Having a dog lights up one’s life. It proves to be a constant companion through thick and thin. It loves you unconditionally and waits every day for you to come back from work or school so that it can welcome you with a wagging tail and an excited face. For some people, dogs are better companions than humans.
Therefore, it is essential that you give some of its love back to it by providing it with a sanctuary, showering it with affection, and making sure that its dietary needs are met.
While high-quality dog food helps you deliver premium food to your dog, most pet owners crave to share their food with their pets too. Especially during summers, you want your pup to enjoy the freshness of eating fruit. One such fruit is a watermelon. One may ponder, can dogs eat watermelon?
The answer is yes, they can! Not only can they eat watermelon, but the fruit has various health benefits for them too. However, there are factors that you need to take care of as well.
Health Benefits of Feeding Watermelon to Your Dog
Watermelons have an array of advantages, just like other fruits like peaches. Therefore, when given in moderation and as per the direction of vets, melons tend to be immensely beneficial for your beloved pet.
Watermelons feature a high water content i.e. they are composed of 92% water according to the USDA. Such a high water content means that this is the perfect treat to keep your pup hydrated during hot summers. Just like it cools you off under the scorching sun, it will cool your dog off too.
Moreover, watermelons are high in vitamins A, B6, and C. Such vitamins are not only beneficial for the skin, hair, and eyesight of your dog, but they also ensure apt growth in puppies and development of a healthy immune system in adult dogs.
They also contain antioxidants, which are integral in fighting harmful free radicals all organisms are exposed to. Therefore, they also help strengthen your dog’s immune system. Such antioxidants also ensure protection against neurological disorders, cancer, and diabetes.
Lastly, since watermelon is a low-fat snack, it means that giving your dog such a treat helps prevent diarrhea and constipation. Therefore it is a good alternative to feeding nectarines or mango as fruits to prevent constipation. Just choose the fruit the dog likes most. Moreover, this fruit is low in cholesterol, so it helps maintain your dog’s weight, thereby ensuring a healthy life for your dog.
Too Much Watermelon Is Inadvisable
As your dog devours greedily upon the new treat you provide it with, it is easy to get carried away. However, feeding too much watermelon can lead to adverse effects, so such an act should be avoided. You should only feed your dog one or two slices of watermelon flesh. It should only be used as a treat rather than as a proper meal.
If you feed too many slices of watermelon to your dogs, the following health issues may arise:
Bloated Stomach
Since watermelon has a high water content, the chances are that feeding too much of it to your pet will lead to it getting bloated. When such a thing happens, its stomach starts to put pressure on the other organs, which then results in a lack of blood flow to the heart and other nearby organs. If your dog exhibits breathing difficulties and a large stomach, take it to a vet immediately.
Diarrhea and Increase in Urination
Everything is beneficial in moderation. When you feed a lot of watermelon to your dog or incorporate it into its daily diet, you will witness that your dog will start to urinate more. It is because the high water content of the watermelon surpasses its need for water. This factor, in turn, leads to serious effects on the bladder of your dog.
Moreover, since watermelon is hard for dogs to digest, too much of it tends to cause serious diarrhea in dogs.
Verdict
All in all, if you wish to feed your dog watermelon, make sure you do it in moderation and get it approved by your vet. This is because some dogs have a sensitive stomach and may not even tolerate it in moderation.
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Seeds and Rind?
Some dog owners make the mistake of feeding watermelon seeds and rind to their dogs. Do not make this grave error!
While not all types of fruit seed cause issues, watermelon seeds do. They are not toxic like those of apple and apricot, but they do tend to block your dog’s intestinal tract or, at the very least, cause diarrhea. As a pet owner, you don’t want your loyal companion to be in such discomfort. Therefore, it is better to remove the seeds when giving your dog a slice of watermelon.
Dog owners love to give their pets something to chew on. It is because we know that dogs love to nibble on something. However, you should not give your dog the ring of a watermelon to chew on since it can lead to gastrointestinal issues. It is better to provide your pet with a chew toy or a dental chew rather than a thing you know will make it sick.
Img Source: myrecipes.comConclusion
Can dogs eat watermelon? Yes. Should they eat it daily? No.
Fruits like watermelons and apples, while edible for dogs, should only be given to them in moderation. It is true that watermelon has various health advantages. However, those health advantages can only be exploited when the fruit is provided in the right amount.
Make sure you take caution when giving the fruit to your dog. Remove the seeds and the rind. Only give your dog the flesh of the fruit and that too, only a maximum of two slices. Only provide such a fruit occasionally as a treat.
Witness as your dog’s health improves for the better. Be sure to take care of its nutritional needs. Your dog is part of your family and deserves your affection and care. Guarantee that its life is as comfortable and memorable as possible.
