Can My Dog Eat Watermelon?

Come summer, and you’re scrambling to find ways to keep yourself hydrated. There’s a bunch of go-to fruits you can choose from. The watermelon is definitely a favorite. This might make you wonder, can my dog eat watermelon?

Read this article to understand what happens if a dog eats watermelon, and what you should look out for.

Are Watermelons Safe For Dogs To Eat?

Yes. They’re an excellent summer snack not just for humans, but for dogs as well. 

Serving the purpose of health and taste all at once, watermelons are sweet and highly nutritious. The fruit contains about 92% water and several nutrients that contribute to your dog’s health.

Given how hot the summer can get, it’s a great idea to serve your pooch watermelons.

Health Benefits of Watermelon

Besides being a quick and effective way to keep your pet hydrated, watermelons contain several nutrients that contribute to your dog’s health.

Here are the health benefits your pet would enjoy after a watermelon snack:

Vitamin A

Watermelons contain an abundance of vitamin A,which ensures that your canine’s coat and skin are healthy. It also helps maintain their muscles and nerves.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 essentially functions as a coenzyme and is responsible for the metabolism of amino acids. Dogs are susceptible to multiple health problems if they have a vitamin B6 deficiency. Adding watermelons to their diet ensures that your pet has consumed the required amount of vitamin.

In addition, it also acts as a neurotransmitter and maintains healthy brain activity. It also establishes proper bladder health in your dog.

Vitamin C

Interestingly, the relevance of vitamin C for dogs has been studied for over a century now and has been proven to be quite important for a dog’s overall health and vitality.

Firstly, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. As if that’s not enough, it also boosts your dog’s immunity and reduces inflammation.

Lycopene

Turns out, lycopene is what produces the red color of the watermelon. It is also an antioxidant that actively prevents cellular damage, and can be found in tomatoes too!

Best of all, research studies indicate that lycopene is a boon to dogs with cancer. It’s a good thing that watermelons have plenty of lycopene!

Fiber

Your canine companion can get restless or possibly sick if their digestive process is difficult. Adding fiber to their diet helps them easily digest food.

Watermelons have a moderate amount of fiber. This helps avoid complications like diarrhea, constipation, and other digestive problems.

We’re not through yet; the fiber also helps your pet absorb the sugar in the watermelon. Rest assured, there will be no complaints of high blood sugar.

Hydration

If the ‘water’ in watermelon didn’t catch your attention, we’ll have you know – the high moisture content in the fruit makes it a quick and easy hydration fix.

Canine dehydration is common in the summer; if you aren’t paying attention to your pet’s water intake, they might be prone to health problems that can escalate. Adding a watermelon treat to their diet can make a huge difference.

Health benefits aside, pet parents need to keep track of which parts of the watermelon they’re feeding to their pooch. We’ve mentioned earlier, the fleshy pink part is good to go. What about the rest?

Also Read: Can My Dog Eat Apples

Is Watermelon Toxic to Dogs?

Watermelon is not toxic for dogs as long as you feed it properly. The fleshy, pink part of the watermelon is the only part of the fruit you should feed your dog.

And if you’re asking yourself how much watermelon can a dog eat, just remember to feed the fruit in moderate quantities alongside their regular diet.

Can My Dog Eat the Watermelon Seeds?

If you aren’t specifically buying seedless watermelons, the question can dogs eat watermelon seeds is probably on your mind. There are definitely certain precautions to take when treating your pet to a watermelon snack.

Seedless watermelons are the best way to go for canine treats. However, if you’re buying watermelons with seeds, a word of caution: always remove the seeds.

Accidentally ingesting two or three seeds wouldn’t necessarily be a problem. However, ingesting mature watermelon seeds would lead to intestinal blockage during digestion. This may not affect large breeds that much but can cause major digestive complications for smaller dogs.

Keep an eye out for any sign of discomfort, in case your canine has consumed watermelon seeds. Tell-tale signs include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Bloating

If these symptoms continue to persist, we recommend contacting your vet to figure out solutions. Chop the watermelons into bite-sized chunks, remove the seeds and serve the treat to your dog. A healthy dog is a happy dog!

Can My Dog Eat the Watermelon Rind?

The green cover of the watermelon that encases the fleshy fruit inside is the watermelon rind. Human diets usually exclude the rind, and we end up throwing it away.

However, we don’t always share dietary habits with animals. We tend to feed fruit and vegetable peels to our four-legged counterparts. This begs the question, can dogs eat watermelon rind?

No, we wouldn’t recommend it. 

Is Watermelon Rind Good for Dogs?

While there isn’t particularly anything toxic in the rind itself, the toughness of the rind makes it quite hard to digest. So, you should avoid giving your dog watermelon rind.

If they don’t chew the rind thoroughly before ingesting it and consume large pieces at once, they would suffer through gastrointestinal blockages or choking.

You could allow your pet to nibble on the rind’s insides, but it’s best to keep them away from the seeds and the rind altogether.

If they have ingested it, and you’re concerned about what to do if my dog ate watermelon rind, fret not. Consult with your vet if your pet displays any symptoms of blockage, and proceed accordingly.

Top Watermelon Recipes for Your Dog:

In moderation, you can create exciting and yummy watermelon treats for your dogs. Here are some recipes for canine watermelon snacks:

Watermelon Slush

All you need is two ingredients to prepare this jolting cold snack – two or three cups of seedless watermelon, and ⅓ cup coconut milk. Freeze your watermelon beforehand. Place them in a blender and add coconut milk; pulse it twice or thrice.

And there you have it! A bowl of lightning-quick watermelon slushie to help your dog cool off on a hot day.

Watermelon Sorbet

You’d require about three cups of frozen watermelon (without seeds and rind), ¼ cup of freshly squeezed real watermelon juice (could be substituted with coconut water or plain water), and one squeeze of raw honey.

Throw the frozen watermelon, honey, and a little bit of watermelon juice/ coconut water into the blender. As you blend, add more juice/ water slowly till you get the consistency of a sorbet.

Make sure you don’t pour too much juice or water right away, so it doesn’t become a slushie.

Scoop and serve when your sorbet is ready, and top it off with dog diet-approved fruits like bananas or blueberries. One watermelon sorbet for a good boy, ready!

Avoid using any artificial form of watermelon, including packaged juices or candy. These contain artificial sugars that would harm your dog.

Now, you know how to go about creating the perfect watermelon snacks for your fur friends. If a fellow dog caretaker asks you can my dog eat watermelon, let them know what works best for canines, or direct them to us!