Not only can your dog eat watermelon safely, but it can make a refreshing, hydrating treat for them. This said, like many other fruits and vegetables, watermelon should only be given to your dog in moderation and shouldn’t replace a healthy balanced diet.
How To Feed A Dog Watermelon?
Just like any treat, given to your dog in addition to their regular, balanced diet, watermelon should be fed in moderation.
Here are some safe ways to feed your dog watermelon:
- In chunks: Slice up a watermelon and remove the rinds and seeds.
- Frozen chunks: After removing the rinds and seeds, freeze the fruit in the freezer, then take it out on a hot summer day. The treat will help cool down your dog!
- Puree: Puree the fresh fruit after removing seeds and, then freeze in an ice cube tray or silicon mold.
- Watermelon “ice cream”: Blend frozen watermelon chunks with plain, unsweetened yogurt. Add on top of your dog’s food bowl or stuff into a rubber toy. Unless they suffer from lactose intolerance, plain yogurt is safe to eat for most dogs.
It’s usually better tolerated than ice cream, and the bacterial cultures in yogurt are great for intestinal health. Just be sure to choose plain yogurt without any added flavors, fruit, sugars, natural sweeteners, or artificial sweeteners.
Read the label carefully to be sure the product does not contain toxic xylitol. If your dog doesn’t handle yogurt well, consider other options like lactose-free, dairy-based yogurt, or dairy-free yogurt made from plant products. Always read the label to avoid any unsafe additives or ingredients.
Is watermelon good for dogs?
If you’re wondering if watermelon is good for dogs, the answer isn’t simple! These deliciously juicy fruits are 92% water, so they’re great for a hydrating snack, particularly on warmer summer days. It’s much better than giving your dog ice cream, which can cause stomach upsets from the milk.
What’s more, watermelons are also low in calories and salts (sodium) and are fat-free, making them a relatively healthy dog treat.
However, watermelon should only be fed on the odd occasion, rather than as a regular part of your dog’s daily diet. They do contain sugar, which can lead to health problems if fed in excess.
Another key thing to note is that, although watermelons are packed full of nutrients, these are all things your dog will get from a complete and balanced diet.
This means that there’s no need to add watermelon as a regular addition. Only ever give in moderation – remember that there is too much of a good thing and overfeeding with fruits like watermelon could cause gastrointestinal upset.
Never give your dog watermelon-flavored sweets, drinks, or lollies either, these are packed full of sugar, sweeteners, and additives which can be dangerous for your pet’s health. With this in mind, there are a variety of fruits dogs can eat that include nutritional benefits.
Does watermelon give dogs diarrhea?
Like any treat, watermelon should be given to your dog in moderation.
If your dog eats too much watermelon, it can cause diarrhea, constipation, or an upset stomach. It can even contribute to obesity and diabetes in the long term if eaten too often and at high volumes, according to Trupanion.
Treats, including watermelon, should only make up 10% of your pet’s diet, with the remaining 90% accounting for their regular vet-approved food.
How much watermelon can dogs eat?
While dogs can eat watermelon, eating too much watermelon can be a different story. “Just like anything, you want to try not to overdo it,” says Dr. Tate.
“If they eat more watermelon than they should, they can get diarrhea from the excess fluid. There can also be a lot of sugar in watermelon, and it can change the pH of the gastrointestinal tract.”
So how much is too much? As a rule of thumb, Dr. Tate suggests no more than 2 to 3 cups for larger-breed dogs, 1 to 2 cups for medium-breed dogs, and 1 cup for small breeds. “You want to keep it within reasonable limits,” she says.
