Many dogs will enjoy the sweet, juicy watermelon flesh. They have a tooth for sweet foods just like we do. Are dogs allowed to eat watermelons, and are they good and safe or harmful? How should you feed these fruits to your pup?
What are they?
Many people enjoy the succulent, pinkish to dark-red sweet watermelon flesh fresh, in salad or juices. Did you know the less appealing rind is edible as a vegetable after stewing or stir-frying? Additionally, people in China and Vietnam eat roasted, dried, or ground black watermelon seeds during new year celebrations.
Watermelon is a berry from the vine-like watermelon plant in the family Cucurbitaceae and is a relative of pumpkins, squashes, melons, and cucumbers. It grows in tropical and temperate regions but was first domesticated in Africa.
Can dogs eat watermelons
If you are a pup owner who loves these fruits, be glad since dogs can eat watermelons in moderation as a treat a few times a week, like any other dog-safe fruit. Watermelon is one of the safe (not toxic or poisonous) and healthy treats that your pup will love and enjoy eating.
Canines can digest and benefits from it, but it is wise first to consult your vet. However, ensure they don’t eat the rind, and you remove seeds.
Why not give dogs watermelon rind or skin
Dogs shouldn’t eat watermelon rind or skin, the tough outer skin with some whitish part that we usually throw away. While watermelon skin is not toxic or poisonous, it is not safe as pups cannot digest, i.e., it is indigestible and hard to chew, especially for small dog breeds (large ones can chew it).
Therefore, if your dog eats watermelon rind, it is likely to end up with partial or total gastrointestinal blockages, which will affect or hinder the free movement of food in digestive tracts. Some severe cases of such blockages may require surgical removal, which will cost you money and are very painful.
If your dog ate watermelon rind, don’t panic. However, ensure you monitor it closely for the next up to 24 hours for any signs of bowel blockages, which include the following
- Repetitive vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Reduced appetite
- Bloat
- Sensitive belly to touch due to abdominal pain
- Dehydration
- Whining and hunching
In case of any of the above symptoms, talk to your vet for further diagnosis and treatment. Also, if you throw rinds to your trash can, ensure it is dog-proof such as the iTouchless 13 Gallon Pet-Proof Sensor Trash Can. Such will avoid accidental eating of not just the rind or any other unhealthy or spoilt food.
Why seeds are dangerous
Like the rind, dogs shouldn’t eat watermelon seeds because they are indigestible and may cause obstruction. Small dog breeds are particularly vulnerable, while large ones may manage to expel the seeds with their feces.
It is true that one or two seeds accidentally swallowed may not cause any harm, and blockages may occur if your dog ingests so many of these seeds.
Therefore, always ensure you remove all watermelon seeds before offering it to your canines or go for the seedless watermelon variety.
The seedless varieties are the best if your dog loves watermelons since they have very few seeds or those that have not matured enough to cause intestinal blockages. However, ensure you check on the actual seed volume and size before offering them to your canine pal.
Are watermelons good and healthy for dogs?
Yes. Watermelons are good and healthy for dogs, a reason why you should consider giving them some. Did you know that the Watermelon Promotions Board, a USDA department, considers watermelon a superfood?
However, before we tell you why these fruits are suitable for your pup, let us look at their nutritional composition as it will form a critical part discussion.
| Nutritional value per 100 g | |
| Energy | 30 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 7.55 g |
| Sugars | 6.2 g |
| Dietary fiber | 0.4 g |
| Fat | 0.15 g |
| Protein | 0.61 g |
| Water | 91.45g |
Additionally, watermelon has vitamins A, B1, B5, B6, and C, potassium, magnesium, citrulline (a type of amino acid) as well as various phytonutrients (polyphenols) that are beneficial to your dogs.
The fact that dogs don’t need fruits in their diets doesn’t mean they cannot benefit. Some of the watermelon benefits they have to include the following:
Have nutrients
As already seen, these fruits do have some nutrients that play various roles in the body, which can be summarized as follows:
| Nutrient | Functions |
| Vitamin A | Vitamin A is an essential vitamin that must be provided in diets. It helps maintain optimal health and ensures proper muscles, nerves, coat, and skin in dogs. |
| Vitamin B1 | It is an essential vitamin involved in carbohydrate metabolism. High energy organs, including the brain, need it for proper functioning. |
| Vitamin B5 | Plays a role in the hormone and metabolism of carbohydrates, protein, and fats |
| Vitamin B6 | Has a role in nervous and red blood cell function, help in hormone regulation, gene activation, immune response, etc |
| Vitamin C | While dogs can synthesis their own in their liver, the one from the diet is also essential. Vitamin C can help minimize cognitive aging, reduce inflammation, boost collagen, and so on. |
| Potassium | Involved in several metabolic processes and generates the normal resting cell membrane potential. |
| Magnesium | Has functions in muscle contraction and relaxation, neuronal signaling, bone mineralization, and most of the metabolic process |
Have vital phytonutrient
Besides vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, watermelons have lycopene (responsible for the dark-red to pinkish) and cucurbitacin E, both anti-inflammatory antioxidants. The fruit also has beta-cryptoxanthin, an antioxidant.
