Originally from Asia, pomelos have become more common worldwide today. Pomelos are known to have coarse, firm pulp that tastes milder than grapefruits. And while pomelos are healthy and refreshing for humans, does the fruit have the same effect when given to your canine friends?
The answer to the question of whether your dogs can eat pomelos is: yes, they can! If you want to keep your dogs happy and healthy, you can try giving them pomelos as occasional treats or snacks. This fruit can provide these health benefits to them:
Enhances Muscle Health
The protein present in pomelos can help your dogs improve or maintain their muscle health. As a result, your dogs will be at a lesser risk of injuries and chronic inflammation. Keeping your dogs’ muscles healthy will also ensure that they remain active, especially during their senior years.
Improves Digestion
Pomelos also contain dietary fiber that can improve the digestive health of your four-legged friends. Dietary fiber can soften the stool of your dogs, so they’ll have regular bowel movements. This can also enhance the ability of your dogs to digest foods and prevent constipation over time.
Aids In Weight Loss
Looking for ways to help your dogs maintain a healthy weight? Feeding them with pomelos can help. This fruit only contains 230 calories, which is relatively low compared to other fruits. Adding low-calorie snacks to your dogs’ diets can keep them full for longer periods, reducing their food intake every day.
Boosts Immunity
Thanks to the vitamin C found in pomelos, giving the fruit to your dogs can help boost their immune system. A stronger immune system can protect your dogs from getting ill as their bodies can easily fight disease-causing germs and bacteria.
Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation is your dogs’ response to intruders in their bodies, keeping them safe against germs and bacteria. However, when your dogs’ bodies are always inflamed, painful symptoms can occur. Chronic inflammation in dogs can disrupt their gut’s natural functions, resulting in diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and nutrient deficiencies.
Pomelos contain healthy levels of lycopene antioxidants that lower inflammation in dogs. An anti-inflammatory diet can benefit your dogs and can improve the symptoms of arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Can Dogs Eat Pomelo Skin?
No, you should never give your dogs pomelo skin. This part of the fruit is hard to digest, and giving any to your pets might cause them to choke or, worse, block their intestinal tract.
How About The Leaves?
No, your dogs can’t eat the leaves of the pomelo. This part of the fruit is difficult to digest and doesn’t contain any nutrients.
Can Dogs Eat Pomelo Seeds?
No, because pomelo seeds are actually toxic to dogs. Pomelo seeds contain amygdalin that converts into cyanide when eaten, chewed, and ingested. Cyanide poisoning can cause several symptoms, such as drooling, vomiting, and watery eyes, and can be fatal when left untreated.
How Should You Feed Pomelo To Your Dogs?
To ensure that your dogs enjoy the health benefits of pomelo, you need to prepare the fruit properly. Keep in mind that the seeds, skin, and leaves of the fruit are harmful, which is why you should remove them and only give your dogs the flesh.
Here’s a step-by-step guide in properly feeding pomelos to your dogs:
- Remove the thick rind of the pomelo.
- Cut out the fruit into small pieces to prevent your dogs from choking.
- Remove any seeds from the fruit.
- Give the fruit to your dog in small quantities.
- Check if your dogs exhibit any symptoms after eating the fruit. If they do, discontinue feeding them the fruit.
How Much Pomelo Should Your Dogs Eat?
So, your dogs can finally eat pomelo and enjoy several health benefits from the fruit — that’s good news! But as a pet owner, it’s essential to know how much pomelo your dogs should consume. Keep in mind that dogs need to consume different foods to stay healthy, and feeding them too much pomelo can prevent them from getting nutrients from other sources.
Ideally, pomelos should only make up 10% of your dogs’ diet. Because pomelo has high sugar and acidic content, over feeding your dogs with pomelo can lead to several health risks.
Can Dogs Be Allergic To Pomelos?
Yes, some dogs are allergic to pomelos. It all depends on each individual dog and their tolerance to new foods being added to their diets. Pomelos contain high levels of acid, which can trigger allergies in some dogs.
When feeding your dogs with pomelos for the first time, start by giving them small amounts first (one pinch of the fruit will do) and watch out for signs of any allergies. Some of the common symptoms of allergies in dogs include excessive skin itching and indigestion.
What Happens If Your Dogs Eat Too Much Pomelo?
Moderation is key when giving pomelos to your dogs. Giving them excessive amounts of the fruit can possibly lead to poisoning. This can be fatal to dogs when left untreated.
Listed below are five of the most common symptoms of pomelo poisoning in dogs:
- Abnormal drooling
- Collapse
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Tremors
If not treated ASAP, these symptoms can worsen and lead to:
- Liver failure
- Depression
- Sudden death
What Should You Do If Your Dog Experiences Pomelo Poisoning?
If you notice any of the mentioned symptoms above, take your dogs to the vet immediately. Don’t try to administer DIY solutions as an attempt to make your dogs feel better, as this will only worsen the health condition of your dogs. The sooner you take your dogs to the vet, the better chances they’ll have of surviving.
Partner With A Vet
Before adding pomelos to your dogs’ diets, consult a vet first. They can properly assess the health condition of your pets to determine if pomelos are ideal for their nutritional needs. Vets can also provide pieces of advice to help you properly incorporate the fruit into your dogs’ diets minus the side effects.