Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?

Watermelon is a favorite summer fruit during the summer and most of us love it. It not only tastes great, but it is so refreshing.

It’s a great way to keep you and your kids hydrated as watermelon has 90% water. It is a delicious and nutritious low calorie treat.

Is it OK for dogs to eat watermelon too?

Yes, dogs can watermelon without the seeds and rind, of course, in small doses.

With any new human food that you share with your dog, it’s always best to speak to your veterinarian to make sure watermelon is safe for your particular pup to sample.

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Table of Contents

Is Watermelon Safe for Dogs?

Yes!

Watermelon is safe for your dog to eat, but in small doses because like other fruit, watermelon has natural sugar (although not as much as other fruit).

Make sure to introduce watermelon slowly into your dogs’ diet (of course, remove the seeds) to make sure he doesn’t have any type of reaction.

Even though watermelon is very nutritious, eating too much might cause your dog to have digestive issues.

Related: 10 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance

Benefits of Watermelon For Dogs

Watermelon has many benefits for dogs as it is high in potassium, vitamins C, A and B6. It also has a high amount of fiber which is good for a dog’s digestion.

Because of the high fiber, the sugar in the watermelon is released more slowly into the bloodstream which certainly helps with digestion.

Watermelon also contains an antioxidant called lycopene, which is thought to prevent cancer.

Because watermelon is mostly water, it can also be a great source of hydration for dogs, particularly on a warm summer day.

When Watermelon Can Be Harmful To Dogs

Watermelon, like any other fruit, is meant to be a treat and not a staple of a dog’s diet.

If your pup eats too much watermelon, it can lead to diarrhea or any other gastrointestinal issue.

Of course, if your dog shows an adverse reaction to watermelon, take your dog to the vet immediately.

If this happens to be the case and you need to take your dog to emergency care, having pet insurance would help with the costs of all of the vet or vet hospital bills during the visit.

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The seeds in the watermelon can also be problematic. If your dog happens to eat a few seeds, it can be extremely hard to digest. And, of course, both the rinds and skin can be very difficult to digest if your dog accidentally consumes it.

Of course, any sweet products with watermelon or flavored watermelon is not good for your dog and can even be extremely dangerous if they have Xylitol which is known to be harmful to dogs.

If your dog eats watermelon and has any of the symptoms listed, take your dog to the vet right away:

Coughing
Sneezing
Diarrhea
Swelling
Gastric Upset
Hives

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Ways to Add Watermelon into Your Dog’s Diet

Every pup reacts differently in any food or fruit they eat, so make sure to talk to your veterinarian before feeding your dog watermelon.

If your dog, for instance, has diabetes, watermelon might have too much sugar for your pup. Or maybe watermelon doesn’t react well to another medical condition your pup might have.

Either way, if your vet gives you the OK, there are some many ways you can offer watermelon to your pup.

First thing you need to do is take off the rind and remove all the seeds.

A few ideas you can try:

Cut up the watermelon in cubes and freeze it.
Smash it up and add a little watermelon juice to your dog’s dry food.
Just cut it up in very small slices as a reward or treat
Put it in a blender and make a smoothie – and give your dog a small amount.

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Other Fruit Your Dog Might Enjoy

If your dog doesn’t like the watermelon, there are some other fruit choices you can try:

Apples
Blueberries
Bananas
Mangos
Strawberries

Grapes (and raisins) are NOT safe for dogs to eat and they should never sample either.

Final Thoughts on Watermelon for Dogs

Watermelon is a nutritious fruit that are filled with a burst of vitamins and an abundance of water that your dog can sample in small amounts.

Introduce the watermelon (or any other new food) slowly to make sure your pup doesn’t have a bad reaction to it.

Pet insurance companies, like Healthy Paws and Embrace can cover up to 90% of the vet bill and if your dog needs after hour treatment, having pet insurance can save you a lot of money!

If you want to know more about the food that is safe and not safe for your dog to sample, our ultimate guide to safe food for dogs can give you some guidance.

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The Ultimate Guide to Safe Foods for Dogs

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