Smaller pets, like guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits love vegetables and fruit. But are you aware that fruits like mangoes, bananas, and oranges, make important additions to your cat or dog ‘s diet?
The same dietary benefits fruits give us, they provide the same for your dog. Some of the benefits include antioxidants, aids digestion, healthy skin and hair, immunity boosts, and better eyesight.
Whether you want to reduce your pet’s waistline. Or you want a healthy alternative to the commercially available pet treats.
We have a big list for you!
Most of the vegetables and fruits humans eat can be given to pets also. But, some are dangerous and need to be avoided entirely.
What vegetables and fruits are safe for your pet to eat?
Why add fruits and vegetables to a pet’s diet?
A pet’s diet needs to be nutritionally balanced. It should also be appropriate for the dog’s life stage and low in fat. Including fruits and vegetables in your pet’s meals will ensure that they get lots of essential nutrients. This includes minerals and vitamins and minerals which helps them stay healthy and strong. Additionally, they help improve their immune system.
So why should you give veggies and fruits to your pet? Some pet treats will have lots of calories, so vegetables and fruits will be a healthier option.
Here is a look ate fruits that dogs can and cannot eat as a healthy treat
- Apples
Apples are naturally sweet and high in fiber. They are good for most homemade treats recipes. Be sure to take out all seeds before giving this to your dog. This is because they hold low quantities of cyanide. Apples act as natural teeth-cleaners for dogs and they freshen bad breath. When a dog is on a bland diet, homemade or unsweetened applesauce is a great healthy dessert.
- Bananas
Do not go overboard with this though. The right portion of the banana is an inch-long slice. Feeding your pet lots of bananas may cause elevated levels potassium. This will put your pets at risk of getting constipated or hyperkalemia.
Make some “pupcakes” for a play date or your dog’s birthday! You can also give your pup a breakfast of dog-friendly banana pancakes – hold the syrup.
- Peach
Never ever feed your pet a peach pit. (other stone fruits to avoid are pears, plums, and apricots!) Other than causing intestinal blockage, peach pits have low amounts of cyanide. When your dog eats one peach pit, the likelihood of cyanide poisoning is low. However, watch out for symptoms such as dizziness, dilated pupils, and excessive salivation.
Additionally, don’t feed your dog canned peaches either. Though they do not have pits, the sugary preservative-heavy syrup may cause intestinal discomfort. Also, it adds no nutritional value.
Leave the skins on for added fiber; blend them for the picky pups or even freeze some slices to make sweet ice cube-like treats.
- Blueberries
Each serving has 3.6 grams of fiber, hence blueberries are great for senior pets. Why is this so? Since they contain relatively low sugar this makes them a healthy snack. Since blueberries contain potassium, a kind of electrolyte which keeps pets hydrated and healthy.
For dogs with hypokalemia or reduced blood potassium. They may experience weight loss and equally death. What then can you to avoid this? Make sure that you keep a balanced diet for your dog.
- Watermelon
Make sure you remove most of the seeds as they can cause blockage or intestinal discomfort too many are consumed. Because watermelon contains 92 % water, this sweet fruit greatly helps keep pets hydrated and prevent heat stroke. Furthermore, it has lots of vitamin A, B6 and C, that will make the dog’s coat shinier and maintain the teeth in great shape.
By freezing cubed watermelon you will have a quick, frosty treat for summer. You can also blend watermelon, honey, and Greek yogurt to make homemade pupsicles.
- Strawberries
strawberries are great bite-sized treats. However, limit your dog’s strawberry consumption to a handful. This is since they will cause gastrointestinal upsets and diarrhea. Great sources of potassium, fiber, iodine, magnesium, folic acid, omega-3 fats, and also vitamins B1, C, K, B6, and K.
For hot summer days, make your dog an ice lick! Freeze up a bowl of different berries or chopped fruits. Put the ice lick in a shady place outside for your dog to enjoy.
- Kiwis
These are a great source of potassium, fiber, and are high in vitamin C. Your dog can have a half piece slice or even a single slice. This is a good size of kiwi treat for your dog. Make sure to clean the kiwi fruit thoroughly before offering it to your dog.
- Oranges
Oranges should be fed to your dog in moderation since the citric acid might cause gastrointestinal upset. Do not offer your dog lots of oranges the first time they offer them this fruit. These can cause some pets to diarrhea.
Clementines, oranges, and tangerines all have a high sugar content. This makes citrus fruits an infrequent treat. Also use sparingly the frozen treats to avoid dental issues and prevent obesity. Peel the fruit before giving slices to your pup since it’s hard to digest and not as tasty.
- Pear
Pears are a great source for niacin, folic acid, fiber, copper, phosphorus, pectin, potassium, and vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and E. Before you can feed your dog a pear, make sure it is washed thoroughly to remove any dirt. A single cube or 2 pear cubes are the right size treat to offer your dog.
- Mango
Mangoes treats have lots of vitamins good for dogs and cats. Similar to all pitted fruits, ensure to remove the pit which has poisonous levels of cyanide. Feeding your dog small pieces of peeled mango treats will make digestion easier. Additionally, it will reduce the chances of fiber from this fruit upsetting the pets’ digestive tract and stomach.
Conclusion
Feed your pet small fruit portions only, particularly the first time you feed them to the dog. Although fruits are good for pets, they are not calorie free. Again, you do not know whether your pet will have allergic reactions or other unfavorable reaction, like gas or upset stomach.