Posted by Watermelon is the name of the fruit that can be a good snack for your dog as long as it is given in moderation. While talking about feeding your dog with watermelon, you may be wondering if it is okay for you to give your dog all the parts of watermelon, such as the hard green outer skin of the watermelon known as rind, or if there are some parts that you should not give to your dog. If you want to know such information, continue reading until the end.
Can a dog eat a watermelon rind?
While it is true that the rind of a watermelon does not contain poison that can harm the dog, unless it is infected with any chemicals or preservatives, it is not recommended for your dog to eat it as the texture and toughness of the rind of the watermelon is problematic. This kind of thing can make the dog have a hard time chewing it thoroughly before swallowing it. If the rind of the watermelon is big, it can cause gastrointestinal distress that triggers vomiting or diarrhea.
If you do not want to give your dog a hard time and if you want to prevent the bad thing from happening to your dog, you are encouraged to not give your dog the rind of the watermelon.
What should you do if your dog ate a watermelon rind?
If your dog ate a watermelon rind, do not wait and just call your veterinarian as soon as possible. Ask them what to do to keep your dog safe. Your veterinarian is the expert that will clearly know about the current health of your dog. To check the health of your dog, they will usually ask you to bring your dog to them. When you are your dog at their place, they will perform a physical examination to predict if the dog has any issues digesting the rind of the watermelon. In order to get a better understanding of your dog’s digestive tract, a scan may be involved.
Once the process of physical examination is done, you may be asked by your veterinarian to keep an eye on your dog while at home. Check if there is any unusual behavior or signs of discomfort. When your dog whines or when it keeps lying and does not look as active as usual, check if it has stomach pain or if there are digestive issues such as diarrhea. Everything is the symptom of digestive issues from the rind of the watermelon. Make sure to always keep an eye on everything that your dog is doing the hours after it ate the rind of a watermelon. Do not forget to also report everything to your veterinarian.
Is there any other part of watermelon that is not good for your dog?
Apart from the rind of the watermelon, another part of this fruit that is not recommended to be given to the dog is the seeds. They are probably the most worrisome part. Just like the rind, the seeds of watermelon are also not safe for the dogs to eat. While they are not toxic, they can cause an intestinal blockage, especially if eaten in large enough quantities or in smaller breeds with small intestines. If your dog only eats a couple of seeds of watermelon, it probably does not matter. However, try your best to separate the watermelon from its seeds before giving it to your dog to avoid the bad thing.
What is the best way to feed your dog watermelon?
There are a few vitamins in watermelon that are good for your dog. The first one is Vitamin A, which is known to be good for eye, cell and immune health. The next one is Vitamin B6. This one refers to the vitamin that is good for the coat of the dog as it can make it shiny and strong. Lastly, there is Vitamin C, which is useful to keep allergens and sniffles at bay.
Watermelon also has fiber that wraps around the sugar and slows its natural disease. This kind of thing also has a number of benefits. One of its benefits is to promote good gut health.
The next thing that is contained in watermelon is lycopene. There is a large amount of it in this fruit. His one refers to a phytochemical. It is found in naturally red fruits and vegetables such as watermelon. Lycopene is good as an antioxidant. It has the ability to fight free radicals in the dog system, the one that can damage the cells of the dog and cause issues in its immune system. It has been proven by the research that it can be good to slow down the growth of cancer.
In addition, there is also water in watermelon. It means it is both low in calories and hydrating. That’s why it is a good alternative to pre-packaged treats when the sun is like on top of the head. If it is given to your dog occasionally, the watermelon can provide the dog with a lot of different nutritional benefits. One of the benefits includes improving gastrointestinal upset stomachs.
As you are aware that watermelon can be beneficial to your dog, you may want to share it with your dog when you have it. However, as you are a bit worried about harming your dog, you may be wondering what the best way to feed your dog with watermelon is.
Actually, there is no wrong way to feed watermelon to your dog. Any method is fine as long as the rind and the seeds of the watermelon are removed. One of the things that you can consider is frozen watermelon. This one is a good option for those with the dogs without gum or enamel issues. This kind of food has a malleable, chalky texture, which is good for the teeth of your dog as there is no risk of making them broken or cracked.
