Dogs are not very choosy when it comes to food. This is because they descended from a line of wild hunters ages ago which simply take and eat what they can get. And because they are not as picky as other kinds of pets, dog-parents do not have much trouble coming up with a diet plan. Dogs do not appreciate food variety anyway.
However, this does not mean that dogs find everything edible. Most importantly, the fact that they are not finicky eaters does not permit us, dog-parents, to just throw anything we see on the fridge into their bowl. That is bad parenting! But I know you wouldn’t do that, would you?
We have a lot of food in our homes which could pass as an alternative to commercially produced dog food. If you ever have some stock oranges in your house, for example, you might think of feeding some to your beloved pets. So today we are going to answer the question “Can dogs eat oranges”?
What You Need To Know About Dogs And Oranges?
Dogs, like humans, are omnivores. This means that they live on a meat-based and plant-based diet. They could eat pork, beef, chicken and fish and they could also have fruits and vegetables.
Just like us! Maybe one of the reasons that dogs are a man’s best friend is because we can be food buddies – or maybe because they are just the most lovable creatures in the face of the planet. Both way, we are their best friends and they are our best friends. We should take responsibility when it comes to their food intake.
This is why it is important for us to ask all these questions about what food is good for them and what kind of diet is bad for them. As long as they stay under our roofs, we are obligated to keep them safe and healthy.
But let’s go back to the main topic.
Dogs and oranges – this is not a popular animal to food stereotype. We usually just see movies and cartoons showing us dogs with a bone in his mouth. When I was young, I thought that was the only thing they could eat. Good thing I grew up and realized I had a lot of options. So, are one of those options oranges?
Before we answer that question. Let us know more about oranges.
Oranges belong to the citrus family. It is actually a popular fruit and a great source of Vitamin C. For every 100 grams of it, a person could get almost 65% of our Vitamin C needs. Its orange pulp is juicy and sweet. And its vibrant orange color always adds a vibrant accent on the fruit basket.
Other than vitamin C, oranges also carry other nutrients and phytochemicals. Its nutritional value is composed of Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9 (Folate), Choline and Vitamin E. It contains minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.
It contains sugar and fiber which makes it a source of carbohydrates. It contains just a little bit of fat and protein, too. A lot of it is water.
Now that we know all about oranges, let us now answer the main question.
Can Dogs Eat Oranges?
As I mentioned before, dogs can eat fruits and vegetables along with meat. However, there are only certain kinds of fruits that their bodies can tolerate. Not everything plant-based is going to work. The question is, do oranges belong to the group of fruits dogs can eat or not?
The answer is yes. Dogs can certainly eat oranges!
You can feed it to your canine friends without causing any serious health issues. You can feed it to him as a light snack or an occasional treat. Remember, oranges should only be fed in small to moderate quantities. More than that would be bad for them. You know what they say, eat in moderation.
It is not even just about the taste. Oranges also have a lot of nutrients which works not only for humans but for dogs, too. If you want to feed your dog something rich in fiber, potassium and Vitamin C, oranges are a great source for these. What makes it even better is the fact that it is low in sodium. Ask your veterinarian and I’m sure she will agree with me.
But take note of this. Your dog may love the sweet and tangy taste of oranges. However, some dogs may not even like the taste of oranges. I know you’re like, “why not?” Well, animals have different preferences and even though most dogs would eat everything (even shoelaces), there are several of them who keep their food list short.
Health Benefits of Oranges for Dogs
It has been established that oranges belong in the good food category. It does not only hold beneficial for human beings. The vitamins and minerals in it could also work a function in our dog’s bodies. Let us tackle this one by one to be able to better understand what oranges can offer to our dogs.
First and foremost, let us highlight the importance of Vitamin C to our dogs. As we have already discussed, oranges are a great source of Vitamin C which is 85% of the total vitamins inside the fruit. So what is it with this vitamin and how can it be good for dogs?
Vitamin C is very good for the immune system. The function of the vitamin does not only work in human bodies. Vitamin C will also be able to nourish our dog’s immunity to diseases! This vitamin will help fight off the bad bacteria which in turn will lessen our pet’s sick days. With enough Vitamin C, our dogs will be healthier and live a longer life.
Then again, it should be said that dogs are able to produce their own Vitamin C. But, dogs who experience a lot of stress and too much exercise will need more of the vitamin. This is because when pushed to the edge of their physical and mental limit, the kidney takes a little break in producing the vitamin C the dog needs to keep its full immunity. In which case, feeding him orange is the best idea.
Oranges also contain a lot of potassium which bananas are also well known for. So what if oranges contain the electrolyte mineral potassium. Well, my friend, potassium serves a critical role in the function of the heart. The lack of it might cause a condition called Arrhythmia or the irregular beating of the heart.
The orange goodness does not stop there. Oranges are also a good for fighting high cholesterol among dogs. Because oranges are low in fat but rich in fiber, it could be a remedy for hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia is where there an abundance of lipids in the blood. Cholesterol is one of those lipids. It could be a good alternative to commercially produced dog food snacks which contains high levels of fat in them.
When Are Oranges Bad For Dogs?
There is no such thing as perfect food. So it should be no surprise to you once I tell you that too much orange will be bad for your canine buddy. Oranges may be safe for dog consumption but an excessive amount of it will have negative consequences to your dog’s health. But don’t you worry. We will not end this article without me telling you every detail you should know about it.
Number one. Too much orange is bad for dogs who are at risk of diabetes or those who may already have the condition. Oranges contains a sugar in it and probably would not be smart to feed your dogs something that could worsen his illness. Even if he uses his cuteness to ask you for some oranges, we should learn to say no. Never think about it as being selfish. It is more about saving your dog from emergency veterinary visits.
