Yes, dogs can eat oranges. Veterinarians recommend feeding small doses of oranges as they are safe for dogs. They might not like strong-smelling citrus though. With plenty of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, it could be the best treat for them.
Health benefits
- Oranges are packed with 88% water and contain a high level of potassium. Potassium is an important electrolyte that helps balance the body’s fluids. After work or exercise, oranges make a healthy and tasty treat for you and your dog to rehydrate on the go.
- Dogs don’t need to rely on Vitamin C from their food because they can produce it in their body. But, if the dog’s been exposed to smoke or other environmental pollutants, there’s a chance that their ability to synthesize the vitamin has been compromised. It’s recommended that your dogs get some vitamin C in their diet. This is where oranges can help.
- Although too much fiber can lead to problems like loose stool and gas, small amounts of soluble fiber can be beneficial. These fibers, when they get to your dog’s colon, break down into smaller molecules that produce short-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids provide an energy source for epithelial cells.
Side effects
Eating a lot of oranges can cause an upset stomach, nausea, and other digestive ailments like cramps, bloating, and diarrhea. The reason for this is that there is too much fiber in the orange – about 3 to 6 times more than what’s recommended per day.
Too much vitamin C can also lead to health problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
How to feed oranges to dogs?
- Although there aren’t many significant drawbacks to feeding oranges to dogs, I would strongly advise against giving them too many to eat in a short amount of time.
- Given that oranges have moderate sugar content, they may cause gastrointestinal upset if your pup eats too many of them. If you do decide to give them an orange, you should start slow and see how their stomach reacts. If you notice your dog behaving oddly, don’t feed them any more oranges.
- Before feeding the orange to your dog, peel it and remove all seeds.
- Even if your dog loves oranges, they should make up only 10% of their daily calorie intake. This will help prevent upset stomachs or weight gain.
- Not all dogs like the taste of citrus fruits. Some will consume anything they’re fed, including both the fruit and peel. The peels of oranges are not toxic, but they can cause digestive problems if consumed too many at once.
Can dogs drink orange juice?
No, dogs can’t drink any citrus fruit juices because it contains concentrated sugars and citric acids which can cause severe health problems.
Can dogs eat orange peels?
No. Dogs should never be fed the peel from any citrus fruit. These peels are potentially very toxic to dogs and can make their stomach hurt too. They’ll most likely end up vomiting and having stomach cramps too.
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.
