Can Dogs Eat Oranges? Are Oranges Good Or Bad For Dogs?

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can dogs eat oranges

Today’s question: can dogs eat oranges? Are oranges good or bad for dogs? Scroll down for detailed answers.

Sweet, juicy fruit is a nice treat for all of us.  Besides being a treat, fruit offers the vitamins, nutrients, hydration, and anti oxidants our bodies need.  Who knew that dogs actually enjoy eating fruit too? Not only are our canine friends allowed to taste fruit, but eating a variety of fruits may actually be good for them too. Dogs usually will not say no to a fruity treat from time to time either! Smart dogs know not to turn down any kind of treat from their owners, especially a sweet treat that is unusual from the norm. Many dog owners wonder: can dogs eat oranges?

However, just because fruits are good for you and dogs will eat anything, you do have to keep in mind to not offer your dog just any piece of fruit. Your favorite fruit may not be well suited for your pet. Fruits have all different types of benefits for the body, depending upon the design of the fruit, the region in which you live, and the acidity and toxicity levels found within.  Just as fruits may have benefits, there may also be drawbacks.  Dog temperament may also defer the advantages of eating a fruit.  Depending on the breed of your dog and his/her own personality and quirks, your dog may have a predisposition to an allergy or reaction to certain types of fruit.  Your dog may also be one in which that prefers only crispy, crunchy meat flavored and scented dog kibble.

can dogs eat oranges

Fruit design, vitamin levels, toxin levels, temperament and preferences of your dog will lead you to finding the right fruit variety for your dog.

So what kind of fruit can dogs eat? Can dogs eat oranges? Let’s look into the details.

Can Dogs Eat Oranges?

Yes, your pooch can eat oranges. However, only in moderation and occasionally. Large amounts of oranges can cause tummy troubles. Start out feeding oranges gradually in small amounts. Observe your dog afterwards for any adverse effects. If your dog doesn’t show any unusual behavior like loose stool or digestive problems, you can continue giving him oranges.

Can Puppies Eat Oranges?

Oranges are not recommended for puppies. Puppies have more sensitive tummies than mature dogs. Due to the high acidic content of oranges, they can cause discomfort for your pup. It’s recommended you feed a special puppy food to your pup until he/she is older.

Fruits are a Welcome Addition to Your Dog’s Diet

Sure, dogs love their meat and bones, as well as kibble, but they can indulge occasionally in something else too. Just as a human is tired of eating the same foods every day, your dog may also get tired of the same food and same flavors.  Switching up the diet of your dog allows for variety and interest as well as a new method of attaining nutrients for a healthy body, skin, and coat.

Dogs do not simply enjoy meat, and enjoy a separate offering of food to add some variety to their daily life.  For example, fruits and vegetables can be given to dogs as healthy treats. Of course, the diet of your dog should not entirely be based upon fruit. Eating only fruit will not be able to provide all the essential nutrients the dog needs. At the end of the day, your canine pal will always prefer the good ol’ meat over fruit. After all, the dog species survived many years existing on a mostly carnivorous diet of meat and small animals in the wild. If you insist on adding a large amount of fruit and veggies to supplement the meat diet of your dog, perhaps if you give him/her a bone to chew on, that’s even better than simply offering the fruit!  Chewing on a bone, your pup will have the taste and feeling of devouring meat, but will be satisfied simply with the bone.

What you need to Know about Feeding Fruits to your Dog

As with any kind of food that you are looking to introduce into the diet of a dog, you must first do a little test to ensure the tolerance of the food within the digestive system of your dog.  A test will also ensure adverse reactions do not occur, such as an unknown allergy. By utilizing a test this way, you will also be able to see whether or not your dog is willing to eat a certain type of fruit.  Dogs often use their intuition when eating a new food. If a dog is adverse without trying the fruit, trust the instinct of your dog and do not force feed.

Testing food tolerance and introducing fruit slowly will allow time for observing any issues with the digestive tract. Also, testing this way will allow you to assess if he/she gets ill from eating the new fruit. A good idea is to start out the introduction of a new fruit by feeding him/her only a small piece and wait to see if s/he gets any negative reactions such as upset stomach, diarrhea or vomiting. If everything looks fine, you can continue to feed him a fruit treat from time to time in small quantities.

Given the fact that fruits are not typical canine food, it is always good to do your research before attempting to feed the food to your pet. There are plenty of fruits that are completely okay for consumption by a canine, but there are also others that can be toxic and even deadly. So you have to be extra careful and pay attention to any warnings that may be given to certain types of fruit.  Researching fruits and tolerances well in advance of any introduction is the best bet to assure safety on all angles.

When introducing a new fruit it is important to make sure and peel the fruits and chop them up into tiny bits.  Peeling, cutting, and chopping the fruit is going to guarantee that your dog has an easy time chewing and swallowing his/her bites. Big chunks may become a choking hazard.  Large chunks may also have a difficult time digesting causing not only pain and bloating, but a possible blockage in the intestines.

Is Citric Acid Harmful To Dogs?

