will develop gastrointestinal difficulties and can even lead to intestinal blockage.
Benefits of Watermelon To Your Dog?
Consuming this nutritious fruit, your dog will enjoy numerous health benefits.
“Watermelons are mostly water — about 92 percent — but this refreshing fruit is soaked with nutrients. Each juicy bite has significant levels of vitamins A, B6, C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants, and amino acids.” These nutrients are beneficial to your dog’s healthy growth while strengthening his immunity.
According to livescience
Watermelon also is a good source of dietary fiber and potassium. Fiber is helpful to dogs digestive system.
92% of watermelon is made out of water. Regular consumption of watermelon helps your pup stay hydrated. In hot summer days, watermelon is the ultimate refreshing treat.
Since watermelon is rich in water content, fiber, and low in calories, with no cholesterol or fats, it is the perfect dog food if your pet suffers from excess weight, and you need to control his diet.
“Watermelon is one of the unique sources having readily available cis-isomeric lycopene… [Lycopene] is effective in reducing the extent of cancer insurgence, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and macular diseases.”
According to: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4464475/
Watermelon Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 2 cups diced (10 oz / 280 g)
Calories: 80 (Calories from Fat 0)
Amount per serving (and %DV*) *Percent Daily Values (%DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Total Fat: 0g (0%)
Total Carbohydrate: 21g (7%)
Dietary Fiber: 1g (4%)
Sugars: 20g
Cholesterol: 0mg (0%)
Sodium: 0mg (0%)
Potassium: 270mg (8%)
Protein: 1g
Vitamin A: (30%)
Vitamin C: (25%)
Calcium: (2%)
Iron: (4%)
Can Dogs Have Watermelon Everyday?
Even though watermelon is a good source of nutrients, it is not recommended to excessively feed it to your dog. Because daily consumption of watermelon may lead to some negative health consequences. According to expert vets, consuming too much watermelon can upset your dog’s tummy, leading to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.
If you notice your dog getting an upset stomach after overconsuming watermelon, you should reduce his portions to small amounts, and keep an eye on his reaction. If you have any doubts, always check with your vet and seek expert guidance.
Only Provide Natural Watermelon To Your Dog
As a rule of thumb, it’s wise to purchase the best fresh food for your dog.
- It reduces the chances of your dog getting gastrointestinal issues.
- It ensures proper nutrition.
The same thing goes for purchasing watermelon.
Make sure you buy natural fresh watermelon for yourself and your dog. The supermarket is loaded with artificial watermelon products. These synthetic products lack the same nutritional profile as natural watermelon. In fact, they are filled with chemicals, sugars, and numerous other substances, that are not healthy either for you or your dog.
Can Dogs Have Frozen Watermelon?
Frozen watermelons are good for dogs when prepared correctly. Make sure the skin and all the seeds are removed during the preparation. Icy watermelon may affect your dogs’ teeth. It’s better to have frozen watermelon cut in small cube sizes.
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Ice Cream?
Most Ice creams are based on milk. Dairy is not acceptable for dogs. Their digestive system is not structured in a way to digest milk after weaning as puppies. Ice cream can lead to numerous complications, such as:
- Gas
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Ice cream also contains sugar, which is not healthy for your dogs’ health. Too much leads to overweight problems. Often Ice cream is made with artificial watermelon flavorings and coloring chemicals. It’s better to avoid these substances.
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Popsicles?
Yes, dogs can consume watermelon popsicles. However, commercial popsicles are similar to ice cream as they are loaded with sugar, flavorings, and food coloring. Make homemade popsicle using fresh watermelon at home, then you can feel free to feed it to your dog as a healthy treat.
The following are four best watermelon popsicles that are very friendly to the dog;
- Watermelon Popsicles
- Watermelon banana honey popsicles
- Watermelon blueberry star Popsicles
- Minted watermelon pops
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Gummies?
Gummies are bad for your dogs, especially when overeaten. Gummies are made using artificial sugar Xylitol. They can lead to developing numerous health conditions.
Can Dogs Have dried Watermelon or Watermelon Chips?
It is not recommended to feed your dog dried watermelon or watermelon chips. When a watermelon is dried, it loses many of its beneficial nutrients. Also, dried chips can be a choking hazard for your pup.
