Q: Which fruits can dogs eat?
A: Fruit can be a healthy additive to our dog’s diet. While our dogs don’t technically NEED fruit for health, the addition of fresh fruits to their normal diet, with permission and advice from your vet, can provide an added boost of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, as well as some extra hydration.
Importantly, however, not all fruits are good for dogs, and you need to do your research before feeding your dog any type of fruit. Even if the fruit is ‘allowed’, you still need to pay attention to how your dog responds. If your dog gets an upset stomach or shows some discomfort after eating the fruit, then don’t feed them that type of fruit again – even if it is otherwise safe for them.
Top tip
Always be cautious when it comes to feeding any fruit for the first time. Even the ten safe fruits listed here can pose a problem to your particular dog, so do your research, feed small amounts first and be on the lookout for signs of a bad reaction. If in doubt, contact your vet!
Here are 10 of the best fruits to feed your pup:
Apples – Slices of apple make excellent treats and meal toppers. Just don’t feed any pips from the apple since they contain small amounts of cyanide (!) and also pose a choking risk.
Benefits:
- Contain vitamin A, vitamin C and fibre.
- Certain of the phytochemicals housed in the skin have been suggested to help combat cancer growth.
- Help clean teeth and freshen breath.
Bananas
Benefits:
- Contain high amounts of vitamin C, potassium and fibre.
- The fibre in bananas is thought to be good for your dog’s digestive system.
Blackberries – With smaller dogs, you will probably need to cut blackberries down into smaller pieces to feed them safely.
Benefits:
- Contain vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and fibre.
- May have antibacterial properties to support good oral health.
Blueberries – Dogs tend to love blueberries!
Benefits:
- Contain vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and antioxidants.
- Blueberries are low in sugar and fat and make a good treat for dogs who need to avoid too many extra calories.
Cantaloupe – You can feed cantaloupe to your dog, but do not feed the rind since the rough texture can cause damage to the intestines.
Benefits:
- Contains vitamin A, vitamin B6 and vitamin C, as well as fibre, potassium, folate and niacin.
- Contains high doses of beta-carotene, which is good for your dog’s vision and their immune system.
Cranberries – Cranberries can be fed to your dog raw, cooked or dried, but you shouldn’t feed the sugar-heavy cranberry sauce.
Benefits:
- Contain vitamin C, vitamin E, as well as a range of B vitamins, including thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and B6.
- Cranberries are high in antioxidants.
Papaya – The flesh of the papaya makes an excellent snack for your pooch!
Benefits:
- Contain vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin K, as well as folate, fibre, calcium and potassium.
Raspberries – Raspberries should only be consumed in moderation.
Benefits:
- Contain vitamin C, folic acid, copper, magnesium, fibre and antioxidants.
Strawberries – For safe strawberry feeding, slice off the leaves at the top first and then quarter the strawberry. If you have a small dog, you can cut each quarter in half again before feeding (or smaller if needed).
Benefits:
- Contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin K and vitamin E, as well as folate, potassium and manganese.
- Strawberries can significantly boost the immune system with their high level of antioxidants.
- They have a high water content making them super-hydrating for your dog.
Watermelon – With watermelon, don’t feed the rind or seeds, as these are difficult for your dog to digest.
Benefits:
- Contains vitamin A, vitamin B6 and vitamin C, as well as thiamine, which helps convert fat, protein and carbohydrates into energy.
- High in lycopene, an antioxidant that protects against cell damage.
- Incredibly hydrating, thanks to its high water content.
