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Can I Feed My Dog Cantaloupe?

August 1st, 2022

Can I Feed My Dog Cantaloupe? Are Melons Safe For Dogs

What is Cantaloupe?

The cantaloupe is a delicious, orange summer fruit related to the watermelon and honeydew melon.

It's related to cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes, and gourds.

It‘s a popular fruit that's great for humans, but what about dogs?

Can dogs eat cantaloupe? Yes, but not a lot.

Half a canteloupe

Cantaloupe Is Safe to Feed to a Dog

Moderate consumption of melon is safe for dogs, and it can be a better choice than standard dog snacks for those who are concerned about their pet's weight.

Dietary fiber, vitamin B6, niacin, folate, and vitamins A and C are all abundant in cantaloupe.

As a pleasant approach to replenishing fluids without gaining weight, it is low in calories and high in water.

Vitamins A and C are antioxidants that improve dogs' health. Antioxidants capture free radicals, slowing cell aging, promoting healthy cell function, and reducing disease risk.

Vitamin A helps dogs maintain healthy eyes, strengthen the immune system, and promote cell growth.

Cantaloupe's high water and fiber content aids digestion and prevents constipation and dehydration.

 

How Many Cantaloupes Can A Dog Have?

It's important to know how much of any food item is safe for your pet to consume.

The same goes for Cantaloupe, which contains several types of sugar, including fructose (the same type found in honey), sucrose, and glucose.

Fructose can cause insulin resistance, so it's best not to feed dogs more than one small piece at a time—as little as an eighth or two bits per day will do the trick!

Vets recommend that dog parents follow the 10% rule. Treats, including fruit, can account for 10% of your dog's daily calorie intake.

Cantaloupe is about 8% sugar by weight, so one cup of cantaloupe chunks has 12 grams of sugar and 53 calories.
Share cantaloupe in moderation due to its higher sugar content than other treats.

Do not share cantaloupe with a diabetic dog.

Related read: Can Dogs Eat Pistachios?

 

Dog eating canteloupe

How to Serve Cantaloupe to Your Dog

Serving cantaloupe to your dog can be a fun and delicious experience. Here are some tips on how to serve it:

  • Cut the melon into small pieces before serving it to your furry pal. The smaller the pieces, the more likely they will be eaten by both you and your pet.
  • If you plan on freezing some of the cantaloupes until wintertime, make sure that any seeds have been removed or cut out before freezing. This way, they won't stick in their teeth when they eat them later down the road (this is especially important if you're giving them as a treat).
  • To cook frozen slices of cantaloupe for dogs who aren't fans of raw fruit, simply slice up one whole side first before cooking at 400°F for about 5 minutes per side. You can do this on either an oven roast pan or griddle pan; then let cool completely before serving.

When you're picking a ripe cantaloupe, look for a fruit that is heavy for its size.

This will indicate that it's ripe and ready to eat. A cantaloupe needs to be soft to the touch—not too soft but not hard either—to be considered good quality.

It should also have an appealing smell and feel like something you would want as part of your daily diet: sweet and juicy.

Other Fruits That Dogs Can Eat

  • Apart from Cantaloupe, here are some other fruits that dogs can eat:
  • Apple
  • Bananas
  • Mango
  • Pineapple
  • Watermelon
  • Pears
  • Peaches (without the pits) and nectarines (without the pit and in limited quantity), especially if they're organic. The same goes for plums, strawberries, and any other berry-type fruits.

However, for all the fruits, you should remove the rind and seeds.

2 halves of canteloupe

What Are The Dangers Of Cantaloupe?

Can dogs eat cantaloupe rind? No.

Cantaloupe rinds are not safe for your dog to eat, nor would you want them to.

In fact, you cannot give them cantaloupe seeds either as they have been known to cause severe gastrointestinal distress in dogs and should be avoided at all costs by any pet owner who has a canine friend.

Dogs may be able to eat cantaloupe, but only if they're fed small pieces of the fruit.

The entire cantaloupe should not be given to dogs because it can be toxic and cause gastrointestinal upsets.

Cantaloupes have high water content and are very sweet, so they can make your dog sick if he/she eats too much at once.

If you don’t like this option for your dogs, choose another type of melon instead.

Related read: Is Lettuce Okay For Dogs?

What Melons Are Toxic To Dogs?

Now you know the answer to the question, “Can dogs eat cantaloupe melon?”.

But what about other types of melons? Watermelon, honeydew, and casaba melons can be toxic to dogs.

They contain cyanogenic glycosides which cause cyanide poisoning in humans when ingested.

This is why you should never give your dog any of these types of melons as a treat or anything else that may cause him or her to eat them!

Other types of melon (such as muskmelon) can also be poisonous but less so than their watermelon cousins due to their lower concentration levels of toxins within each fruit itself.

It's important to note that Persian and carnival cantaloupes don't pose any risk at all because they're not grown on farms where pesticides may have been used.

However, if you're unsure about whether or not your cantaloupe is safe for your pet, then stick with the first three mentioned above!

Close up of a dog

Conclusion

If your dog loves cantaloupe, you'll be happy to know that it is a very good source of vitamin A and C.

It also has potassium which helps with bone health as well as digestion.

Give your dog cantaloupe as a treat. Now, keep in mind that too many treats are not good. It can lead to obesity, which can seriously harm your dog's body, leading to many diseases.

We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of the health benefits of cantaloupe and how it can benefit your dog.

Cantaloupe is a great fruit to add to your dog’s diet, but it’s important not to overfeed them.

Always make sure that there is enough space between the food and the water bowl so that your puppy does not choke on it.

Owning a dog can be a difficult job. There are a million things to consider.

To help you get started, check out 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Dogs.

 

Related read: Is Lettuce Okay For Dogs?

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