Can Dog Become Sick After Eating Watermelon?
Watermelon is composed of numerous parts, some are good for your dog, and others are not. The answer is yes; your dog can develop sickness after eating watermelon. Consuming some watermelon parts, such as leaves, seeds, and skin can lead to bloating and gastrointestinal issues.
Is Watermelon Good for Dog’s Coat?
Watermelon contains vitamin B6 that helps dogs coat be healthy and shiny. Watermelon should be part of a healthy overall regimen. These are a few other things that will help your pet’s coat.
- Regular baths.
- Regular brushing.
- Quality food.
- Healthy treats like watermelon.
- A diet rich in omega fatty acids.
Will Watermelon Help Dogs Poop
The dietary fiber and the water content in watermelon will have a beneficial effect on your dogs’ digestion. It can aid in having a healthy bowel movement. Make sure your dog doesn’t feed on too many seeds or watermelon rind. They will have the opposite effect.
Does Watermelon Constipate Dogs?
As we mentioned before, parts of the watermelon can cause constipation in dogs. Never allow your dog to consume watermelon rind. It is a hazardous part. When a dog ingests the rind, it will develop numerous adverse conditions such as vomiting, constipation, or lethargy.
Is Watermelon Good for Pregnant Dogs?
Watermelon is perfect for pregnant dogs. It provides them with vitamins and minerals that support their health during the pregnancy period.
Watermelon provides Fiber, Potassium, vitamins A, B6, and C that are all beneficial to a healthy dog pregnancy.
Can a diabetic dog have watermelon?
If your dog is diabetic, always check with your vet to make sure your pet is on a healthy feeding regimen. Watermelon, when taken in small amounts, should be good for them. Watermelon has a GI of 76 hence the need to moderate its consumption. GI is a measure of the rate of sugar that enters the bloodstream after eating a specific food.
Can Dogs With Kidney Failures Eat Watermelon?
Watermelon is okay for dogs with kidney failures. However, you need to moderate the amount of watermelon your dog will take. Watermelon contains potassium and a lot of water hence the need to limit the amount your dog consumes. Always check with your vet.
Can Dogs With Pancreatitis Eat Watermelon?
Watermelon does not have fats; hence it is Okay for dogs with pancreatitis. It also contains fiber and potassium. These elements are healthy for the digestive tract and are supposed to be good for dogs with pancreatitis. As always, check with your vet.
Is Watermelon Good for Dogs With a Bladder Stone?
If your dog has bladder stone, seek help from your vet. Watermelon is okay for dogs with kidney stones. Watermelon is made up of 92% water which is useful in dissolving the stones and making the dog urinate even more. Feed your suffering dog, plenty of filtered fresh water, and water-rich foods such as watermelons.
Is Watermelon Good for Dogs With Cancer?
Cancer needs more close attention from your dogs’ health care provider. Fresh watermelon is great for dogs suffering from cancer. It’s high in carotenoids that include beta-carotene and lycopene. These elements have cancer-fighting properties. Also, the large amount of water in watermelon can help dogs stay hydrated.
“Watermelons are low in calories and very nutritious. Watermelon is high in lycopene, second only to tomatoes. Recent research suggests that lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, is effective in preventing some forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease.”
According to: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/veggies/watermelon.cfm
Tips On How To Feed Your Dog Watermelon
Cut the watermelon in small pieces, especially for small dogs.
Do not feed your dog watermelon seeds.
Do not feed your dog watermelon rind.
Do not feed your dog watermelon leaves.
Do not feed your dog foods made with artificial watermelon flavorings or watermelon sweeteners.
Do not overfeed your dog with watermelon.
Conclusion
Can dogs have watermelon?
As we saw above, it’s okay to feed watermelon to your dog with few exceptions. Watermelon is an excellent fruit that can help your dog in many ways. It contains numerous vitamins and nutrients, rich in fiber, low in calories, and no fats. Watermelon is 92% water and acts as the best refreshing hydration source, especially on hot days.
Kassidy Shepperd is the editor in chief for Canine-Prime.com. She is is a dog lover/trainer, a freelance writer and a volunteer at many pet rescue and shelter centers. Kassidy is based in Colorado and regularly writes for dog related magazines and blogs.
