When it comes to caring for our furry companions, it’s only natural to want to serve them some treats occasionally. As responsible dog owners, however, we need to ensure that we only treat them to foods that are safe for dogs to eat.
Fruits are commonly eaten by humans because of their health benefits and delicious taste. One of the most popular forms of fruit is oranges because of their high vitamin C content and refreshing taste. But are oranges safe for our four-legged friends?
In this article, we will take a closer look at whether dogs can eat oranges. In general, oranges are safe for dogs to eat but there are some exceptions and some things to keep in mind if you do decide to feed oranges to your beloved pet.
We will answer all of your questions about dogs and oranges and tell you all you need to know to keep your dog safe!
Let’s get started.
How To Give Your Dogs Oranges Safely
Oranges aren’t poisonous or toxic for dogs so they can eat oranges. However, there are a few steps you should take to ensure that your furry friend remains safe and healthy as they enjoy some oranges!
Don’t Give Your Dogs Too Much
The most important thing to remember is that oranges should be treated as a special treat for your dog and shouldn’t replace their regular diet. You can feed your dog oranges but we don’t recommend giving your dog more than one to three slices. If your dog is really large you can give a little more than this.
As a general rule though, oranges shouldn’t be more than around 10 percent of your dog’s daily food intake or calories.
Fresh Oranges Are The Best
Dogs can eat a wide variety of different types of oranges. We recommend seedless naval oranges as the best type for dogs but they can also eat other types, such as clementines, Bergamot oranges, or blood oranges.
The important part is that they are fresh and real oranges and not just products made with oranges.
Introduce Oranges Slowly
Oranges can have a very sour and bitter taste and many dogs don’t like this taste! It can come as a bit of a shock and surprise to them, so it’s best to only feed them a little bit of orange when they try it for the first time. Start with one slice and allow them to test it out.
Can Dogs Eat Orange Peels?
No, they can’t. You should make sure that you remove the peel from any orange segments you feed to your dog so that only the fleshy part of the orange remains.
The peel of an orange can contain some toxic compounds that won’t sit right with your dog’s digestive system. The peel itself can also be difficult to digest and can cause blockages in your dog’s stomach or intestines.
To be on the safe side, always remove the peel.
Can Dogs Eat Orange Seeds?
We recommend buying either seedless oranges or removing the seeds from an orange before giving it to your dog.
This is because orange seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide. Although accidentally eating a seed or two is unlikely to cause your dog any distress, it’s best to avoid the risk and remove the seeds completely.
There are so many delicious seedless varieties available in the supermarket so stay on the safe side and buy some of these. It’ll be safer for your beloved pet and will make things quicker and less messy for you!
Can Dogs Drink Orange Juice?
Orange juice is not recommended for dogs at all. The juice of an orange has a much higher concentration of sugars and citric acid than the fruit alone and both of these can be harmful to your dog.
For dogs, there really is nothing better than simple water!
Are Oranges Good For Dogs?
We know that oranges are good for humans and have a variety of health benefits, but is this the case for dogs as well?
The good news is that yes, it is! Several nutrients in oranges can help your dog remain healthy. The main healthy nutrients are:
- Fibre – fibre is just as important for dogs as it is for humans. Fibre helps your dog’s digestive system by maintaining a healthy balance in the stomach and keeping your dog’s bowels regular
- Potassium – this is essential for healthy kidneys. It can also help with the health of your dog’s muscles, heart and digestive system
- Vitamin C – orange is well-known for its high levels of vitamin C. Dogs can naturally create vitamin C so it’s not as important in their diet as it is for humans, but a little extra vitamin C can still give them a boost. It helps to maintain a healthy immune system
Are Oranges Bad For Dogs?
We mentioned earlier that orange peel and orange juice should be completely avoided. We also stated that it’s best for your dog not to consume any orange seeds, either.
If your dog is diabetic or on a diet, you might want to avoid giving them oranges. Unfortunately, oranges are high in natural sugars and diabetic or overweight dogs should avoid these.
The citric acid in oranges can cause stomach upsets in some dogs, especially if they eat too many oranges. This is why we recommend only giving one to three segments in a day.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we explained that dogs can eat oranges. This should only be the flesh of fresh oranges, however, and you should not give your dog the peel, seeds, or juice of an orange. Oranges are high in sugar and citric acid so only give your dog one to three segments.
Oranges can help your dog’s health as they are packed with important nutrients. They should not be given to diabetic or overweight dogs though.
