Dogs deserve the best things in life. Dogs are one of the most intelligent and affectionate pets anyone can have, which is why you’ll likely want to spoil them in any way that you can. Dogs are like little babies and deserve to be treated as one!
However, when it comes to sharing all of your snacks and meals with your furry friends, you need to be careful. The bodies of humans and dogs aren’t the same, and feeding them too many human foods can do more harm than good.
Fortunately, pears are safe and healthy for your four-legged friends. As long as given in moderation and limited frequencies, feeding your dogs with pears is actually beneficial to their health as the fruit offers the following benefits:
Vitamin A
Pears contain vitamin A that can improve your dogs’ skin health and eyesight. Vitamin A can also expedite your dogs’ natural ability to heal wounds, reducing their risk of developing infections.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that reduces the impact of cell damage to your dogs’ bodies. Vitamin C also improves your dogs’ immune systems, making them less susceptible to common infections and diseases present in the environment.
Folate
Also known as folic acid, the folate content in pears works by supporting some of the most important metabolic functions in your dogs’ bodies. Folate ensures that your dogs’ bodies can produce red blood cells properly, and their cells function properly and remain healthy.
Copper
Pears also contain high levels of copper that can boost the nerve function and cholesterol metabolism of your dogs. Copper also plays an essential role in keeping your dogs’ bones, connective tissues, and collagen levels healthy.
Potassium
The potassium content of pears can help your dogs prevent cramps and have a healthy heart. Potassium also ensures that your dogs’ bodies produce enough electrical charges to keep their muscles and nerves healthy. Potassium deficiency in dogs can cause lethargy and loss of appetite.
Antioxidants
Pears are also packed with antioxidants that can decrease inflammation, aid blood circulation, and reduce blood pressure. The presence of antioxidants in pears can also slow down the effects of the aging process in your dogs’ bodies and boost their immune cell functions.
Dietary Fiber
Having sufficient levels of dietary fiber in the body is crucial to ensure that your dogs have normal and regular bowel movements. Dietary fiber works by softening the stool of your dogs, so they can move easier on their digestive tracts.
Pears also have soluble and insoluble fiber that can balance the healthy bacteria in your dogs’ guts. As a result, your dogs will age better and have stronger immunity.
Anthocyanins
The anthocyanins are responsible for giving the shiny luster or color of pears. When ingested, these water-soluble pigments can help improve the heart health of your dogs and reduce their risk of developing heart diseases when they age. Anthocyanins can also strengthen the blood vessels of your furry friends and prevent any blockages.
What Happens When You Over Feed Your Dogs With Too Much Pear?
Just because pears are healthy for your dogs doesn’t mean that you should feed them too much of the fruit. Moderation is the key when giving fruits to your dogs because going overboard can also lead to several risks, such as:
Excessive Sugar
Similar to other fruits, pears also contain a lot of sugar. Overfeeding your dogs with pears can upset their stomach, which can eventually worsen into diarrhea. When left untreated, diarrhea can cause dehydration to your dogs.
The sugar content of pears can also increase your dogs’ risk of obesity. Aside from shortening the lifespan of your dogs, obesity can also trigger a lot of chronic illnesses, namely cancer, heart diseases, arthritis, and even hypertension.
Choking Hazard
Even with their sharp teeth and big mouth, your dogs can still choke, especially when given foods in whole. In worse cases, certain foods can even cause intestinal blockages that can prevent their digestive tracts from functioning properly.
When giving pears to your dogs, make sure to cut the fruit into small bite-sized pieces. This is especially important if you’re giving pears to your puppies.
Cyanide Poisoning
You should never feed your dogs with pear seeds, stems, and leaves, as these can be fatal to them. These parts of the fruit contain traces of cyanide, which can damage their digestive system and, in worse cases, cause death.
Tooth Decay
The sugar content of pears can adversely affect your dogs’ oral health. Too much sugar can cause plaque to build up, which can eventually lead to swollen gums and periodontitis. These oral health conditions can pull away the gums from the teeth, exposing them to bacteria. Over time, this can cause tooth loss in your furry friends.
Can Dogs Eat Canned Pears?