All these antioxidants will offset free radical generated by metabolism, stress, and other environmental factors that can damage cells, tissues, or even DNA and cause some chronic illnesses, including cancer.
For instance, one study on the effects of lycopene on proliferation and death of canine osteosarcoma cells had a result that indicated “lycopene may be beneficial during treatment of osteosarcomas,” (1) a form of cancer.
Have dietary fiber
Dietary fiber, both soluble and insoluble, is essential in your dog’s diet. Fiber can help prevent diarrhea or constipation, help in weight loss (creates bulkiness without increasing calorie content), promote a healthy gut and colon, help diabetic dogs, etc.
This fruit has some dietary fiber that will offer all these benefits to your canine pal. Furthermore, the fiber will also slow down sugar absorption to the bloodstream, preventing any sugar spikes.
Will boost hydration
Water aids in food digestion, nutrient absorption, body cooling, and every other body function requires it. Since they are very high in water (about 92%), watermelons may help boost hydration, especially if your dog doesn’t like drinking much water or during hot summers since, as they pant, they lose a lot of moisture and can get dehydrated.
Some people consider this fruit to be a diuretic (will make your canine pal urinate more), this is a good and healthy thing.
Low calorie treats
Watermelon is a low-calorie, low sodium healthy treat, or training reward to offer your dog with only 30 calories per 100 grams. If you cat it into bite-size, they will have much fewer calories than the starchy commercial dog treats you buy from stores.
How much watermelon can a dog eat?
We know you want to know how much watermelon a pup can have. However, the answer is not a straight forward one. It all depends on calorie intake, which is a factor of age, breed, size, activity level, neutering, and so on, as well as the total amount of other treats your dog is having. The rule of thumb is that all treats your dog eats must not exceed 10% of their total daily calorific intake.
To help you explain how much melon your pup can eat, we will look at a few of the popular breeds, consider their standard calorie intake and see how much melon they can eat.
100g of watermelon has 30 calories, and we are assuming they will only get 50% of the calories from melon and the remainder from other treats. You can also deduce yours depending on how much calories they are getting from other treats.
The illustration below is only for demonstration purposes. The exact amount for your case will depend on your dog’s calorie intake. 100g of watermelon has 30 calories, while a cup of diced watermelon has 46 calories
| Dog breed and weight | Assumed calories consumed | Amount of melon they can eat in grams if it accounts for 50% of total treats |
| Yorkies | 150 | 25g (about 1/6 a cup) |
| Chihuahuas | 225 | 40 g (about 1/4 a cup) |
| Pugs | 300 | 50g (about 1/3 a cup) |
| Small French Bulldogs | 480 | 80g (about ½ a cup) |
| Large Frenchie | 700 | 116g (about ¾ a cup) |
| Huskies | 1000 | 167g (about 1 cup) |
| German Shepherds | 2000 | 333g (about 2 cups) |
| Shih Tzu | 400 | 67g (about 2/5 a cup) |
| Pomeranians | 350 | 58g (about 1/3 a cup) |
| Pit bull | 1200 | 200g (about 1-1/3 a cup) |
| Golden retrievers | 1300 | 217g (about 1-1/3 a cup |
| Maltese | 240 | 40g (1/4 a cup) |
| Labradors | 1300 | 217g (about 1-1/3 a cup) |
| English Bulldogs | 1000 | 167g (about 1 cup) |
Warning
Even if your dog likes them, avoid excessive watermelon may make your pup sick, i.e., they may cause diarrhea, bloating, intestinal irritation, and other tummy issues. Also, long-term feeding may result in weight gain or obesity.
Can puppies eat watermelon?
