Is Watermelon Good For Dogs?

Your doggie is your best friend and chances are that he enjoys a pride of place in your home. Most often loving pet parents often forget that their furbaby is not a human baby. They share pretty much everything with him and that could include food, too. Please go ahead and spoil him as much as you want but apply caution when it comes to his food. A dog’s digestive tract is vastly different from that of the humans and many foods that are excellent for our health (read avocado¹) or we crave for (read chocolate²) are not just bad for them, they can even be fatal. For instance, grapes, fresh or dried, can cause acute renal failure in dogs.³

How About Watermelon For A Snack?

Watermelon, like carrots and apples, is an excellent snack for dogs. In fact, chances are that your dog will enjoy every bite of it. Watermelon is a powerhouse of nutrients packed with vitamins A, B6 and C and potassium. It is low in calories (about 50 calories a cup) and is 92 percent water.⁴ You needn’t go for anything better to feed your dog in summer.

How Do I Feed My Dog Watermelon?

Watermelon is good for dogs but you need to be cautious while feeding it. Do not just scoop out the flesh and serve it on a platter. Carefully remove every seed, including the white ones, from the flesh before giving it to the dog. Seeds are difficult to digest and could cause digestive issues in your pets.⁵ Dogs lack discretion when it comes to tasty food and will eat anything that smells and tastes good.

The rind of the watermelon is thick and may seem like a great chew toy for the dogs, especially puppies. But don’t ever give them the rind to play with. Like seeds, the rind of the watermelon too is difficult to digest and could turn out to be problematic for dogs.

Feed him as much juicy flesh as he would like to enjoy. Watermelon is an excellent snack for dogs.