Unfortunately, no. Canned pears contain unhealthy levels of sugar, which can disrupt or irritate your dogs’ digestive tracts. Giving your dogs too much sugar can also lead to obesity and other chronic health conditions.
Can Dogs Eat Pear Seeds?
No, dogs should never be fed with peer seeds as these are 100% toxic. Pear seeds contain poisonous elements, namely arsenic acid and cyanide, that can be fatal to your furry friends.
Because of the dangers of eating pear seeds, make sure to remove all of them before serving the fruit to your dogs. If your dogs accidentally ingested pear seeds, take them to the vet immediately.
Can Dogs Eat Unripe Pears?
No, you should never offer unripe pears to your dogs as they can become a choking hazard. Unripe pears are hard to chew and can get stuck on your dogs’ throats.
Can Dogs Eat Nashi Pears?
Nashi pears or Asian pears look similar to apples but have the same juicy core of a pear. These varieties of pears are also smoother, softer, and more buttery than other varieties of pears that originated from North America and Europe.
Your dogs can eat Nashi or Asian pears as long as they’re given in moderation. Overfeeding your dogs with too much pear can lead to tummy problems and other health risks.
How About Pear Juice?
No, your dogs should never have a sip of pear juice. This beverage contains a lot of sugar, additives, and preservatives that can cause diarrhea in your dogs. Pear juices also don’t contain the essential vitamins and minerals your dogs will usually get from the fruit.
Can Puppies Eat Pears?
Yes, you can feed pears to your puppies. Just make sure that you’re doing it in small quantities, and the skin is removed from the fruit. The skin of the pears might contain pesticide residue that can cause stomach problems when ingested by puppies.
How Should You Feed Pears To Dogs?
Before you offer pears to your dogs, make sure that the fruits are fresh and ripe. Thoroughly wash the pears first using running water to remove any dirt and residue on the skin.
It’s also important to remove the stalk and seeds of the pears before feeding the fruit to your dogs. The stalk of the pears can become a choking hazard, which can irritate the digestive tract of your dogs. The seeds, on the other hand, contain cyanide that can be poisonous to your furry friends. Stay on the safe side and only feed your dogs with the flesh of the pears.
How Can You Serve Pears To Your Dogs?
There are actually many ways to serve pears to your dogs; you just need to think out of the box. Aside from slicing the pears into small bite-sized pieces, you can also blend the fruit with yogurt and then add a pinch of cinnamon. If there are any leftovers, pour them into ice cube trays and freeze them overnight to create refreshing pupsicles for your dogs.
Another way to serve pears to your dogs is by grating the fruit over your dog’s regular meal. The aroma from the pears will make your dog’s meals more exciting.
You can also freeze chunks of pears and then mix them with other dog-friendly fruits, such as raspberries and mangoes. This festive frozen fruit salad will surely keep your dogs full for hours!
How Much Pear Should Your Dogs Eat?
In general, you should follow the 10% rule when feeding your dogs pears. This means that fruits should only make up 10% of the calories in your dog’s diet. Feeding your dogs more can cause several health problems and prevent them from consuming other nutritious foods.
Can You Use Pears In Dog-Friendly Recipes?
Yes! There are many dog-friendly recipes that you can do with pears. Trying out these recipes is an excellent way to add variety to your dogs’ diets and ensure that they get to enjoy pears in different ways.
Coconut And Pear Dog Cookies
Ingredients
½ cup coconut flour
½ cup pear puree
1 tablespoon raw honey
2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
3 tablespoons water
Directions
- Combine all of the ingredients together
- Preheat the oven to 350-degree Fahrenheit
- Form the dough into small balls and place them on a parchment paper
- Bake them in the oven for ten minutes
Talk To A Vet First
Before feeding your dogs with pears, reach out to their vets first. This is especially important when incorporating the fruit into their diets for the first time or if your dogs were diagnosed with any type of health problem in the past.
By consulting a vet, you’ll be guided on how to properly and safely add pears to your dogs’ diets. This will give you peace of mind knowing that your dogs will enjoy the health benefits of the fruit without any side effects or symptoms.