10 Best Fruits for Dogs

Whether you want to give your pup a special treat or supplement their diet, fruit can be a great way to do that without adding too many calories or too much fat. While some fruits are excellent for dogs, others can be downright dangerous. How do you know which is which?

(Source)

Here are the 10 best fruits for dogs, along with a few you should avoid.

Best Fruits for Dogs

      1. Blueberries

Blueberries are chock-full of water, fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, making them a superfood for dogs. Skip jarred, canned, or frozen berries with added sugar.

       2. Apples

Apple seeds are toxic for dogs, so be sure to remove the core and stem first, but one or two apple slices can help provide Vitamin A and fiber with no fat.

       3. Watermelon

Minus the skin, rind, and seeds, watermelon is an excellent snack for dogs. It’s high in water content, low in calories, and contains lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

      4. Cantaloupe

Cut vitamin-rich cantaloupe into small pieces to avoid a choking hazard, and discard the rind first.

 

(Source)

       5. Bananas

A few bites of banana, minus the peel, make a sweet treat for pups, but limit the serving to a couple of slices for small dogs and half a banana for larger pooches.

       6. Pumpkin

Surprisingly, pumpkins are actually fruits. They’re high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. A little bit of canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) can even help soothe upset stomachs.

       7. Strawberries

Fresh and frozen strawberries are both excellent for dogs as long as they don’t contain any added sugar. Strawberries contain omega-3 for skin and coat health, fiber for digestion, plenty of vitamins and minerals, and an enzyme that can help whiten your dog’s teeth.

(Source)

      8. Oranges

Oranges have vitamins and fiber, making them a good choice as long as you remove the seeds and peel first. Avoid giving oranges to dogs who are overweight or diabetic since they’re high in sugar.

      9. Pears

Raw, cooked and mashed, and frozen pears are all great as long as they aren’t sugared. Pears are high in vitamins and contain beneficial probiotics. 

     10. Cranberries

Cooked cranberries have plenty of vitamins and may help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), but avoid canned cranberry products since they may contain added sugar or toxic xylitol.

(Source)

4 Fruits to Avoid Giving Dogs

Grapes or Raisins

Grapes are extremely toxic for all dogs. Even a few grapes or raisins can lead to potentially deadly kidney failure.

Cherries

Since they contain cyanide, you should always keep cherries out of your dog’s reach.

Avocado

Don’t share your avocado toast with your pup - avocados contain persin, a toxin that can cause diarrhea and vomiting in dogs.

Tomatoes

While the red part of a ripe tomato is generally safe for dogs, green tomatoes and the green part of any tomato contain a toxin known as solanine. It’s safest to avoid tomatoes altogether.

(Source)

How to Feed Fruit to Your Dog

Give your dog small amounts of one fruit at a time to see how much your dog - and their digestive tract - likes the fruit. Always feed fruits in moderation. They’re high in natural sugars that aren’t great for your fur child in large amounts.