Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? YES!
Well that was quick! The short answer is that yes, dogs can eat watermelon. As with anything you’ll want to be sure you don’t overfeed your pup and remove seeds from any slices that you are giving them to ensure they don’t choke. Seeds can also lead to stomach issues.
Now that this frequently asked question is answered, we can move on to some of the benefits and healthy treats you or your dog sitter can provide your pup. Whether you’re looking to feed your dog a fresh slice, the rind, chopped or frozen treats you’ll be sure to want to watch the videos below. Your dogs will thank you later!
Is Watermelon Good For Dogs? 7 Health Benefits Of Eating Watermelon For Your Dog
[Video Transcription]
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?
Many fur-parents and dog owners alike are looking forward to summer outings to the shore, camping trips near the lake, or just some good old backyard barbecue. Whatever plans we have this summer, we always nosh on one summer treat – watermelon. Watermelon has been the staple fruit on hot summer days. It is sweet, juicy, and above all, thirst-quenching! Since they grow abundantly in summer, we can enjoy an endless supply. Now you might be thinking, “Can dogs eat watermelon?” Our beloved pets always want a piece of what we have and it can be hard to deny those sad puppy dog eyes. Luckily, the answer is YES! Our canine companions can chow down on some watermelon with us this summer. However, there are a few factors to take into consideration.
Is Watermelon Good for Dogs? 7 Health Benefits
Watermelon is a treasure trove of health benefits for dogs if you are careful about giving it to them.
Watermelon is the perfect chill pill for dogs: We, humans, eat watermelons as a delicious way to simmer down on a hot sunny day and dogs can apply the same principle, too. According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, watermelon packs 92% water. Thus, it satisfies your dog’s growling tummy and cools him down at the same time.
Eating watermelon helps manage your dog’s weight: Dogs are greedy salivating beasts who are always on a lookout for food! Why not give your dog bite-sized watermelon cubes rather than give him calorie bombs in the form of jerkies and pastries? Since watermelon is loaded with water, it can be very filling to your dog. Most importantly, it has no fat or cholesterol. A cup of watermelon only contains 50 calories, so it is pretty much a guilt-free hydrating treat! Watermelon is fiber-rich Eating watermelon aids in digestion by bulking up your dog’s stool. This promotes peristaltic motion – the movement of food along the intestines. As a result, it relieves your dog from constipation, promotes regular bowel movement, and improves colon health.
Watermelon is a good kind of sweet: While watermelon may contain fructose or fruit sugar, its high fiber content insulates the sugar and prevents the quick release of sugar into the bloodstream. Therefore, diabetic dogs may occasionally enjoy this sweet watery melon.
Watermelon helps improve your dog’s eyesight: Watermelon can help sharpen your dog’s eyesight and lower his risk to blindness, cataracts, and macular degeneration as he ages. This refreshing treat contains beta-carotene that the liver converts into vitamin A.
Watermelon helps fight free radical damage: Watermelon is rich in antioxidants that benefit your dogs in ways aplenty. For one, the antioxidants in watermelon help strengthen your dog’s immune function. It scavenges free radicals that cause cell damage, neurological disorders, diabetes, or even cancer in dogs. The antioxidants in watermelon also help fight inflammation, which is often the root cause of common diseases.
Watermelon helps regulate enzymatic processes: Eating watermelon helps promote hormone production in the thyroid glands. These hormones are essential in growth, development, and energy metabolism of your dog.
Additionally, eating watermelon also helps maintain normal functions of the blood.
How Many Watermelons Can a Dog Eat?
Dogs eating watermelons is the newest Internet trend. In fact, you can find countless videos of watermelon-chomping dogs on YouTube. But before you join the bandwagon and document your dog eating watermelon, you should first seek your veterinarian or nutritionist’s advice. This way you can determine how much watermelon your dog can safely eat. Dogs have different dietary needs and medical conditions. Therefore, you should not copy what others do or say just because.
Side Effects of Too Much Watermelon in Dogs
Just like any food, eating more than what is necessary has its consequences. The following is a list of potential side effects that your dog may experience should you feed him too much watermelon. · Too much watermelon causes constant urination
Can dogs with kidney disease eat watermelon?
Technically, yes but you may want to consult with your vet first to determine your dog’s limit. Watermelon is mostly water and so, it is diuretic in nature. Thus, eating watermelon bounds to make your dog urinate more frequently. While this may seem a small deal for most dogs, senior dogs with renal problems may find this stressful. Unless you want to wake up to a puddle of wee, it is best to limit your dog’s watermelon intake to a minimum. ·
Overfeeding your dog with watermelon may lead to diarrhea.
