Watermelon is enjoyed by many people and animals and as a pet owner you may be wondering if your dog can eat it.
The answer is yes they can. Watermelon is safe for dogs to eat provided that you take the skin off so that the dog cannot eat it and that you also do not let him eat the seeds.
Watermelon nutritional facts
Watermelon is a healthy food that is packed with nutrients vitamins A, B6 and C, is low in calories and rich in potassium.
The US based National Watermelon Promotion Board tell us that this fruit contains about 50 calories per cupful and is comprised on 90% water, it contains no fat or cholesterol , and this makes it an ideal treat on a hot day when hydration is important.
Some interesting facts about watermelons:
Watermelons are related to pumpkins and cucumbers and they are members of the same plant family.
It takes a watermelon only 3 months to grow from seed.
Most watermelons weight between 15 to 20 pounds, enough for 90 wedges.
A cup of watermelon contains:
46 Calories
0.2 grammes of fat
14% vitamin C
11.6% carbohydrate
1 g protein
How much watermelon can a dog eat?
As is the case with most things for dogs and humans, too much can be a bad thing and it is wise to not overfeed your dog with watermelon.
Fruits and vegetables are enjoyed by most dogs but they should not be used as the main part of a dog’s diet.
If you want to use watermelon as a treat for your pet then the best option is to do this on hot days when your dog is thirsty and needs the water intake.
So that you don’t upset your dog’s tummy he should only have between 50 to 100 grammes of watermelon daily. This will ensure that you don’t exceed his recommended daily vitamin intake or upset his stomach.
Benefits of watermelon for dogs
Watermelon can have some great health benefits for your dog.
A great thing about watermelon is that it’s more than 90% water. This means that the fruit is a good treat to help your dog stay hydrated, especially on a hot day.
Watermelon can have a diuretic effect, meaning it will make your dog pee more, but considering it has so much water in it, they’re likely to do this anyway if they eat it.
Watermelon is a highly nutritious snack that your dog will enjoy, it contains high levels of vitamins A, B6 and C, as well as potassium.
Watermelon contains fibre, which helps to stop sugars in the watermelon from having a overly unhealthy effect on your dog.
The antioxidants in watermelon have also been linked to a decrease in inflammation.
Which part of a watermelon can my dog eat?
There are two bits of the watermelon that you should not feed to your dog
The skin ( aka the rind) and the pips (aka the seeds) should never be fed to a dog.
Both can cause a dog to choke if he does not chew them and they can also be difficult to digest.
Always just feed the nice, juicy flesh of the fruit to your dog, it’s the nicest and best bit.
Don’t feed the rind (skin) or seeds to dogs – only give them the flesh
What is the best way to feed watermelon to my dog?
Cut the melon in half and then remove the skin from both halves.
Remove the ends.
Chop the melon into chunks.
You can serve the chunks in your dog’s dish or you can offer them to him by hand.
Make sure that there are no seeds left or pieces of skin before he eats it.
Try a small amount first and never give him too much ( 50 to 100 grammes will be enough ).
Always watch your dog after introducing a new food and if he develops an upset tummy then stop feeding until it settles down.
Final Words
Watermelon is a great, safe and healthy treat for your dog.
Fed on a hot day your dog will love the refreshing taste and will benefit from the vitamins and nutrients that watermelon contains.
With a little creativity you could create watermelon smoothies, frozen watermelon lollypops and other cool treats to give to your him when the weather gets hot.
