Can Dogs Eat Watermelons? 5 Potential Benefits and 2 Side Effects

The Short Answer is:

Watermelon is totally safe for dogs to eat, as long as you remove the seeds and feed them to your dog in moderation and occasionally. Additionally, feeding watermelon to dogs can provide them with essential nutrients and health benefits.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Watermelons? 5 Potential Benefits and 2 Side Effects“.

Summer fruits are among the tastiest and watermelon is no exception. Is watermelon safe for dogs to eat and can dogs eat watermelons as well? How healthful are watermelons for dogs and are there any side effects from dogs eating watermelons? We investigate.

Watermelons are not toxic to dogs so if you have been wondering if you can give your dog some the answer is YES – your dog can eat them. Dogs should only be fed moderate amounts of watermelon however. The seeds of watermelon must always be removed.

Dogs may benefit from the health benefits of watermelon but there are some caveats to this fruit as well. It is important to feed watermelon to dogs in small amounts and as an occasional treat. Here are some things you should know.

What are watermelons?

Citrullus lanatus also known as a watermelon is a large water-dense fruit (92% water 8% melon) that originated in South Africa.

Its rind is smooth and green with a striped pattern and its interior is sweet and juicy. It can be eaten cold during the warm summer months because of its high water content. Watermelons are available with or without seeds.

This is what a fresh watermelon looks like:

The nutrients and vitamins contained in watermelons are plentiful. Lycopene and citrulline two powerful antioxidants are abundant in them. Watermelons are low in calories.

Watermelons are actually very low in antioxidants in comparison with other fruits. Furthermore they are a good source of a few nutrients that many fruits do not have.

Can Dogs Eat Watermelons?

Do dogs eat watermelon the same way humans do? Watermelon is totally safe for dogs to eat as long as you remove the seeds and feed them to your dog in moderation and occasionally.

Additionally feeding watermelon to dogs can provide them with essential nutrients and health benefits all of which we will discuss below.

Despite not being particularly high in antioxidants watermelons still contain some good nutrients:

• Vitamin A (beta-carotene)
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin B5
• Potassium
• Copper
• Citrulline
• Lycopene

Although most of the above nutrients have not been studied in dogs citrulline in watermelons has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve the health of most vital organs including the liver kidneys and lungs.

Additionally watermelons contain a higher amount of lycopene than tomatoes which means that the body is able to absorb and form Vitamin A more efficiently.

Besides that human studies have shown the following health benefits from eating watermelons all of which are associated with the above nutrients:

• It may reduce insulin resistance 
• It lowers blood pressure 
• It may reduce muscle soreness

In light of the above its reasonable to assume that some of the benefits of watermelons also apply to dogs so watermelons for dogs could be another healthy food addition you can make to improve your dogs health.

The following are some of the health benefits that dogs may receive from eating watermelon.

5 Benefits of Watermelon for Dogs

Dogs can consume moderate amounts of watermelon and reap its health benefits. Studies have supported very few of these and most of them are based on human studies. In any case watermelon for dogs is likely to be safe to consume so you can feed it to your pet on occasion.

1. Beta-carotene in watermelons may help improve eye health

Watermelons contain Vitamin A (beta-carotene) which may contribute to the maintenance of your dogs eyesight. Furthermore because watermelon contains a large amount of citrulline it improves Vitamin A absorption and allows beta-carotene to be formed more quickly.

2. Vitamin C in watermelons provides several health benefits for dogs

Watermelon contains Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) which has been shown to strengthen a dogs immune system and help combat degenerative conditions.

Dogs may also benefit from vitamin Cs ability to synthesize cartilage and collagen.

3. Watermelons contain potassium a vital mineral for body function

Watermelons contain loads of potassium which improves blood vessel function replaces lost electrolytes in a dogs body and strengthens their muscle development.

4. The magnesium in watermelon is critical to growth and production

Magnesium is present in small amounts in watermelon. Dogs need magnesium to produce proteins grow healthy bones and to absorb vitamins.

5. Watermelons are an excellent source of hydration

This fruit is a great snack for your dog on a hot summer day because it is very water-dense similar to why you would give your dog cucumbers.

