Yes, watermelons are safe for your dogs. Just like humans, dogs are also fond of watermelons. You can give your dog watermelon as a treat, but with some precautions. Let's find out more about the benefits of watermelon for dogs and what precautions you should note!
Watermelon is one of the remarkable gifts of nature with numerous health benefits for both humans as well as dogs. You can safely say that this fruit is a powerhouse vitamins and nutrients. And not to mention the love dogs have for the watermelon fruit, that not only taste delicious, but is also a powerful thirst quencher.
Watermelon is known to be great for keeping your dogs hydrated. Its water content can reach up to 92% , with a calorie cap of only 52 calories. Furthermore, it is enriched with vitamins and nutrients that dogs need. This fruit contains vitamin A which can be helpful for your dogs' eyes and overall immunity. Watermelon also contains vitamin B6 which helps dogs fight bacteria and maintain normal nerve function. Watermelons also contain vitamin C which is great for building immunity.
Vitamins are not the only nutrients that you can give by feeding your dog watermelon. The fruit also contains Lycopene which can mitigate the potential risk of diseases in your dog. This wonderful fruit also acts as a great antioxidant. That's another big reason why watermelon can be given to dogs as a treat. Additionally, it offers potassium which is helpful in maintaining water balance.
If your dog is having trouble digesting, it might help to give your dog watermelon. It’s rich in fiber, which is an excellent nutrient in tackling digestion issues. With so many amazing nutrients filled in a single fruit, you might think that watermelon would be high in calories. But guess what? The calorie count of this amazing fruit can go as low as 50 calories.
However, there are some precautions that you need to take before giving your dog watermelon. Let's find out what those precautions are.
No matter how delicious they taste, a watermelon should not be given to dogs in large quantities. If a dog eats more than the recommended amount or consumes the forbidden parts, serious health problems may arise.
One of the most forbidden parts of a watermelon that dogs should never eat are the seeds. While there may not be a problem with one to two seeds accidentally eaten by your dog, eating several seeds, especially the mature black ones, can lead to a blockage in your dog's digestive tract. If you have a small dog, your dogs is at higher risk of blockage.
Another part of the watermelon that you should not give your dog is the rind. Even though it might seem easy for dogs to nibble the light-green rinds, they will experience difficulty during digestion. As this part pf the watermelon is relatively firm, it’s difficult to chew. Dogs are at risk of intestinal blockage when they consume the hard rinds.
Before starting to give watermelon to your dog, it would be best if you consult a vet about the suitable quantity that can be given. Some dogs may have pre-existing medical conditions which can be worsened by consuming watermelon. Hence, it’s better to check with your vet first.
Now that we’ve removed the forbidden parts of the watermelon, let’s move on to the quantity. As the saying goes “Anything in excess is a poison.” Over-feeding even the most nutritious fruit, such as a watermelon, can cause harm to your canine. Here are some rules you should abide by when giving your dog watermelon:
As a fruit, the watermelon you give your dog cannot comprise of more than 20% of its diet. The quantity that should be given to dogs depends on the breed size. A smaller breed should be given a lesser quantity in order to keep it safe and healthy. Avoid overfeed your dog as they may end up facing problems like bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems.
Sure, you can chop your watermelon into small cubes and serve it to your pup. But, there are so many ways you can make watermelon a more amusing treat! For one, you can freeze your cubes of watermelon and serve it to your canine when the weather’s hot (which is almost the situation everyday on our sunny island). Everyone loves a chilled treat in the scorching heat and your dog will, too. Here are some other ideas for frozen watermelon treats:
• Watermelon slushie
• Bite-sized chunks
• Watermelon puree
• Watermelon yogurt ice cream
Watermelon is one of the most convenient fruits to buy in Singapore, and one of the most nutritious for your dog too. Give some watermelon to your dog as a treat and if it likes, you can use it as a reward for training. Just make sure your dog is healthy and has no problems digesting the watermelon. Giving your dog watermelon not only provides protection from certain health conditions, but it also tastes delicious. This wonderful combo of health and taste is hard to find. Give your dog some watermelon today!
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