Is watermelon safe for dogs?

We’re delighted to report, that YES, it is!

You can happily feed your dog some watermelon. [1] It is, in fact, a massive health-bomb as it is low in calories and packed with nutrients. Most fruits contain lots of sugar, but watermelon is a better option due to the high-water content.

You will, however, need to exercise some caution when feeding your dog watermelon by ensuring you remove the seeds and the skin. The rind can cause a choking hazard while the seeds may cause an intestinal blockage.

Nutritional value of watermelon

Watermelons contain an overload of nutrients [3] such as:

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B6

These help your dog in maintaining healthy muscles as well as optimum nerve function. They also contain healthy dietary fibers that help your dog indigestion.

Watermelons are 92% water, which makes for a very hydrating snack especially on a hot summer day.

Some serving ideas

Watermelon is easy to serve to your dog – merely remove the rind and seeds, [4] cut them up into small pieces, and feed the treat to your dog. If you want to be a little more creative, you can freeze them in an ice cube tray and make a healthy and refreshing treat for your dog. We’ve gone searching for a couple of super-cooling watermelon treat recipes.

Watermelon and yogurt dog treat

An “it couldn’t be simpler” doggy treat recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of chopped up and seedless watermelons.
  • 1 cup or 15 tablespoonfuls of plain yogurt.

Instructions

  1. Put the melon chunks into a blender and blend until very smooth.
  2. In an ice cube tray, add 1 tablespoon of the yogurt in each tray, and fill the rest with the watermelon juice. Put this in the freezer for about 4 hours.
  3. Remove the molds of ice and store in an airtight container in your freezer.
  4. Feed these to your dog as you see fit.

Frozen watermelon treat

Combine these few ingredients for a refreshing doggy treat.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of seedless watermelon puree
  • A half cup of plain yogurt
  • Chopped parsley

Instructions

  1. In a blender, puree the seedless watermelon chunks until very smooth.
  2. Chop the parsley into tiny pieces.
  3. Take a baking tray, and in each mold, insert the parsley first at the bottom, then add a very thin layer of the yogurt, then finish off the remaining space with the watermelon puree that you blended.
  4. Freeze this overnight or for at least 4 hours till it is frozen solid.
  5. For the dog bone, add parsley at the bottom and spoon off a small layer of the watermelon juice. Freeze this for an hour, then add some plain yogurt. Freeze for another hour, then finally add the watermelon juice and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  6. Keep frozen in a tight container, or until needed.

A Watermelon Sorbet for your dog

Watermelons also contain lycopene [5] which is the phytonutrient that gives them their beautiful red color on the inside. This provides the free radicals protection we talked about earlier, which aids in the prevention of cancer and heart diseases.

Sorbet is a great snack for your dog because it makes use of this phytonutrient.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of seedless watermelon.
  • 1 cup of coconut water or coconut milk
  • A quarter cup of honey.

Instructions

Put all of the ingredients above in a blender and blend till smooth. You will want the pureed result to be very liquid, just like juice. Then, pour the liquid milk into an ice cube tray and freeze.

Now the hard part:

Wait for the juice to freeze and once frozen, feed it to your dog. The best part about this recipe is that you can eat them as well. They are delicious and quite refreshing. As always, exercise moderation with your dog treats.

Honey and Watermelon treats

A fruity treat with a hint of sugary sweetness.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups of seedless and cubed watermelon.
  • A quarter cup of watermelon juice.
  • A squeeze of honey – this is optional. If your dog does not consume sugar, just ignore it.
  • Toppings – again optional.
  • You can add coconut water or plain water as needed.

Instructions

In a food processor or blender, add the diced watermelon cubes, and the dash of honey. Add a little of the watermelon juice. It is a good idea to do this in the beginning and keep adding a little at a time as you continue to blend.

Scoop the blended ingredients into a bowl and add toppings as needed.

  • Yield: This will give 3 scoops of sorbet.

Nutritional facts:

  • 7 grams of fat
  • 171 calories
  • 5 grams of carbohydrates
  • 8 grams of protein

That final say on feeding dogs watermelon

When it is sweltering outside, these watermelon treats will go a long way in keeping your dog refreshed and also offer a hydrating option to water. Ensure to consult with your vet before giving your dog any human food as he will advise well on whether or not it can be harmful to your dog.

These treats are incredibly delicious and filling to your dog, so exercise caution as you give them because you may be tempted to overdo it – especially during summer. Too much of the watermelon can actually affect your dog’s digestive system, and if you make the mistake of giving the seeds, they may obstruct their intestines.

Watermelon is low in calories, super delicious, and very healthy for dogs and humans alike, so enjoy them as a family.