Can Dogs Eat Watermelon

Watermelon can make a nice refreshing treat for your dog on a hot day. Watermelon is made up of 92 percent water, providing an easy way to provide hydration for your dog. Watermelon contains several important vitamins and minerals as well, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Potassium, and Vitamin B6 while not containing any sodium, fats, or cholesterol. Before you go tossing a big slice of watermelon, make sure to read over the all the benefits, feeding tips, and things to be aware of found within this article.

Benefits of Feeding Watermelon

Watermelon provides several benefits when given as an occasional treat. As we mentioned above, watermelon contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals. Watermelon has vitamins A, B6, and C. It is also high in fiber, which is good for dog digestive health. Additionally, watermelon is a source of lycopene – an antioxidant that may help in preventing cancers. Being that watermelon is made up of 92 percent water, it is a great source of hydration. Watermelon can be a refreshing treat that is a healthy alternative to many store-bought dog treats.

How to Feed Your Dog Watermelon

With watermelon, there are several ways to feed it to your dog. Before feeding any watermelon to your dog, make sure to remove all seeds and rinds. We recommend purchasing seedless watermelon to make removing the seeds easier.

In chucks: Simply serve cut up chunks of watermelon with the rinds and seeds removed.

Frozen chucks: Cut up into serving sizes and place in a freezer. It’s like a popsicle for your dog! This makes a yummy treat to cool down and hydrate on a hot day.

Puree and Frozen: After removing the seeds and rinds, puree and then freeze in ice cube tray.

Watermelon yogurt: Blend your frozen watermelon puree with plain and unsweetened yogurt. This can then be used as a dog food topping or served as a treat. If your dog is lactose intolerant, be sure not to feed your dog watermelon using this method. More information on lactose intolerance in dogs can be found at Lactose Intolerance in Dogs.

Note: It is important to make sure that the yogurt is unsweetened, as many sweeteners and sugars are harmful to your dog. For more information on the dangers of artificial sweeteners and sugars, please check out Festive Foods Your Dog Should Not Eat.

Things to Be Aware Of When Feeding Watermelon

Anytime when introducing a new food to a pet, it is best practice to do so in a small quantity first to make sure they do not have any food allergies. The same holds true with watermelon. As we noted above, it is important to remove all the seeds and rinds from the watermelon. The white seeds, black seeds, and the watermelon rind all can cause stomach and digestive issues in dogs. In some cases, the rinds have been known to cause intestinal blockages and diarrhea. The last thing to be knowledgeable of is to keep the amount of watermelon you feed to your dog to a minimum. A dog’s diet should not be fruit and/or vegetable heavy and should not make up more than 20% of their daily food intake.

In Conclusion

Watermelon, when prepared correctly, can make a satisfying, healthy treat for your dog. Just remember to remove the rinds and all the seeds. It is also important to remember that dogs are carnivores and fruits and vegetables should never make up more than a small percentage of their diet. Are you looking for other fruit and vegetable treat ideas? Check out our 10 Vegetables for Your Dog article. Before trying to give other fruits to your dog, make sure to read Four Fruits to Never Give Your Dog, where we cover several fruits that can have severe health effects when consumed by dogs.

Thank you for reading!

Michael Cassatt, LCS Director of Marketing