Can my dog eat fruit?
Yes, a dog can eat some fruit, but there are many types of fruit that are toxic to dogs.
Therefore, if you do want to give your pooch the occasional piece of fruit as a snack, it’s important to know what is safe and what is not.
Generally, dogs don’t need fruit to be included in their diet to be healthy. However, there are some nutrients that can be found in fruit that are beneficial for domestic dogs. As such, it’s important to talk to your vet before you start feeding your dog from the fruit bowl, as they can review your dog’s overall diet and health first.
Some tips before you feed your dog fruit:
- Only give them very small amounts as an occasional treat, as too much fruit can upset your dog’s stomach.
- Introduce one type of fruit slowly, and don’t overdo it. If your dog gets an upset stomach, stop feeding them fruit.
- Avoid feeding your dog fruit rind, stems, skin, cores or pips as these can be a choking hazard or block your dog’s digestive tract. Furthermore, some pips contain traces of nasty chemicals. Instead, chop up the flesh of the fruit into bite-sized pieces.
- Stick with fresh fruit and never dried or canned fruit.
- If your dog is diabetic or trying to lose weight, it’s best to avoid sugary fruit as a treat.
- Fruit that is low in sugar, such as cucumber, can make a good in-between meal snack for dogs that are overweight. However, high sugar fruits such as mango and pineapple are best in very small amounts.
- Try freezing small pieces of fruit for a treat on a hot day.
Without further ado, here is our guide to fruit dogs can eat.
Fruit that your dog can eat safely
At most, only feed your dog one type of fruit, and only 1 - 2 slices or small pieces in a day.
- Apple
- Kiwifruit
- Bananas
- Rockmelon
- Blueberries
- Mango
- Peaches (be very careful to avoid feeding your dog the seed)
- Pears
- Cucumber
- Pineapple
- Honeydew melon
- Coconut flesh
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
- Apricots (be very careful to avoid feeding your dog the seed)
Fruit that you shouldn’t feed a dog
- Cherries
- Tomatoes
- Grapes
- Avocado
- Citrus fruits (eg lemons, mandarins, oranges)
- Figs
In summary, be conservative when feeding your dog fruit and speak to your vet first. Although it can be a great treat with beneficial nutrients, it is best in small amounts.