When one thinks of oranges, the taste, smell, and feel, the citric acid may come to mind.   You may be tempted to think that dogs are not allowed to eat oranges because of the citric acid, but they can actually eat them! A little bit of citric acid is not a problem, but too many oranges may cause an upset stomach and diarrhea. While eating too much orange may cause tummy troubles, dogs may self regulate their eating patterns and not over indulge.  This is because most dogs do not like anything citrusy. Dogs have evolved to enjoy meat flavored foods and basic flavors.  Citrus is not a typical type of taste that dogs have learned to hunt and eat for nourishment.

Of course, not all dogs are the same and all dogs have different taste preferences.  You will have to give an orange to your dog first to see if s/he cares for an occasional orange treat or could pass up the treat from ever gracing his/her mouth again. A side effect of eating oranges is a high sugar count.  Oranges are high in sugar which may lead to obesity and stomach issues when eaten in excess.  Just as with humans, canines must watch their sugar intake to ensure a long and healthy life.

The Benefits of Feeding Oranges to your Dog

can dogs eat orange peel and seeds

Unlike toxicity in cherries and other fruits, oranges are low on the scale relating to danger for dogs.  Far from being toxic, oranges can actually present many benefits to your pet. Oranges, like other fruits with a high citric acid content, are outstanding sources of vitamin C, which you surely already know is essential to our health. What you may not have known is that it has the same health benefits for canines! Vitamin C boosts their immune system and oranges, in particular, stimulate the liver’s creation of vitamin C. Vitamin C also offers immunity building substances to offer our dog a bit more protection against sickness.  Vitamin C may also infuse the skin and coat of your dog and add to his/her luster and shine.

Oranges are an easy food to offer your dog without much worry!  Just take the peel and seeds off when feeding orange pieces to your dog.  Oranges must be peeled before giving to a dog.  The rind of an orange may be too difficult for a dog to chew, swallow, and digest.  The rind can offer choking and blockage dangers if eaten unpeeled.  As long as the orange has been peeled safely, a dog is free to enjoy this nutritious treat!

Can Dogs Be Allergic To Oranges?

Generally, dogs are not allergic to oranges. However, there can always be exceptions. Some dogs may be ultra sensitive. If your dog has shown allergic symptoms to other fruits before, you should take extra caution before feeding oranges to your pet.

Additionally, if your dog is diabetic, it’s not recommended to give oranges to your pooch. Oranges are high in sugar which would cause issues to a dog who is suffering from diabetes.

Can Dogs Drink Orange Juice?

Store bought orange juice is not recommended for dogs. Orange juice that is bought from a grocery store is not a freshly squeezed juice but rather made from a concentrate which means it has higher sugar content. It’s better to give your dog a few pieces or fresh oranges instead.

How Many Oranges Can Dogs Eat?

Since oranges contain high amount of sugar, they should be fed to your pooch in moderation and as treats only.

It’s advisable not to feed your dog more than one or two segments of an orange per day, depending on the dog’s size.

What Happens If Your Dog Had Too Many Oranges

Dogs can be sneaky and get into stuff they are not suppose to. So if you or any other family member have left your sweet orange treats on the kitchen counter or anywhere else where the dog could reach them, don’t be surprised if you find your bowl empty. If that has happened, don’t panic. Your dog will most likely have stomach discomfort and diarrhea but that’s about it.

Remember to make sure your dog has enough drinking water available at all times, since diarrhea may make him/her dehydrated.

Monitor your dog for the next 24 hours. If your pet’s symptoms have not improved after 24 hours have passed, you should probably call your vet or take your dog to your local veterinarian’s office.

Watch this cute little dog enjoying an orange:

Fruits Dogs Cannot Eat

While there are many types of fruits that dogs can safely eat, there are a few that are strictly forbidden. In this category of forbidden foods, we find grapes, raisins and even peaches. Grapes are notorious for generating terrible reactions in dogs, like stomach aches, vomiting, kidney failure, coma, and even death. Therefore, the warning against grapes is no joke.  One may see a grape and feel the small fruit that is mostly water is perfectly safe for dogs.  This is an example of the importance of researching fruit before offering to a dog.  The good news in regards to grapes is that most dogs will not eat them. Whether this is by personal dog preference or by an evolutionary survival instinct, most dogs stay away from grapes even after being served.

Peaches, on the other hand, are known to be poisonous, because of their content of cyanide. That’s right, the core of a peach has cyanide, which doesn’t normally end up in our system when we eat the fruit. However, it can affect a dog who eats a whole peach. It is not recommended that you risk giving peaches to dogs even if you have extracted the pit though, because you never know whether or not the pulp has traces of cyanide as well.

Conclusion

All in all, it has been decided that dogs can safely eat oranges, as long as the peel and seeds are removed. Make sure to feed them in small quantities. Not only are they delicious, but they are also an excellent source of vitamin C, which can help boost your pet’s immune system and protect him from diseases.

Just remember, when introducing new foods, including oranges into your dog’s diet, start out gradually and in small quantities. Monitor your pooch afterwards for any unusual behavior or symptoms. If everything seems fine, you can continue feeding him the new food.

Related articles:

Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms

Can Dogs Eat Onions

References:

http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/can-dogs-eat-oranges/37974

http://www.banfield.com/pet-health-resources/ask-a-vet/my-dog-likes-oranges

http://www.pet360.com/dog/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-oranges/P39L2umJXUatGGTKa1gs2Q

http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/can-dogs-eat-fruit-and-grapes-raisins-dog-health

 

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