No doubt honeydew melon is sweet and refreshing. It’s the perfect delicious summer treat that dogs enjoy as much as humans. But can dogs eat honeydew? Is the melon safe for consumption? Or should your four-legged furry companion avoid the fruit altogether? Keep on reading to know everything.
Honeydew melon is 90 percent water, which means it can keep you hydrated, refreshed, and cool. The fruit also offers many healing properties due to its highly nutritious value. It contains vitamins B and C, omega 3, fiber, copper, and potassium. All of which is great for not just your health but your dog’s health too. In that case, how about I address all your concerns about feeding your dog honeydew melon.
Can dogs eat honeydew?
This particular melon is safe for tail-waggers (dogs) and felines (cats). Honeydew contains important nutrients such as vitamins B, C, and E. Along with potassium and phosphorus! And like I said, honeydew is a 90% water-packed fruit. So its hydrating abilities are very useful in the summer.
Honeydew For Dogs: How Often Can They Eat It?
Fruits that are fresh and organically grown are an important part of a species-specific, nutritionally-balanced diet. But this doesn’t mean you feed your dog large amounts of such fruits.
Moderation is key when it comes to feeding fruits to your pets. It’s because fruits contain sugars that can be potentially harmful to health. So it’s not unreasonable to assume that a lot of honeydew can prove to be detrimental. Particularly if your dog has diabetes! The melon might increase their blood sugar and worsen the condition.
Another negative effect of feeding too much honeydew is a rise in digestive problems. Honeydew is 90 percent water, right? So it can soften and loosen your dog’s stool more than required.
Also, the honeydew rind is indigestible. Meaning it has the tendency to block the intestinal passage if consumed. This is why you have to make it a point to remove the seeds and rind before feeding honeydew to your dog.
Honeydew For Dogs: Precautions To Keep In Mind
#Remove The Seeds
The seeds of fruits have high cyanide content. This includes the seeds of honeydew melon too. These seeds have the ability to give rise to serious issues in your dog’s digestive tract.
#Remove The Rind
When you feed watermelon to your dog, don’t you eliminate the rind? Likewise, in the case of honeydew as well, you have to remove its rind since the stuff is indigestible.
#Keep The Portion Small
The melon provides the body with a lot of fiber. And the fiber in small, limited doses is a healthy option. When too much of it enters the body, an upset tummy or diarrhea is inevitable. Even in the case of humans!
Honeydew For Dogs: How Much Is Safe To Feed?
How much is too much? And how much is okay? Time to find out!
Like I already told you, honeydew melon contains dietary fiber. This is beneficial only when consumed in small portions. Otherwise, your dog might have to deal with diarrhea or an upset stomach. Both of which are not pleasant conditions. So refrain from feeding huge amounts of honeydew or any other fruit to your dog.
The recommended portion is 1-2 small pieces if you have a small dog. As for big dogs, nothing more than 4-5 small pieces. They can’t handle more than that, please keep this in mind.
However, if this is your dog’s first time eating honeydew, then start with just 2 small pieces. No matter how large he/she is. First, you’ve got to check how his/her tummy reacts to this new fruit. So introduce the melon to the stomach in a small amount.
Honeydew For Dogs: What About Puppies, Can They Eat It?
Full-grown, adult dogs and honeydew melon are a safe combination. How about puppies though? Do they have to wait to grow up in order to devour the deliciousness and sweetness of this fruit? No, not unless he/she is already consuming solid food.
Although it goes without saying that puppies have a more sensitive tummy than adult dogs. So stick to just 1 small piece to make sure it doesn’t bother his/her stomach.
Honeydew For Dogs: Fun Ways Of Feeding It
1. Mix honeydew with food
This may sound like a simple way but your dog will certainly love you for it. Add little pieces of the melon to your dog’s dry or wet food. This idea is very useful if your furry friend is averse to new things. Or if it’s important that you feed the fruit to improve his/her diet.
2. In The Form Of A Smoothie
A smoothie as a treat sounds delightful, doesn’t it? Blend some honeydew with other dog-safe fruits like orange, apple, watermelon, or blueberry and ice cubes. Keep the portion small though, never forget that. Pour the smoothie in the dog’s bowl and just watch the little creature savor every bit of it.
3. Frozen Melon
Dogs simply love frozen stuff. So how about you make his/her snack time more exciting with frozen balls of melon? For that, you’re going to have to carve out tiny honeydew melon balls with the help of a baller. And then freeze them.
4. Inside A Kong
Now this one’s an obvious choice. Food items stuffed inside dog toys is an old trick. In fact, this particular method feels very rewarding to the dog. I mean he/she has to work for it. So don’t think twice before stuffing little pieces of melon inside the Kong dog toy. Add some peanut butter also if you like.
What Other Fruits Are Safe For Dogs?
Can dogs eat honeydew? Now you know the answer. But once again, YES they can.
So moving on, can dogs eat oranges? Can dogs eat bananas? Can dogs eat apples? What fruits can dogs eat? Let’s find out right away!
• Bananas
Peeled bananas offer dietary fiber, vitamins C and B6, potassium, manganese, and magnesium. And your dog requires these nutrients.
• Oranges
1-2 peeled and seedless segments of orange are safe and healthy for dogs. They contain potassium, vitamin C, and fiber.
• Apples
Apples have a rich content of vitamins C and A. They also contribute to improving oral health. Once again, discard the seeds and core of course as they cause health problems if ingested.
• Watermelon
Watermelon slices to dogs are surely an antioxidant-rich and refreshing treat. Remove the skin, rind, and seeds to prevent an upset digestive tract.
• Blueberries
Did you know that dogs can consume blueberries too? So that means they get the wonderful opportunity to make the most of its nutritional value. This includes antioxidants, vitamin C, and phytochemicals.
EndNote
I hope this article has answered your question, Can dogs eat honeydew? The melon is safe to consume. In fact, it’s a great treat as long as you eliminate the inedible rind and toxic seeds.
Also, keep a check on consumption. Not more than 1-2 small pieces for a small canine. And no more than 4-5 small pieces for a big dog. And for a puppy, start with a single piece.
Moderation is very important when feeding not just honeydew but any other fruit.
Sources:
1. https://allpetmagazine.com/can-dogs-eat-honeydew/
2. https://petfoodfacts.mercola.com/fruits/honeydew.html
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