CAN DOGS EAT WATERMELON? 1 SURPRISING DANGER AND HEALTH BENEFITS

Last Updated on June 28, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur

CAN DOGS EAT WATERMELON 

Can dogs eat watermelon? Yes, dogs can have watermelon. In fact, did you know that the watermelon is part of the Cucurbitaceae family. Other members of this family include the cucumber, squash, and pumpkin, just to name a few. Watermelon is actually comprised of about 92% water, hence the name, haha.  

NUTRITION FACTS FOR CAN DOGS EAT WATERMELON 

Approximately, 3.5 oz or 100 grams of watermelon contains a whole host of nutrients for your furbaby. 

 Most notably, watermelon is high in Lycopene and;  

• 112mg Potassium 
• 6.2g Sugars 
• 8.1mg Vitamin C 
• 569 IU Vitamin A or 28ug RAE 

HEALTH BENEFITS FOR CAN DOGS EAT WATERMELON 

HEART AND CIRCULATION 

Watermelon for dogs is high in Lycopene. So, what is lycopene? Well, lycopene is a carotenoid that is found in red-colored foods such as watermelon, tomatoes and red bell peppers.  

Lycopene has been shown to possibly improve cardiovascular health as well as the circulatory system.  

So, when you ask yourself can dogs eat watermelon? Just know that watermelon contains antioxidants and has also been used to treat various types of cancers, cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes and ulcers.  

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY 

“ Lycopene exhibits neuroprotective properties due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functionality.”  

In fact, lycopene actually downregulates inflammatory responses and exhibits its anti-inflammatory activity through induction of apoptosis in activated immune cells.  

HOW CAN DOGS EAT WATERMELON 

There are several ways that watermelon can be fed to dogs. I personally make frozen popsicle treats from time to time by mixing the watermelon with kefir and a little ice (to dilute it) and then pouring them into molds and freezing. 

Another way that dogs can eat watermelon is raw, by cutting it from the rind and removing the seeds and dicing them into little cubes.  

If you are outside having a BBQ, why not grill up some watermelon slices and then both you and your dog can enjoy sweet, grilled watermelon on a hot summer day together. 

Remember that you should be giving this to your dog as a treat and in moderation. 

Not in large quantities as your furbaby could end up with digestive upset, diarrhea or other issues. 

CAN DOGS EAT WATERMELON RIND 

YES OR NO? 

I would say no just as a precaution. Watermelon rind might be very hard for your dog to digest.  

If you are feeding large quantities or large pieces of the rind they could pose a choking hazard or create intestinal problems. 

MAYBE, SO? 

However, the watermelon rind is a good source of fiber. It may not be as appealing or sweet to dogs but if you are buying organic watermelon and washing the rind really well.  

Actually, watermelon rind was investigated for toxicity in a study done on rats. As is turns out the rats experienced no toxicity in their livers or kidneys. However, there still needs to be other tests ran to see if it affects any other organs adversely. 

If you are determined to let your dog have watermelon rind then you can cut it up and put it in the juicer or the blender.  The reason I say that juicing a watermelon rind might be okay is this.  

I feed bromelain which is a digestive enzyme that comes from pineapple. But did you know that the bromelain actually comes from the fibrous stems of the pineapple, you know the green pokey things that stick out the top.  

Bromelain is good for all sorts of things in dogs and one such things is gut health or digestive issues. This product I use for dogs contains bromelain as well papain, probiotics and prebiotics. 

Amazon.com : Wholistic Pet Organics: Dog Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes Powder Dog Prebiotic and Probiotic Supplement Prevents Upset Stomach Gut Health Probiotics for Dogs and Puppies Stool Ease for Dogs : Pet Probiotic Nutritional Supplements : Pet Supplies

As always consult with your veterinarian first before starting anything new in your or your fur kids’ life. 

CAN DOGS EAT WATERMELON SEEDS 

Watermelon seeds could actually pose more of a threat then just a choking hazard in dogs. Did you know that watermelon seeds are toxic to your furry friend if ingested. 

Well, in a study done on rats fed watermelon seeds for 21 days as part of their diet they actually noticed that watermelon seeds could potentially be toxic to the kidneys as well as some other noted observations in other organs.   

OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO CAN DOGS EAT WATERMELON  

So, lets say your furbaby loves watermelon as much as my dogs. There are actually treats on the market that are watermelon flavored like these

Amazon.com : Fruitables Skinny Mini Dog Treats – Healthy Treats for Dogs – Low Calorie Training Treats – Free of Wheat, Corn and Soy – Watermelon – 5 Ounces : Pet Supplies

*Keep in mind that these have green tea in them. You can find out why I say that in our other article below. 

CAN DOGS HAVE GREEN TEA? SUPRISING DANGER OR HEALTH BENEFIT

If watermelon flavored treats aren’t your thing then check out these cute watermelon toys 

Amazon.com : Glow Pups Watermelon Dog Toy, Food Shaped Dog Toy, Dog Toy for Small Dogs, Dog Toy with Squeaker, Food Parody Dog Toy, Toy for Puppies, Plush Dog Toy (Watermelon) : Pet Supplies

Or better yet how about a cooling chew toy, that you fill with water and put in the freezer and then give to your furbaby to cool down on those hot summer day. These toys are pineapple and watermelon shaped and are made of TPR material. 

Amazon.com: Pawaboo Pet Teether Cooling Chew Toys, Freezable Teething Toy for Puppies, Watermelon and Pineapple Shape Freeze Interactive Toys in Summer, Frozen Dog Treat Training Tools for Small and Medium Dogs : Everything Else

Lastly, is this adorable summer watermelon looking collar.  

Amazon.com: RC Pets 1-1/2 Inch Wide Adjustable Dog Clip Collar, Large, Watermelon : Everything Else