Could you imagine life without fruit? Not me. Apples, bananas, strawberries, cherries, and oranges are part of any balanced diet.
Fruit is also very healthy for dogs.
Vegetable food components contain many vitamins and minerals.
In addition, fruit provides several phytochemicals that have a positive effect on your dog’s health.
Monoterpenes, which are said to counteract cancer, are found in apples, apricots, raspberries, and blueberries.
Can dogs eat fruit?
In principle, dogs are allowed to eat most types of fruit, such as apples, pears, bananas, and melons. The only thing you should never feed is grapes. And with stone fruit such as cherries, plums, and nectarines, you should remove the pit because it contains toxic hydrocyanic acid.
We have divided the following list of fruit types into local fruit and tropical fruit. For each fruit, you will find a link to a detailed article.
Native fruit varieties
apples
Dogs can eat apples, even with the skin on.
As a raw apple with skin, dried, steamed, or as applesauce.
pears
Dogs can eat pears. Here you will find many tips on how to feed your dog pears. As a raw pear from the tree or lightly mashed with chicken and rice.
Ideally, give your dog overripe pears to snack on.
blackberries
Dogs can eat blackberries. They contain many vitamins, fiber, and important trace elements.
The dark blue berries are therefore ideally suited to supplement any dog meal. In addition, a blackberry leaf tea is very effective against diarrhea.
strawberries
Fresh strawberries are a real vitamin C bomb, fresh from the garden. All types of strawberries are allowed for dogs.
If your dog eats too many strawberries, severe diarrhea can follow.
blueberries
Dogs can eat blueberries. When dried, the berries even work against diarrhea.
With freshly picked blueberries from the forest, be sure to bear in mind the danger of fox tapeworm.
raspberries
Dogs can eat raspberries too. Fresh or freeze-dried, raspberries are considered the ideal feed additive for BARF.
As a home remedy, raspberries help with rheumatism, constipation, or stomach inflammation.
And even the raspberry leaves are said to have double effectiveness. They help against diarrhea and increase the fertility of the females.
currants
Red and black currants are considered healthy fruits. Some dogs even pick sweet berries from the bush themselves.
cherries
Cherries are very healthy for dogs, not just puppies. If you want to feed your dog cherries, then the fruit should be very ripe to overripe.
It is best to pit the cherries because the pits contain toxic hydrocyanic acid.
peaches
Peaches are usually well tolerated by dogs. You only have to be careful with the core. Because peaches also belong to the stone fruit varieties with a poisonous core.
Poisonous hydrogen cyanide can be released when you bite into the peach stone. You should therefore definitely remove the stone and cut the fruit into small pieces.
plums
Plums and damsons are healthy for dogs. However, you should not feed them too many fruits because plums promote digestion.
Remember that plum kernels also contain toxic hydrocyanic acid. Therefore, if you have a plum tree in your garden, you should only feed them pitted plums and not let your dog nibble from the tree.
gooseberries
Many dogs spurn gooseberries. This fruit would be very healthy because it contains a few calories.
Tropical Fruits – Exotic fruit
pineapple
Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain. This makes tropical fruit very healthy for dogs.
It is best to chop or puree the pineapple. Then your dog can digest the fruit better.
apricots
Apricots are very sweet, which is why many dogs love this fruit. Dried apricots can even be found as an additive in some types of dog food. Because this type of fruit contains a lot of potassium and other healthy ingredients.
With fresh apricots, however, you must be careful that your dog does not eat the pit. Because apricot kernels contain hydrocyanic acid and are toxic to dogs.
bananas
The rumors are true, dogs can eat bananas.
You should be careful because of the high amount of fructose and dietary fiber, which can lead to constipation.
cranberry
Dogs are allowed to eat cranberry berries. Dried cranberries are very healthy. They help your dog against cystitis.
dates
Dogs usually like to eat dates because the fruits are so wonderfully sweet. This makes dates a natural source of energy.
In addition, dried dates are rich in fiber.
figs
Fresh and dried figs have a positive effect on digestion. The oriental fruits taste very aromatic.
pomegranate
The exotic fruit is considered a healthy type of fruit. Pomegranates contain almost as much ellagic acid as raspberries or strawberries. This substance is said to have a cancer-preventive effect.
In high-quality ready-made feed, pomegranate is often used as an additive.
persimmon
From autumn to winter you can find kaki in every supermarket. The exotic fruit is also known as Sharon fruit or persimmon. These are special breeds that contain less bitter substances.
