We regularly receive beautiful and interesting customer questions in our inbox. With the help of an expert, we will answer another customer question today! Which types of fruit can a dog eat; and which ones definitely not? Time to answer this!
On August 5, 2020, Ineke Mertens sent us an email. She has a curious dachshund running around at home and since her four-legged friend arrived, she wondered whether her Bobbie could have fruit, but perhaps more importantly, which types of fruit she certainly could not. We visited the office of nutritionist Dr. Mathilde Paula to get clarification on this frequently asked question.
What types of fruit can my dog eat?
A dog can certainly eat fruit, but you should be careful with some types of fruit as they are poisonous to dogs. Just like for people, fruit is also healthy for our four-legged friends. It has been suggested that eating fruit could reduce the risk of stroke by up to 50%. But don't forget about vitamins. Dogs produce Vitamin C themselves and cannot get it from fruit like we humans can. If you still want to give your dog some fruit, give small pieces of fruit, as these are easier to digest.
A commonly eaten fruit is a grape, but never give this to your dog, as they are poisonous to dogs and can have serious consequences for your dog's health. You can also give vegetables to your dog, but make sure you give them easily digestible vegetables, this will prevent your dog from regurgitating the vegetables. A dog does not have the necessary enzymes to properly digest vegetables.
"But my dog likes to eat fruit!"
Nutritionist Dr. Mathilde Paula hears this all too often. "It certainly shouldn't become a habit, dogs don't actually need it. If an owner still wants to give the dog fruit, it should be small amounts and certainly not become a habit. For example, give them a piece of watermelon in the summer for extra moisture , but don't make a habit of it. If the owner gives fruit to the dog more often, of course dogs will like it and the habit will quickly creep in. Pay close attention to which types of fruit dogs are allowed to have and dog owners take careful account of what a dog can and cannot have. And of course, small pieces."
The dog's health is the most important
Although it is not directly harmful, always take your dog's health into account. For example, smaller dogs are often more sensitive to different types of fruit compared to larger dogs. Some types of fruit are poisonous to dogs and can cause serious health problems, so be careful!
"There are plenty of fruits that dogs can have, think of commonly eaten fruits such as strawberries, apples, bananas, oranges, melons, pears, peaches, cucumbers, but also berries such as blueberries, cranberries and raspberries that dogs can certainly have," explains Dr. Mathilde Paula takes us out.
Don't give your dog fruit with pits!
Dr. Mathilde Paula explains clearly to us that dogs should never, really never eat fruit with seeds. "Always remove these. Eating pits, such as cherries, peaches, plums or avocado, can cause serious health problems such as dizziness, panic attacks and shortness of breath. In addition, it can hinder breathing and lead to cardiac arrest. Therefore, always remove all pits from the fruit, I can't repeat it often enough. Unfortunately, owners always come to the emergency room with their dog."
Nutritionist Dr. Mathilde Paula gave us a list of types of fruit that dogs should and should not eat.
Dogs can eat these fruits:
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Apples
- Raspberries
- Kiwi
- Cucumber
- Mango
- Melons
- Pears
- Peaches
- Plums
- Oranges
- Watermelon
- Cranberries
Dogs should not eat these fruits:
- Avocado
- Grapes
- Cherries
- Tomatoes
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