Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? 9 Benefits That You Can’t Ignore

This post was most recently updated on July 25th, 2023

Overview

In short, yes they can. But, being a pet lover, there are several points that you need to care about. They are beautifully described below. Let’s dive into it.

Watermelon is a great source of water. Besides, it carries low calories and contains different types of vitamins and anti-oxidants. Here we have discussed several benefits of watermelon for dogs.

Helps in being hydrated

Watermelon contains 92% of water which better helps your dogs to be hydrated.

Contains a lot of nutrients and antioxidants

Watermelon is a low-calorie fruit that carries a lot of nutrients and antioxidants. It contains a massive amount of nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B5, and B6, Potassium, Magnesium.

It also contains these antioxidants: Carotenoids, Lycopene, Cucurbitacin E.

Contains cancer preventing compounds

The lycopene present in watermelon helps in lowering the level of insulin-like growth factor (IGF). If any living kind has a high level of IGF then there would be no doubt on saying that the kind is suffering from cancer. Hence, watermelon helps in preventing cancer by lowering the IGF level.

Improves the heart health

Watermelon contains an amino acid called citrulline which actively helps in expanding the blood vessels. That will ultimately help to lower the blood pressure.

Previously discussed compound called lycopene in watermelon also helps in lowering the cholesterol level.

In a nutshell, these two compounds, lycopene and citrulline combinedly helps in lowering the blood pressure of dogs.

Prevents from chronic disease

Lycopene and Vitamin C present in the watermelon works as an anti-inflammatory antioxidants which helps dogs to be prevented from different types of chronic diseases.

Prevents from AMD and keeps eyes healthy

An antioxidant property present in lycopene of watermelon helps to protect the eyes of dogs and prevents from AMD.

Actively helps in relieving muscle soreness

Sometimes dogs may get suffer from muscle soreness while playing and jumping in the ground. This would really make uneasy them to move or run. Thanks to the amino acid, citrulline present in watermelon which helps to get rid of the muscle soreness.

Helps in the digestion process

We have already mentioned that the watermelon contains most of the water( about 92%) of it’s weight. Also, it contains little amount of fiber which play a vital role in healthy digestion.

Very helpful for skin and hair

There contains 18% of RDI of Vitamin A and 21% of RDI of vitamin C in watermelon whose role would be best to skin and hair of the dogs.

Although having a bunch of benefits, if we do not feed watermelon to dogs in a proper amount, the condition will be much hazardous. Here are some side effects of watermelon for dogs.

Cause diarrhea and alter digestive system

Watermelon contains a lot of water and fiber and if given to dogs in a massive amount, it may alter the balance of the digestive system and cause diarrhea.

Diabetic level may be increased

There contain 6 grams of sugar in every 100 grams of watermelon and it may be a bad idea to feed watermelon to your dogs if s/he is being suffered from the diabetes problem. It’s because there would be a high chance of getting sugar level high if you feed watermelon to your dogs in more amount than required.

May arise cardiovascular problems

There contains potassium in watermelon (5% of RDI). It helps in making the bones stronger and healthy heart. However, feeding too much watermelon to dogs may cause cardiovascular problems.

There contain no any poisonous substances on watermelon rinds or skin, but they are hard to chew for dogs and they can’t digest well them, too. So, we don’t have to feed the watermelon rinds or skin to dogs.

No, you don’t need to feed the watermelon with seeds to dogs. It’s not because they are harmful to the dogs, it’s because they may block the intestine to pass other foods which may create a serious issue thereafter.

If you really want to feed them the watermelon seeds because it has several benefits, make sure you grind them before feeding them. Then you can mix them up with liquids and feed them without any hesitation.

Color of seeds doesn’t matter because the ingredients present in seeds of watermelon will be the same and will block the intestine to pass the foods. So, we can’t let dogs eat watermelon with any kind of seeds.

It’s recommended that about 40-60 grams of watermelon are enough for younger dogs while for older or large dogs, you can feed them nearly about 70 grams.

Dogs can eat fleshy part of watermelon and seeds by grinding them only.