Can dogs eat Watermelon?
Dogs love to eat watermelon, a surprising fact, right?
But, it’s a fact. Whenever temperature starts increasing, humans start searching ice cream or ice pops to maintain hydration and cooling of their body.
And likewise, to make sure that your pet is on both hydrated and comfortable state on scorching summer, you can depend on one food.
If you are looking for the answer to whether your dog can consume watermelon or not, then the answer is yes. But stop!
Don’t press the ‘back’ button now because prior to starting feeding watermelon to your adorable dog, you should have some critical information. So, just keep on reading.
According to a veterinarian, watermelon is both a healthy and safe food for consumption for your dog. You might know that the sweet melon boasts abundant water that has made it a superb hydrating treat for your dog.
Dog owners can freeze this particular fruit prior to its serving and that will make it even more refreshing and rejuvenating for your dog.
Up to this part, it sounds good, isn’t it?
Now, the most important part is the precautions, associated with watermelon. Seeds of this fruit might develop an intestinal blockage that means you have to remove them.
And moreover, it might also not a good decision to permit your dog to chew on the watermelon rind. This rind could cause gastrointestinal upset.
Watermelon is a storehouse of goodness. It is low in calories and boasted with nutrients like potassium and vitamins (A, B6, and C).
A report says, watermelon is filled in 50 calories (a cup) as well as 92 percent water. That means it is a great option for hydration during the days of summer. Another noteworthy point is that watermelon doesn’t contain cholesterol or fat.
Do you know it is easy to slice watermelon rinds just like pumpkins? Many patterns and designs can be formed that can be beyond your imagination. Other vegetables and fruits like carrots and apples can also be healthy for your dog.
But, you want to make watermelon easier for your dog to eat, right? You just have to remove its rind and then cut up into small enough pieces so that they can easily chew.
What’s next? Here are some guidelines that will protect your dog from choking or obstruction difficulties.
You need to remove hard-to-chew and thick fruit skins as well as vegetable skins prior to feeding your dog.
Always observe your dog while it’s consuming to ensure whether it is chewing appropriately or not.
In a nutshell, watermelon is a great treat for your adorable dog. It is hydrating and nutritious yet low in calories (that you already know). However, a point-to-consider is that many dogs are not able to digest fruits properly.
A dog will get better hydration following the consumption of a fair share of watermelon. However, watermelon can develop diarrhea or bout to your dog.
The reason is that melons might not be suited to the digestive system of dogs. But a simple solution is moderation. You need to provide restrictions on the amount of watermelon you will feed your dog.
Don’t feed your dog watermelon if it develops the symptom of loose stools or squirts. In simple words, a couple of watermelon slices will be the best solution to this problem.
But, another problem is that your dog can start experiencing increased urination after eating watermelon.
So, the summary is your dog can eat watermelon because it’s an incredibly low-calorie treat but sometimes dogs can be caught up with diarrhea. That means you have to strict with the portion of watermelon.
Serve your dog with limited amounts of rindless and seedless watermelon for an enjoyable and free-of-inconvenience experience.
You need to remember that too much watermelon can develop a tummy ache, accompanied by diarrhea or other symptoms of gastrointestinal upset to your dog.
That means you should always give watermelon to your dog in a moderate amount and specifically when it hasn’t consumed it before. Don’t miss to observe the reaction while it is eating this fruit.
It is very important to consult an experienced veterinarian or nutritionist regarding the proper amount of watermelon that you can serve to your dog. And if you have more than one dog, ask the amount of this fruit for the individual dog.
You already know that watermelon should be served to dogs after de-seeding it. Let’s know why the seeds are harmful.
The watermelon seeds could cause a problem for your dog. One or two seeds might not pose any difference but too many seeds might cause a blockage in its digestive tract.
Some of the large dogs might be capable of passing watermelon seeds without issues, however, smaller dogs specifically remain in the threat of blockage.
The watermelon rinds are also not safe-to-consume. Although dogs might take small bites at the light green part inside this fruit, however, this part is difficult-to-chew and also firm.
Sometimes, dogs can swallow the watermelon rind without fully chewing it that can result in intestinal blockage.
Moreover, the watermelon skin is also very tough-to-digest and might further develop a blockage. And smaller dogs are again at risk.
If by any means your dog has eaten the rind or seeds of a watermelon and has started showing symptoms of an intestinal blockage like constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, and lethargy, rush to the clinic of your veterinarian as soon as possible to avoid severe complications.
You need to observe your dog for the symptoms of intestinal blockage for the duration of at least 24 hours after it has consumed watermelon seeds or rind.
Sweet food items that consist of watermelon or anything, artificially flavored with watermelon, might not be a right choice of foods for your dog. Actually, such foods are loaded with chemicals, sugar or other compounds that can make your adorable dog sick. So, you have to stick to only plain watermelon.
I hope this post was helpful for you and you have got your answer. For more information on this topic, kindly consult your veterinarian.
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