Yes, dogs can eat cucumbers as they are packed with delicious, refreshing water, and offer all the benefits of vitamins C, K, and B. They also contain a bunch of other minerals like potassium and manganese. Cucumbers are also a great source of fiber for dogs- excellent protection against constipation!
As long as you don’t give your dog a whole cucumber, it’s perfectly safe for them. When we compare with biscuits, each has about 40 calories per biscuit while cucumbers only have 8 calories per half cup (52g) when sliced. They’re also low in fat with 0.1g per half cup.
Health benefits
- Cucumbers are 95% water and this makes them a big source of hydration.
- Cucumber is low in calories, containing only 8 in a half cup. This result is thanks to its high water content and low sugar concentration.
- The skin of the cucumber usually contains the highest level of soluble fibers. This means it soaks up water as it is being digested and in turn helps food move through your dog’s digestive tract or improve stool quality.
- Since cucumber contains vitamins ( C, K, B1, b5, & b6), it helps in reducing inflammations, coagulation, metabolism, energy production, and hormone regulation.
- The potassium in cucumbers keeps your dog’s kidneys and heart healthy. It also maintains strong muscle and good digestive function.
- The Manganese, Molybdenum, Calcium, and Iron help in muscle function, energy production, protection from copper exposure, and bone growth respectively.
Risks
The only risks involved in serving cucumber to your pup are choking hazards and overeating. When a dog overeats cucumbers, it can lead to gastrointestinal issues. You can avoid these by controlling the quantity and by serving cucumber in small pieces.
If you are serving the cucumber to your dog for the first time, keep it under your observation for at least 12 hours.
How much cucumber is good for a dog?
The cucumber portion of the dog food should not exceed 10% of the total dog food served daily. As a general rule, it is always recommended to keep the quantity of treats less than 10 percent.
How to serve cucumber to a dog?
Try to always buy organic cucumbers. Non-organic items can contain harmful pesticides which can put your dog at risk.
Be sure to thoroughly rinse and wash before you use serve since they can have a lot of bacteria on them.
- You can serve cucumber raw or cooked – the choice is up to you, and what your dog likes. Generally speaking, cucumbers are most often eaten raw, which will retain more nutritional value. They also tend to have a satisfying crunch that many dogs enjoy.
- If you want your dog to be able to have a little bit of salad too, just create a mixture of peeled, chopped cucumber and chunks of cantaloupe, celery, and pear. That way your canine friend can enjoy it too!
- Slice cucumbers into rounds and remove the soft seedy center. Fill it with nut butter or cream cheese for a fun Halloween-themed treats!
- Freeze chunks or spears of peeled cucumber for a teething treat for your puppy. Try not to feed the dog quickly when they are trying to chew on something.
- Offering small pieces of cucumber to your pup as low-calorie training treats is not just a great way to reduce the calorie content of their regular meal but it also refreshes their palate.
Can dogs eat cucumber skin?
Yes, dogs can eat cucumber skin as long as it is organic and thoroughly washed before serving.
Can a dog have cucumber pickles?
Pickles contain spices, salts, and toxic ingredients like garlic. It’s best to avoid them and offer boiled cucumbers or frozen cucumbers to your dogs instead.
Ankita is a passionate pet lover and head of content at Pet Food Brands. With her extensive knowledge and research, she provides pet owners with top-quality information on dog food and nutrition. Her dedication to improving the lives of dogs makes her a leading voice in the industry.