Yes. Puppies can eat watermelon as a treat (a smaller part of their diet). Watermelons are good for puppies, and they stand to get many benefits. However, since their tummies are young, consider giving them a smaller amount than you give your adult dogs. Also, be sure to avoid the rind or seeds.
When can watermelons be bad for dogs?
Even with all the benefits and our assurance that watermelons are safe and ok for dogs, there are instances when you should avoid them as they can harm your canine pal. Common examples include the following.
- If your canine is diabetic -While the fiber will slow down the rate at which sugar is released and absorbed into their body, don’t feed your diabetic dog watermelons or any other fruit unless your veterinarian approves it.
- Obese pups – The sugar in this fruit will only worsen things, especially if you let them eat excessive amounts.
- Dogs with a preexisting condition or under therapeutic diets – Canines with kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, and so on, so shouldn’t eat any fruit fruits unless your vet approves it. This rule applies to those taking therapeutic diets.
- Allergic – Dogs are rarely allergic to watermelon. However, just like humans, dogs can be allergic to this or other fruits. Check for symptoms such as itchy skin, digestive or skin issues, or any other abnormal signs.
Feeding
You have an estimate of how much of this fruit your pup should have. It is time to look at feeding since not correctly feeding your canines may cause stomach upset, diarrhea, gas, and so on that people report.
Cut into bite-size pieces
Once you have determined the amount your dog shouldn’t eat, wash your melons to remove any remnant pesticides or herbicides, cut your melon into wedges, remove the rind and seeds just as in the case of cantaloupe.
Afterward, chop into bite-size dices and gain check for any pits and remove any remaining. The size of the pieces you cut depends on the size of your pup.
Introduce slowly
When introducing any new food, including fruits and vegetables, for the first time, begin with a very tiny amount and monitor bowel movement for the next day. If everything looks ok, you can increase the amount gradually over 7-10 days.
However, should you notice any soft stool, gas, vomiting, or stomach upsets, discontinue the watermelon and revert to the usual diets.
Offering ideas
How to offer melons to your dog depends on your creativity as you have limitless ways to provide them with this fruit. Some of the common ones include:
a). Fresh
The easiest and straightforward way of feeding these fruits to your dog is by giving them fresh chunks. All you need to do is remove seeds and cut into bite-size pieces. Alternatively, you can puree them and mix or sprinkle them on their food.
b). Frozen
During hot summer, frozen watermelons will make a perfect treat for your dog to help cool them down. They are also ideal for teething puppies as it will soothe them or those dogs that don’t know seem to know what to do with the watermelon texture.
You can go for frozen chunks or puree and freeze. If you puree yours, you can add water (1:1 ratio) and place them in your ice cube tray or dog bone ice cube tray and freeze them.
c). Dehydrated
Dehydrated or freeze-dried watermelons are safe for dogs to eat. However, they will lack the benefit of water and give them smaller amounts since they are higher in sugar.
The great idea is to make watermelon jerkies where you cut watermelons the strips, remove the rind and seeds and place them in your dehydrator until they have a leathery feel. You can then use them as training rewards or treats.
d). Doggy popsicles
Mix pureed watermelon and coconut water and place it in your ice cube tray or dog bone ice cube tray and freeze them. This is mainly a good idea if your dogs don’t seem to like watermelons.
e). Juice
Watermelon juice is ok and safe for dogs so long as it doesn’t have any other additive, such as sugar. You can let him drink a little or add to their food.
Monitor your dog
After feeding watermelons to your dogs or any other new dog, always keep a close eye to see how their tummies react since some may suffer stomach upsets.
Avoid watermelon snacks
Avoid snacks, chews, or candies with artificial watermelon flavor or with watermelons meant for your consumption as some have preservatives, sweeteners, and other additives that may hurt your dog.
So, please don’t give your dog Tamalitoz, Freeze Dried Watermelon Taffy, Sour Patch Candy, Haribo Gummi Candy, Sun-Maid Sour Raisin Watermelon Snacks, among many others, as they can make cause stomach upsets.
More dog-safe fruits
Since they have different textures, tastes, and nutrients, it is a noble idea always to vary the fruit treats you give your pup. Some of the other safe fruits you should consider feeding your pooches include the following:
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Cantaloupe (no rind or skin and seeds)
- Cherrie
- Bananas
- Apples without core or seeds
- Cranberries
- Mangoes
- Oranges
- Pineapples
- Raspberries
Conclusion
If fed properly, watermelon is good and safe for dogs to eat. However, let them eat it in moderation and ensure you remove the rind and seeds once your vet has given you an ok.