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Featured image credit: Zippy eating Watermelon by Rusty Clark.
Watermelon is considered one of the healthiest snacks for humans; for their size, they’re extremely low in calories, and also contain a lot of essential vitamins. But are they equally as good for dogs? Can dogs eat watermelon?
So can dogs eat Watermelon?
Absolutely! Watermelons contain large amounts of vitamins A, B6 and C, which are key for maintaining a healthy immune system and strong bones and joints. They’re also jam-packed with potassium which is great at helping to lower your dog’s blood pressure if it’s too high. Fibre is also in abundance in watermelon, which aids in digestion.
However, there are certain parts of the watermelon that aren’t so healthy for your dog.
One of the obvious bits are the seeds on the inside of the watermelon. If your dog accidentally has a couple of these seeds, it’s not too much of an issue. However, any more than 3 or 4 can lead to a blockage in the digestive system, specifically in the intestines. This issue isn’t all too common in larger dog breeds, but smaller dog breeds have a much more difficult time digesting the seeds.
The rinds (the green shell on the outside of the watermelon) can also be damaging to your dog’s health. The rinds are extremely tough and rigid, which sometimes makes then a good thing for your dog to nibble on in the same way you might give your dog a bone to chew on. But if your dog bites too hard, they may rip a chunk off and accidentally swallow it, which could block up their digestive system much like the watermelon seeds. The skin on these rinds can also cause the same problem.
How to serve watermelon to your dog:
The perfect way to serve watermelon to your dog is to cut up a fresh one into small bite-size cubes. Make sure that you have removed all the seeds, so that these cubes are nothing but the red flesh on the inside of the watermelon. You can always keep a little bit of the rind for your dog to chew on, but if you don’t want to risk the associated dangers, then it can be discarded.
Watermelons are also great if served frozen. As long as your dog has healthy teeth, these frozen watermelon chunks are amazing on a hot summers’ day. Since watermelons are 92% water, they’re extremely refreshing when temperatures are high.
Well now you know the facts, you can go and treat your dog to a nutritious, healthy fruit, that your dog is sure to love…
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