Wondering if it’s safe to feed your dog fruit?
The short answer is, yes, but there are important guidelines that vets and pet experts recommend, including avoiding certain fruits that can be toxic to dogs.
As well as being a healthy low calorie treat, “safe fruits” can provide beneficial vitamins and minerals to your dog’s daily diet.
What Fruits are Safe for Dogs and What Fruits are Not?
The two lists below have been compiled by veterinarians and pet experts.
Safe Fruits for Dogs:
- Berries, including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cranberries
- Melons, including cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew
- Apples
- Pineapples
- Peaches
- Mangos
- Oranges
- Bananas
- Pumpkins
Unsafe and Toxic Fruits for Dogs
Cherries
Not only can a cherry pit cause an intestinal blockage, it also contains cyanide, a chemical that is highly poisonous to dogs.
Grapes
Because of their extreme toxicity, grapes should never be fed to dogs. In fact, grapes are so toxic, they can even cause kidney failure in dogs.
Avocados
Containing high levels of toxins, avocados can cause extreme digestive issues for dogs.
Unripe Tomatoes
While ripe tomatoes are beneficial for dogs, unripe tomatoes contain Solanine, a chemical compound that can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea.
Some Dried Fruits
Many dried fruits are safe in moderation, however, some, especially raisins are so toxic, they can be fatal even in very small amounts.
PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a complete and fully comprehensive list of all the fruits that are dangerous and potentially toxic for your dog, so if in doubt, always consult your vet!
Important Information About Feeding Fruits to Your Dog
Moderation
Like vegetables, when fed in moderation, fruits can be beneficial to dogs.
Slow Introduction
Introducing a new food to a dog’s diet should always be done slowly.
As most of us know, just changing a dog’s kibble can lead to unwanted digestive upset if not done properly. This is because it can take time for the digestive system to adjust to any new food. And due to the high fiber content of many fruits, adding them slowly, while monitoring your dog’s digestion is absolutely recommended.
Digestive Problems
If your dog shows signs of digestive upset after eating fruit, you can feed them a Bland Diet for a few days until normal digestion is restored.
Although digestive issues may indicate an intolerance of a certain fruit, if you do decide to reintroduce it, do so even more slowly, and in smaller amounts.
Check With Your Vet!
Fruits are an excellent way to add fiber, vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants to your dog’s daily diet. But, because they also tend to be high in sugar, they may not be the best option for dogs with certain health conditions, so checking with your vet first is always recommended!
Consider Adding a Supplement
Although the idea of swapping out treats that are high in calories and fat for a healthy snack alternative like fruit may sound like a great idea, your dog may think otherwise! Some dogs are picky eaters and may have no interest in fruit.
The good news is, it’s easy to make sure your dog is getting all the important nutrients they need by simply adding a daily multi-vitamin. 10 in 1 Multivitamin Chews for Dogs combines essential vitamins, minerals, and probiotics into one daily chew to support digestion, mobility, immunity, and overall health.
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If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.
