Since the days are getting warmer, you're probably starting to crave ice cold watermelon now that it's in season. But what about your furry friend? Dogs get thirsty too in this heat; aren’t you going to share your slice? This tasty treat is a top choice for humans who want something sweet and refreshing, but is it safe for dogs? Some things we eat, even fruits and vegetables, can be great for us but bad for them.
So what’s the case with watermelon? Is it nutritious for dogs or harmful? What about different parts of the watermelon? Is it like the apple, where the peel and the flesh are very nutritious for dogs, but the seeds are toxic and the core is dangerous?
As is the case with so many foods, you need to ask yourself a few questions. Is watermelon safe for dogs? Can they eat the rind? Can they eat the seeds? Do dogs even like watermelon? Those are excellent questions — let’s go a little further with this subject and find out!
Is Watermelon OK For Dogs To Eat?
Yes, it is. Watermelon is perfectly OK for dogs to eat. You can feel free to give your pooch a nice cool slice so they can enjoy it right along with you.
Do Dogs Even Like Watermelon?
This is one of those personal preference situations. When my sister’s golden retriever and Jack Russell see her get out the knife and a watermelon, they both come running! But my little Yorkie looks at it, sniffs it, ventures a lick or two, and then, nine times out of 10, walks away. He apparently just doesn’t even like it, although I can’t see why. But, to each his own — dog and human!
Is Watermelon Healthy For Dogs?
According to the American Kennel Club, watermelon is a “health-food powerhouse, low in calories and packed with nutrients — vitamins A, B6, and C, and [also] potassium.”
The National Watermelon Promotion Board, or NWPB, lists among its benefits that watermelon is the number one lycopene source among all fresh produce. Lycopene is a powerful bright-red antioxidant and a cancer-fighting phytonutrient also found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin A is important for our (and our dogs') eye health, and it also boosts immunity. Vitamin B6 helps our immune systems produce antibodies to fight illnesses and helps maintain normal nerve functions and form red blood cells. Vitamin C is also important for building our immune systems. Potassium is inside every cell of the body and helps maintain water balance!
One of the reasons I love watermelon is that it has all these health benefits and is delicious but is also a healthy sweet treat, at only 50 calories a cup! Watermelon is 92% water, so it's almost like drinking a glass of water when you eat it. This means your dog can eat watermelon as a healthy, low-calorie snack that keeps her body hydrated during the hot summer months!
As with all "people food," you should limit the amount of watermelon you give your dog. Remember that dogs and people have very different digestive systems, so your dog’s is not like yours. Even though you can eat a quarter of a watermelon, your dog cannot!
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Rinds?
Dr. Jessica Potosky advises LittleThings against feeding your dog watermelon rinds: “As always, anything outside their normal diet can cause gastrointestinal upset like vomiting or diarrhea, but it is not toxic.”
The rind is not helpful for hydration, and is often used by people to make pickles, similar to the ways cucumbers are used. It is not the same kind of food as the flesh of the watermelon itself, so it must be considered separately. Actually, I think if I ate a big chunk of the rind I might get an upset stomach too!
Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Seeds?
Many of the watermelons we buy in stores today are seedless, but you may have noticed that even the seedless watermelons have some white seeds.
The NWPB points out that black seeds are the mature seeds, and the white ones are seed coats, where the seeds did not mature. The seeds, especially the black mature ones, can cause an intestinal blockage for your dog.
Remove both kinds of seeds for your dog to keep things as simple as possible, keeping in mind that foods that are fine for your system can upset your dog’s digestive tract!
Watermelon Dog Treat Recipes
Yum! Now we come to the best part — eating the watermelon! You can slice it up and put a few tiny bites for your Maltese or big chunks for your Great Dane into a bowl, or you can try out this delicious icy treat.
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