This is especially true for active dogs who exert a lot of energy and rapidly dehydrate themselves while not drinking enough water.

“So can I give my dog watermelon?”

Watermelons can be fed to dogs without causing them any problems as long as they are given in moderate amounts and as occasional treats rather than as the main part of their diet. Cantaloupe too much of which is bad for dogs is like giving cantaloupe to a child.

So long as the dog has a well-balanced diet that includes enough protein fat and carbohydrates watermelons for dogs can be a healthy addition.

However there are a few safety precautions that you must keep in mind when feeding watermelon to dogs and I’ll cover these in the following paragraphs.

What about watermelon juice for dogs?

The juice of watermelon is just ground-up watermelon. As long as there are no additives watermelon juice for dogs can also be consumed.

The Bottom Line: Watermelons are safe for dogs to eat. Since watermelon is tasty refreshing and sweet you should avoid overfeeding your dog.

2 Potential Side Effects of Watermelons for Dogs

Our research shows that dogs can benefit from eating watermelons which are totally safe treats for them.

Dogs can be poisoned by watermelon seeds and overfeeding them can also be hazardous.

Here are some things you need to keep in mind:

1. Too much watermelon can cause stomach upset in dogs

Excessive consumption of watermelon can cause dogs to suffer from gastrointestinal problems including vomiting diarrhea and constipation. Dogs cannot consume too much of this good thing due to its high content of natural sugar and several nutrients.

2. Large pieces of watermelon can cause choking hazards

Dogs are more likely to swallow than chew watermelon even though it is easy for them to eat. Some large chunks of watermelon can also get caught in their throat.

If feeding watermelon to dogs its best to cut it up into smaller pieces to prevent choking hazards.

5 Safety Precautions

Despite the fact that watermelon is safe to feed to dogs and there are no known side effects (provided that they are fed in moderation and as an occasional treat) all dog owners should be aware of some safety precautions.

The seeds and rinds of watermelons are the two main dangers of watermelons for dogs. It is still possible for dogs to ingest these accidentally or they may enjoy the taste. So here are a few things to consider:

Watermelon rinds are dangerous for dogs

Dogs are not allowed to eat the exterior of watermelons but they can eat the fruit.

Dogs do not benefit from watermelon rind in the same way as humans and because of its potential hazards it is not worth the health risk to your pet.

You should avoid watermelon rind for the following two reasons:

1. Watermelon rind is pure roughage and causes intestinal distress in dogs

Dogs are unable to digest watermelon rind. In addition to diarrhea constipation bloating and vomiting it may cause gastrointestinal problems. Additionally it poses a choking hazard as well as a potential intestinal blockage if given in large pieces.

2. Watermelon rind can do serious damage to your dog’s teeth

Due to the difficulty of chewing the rind of a watermelon dogs may insist on working at it which can cause damage to teeth and gums. It isnot worth the risk despite the fact that dogs’ teeth are generally tough and capable of handling harder things.

Watermelon seeds are dangerous to dogs as well

The seeds of watermelon are also potentially dangerous for dogs. What makes watermelon seeds so problematic for dogs? The following reasons apply:

3. Watermelon seeds can cause intestinal blockages

The seeds of watermelons are too small for dogs to choke on but if they eat too many seeds they can clog their intestines. Watermelons also have a lot of seeds. You should remove all seeds from the watermelon before feeding it to your dog.

4. Watermelon seeds are hard to digest and may cause stomach upset

Dogs that consume too many watermelon seeds may experience diarrhea vomiting and stomach pain just like those who eat seeds from most other fruits and vegetables.

5. Seedless watermelons still have seeds making them dangerous

You neednot be fooled by the term “seedless watermelon.” Although they may not have the large black seeds they still have those pesky small white seeds that can cause intestinal upset and blockages in dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?

Therefore dogs can eat watermelons and watermelon is not toxic to them.

If you give your dog watermelon occasionally and in moderation there are even certain health benefits it can derive from consuming it.

You should contact a veterinarian if your dog has consumed too much watermelon or if you suspect your dog has eaten watermelon rings or seeds.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.