Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Nothing is as summery as a slice of cool watermelon, and you’re probably thinking if you can share this with your pooch. The great thing is that veterinarians confirm watermelon is safe for pets—just be sure to take out the seeds and rind beforehand.
Is Watermelon Healthy for Dogs?
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Yes! With a very high water content (over 90%), watermelon is a cool and refreshing snack for any age dog. But be sure always to cut off the rind and seeds, though, as they are less easily digested.
Health benefits
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Watermelons are rich in amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins while remaining naturally low in fat.
L-citrulline is an amino acid that is helpful in reducing muscle soreness and getting more blood flowing. The fruit’s red color is due to lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that is healthy for bones and may control blood sugar. (It occurs in red tomatoes too.)
Watermelons are also filled with vitamin C (good for the immune system), vitamin A (good for healthy vision and growth), B vitamins like thiamin, niacin and riboflavin (nervous and digestive systems and body disease-fighting) and many electrolytes.
Lastly, watermelon having high water content means it can keep your pet hydrated.
Dental benefits
Watermelon can be particularly wonderful for your dog’s teeth. It will stimulate saliva, which cleans out the teeth. Watermelon has malic acid, a natural compound that can assist in whitening your dog’s teeth by reducing surface stains.
How Much Watermelon Can Dogs Eat?
With your veterinarian’s approval, watermelon can be offered as a nutritious treat, making up to about 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. Watermelon is also low-calorie, with one cup tipping the scales at around 40 to 50 calories. This means a tiny dog can enjoy two small slices, and a large dog can enjoy half a cup of diced watermelon.
What if a Dog Ate Too Much Watermelon?
Even though watermelon is made up of mostly water, there is also sugar and a small amount of fiber inside it too; so if your dog ingests too much watermelon or even chunks of the fibrous rind, they will have an upset stomach or diarrhea. This should likely self-correct, but call your vet if you question or are concerned.
Is Watermelon Bad for Dogs?
But what is bad? Watermelon itself is harmless to dogs, but you don’t want to feed your dog the seeds or rind.
- The rind can cause stomach upset. Watermelon skin is tough to digest and can contribute to digestive upset. If your dog can’t properly digest it, it can also cause choking, says Deborah Bayazit, DVM, co-owner and medical director of Brilliant Veterinary Care.
- The seeds and rinds can cause intestinal blockage. If your dog consumes a huge slice of the rind, it will also cause intestinal blockage. While a few seeds won’t hurt your dog, too many of them can cause an intestinal blockage, and this is an emergency.
How Much Watermelon Can I Give My Dog?
Watermelon is best considered a treat, and treats have to be provided in limited amounts, contributing no more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calories. The rest of the calories should come from a complete and balanced dog food.
Here are some general suggested serving sizes, based on your dog’s weight. As a rough guide, a piece is half an inch cube. Always check with your veterinarian before offering watermelon to your dog to ensure you’re giving the right portion size.
| Dog Size | Serving Size |
|---|---|
| Extra-small dogs (2–10 pounds) | 1 piece |
| Small dogs (11–20 pounds) | 1–3 pieces |
| Medium dogs (21–50 pounds) | 4–6 pieces |
| Large dogs (51–90 pounds) | 8–10 pieces |
| Extra-large dogs (91+ pounds) | 10–12 pieces |
How To Safely Feed Watermelon to Your Dog
You also want to follow some guidelines to ensure you’re feeding your dog safely.
For starters, Dr. Bayazit says to only give them fresh or unsweetened frozen watermelon. Avoid giving your dog watermelon that comes canned, sweetened, or stored in syrup. These versions contain excessive sugar and may include additives or sweeteners such as xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs.
- Cut the watermelon.
- Remove the fruit from the rind. The white and green part of the rind is hard on a pup’s digestive system.
- Remove any seeds from the melon since they will lead to an intestinal blockage and also present a danger of choking.
- Chop the watermelon into small pieces approximately one-half inch in diameter.
When you arrive at the actual feeding of the watermelon to your dog, you have options:
- Treat your dog with individual pieces of chopped watermelon.
- Freeze cut pieces of watermelon into bite-sized pieces and make a fresh, fruity ice pop for your dog.
- Add some small pieces to your dog’s pre-prepared meal as a vitamin-bolsterer.
How much watermelon can I feed my dog?
According to PetMD, snacks such as watermelon should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s diet, while the other 90% should consist of their regular veterinarian-approved food.