Can dogs and cats eat watermelon?

Both hydrating and delicious, it’s easy to see why so many people love watermelon! But if your pet is begging you for a bite, can you offer them a try? The good news is yes! Watermelon is not toxic to cats or dogs; however, there are a few other considerations to keep in mind.

We’re going to explore the safest way to offer your pet watermelon, as well as some things to avoid. We’ll also look at whether watermelon has any nutritional health benefits for your pet.

Dogs can enjoy watermelon, provided it is only given to them as an occasional treat. Too much of any fruit or vegetable could lead to problems, like tummy upsets or dietary imbalances.

In people, watermelon provides the following health benefits, and some may apply to dogs too:

• High water content – The high water content of watermelon makes it a great choice for hydration and keeping cool during warm weather. Watermelon is around 92% water, meaning it is also less calorie-dense than some other fruits or snacks.

• Fibre – Fibre maintains healthy digestion and helps us to feel fuller for longer. Increasing dietary fibre can help people and animals on a weight-reduction diet.

• Vitamin C – Humans (and guinea pigs!) cannot manufacture their own vitamin C, so they require it from dietary sources, such as watermelon. Dogs don’t need external vitamin C, but it won’t do any harm to receive a little extra.

• Antioxidants – Watermelon contains plenty of antioxidants, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and protective effects in people. More research is needed into the benefits for dogs, though.

It’s important to remember that your dog will be getting all the nutrition they need from a good-quality, complete pet diet. You shouldn’t need to supplement them with additional foods, so you mustn’t go overboard with extras. However, it is nice to know that watermelon is a healthy choice for when you do want to give a little treat!

Can dogs eat watermelon skin?

Dogs should not be given melon rind to chew on. Watermelon skin is very tough to digest. If they swallow a large piece, it could be a choking hazard or cause an intestinal blockage. Both need emergency intervention.

How to prepare watermelon for dogs

Watermelon should be given raw and unseasoned to your dog. Remove the skin and seeds and chop the watermelon flesh into bite-sized pieces. This helps to avoid the risk of accidental choking.

How much watermelon can dogs eat?

Dogs should only have watermelon as an occasional treat. Fruits and vegetables, including melon, should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet. Too much watermelon could lead to mild stomach upset, including vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly if they haven’t had watermelon previously.

Can dogs have watermelon juice?

Dogs should stick to drinking fresh water. If you want to offer your dog a little watermelon juice, then homemade is better than commercial types, which could have added sugar or artificial sweeteners. An artificial sweetener called xylitol is particularly bad for dogs and is toxic.

Can dogs eat watermelon seeds?

Remove as many seeds as possible before serving to your dog. This is particularly important for puppies and small dogs, where large seeds could cause an intestinal blockage. However, for most, the odd seed or two will likely pass through the digestive tract without issue.

Can dogs eat frozen watermelon?

Dogs can enjoy frozen watermelon provided you chop it up into bite-sized pieces. Frozen chunks that are too big to safely tackle could cause choking.

Are there any watermelon-based foods dogs should avoid?

You should only give your dog fresh, raw watermelon and not watermelon-based foods. Things like watermelon flavoured sweets and sorbets contain little goodness and plenty of extra sugar. Some may contain artificial sweeteners, like xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.