The fruit is neither poisonous nor particularly healthy for dogs. Because kaki contains a lot of sugar. That is why your dog will particularly like ripe persimmons. The Sharon fruit in particular is harmless because it contains no seeds.
kiwi
Kiwi is one of the exotic fruits. The ingredients in the green pulp are beneficial to your dog’s health.
Kiwi contains the enzyme actinidin and has a digestive effect. That’s not the only reason why you shouldn’t feed too much kiwi. Because kiwis contain fructose and acid.
tangerines
Dogs can eat tangerines too.
The acidity of tangerines is significantly lower than that of other citrus fruits. Nevertheless, dogs should eat tangerines only rarely and only in small quantities.
mango
Many dog owners recommend mango as a feed additive because the fruit is said to ensure a beautiful coat.
However, ripe fruit contains a lot of sugar.
melon
Dogs are allowed to eat melons without hesitation. However, melons have a draining effect and stimulate digestion. This can lead to diarrhea.
Therefore, you should first let your dog nibble on a few small pieces of melon. Then wait and see how your dog’s digestion reacts.
nectarines
You can mix ripe nectarines with your dog’s food at any time.
The nectarine is related to the peach and is one of the stone fruit varieties. Therefore, you should remove the core. Because the seed in the stone contains hydrocyanic acid. Otherwise, dogs are allowed to eat nectarines.
oranges
Ripe, sweet oranges are allowed to eat by dogs. It is best to feed only a small amount of oranges because the acidity could lead to gastrointestinal problems.
pomelo
Pomelo is non-toxic to dogs. And many dogs enjoy eating pomelo because it tastes milder than other citrus fruits.
If your dog is on medication, you should not give pomelo.
papaya
Everything about the papaya is healthy: pulp, leaves, and seeds. The ingredients have a very positive effect on health. The enzyme papain in particular is good for digestion. Hardly any dog can resist the fruity-sweet taste.
lemons
Dogs are allowed to eat lemons, although citrus fruits are only suitable to a limited extent. Most dogs dislike the sour taste of lemons and instinctively avoid them.
But lemon can be a great help against fleas.
Forbidden fruit for dogs: grapes
However, not all fruit is healthy for dogs. Last but not least, we warn about a type of fruit that is forbidden for dogs.
Your dog should never eat grapes.
Numerous studies show that more than half of dogs die after eating grapes or raisins.
The exact cause has not yet been medically clarified.
Dogs can eat this fruit
But don’t let that scare you. Finally, you will find plenty of other fruit for your dog above.
Frequently Asked Question
How often is fruit for dogs?
Nevertheless, the proportion of fruit and/or vegetables in the dog’s meal is very important as dietary fiber. The maximum proportion of pureed (raw or steamed) vegetables in the dog’s meal should be 15% to 18%. When it comes to fruit, make sure not to use too much-fermenting fruit.
Can a dog eat a banana?
Similar to broccoli, bananas contain potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C. All of these ingredients are healthy for your dog. But you shouldn’t eat a banana every day, because these fruits are just as rich in energy and sugar.
Can my dog eat strawberries?
To answer the question directly: dogs are allowed to eat strawberries. Because red fruits have many valuable nutrients and can spice up the dog’s daily menu. You can give your dog strawberries either directly as a whole fruit or mix them with the food.
Can a dog eat raspberries?
Raspberries are also completely harmless to dogs. They are not only intended as a treat but are also known for their many health-promoting active ingredients. Raspberries are rich in vitamins A, C, and E as well as minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium.
How many apples can a dog eat?
Depending on the size and weight of your dog, up to one grated apple with or without the peel can be added to the food or as a snack. Because the apple with its ingredients acts like a small sponge and binds toxins from the stomach and intestines.
Can a dog eat melon?
Dogs generally tolerate watermelons. It should be ripe fruit. As with other well-tolerated fruits and vegetables, watermelons depend on the quantity: depending on their size and weight, dogs can tolerate a few pieces of watermelon.
Can a dog eat kiwi?
Clear answer: yes, dogs can eat kiwi. Kiwi is a relatively unproblematic fruit for dogs. Like other fruits, however, kiwi should only be fed as a treat, i.e. not in large quantities.
Can a dog eat mango?
So first things first: Yes, dogs are allowed to eat mangoes. The mango is an extremely mild fruit due to its very low acidity. It also contains many important vitamins and nutrients such as potassium and magnesium.