Number two. It has already been said that oranges contain high levels of natural sugars. So maybe we should skip on it when our dogs are little overweight. Too much orange will not help your dog lose weight. Even though chubby little dogs are simply irresistible, being too fat for their body may pose some health risks. We do not want that, of course.
Number three. Oranges may also result to an upset stomach which includes diarrhea and discomfort. This is also because of high sugar levels and high acid levels in oranges.
Number four. Because of high acidity levels in oranges, too much of the fruit might cause some canine dental issues. Acid rots teeth faster and this also affects humans. However, people have the time to brush their teeth twice or thrice a day. Dogs, on the other hand, can’t and admit it or not, most dog-parents could not find the time to brush their pet’s teeth even once a day.
Number five. There is a possibility for dogs to get constipated even though oranges have a lot of fiber in it. Sounds like an irony? Most of the fibers in oranges are soluble so it basically takes up the water in or dog’s body. When dehydrated and given a heavy orange snack, the possibility of constipation may arise.
Can Dogs Eat Orange Peels? Are Orange Peels Bad For Dogs?
Believe it or not, orange peels also contain a lot of vitamins. Doctors would even recommend humans to eat them.
Dogs, on the other hand, are advised not to by their veterinarians. Orange peel or orange rind could lead to gastrointestinal upsets. It also contains more Vitamin C so it must be out of reach of diabetic dogs. And get this. Orange peel may also be contaminated by pesticides.
So never leave an unwashed orange peel laying around somewhere your dog may find it. These pesticides are generally harmful chemicals which are reported to have caused seizure among dogs whenever fed in large quantities. This warning should be taken seriously.
Can Dogs Eat Orange Seeds? Are Orange Seeds Poisonous To Dogs?
Here’s the thing. Orange seed contain cyanide which is basically poisonous. But let’s be realistic. Your dogs will have to eat A LOT of orange seeds for them to be harmed by cyanide. If your dogs have accidentally swallowed orange seeds, do not panic. Your dog will be just fine as long as you do not deliberately feed him the seeds regularly in large quantities.
Still, feeding your dog orange seeds is not a good idea. If you continue to do so in disregard with this warning, your dog might experience constipation from intestinal obstruction caused by the seeds.
Can Dogs Drink Orange Juice? Is Orange Juice Bad For Dogs?
If you are looking for alternative ways to hydrate your dog, I would tell you to simply stick on fresh, clean water. Orange juice sounds so quenching for us humans but dogs would not really appreciate the sugar-sweet drink. And if we’re talking about orange juice in cartons found in grocery stores, I would downright tell you to keep it away from your dog.
Aside from its preservatives, it is extra acidic with a lot of artificial sweeteners which already adds to the high levels of sugar fond in an orange fruit. The worst thing that could happen is finding out that your dog is suffering from tooth decay and chronic stomach problems.
Are Dogs Allergic To Oranges?
Well, most dogs will not suffer any kind of allergic reaction upon consuming oranges. However, we should still take precaution when giving it to our dog the first time ever.
So here’s my advice. Run a food trial before feeding your dogs oranges. It is always wise to run this test before incorporating a new food in your canine’s diet. So here is a tip. Introduce oranges to your dogs through feeding them one or two orange segments. See how you pet reacts to the food.
- If you notice your dog having tummy troubles after eating the fruit, you may want to keep their paws away from it to prevent digestive upsets.
- If you see that they are doing fine, then you can feed them more segments of oranges until you are sure they could tolerate moderate amounts of it.
- If you see that your dogs love oranges and that it does not cause any adverse reaction to your pets, this does not mean you can feed him pounds and pounds of oranges.
You should still limit how much dogs can eat. Here is a rule of thumb. Large dogs can eat only as much as one whole orange while small dogs must not go over one-third of the same fruit. If you follow this simple guideline, your canine babies will be just fine!
Can Puppies Eat Oranges Safely?
Yes. Feeding oranges to puppies is a great way to incorporate the fruit as part of his diet. The best time to introduce a certain food to dogs is when they are young. It is when their food habits form which they carry with them through adulthood.
But remember. Only a small portion of orange should be fed to little puppies. You do not want to overfeed them with something that would be too much for their teeny-tiny bodies to tolerate.
Tips on Feeding Oranges to Dogs
Oranges should be prepared and served well to ensure the safety of our dog’s consumption.
- First, wash the orange peel if you ever decide to give them to your dogs. This is to wash off the chemicals and bacteria in the rind.
- Remove the seeds so to avoid any paranoia on the possibility of cyanide poisoning. Reminder: the consumption of orage seeds may not be harmful if it accidentally happens every once in a while. But if dogs ingest too much of it, the likelihood of health problems will increase.
Here’s a rule of thumb. You can feed a moderate amount of oranges to big dogs. However, only small quantities should be given to the small ones and that is a third or a quarter of a small orange.
Can Dogs Eat Oranges: The Final Verdict
Yes. Dogs can eat orange but only in little to moderate amounts. Besides, oranges do not offer what dogs need in their diet the way premium dog food does. But yes, oranges are safe for our dog’s consumption and it has some nutritional value to provide.
I hope you learned a lot from this article. It is nice to know that dogs can eat oranges. That is one less worry out of the mind of a responsible dog-parent. If you have anything to share with us, you are always welcome to drop by the comment section. If you have friends who might be needing about this information – can dogs eat oranges, do not hesitate to click the share button. Spread the word!
