Giving your dog fruit may sound like a nice treat or refreshing snack, but it’s important to know what fruits are okay for your pup and which aren’t. Some may be toxic and even lead to death! Read on to find out what you should avoid feeding them.
Too many particular types of fruit can be dangerous and even life-threatening to dogs.
What Fruits Can Dogs Eat?
While there are some fruits you shouldn’t give your dog, many others make a healthy and nutritious treat for them.
Fruits high in water content make an excellent choice since they will help hydrate your pet during the warmer months or after exercise.
Apples, bananas, blueberries, oranges, watermelon and raspberries (with no added sugar), and cantaloupe and papaya are all fruits you can feel good about feeding your pup.
You may also read: 10 Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Coconut
How to Serve Fruits to Your Dog
Ideally, dogs should not eat fruit alone but rather alongside their regular food.
You don’t want them to fill up on fruit alone because it wouldn’t give them all the nutrients they need.
Related read: An Introduction to a Dog’s Diet
You can mash up a banana or other soft fruit and mix it into your dog’s meal or cut larger fruits into small pieces to use as training treats.
What Fruits Can be Dangerous to Dogs?
There are several different types of fruit that you should never give your dog.
While some of these fruits may be fine for humans to eat, they should not be given to dogs and can cause serious health problems or even death if consumed by your pet.
Avocados
Avocados contain a substance known as a person, which is toxic to many animals, including dogs and cats. Persin can irritate the animal’s gastrointestinal tract and may even cause vomiting or diarrhoea.
Cherries
Similar to avocados, cherries contain persin, which is toxic to dogs. While humans can eat the whole fruit, you should never give your pup the cherry seeds on their own or as part of a larger serving of cherries, as they are the most harmful part of the fruit.
Find a healthier option: Healthiest Food to Give Your Dog
Grapes
While grapes are a healthy snack for dogs, they can cause serious health problems or even death if consumed in large quantities. Raisins are particularly problematic since they contain high sugar levels and cause dogs to become thirsty. Because raisins also have a high level of toxicity, giving your dog grapes may cause them to become sick.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are in the same family as poison ivy and poison oak, so they can cause an itchy or burning sensation in your pet’s mouth when chewed on or swallowed. When this happens, your dog may drool excessively, chew at his paws, scratch his face, or rub his muzzle on the ground.
Peaches and Plums
The pits of peaches and plums contain cyanide which can be dangerous to dogs if consumed in large quantities. In addition to their potential toxicity, peach and plum pits may also cause choking when eaten by your pet. This is especially true for smaller dogs and puppies.
While this list includes some of the most common fruits you should avoid feeding your dog, there are many more types of fruit that may pose a problem for your pet if too much is eaten or they eat the wrong part of it.
Since you don’t want to risk giving your pup a poisonous or toxic snack, it’s best to avoid feeding them any fruit unless you’re sure it won’t cause them problems.
Conclusion
We’re not saying you should never give your dog fruit, but rather that it’s essential to know which are safe and which aren’t. Too much of some types of fruit can be dangerous or even life-threatening for dogs, so make sure you read the article above carefully before feeding them any fruits.
