Green and firm on the outside, red and juicy on the inside – that’s how we love watermelon in summer as a sweet, low-calorie snack between meals. Our dogs also enjoy this refreshing treat. Whether dogs are allowed to eat watermelon and what you need to bear in mind can be found here.
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Watermelon is a refreshing change on a hot summer's day.
With 24 to 40 kilocalories and six grams of sugar per 100 grams of fruit, watermelon is a low-calorie alternative to daily treats.
They are rich in vitamin A, pantothenic acid, niacin and vitamin C. In addition, watermelon provides important minerals such as magnesium, phosphate, calcium and a small amount of potassium.
Watermelon consists of 90 to 95% water. This makes it a tasty way to quench thirst on hot days, especially for dogs that are reluctant to drink. Frozen pieces of watermelon also have an added cooling effect.
Most dogs tolerate watermelon well, which is why dogs are generally allowed to eat it.
If your dog suffers from diabetes, you should, as a precaution, avoid watermelon as well as other types of fruit in their diet. Dogs with a sensitive gastrointestinal tract or an allergy to watermelon should also not be fed it.
Note: If your dog has any medical conditions, it is generally advisable to discuss changes in their diet in advance with your vet.
The amount of watermelon a dog can eat depends on various factors. A small dog usually cannot tolerate the same quantity as a large dog. Even so, excessive amounts should not be fed, as they can lead to stomach pain.
It is not known how much watermelon per kilogram of body weight per day is tolerable for dogs. It is therefore recommended to offer your dog a small piece of watermelon first and see how they tolerate the fruit.
If they tolerate this piece well, you can slightly increase the amount of watermelon offered next time.
© Наталья Майшева / stock.adobe.com
Fortunately, watermelons do not contain any harmful substances that could harm your dog even in small quantities. However, if dogs eat large amounts of watermelon at once, this can lead to digestive problems such as flatulence or diarrhoea.
The large seeds and the tough rind should be removed before feeding. Especially in smaller dogs or puppies, the seeds can cause a life-threatening intestinal blockage.
In large dogs, the seeds are less of a concern, but large quantities can still cause digestive problems.
Even though some dogs might enjoy chewing on pieces of watermelon rind, it should not be fed to them.
With conventionally grown watermelons, the rind is treated after harvesting to extend shelf life. These chemicals or pesticide residues can lead to poisoning. Larger pieces of the tough rind can also cause an intestinal blockage.
Dogs should not eat unripe or overripe watermelons. Ripe watermelons have red, juicy flesh, and when you tap the rind of a whole watermelon, it sounds hollow.
Yes, dogs can eat watermelon. However, always make sure that the watermelon is fully ripe and not spoiled. Remove the rind and seeds before feeding, or use seedless watermelons.
The amount of watermelon a dog can safely eat depends on their size, breed and individual tolerance. As a rough guideline, dogs can enjoy a small amount of watermelon as an occasional snack, but not as a main part of their diet.
If your dog reacts badly to eating watermelon, you should always stop feeding it and, if in doubt, seek advice from your vet.
The zooplus editorial team consists of a dedicated team of experts with many years of experience in the field of animal husbandry: Luisa with her White Swiss Shepherd Elyos, Laura, Julio, and Florian. Together with a large network of animal experts, we work to make the zooplus magazine a trusted source of information for all animal owners and lovers. Our goal is to provide exciting animal knowledge and relevant information on the proper care of pets.
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