Fruits You Can Include in Your Dog’s Diet
Including fruits in your dog’s diet on a regular basis can cater many health benefits. Fruits are laden with vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and fibers which can not only boost your pooch’s overall health but also provide additional benefits like uplifting immunity, preventing cancer, and providing much needed—hydration.
No wonder fruits are called super foods, but are all fruits good for dogs? Well, the answer is no. While some fruits can be highly beneficial for dogs, some may pose a potential threat. Therefore, before you add fruits to your dog’s daily diet plan, it is much essential to know which fruits are safe for them and which aren’t.
Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered here. Here’s a list of fruits that may serve as healthy dog foods along with their benefits. Moreover, in this article we’ve also included fruits that you should avoid feeding your dogs, and some fun ways of adding fruits to your dog’s diet!
8 Fruits You CAN Include in Your Dog’s Diet:
Watermelon
A juicy watermelon slice is a great treat for almost all dogs, especially in the sunny afternoons. The high water content of watermelon can keep your dog hydrated and help regulate their body temperature, whereas the vitamins A, B1, B-6, and C promote healthy nerve and muscle functioning. Watermelon also contains lycopene (an antioxidant that gives watermelon its red color), which gives protection against cell damage. But remember, the rind and seeds of watermelon are not safe for dogs and can be harsh on your dog’s gut, so make sure you don’t feed them.
Papaya
Papaya can be very beneficial for your furry friends. It is full of flesh and hence provides a lot of fibers which can improve the bowel movements of a dog. Papaya is full of vitamins A, C, E, K and minerals like potassium and calcium. Therefore, it is great for heart health, digestion, and skin. But again, ensure to keep the rind and seeds away from dogs.
Apples
A juicy, crunchy apple is a big yes-yes for dogs. Apples are an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber. Also, apples are chock-full of antioxidants which aid cell repair. However, beware of apple seeds as they contain a small amount of cyanide, which is a poisonous substance. Moreover, the core of the apple can also cause choking, so be careful.
Bananas
Bananas are the best option among fruits when you want to go on outings with your furry companion. Due to their innately convenient packaging, they are easy to carry along and can be a great healthy snacking option on the go. Bananas are power packed fruits containing large amounts of potassium and fibers, which are beneficial for muscles and digestion respectively. But bananas have high sugar content, so mind your dog’s diet plan accordingly if they are diabetic or prone to weight gain.
Kiwi
Kiwis can be a wonderful midday snack for dogs. Not only are they delightfully refreshing, sweet and tart fruits, but they are full of antioxidants like flavonoids and carotenoids. They are infused with the goodness of Vitamin C and contain a high amount of fiber too. Kiwis can promote healthy skin, improve blood circulation, enhance immunity, help cell rejuvenation, and can even fight cancer. We don’t think you need any more reasons why you should include kiwi in your dog’s diet, do you?
Blueberries
Blueberries are absolutely loved to be devoured by everyone, and our dogs agree! Blueberries can be perfect treats for dogs because of their small size and palatable taste. These juicy little fruits are full of vitamins C and K, minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron as well as antioxidants. Moreover, despite being sweet, they are low in sugar, which makes them perfect for diabetic dogs. These small, delectable fruits can also be great for using as rewarding treats while training your dogs with some positive reinforcement.
Strawberries
Who doesn’t love this sweet, tart and juicy little fruit? Dogs, too, should reap the benefits of strawberries along with its luscious taste. They are high in vitamins C, B, K, E, and minerals like manganese and potassium; and, of course, antioxidants. Strawberries can improve immunity, lower blood sugar and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Mangoes
Nothing can beat the goodness of this sweet-succulent fruit—mango. Mangoes are loaded with carotenoids, Vitamin A, and trace nutrients. However, beware of the mango pit as it contains cyanide, just like apples. Plus, a mango pit can be a choking hazard too, and can block a dog’s digestive system.
Keep These Fruits AWAY From Your Dogs:
While the list of fruits good for your dogs can be endless, you should be aware of the fruits that are a big no-no for your dogs. Here’s the list:
- Grapes
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Grapefruits
- Cherries
- Avocado
- Sweet Lime
All dogs are one of their own kinds, and therefore, some dogs may even be allergic to the fruits that are safe to eat for dogs. If your dogs show any kind of allergic reaction to any of the fruits, you should definitely stop feeding it to them.
Fun and Creative Ways of Adding Fruits to your Dog’s Diet
The best way to feed fruits to your dogs is simply by removing the seeds and rind, and cutting them into small finger-sized pieces/slices. But eating fruits in the good old manner can be boring at times. Don’t you feel so? If so, why would our dogs feel any different! Be a little more creative in such cases and try some fun ways of serving fruits, like the ones mentioned below:
Smoothies
Most of us love having fruits in the form of smoothies, and so do our dogs. You can blend fresh fruits with water, yogurt, or vegetable broth to make a nice smoothie out of them. It’s that simple!
Pup-sicles
Dogs love devouring popsicles, and how cool would it be if we said you could even add fruits to them? Just take some fresh water or fruit juice or thin yogurt, and add it to the popsicle mold (You can even add this to the ice tray if you don’t have a popsicle tray). Now add small pieces of fruit to it and freeze them for a while. Your dog’s are gonna love having this one on a hot summer day!
Mix it with the regular dog food:
The simplest and most convenient way of adding fruits to your dog’s diet is by mixing it with their regular meal. You can either make a puree of any of the fresh fruits so that they mix evenly, or you can even add fruit chunks on the top of their meal. Whatever the Fido prefers!