Fiber sure has its benefits but some dogs have a sensitive stomach and may react negatively if the receive too much fiber in their diet. It is possible that your dog will experience loose stools. That is why you must serve watermelon moderately.
Watermelon Dog Treat Recipe
[Video Transcription]
Guess what we’re doing . . All three of them are looking! (howling intro) We have one panting dog. We have two panting dogs. We have three panting dogs. So since it’s been so warm outside we thought we would make a fun, frozen, watermelon dog treat. So I hope you guys like watermelon cuz i’m not really sure. I think you’ve had it before I think Oakley’s had it before. We’ll find out! Let’s get to it! This is a very easy, simple recipe.
So this is really a super super simple recipe all you need is one cup of either coconut water or coconut milk. We are using unsweetened coconut milk. You need two cups of pureed, seedless watermelon. If you use a seeded watermelon be sure to remove all the seeds and then an optional tablespoon of honey You’ll need some icecube trays, and all the stuff we have here and of course, some dogs. I mean unless you want to eat them yourself, and then I am sure you can. Okay the first thing we are going to do is make a giant mess and cut a watermelon in half. It’s gonna get messy! Please keep your eyes, nose, and ears, away from the table at all times. at least until I am done with the knife. Woah! What is that? Is that amazing? Is that amazing? This is your half. You want some? Oakley would you like to try it? now that you have effectively licked the cucumber? ha! The watermelon? okay there’s a lot of different ways you can do this to get your two cups I have a measuring thing and my actual blennder so I’m just going to scoop it out and put it in the blender and puree it. I should probably find out if the dogs like watermelon.
Well you like watermelon, do you like watermelon? Well you like watermelon! What about you Shelby? How about you Shelby. Shelby’s like Hmmm. She seriously spit it out. You are such a Diva! Do you like watermelon if I dip it in some coconut milk? Here, now it’s dipped in coconut milk, is that better? Nope she spit that out too. Shelby might not like watermelon treats. We’ll find out when they are all done! As you are spooning it out you can see it gets kind of juicy and you can literally just pour the juice in your blender (laugh), so we are going to puree some of this and see how much we have. Maybe. . . We still need more Watermelon Ewwww. Oh my goodness! Bite for you? No that’s for Oakley. Bite for Oakley. Shelby is still sitting here like she wants some, but uh we’ll see. Shelby, you want some? Wanna try it? She spit it out again (laugh)
Alright, now your watermelon puree or juice will look something like that. This is an optional step to add a little bit of honey. but I know my girls like honey so we are going to add about that much. And then we are going to add the 1 cup either coconut milk or coconut water again I’m using unsweetened coconut milk And, mix it together! Probably don’t have to mix it together for very long.
Now comes the super messy part.
I am using silicone ice cube trays you can use silicone ice cube trays, you can use regular ice cube trays, with the silicone ice cube tays though I would suggest putting it on something I actually have mind on a cookie sheet. Cause otherwise when you go to pick these up when they’re full they bend and make a huge mess. So, now we are going to try to figure out how pour this without making huge mess pour a little bit in here. Which will make it much more manageable Man, you dogs are so lucky. just pour it into the icecube trays. and try not to make a giant mess. So now these ones have to freeze. I actually about this much left So I am going to need some more trays. More icecube trays! and we will freeze some more. So now we have the ice cube trays filled, we are going to put these in the freezer. What do you think Memphis? We are going To put them in the freezer and as soon as they’re frozen the girls can try them!
Well the watermelon dog treats are frozen. Maybe Shelby will like one Frozen. Let’s see. What do you think Shelby? She took it and she spit it out. Memphis? Oakley here! Oakley here! Wait you’re not Oakley. Shelby’s eating it! You . . . You didn’t actually eat it, you just licked it. No? So Shelby says no, but apparently Oakley and Memphis say yes. You like them? You like them? They like them. Want to try one more time Shelby? Oh she ate that one! And she didn’t spit it out! Okay so maybe she only likes certain shapes that must be the ticket just certain shapes alright well there you go you guys now you can make frozen watermelon dog treats for you dog’s something nice to keep them cool in the summertime while it’s ridiculously hot outside as always. You wanna try one? I was gonna say, are they bad? No Are the dog treats? They’re dog treats, yes, but they don’t have anything bad in them. can you figure out So the’re for people too Yeah I was gonna say that! Can you figure out what is in them? watermelon? Watermelon and coconut and honey coconut milk watermelon Yeah I know! Yes, yes you can eat them to. You can share them with your daddy. *laugh* Shelby finally ate one She’s like maybe I will eat two. See Shelby, they are good. Nice cool treat! Hey I just gave you one *laugh* Okay I will share another one with you. mmm licking my fingers my fingers taste like watermelon to0 *laugh*