Consuming fruit is a must for humans to stay healthy. Fruits are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and health-boosting antioxidants that can reduce your risks of developing diabetes, cancer, heart diseases, and other health conditions.
But regardless of how much you want to spoil your dogs, you should be cautious when sharing fruits with them. Their bodies are different from humans, and certain fruits might adversely affect their health and wellness.
Kumquats are dog-friendly and can be fed to your dogs. As long as given in small quantities and controlled frequencies, kumquats are actually healthy for your furry friends as this fruit offers the following:
Vitamin C
Just like humans, dogs also need about 500 milligrams of vitamin C every day. This vitamin is responsible for keeping your dogs’ immune system strong, so they won’t be susceptible to infections and illnesses. Vitamin C also supports healthy aging, improves energy, and reduces harmful free radicals in your dogs’ bodies.
Vitamin A
Kumquats are also excellent sources of vitamin A that supports healthy eyesight in dogs. Vitamin A also keeps your dogs’ skin and coat healthy and ensures that their organs are working properly. If you have puppies, make sure that their diets contain sufficient levels of vitamin A as this is necessary for the proper formation of their organs and immune system function.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B is essential in your dogs’ diets because it promotes biochemical reactions to transform carbohydrates into glucose, so they’ll have energy in their bodies. Vitamin B also keeps away fleas and ticks, gives healthy skin and hair, and improves the metabolic process of your dogs.
When your dogs don’t get enough vitamin B, they can experience many symptoms, such as anxiety, anemia, bleeding gums, and cognitive impairment. Vitamin B deficiency can also lead to decaying teeth and mouth sores.
Vitamin E
Kumquats are also rich in vitamin E, a nutrient necessary for your dogs to have healthy skin. A diet that contains vitamin E can also help treat common skin conditions among dogs, such as canine atopic dermatitis, allergic skin diseases, itchy skin, and irritation caused by skin mites.
Dietary Fiber
Another nutrient your canine friends can get from kumquats is dietary fiber. This is one of the most vital nutrients in your dogs’ diets because it affects their digestive tract. Dogs who receive a sufficient amount of dietary fiber every day have healthier bowel movements as their stools are soft. This can lessen your dogs’ risks of constipation and diarrhea.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The edible seeds of kumquats are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that offer countless health benefits for dogs. Omega-3 fatty acids support proper brain development in puppies, help dogs reduce inflammation in their bodies, and improve dogs’ ability to fight cancer. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids can boost the kidney and heart health of your furry friends.
Magnesium
Kumquats also have magnesium. This mineral improves or maintains the muscle health of your dogs and ensures that all of their organs are functioning properly. Magnesium also impacts the mental and emotional well-being of your dogs due to its calming effects. By feeding your dogs kumquats, they’ll get less agitated or anxious.
What Happens When Your Dogs Have Too Much Kumquat?
When giving your dogs kumquats, moderation is key. This fruit should be given as occasional treats or snacks to your canine friends, not as a replacement for their meals.
Due to the high fiber and magnesium content of kumquats, feeding your dogs too much of the fruit can cause diarrhea. This happens because excessive amounts of fiber and magnesium in your dogs’ bodies create a laxative effect.
Moreover, kumquats also contain citrus oil that can cause stomach upset and liver problems when consumed excessively. Citrus oil can also harm your dogs’ skin and trigger allergies and irritations.
How Much Kumquat Should Your Dog Eat?
In general, fruits, such as kumquats, should only make up 10% of your dogs’ diet. Remember that your furry friends need a well-balanced diet to stay healthy, and feeding them too much kumquat can prevent them from getting nutrients from other food groups.
How Should You Feed Kumquat To Dogs?
Before feeding kumquats to your dogs, make sure to remove the skin first. The skin of this fruit is firm and hard, which can be a choking hazard for your furry friends. In worse cases, the skin of kumquats can block the intestines of your dogs, which might require surgery for treatment.
Consult A Vet First
Before adding kumquat to your dogs’ diets, consult your vet first. Some dogs have high food sensitivities, and feeding them kumquat might result in severe health risks.
Stay on the safe side and always talk to your vet before changing your dogs’ diets. This is especially important if you have senior dogs or dogs diagnosed with medical conditions. With the help of the vet, you’ll have the assurance of knowing that your dogs stay healthy.