 The Short Answer is:
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Longan isn’t studied much in humans due to its lack of benefits. Therefore dogs are not the subject of any such study. As a result longan falls into a gray area when it comes to being edible for dogs. It has been reported that people have fed their dogs' longan without experiencing any adverse effects. It does not mean however that you should blindly feed your dog longan without first researching it. |
In this research you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Longan?“.
The bag of groceries you brought home is filled with tropical treats. As you sit at the dinner table you fetch longan. Taking a bite you immediately ask yourself “Could my dog eat this? ”
Its hard to beat longans (A.K.A. dragon eyes!) when it comes to unique fruits! With a texture similar to a grape their flesh is translucent and jelly-like. They are sweet and juicy with musky undertones that make them taste amazing. They have a less floral flavor than lychees making them a great choice if you’re looking for something different.
Food makes dogs happy and its tempting to share your food with them when they see you with food. If you give your dog just any treat you should be careful since some foods can be harmful. If you’re about to feed your dog food make sure its safe for dogs!
Longan what do you think? Can dogs eat longan? Longan can be eaten by dogs thats the simple answer. The shell and pit of the longan however should not be given to your dog. In addition only give your four-legged friend longan in moderation as with most treats.
Can dogs eat longan? Answering this question is not as simple as saying “Yes” or “No”. It would not harm anyone to give your dog a little longan even though there are not many studies on the topic.
Before you feed your dog longans its important to know what longans are what they can do to your dog how much of them should you give and more.
What is longan?
Originally from China and other warmer regions of Asia longans are tropical fruits. It is similar to the lychee in appearance and taste to the flesh; it is a soft white flesh with a mild musky flavor and a hard shell covering it.
Similar to lychee the longan has a hard and dark pit (seed) at its center.
Can dogs eat longan?
Longan isnot studied much in humans due to its lack of benefits. Therefore dogs are not the subject of any such study.
As a result longan falls into a gray area when it comes to being edible for dogs.
It has been reported that people have fed their dogs’ longan without experiencing any adverse effects. It does not mean however that you should blindly feed your dog longan without first researching it.
How to feed longan to dogs?
We already know that the seeds of longan are poisonous. Make sure you remove the seed and skin from longan before feeding it to your dog. Take a few longans peel them cut them remove the seed inside and then give them to your dog as a tasty treat.
Longan may be beneficial for your dog but there are a few things you should know:
Remove the shell
Make sure your dog does not eat the longans shell. Its shell can break into large pieces that can choke your dog even though there is no evidence that it is toxic to dogs.
In contrast to humans dogs cannot chew hard chunks into smaller pieces. Rather than swallowing a whole piece they try to swallow as much as possible. When it comes to longans shells choking is a major concern.
Moreover even if your dog is able to swallow the shell it poses a risk of intestinal obstruction. There is no way to digest these hard shells. Consequently they do not break and become stuck inside your pups digestive tract.
Ultimately this causes intestinal blockage in dogs which is extremely harmful to their health. It is also possible to die from an intestinal blockage in certain circumstances.
Remove the seed
Despite the lack of evidence categorizing longan seeds as toxic to dogs there are still some health concerns associated with them.
It is poisonous and fatal to consume some seeds because they contain cyanide. In contrast longan seeds contain saponin which causes irritation in the stomach of dogs and ultimately leads to diarrhea.
Additionally logan seeds like logan shells can choke your dog or cause intestinal obstructions.
Make sure it’s ripe
Fruits that are not ripe are toxic to dogs and can cause stomach problems.
Donot forget to feed your dog fresh and ripe longan fruit that has been shelled and seeded.
Not too much
Be sure to give your dog small amounts of longan if you plan on feeding him. Due to its high vitamin C content longan is one of the most popular foods in the world. As a matter of fact it contains 80% of the vitamin C that doctors recommend for humans.
It is important to note however that dogs produce their own vitamin C. As a result they do not need vitamin C in their diet. Vitamin C can be harmful to dogs if consumed in excess.
Certain dogs with weak immune systems however need vitamin C in their diet as recommended by their veterinarians.
Furthermore longan has high sugar content. The sugar content of three to four longans is more than a dogs daily requirement.
Consequently eating too much can lead to obesity or diabetes in some cases.
Why can Longan be bad for dogs?
There is no harm in giving dogs longan. Several benefits are also associated with it. Dogs however may suffer from skin and pit irritation from longans. In both dogs and humans longan seeds contain saponin which is dangerous and poisonous.
Benefits of Longan
The following benefits are based on anecdotal evidence as no proper research has been conducted on longan:
Improved Immunity: As a result of vitamin Cs presence the immune system is strengthened.
Better Skin: The longan is rich in vitamin C which is also beneficial for skin health and iron absorption. In addition to these nutrients logan also slows down the aging process making you look and feel younger.
Prevention against Anemia: Longan contains 15 times more iron than spinach and 20 times more iron than grapes. As a result of the abundance of iron blood circulation is improved and anemia is prevented.
Improved heart condition: It improves cardiovascular health and relieves stress by ensuring optimal blood circulation. Furthermore it prevents heart problems such as cardiac arrests and strokes.
All of these benefits apply to humans but there is no evidence they apply to dogs as well. These benefits are not scientifically proven to apply to humans.
A word of advice
Considering everything mentioned in this research it is safe to say that although longan is not proven to be harmful to dogs there is also no solid evidence that it is beneficial.
Therefore taking no risks is the best course of action. You should only feed your dog FDA-approved dog food instead of longan.
Conclusion
Dogs are like your companions and best friends who know exactly when to love you and when to protect you. In many ways they resemble small babies. They take care of you and you take care of them. They have very sensitive stomachs so we must be very careful about what we feed them. Your dog can eat longan which belongs to the lychee family. It is however possible for a dog to be poisoned if excessive quantities are consumed. If you want to feed your dog longans make sure they are peeled and in small quantities.
Related Questions
Can I give my dog a Banana?
Treating dogs with bananas is a good idea. Dogs however do not receive all the nutritional benefits that humans receive from bananas.
Dogs are not at risk from banana peels either in case you were wondering. Your dog might throw up or get diarrhea if it eats a banana with the peel.
Furthermore too many bananas can lead to obesity in dogs due to their sugar content. Consequently make sure you do not give your dog too many bananas if you intend to give them.
Make sure 90% of your dogs daily nutrients come from his diet and the remaining 10% from treats.
Can I give my dog ice cream?
Although dogs love ice cream it is not good for them. The reasons are as follows:
Sugar: Ice-creams contain a lot of sugar. If you consume too much of it you may gain weight which can lead to other health problems.
Milk: Ice cream is a milk-based product. Weaned puppies cannot digest milk after being weaned. You will therefore cause digestive problems for your dog if you give him ice cream such as diarrhea vomiting gas bloating etc.
Flavors: Certain ice cream flavors are harmful to dogs. Dogs have trouble digesting theobromine a substance found in chocolate ice cream.
What fruits can be given to dogs?
You should give your dog fruits if you want to treat him. Dogs should be mindful that not all fruits are beneficial to them and some may even be harmful.
Dogs can benefit from the following fruits:
Watermelon: It’s 92% water. Therefore it is good for keeping your dog hydrated.
Strawberries: Strawberries contain nutrients that help dogs stay healthy and young.
Pineapple: In addition to improving dogs’ immune systems pineapples contain vitamins and minerals that aid digestion. Due to its high sugar content pineapple should be consumed in smaller quantities.
If you want to read more about dog food tips read here: Dog Food Tips and Tricks.
