Many dogs enjoy fruit as a snack, but fruit also makes a nutritious addition to a healthy diet. If you are home making your dog’s meals, adding fruit and vegetables is essential to balance their diet, providing vitamins, minerals and other nutrients which cannot be found in meat alone. Dogs on a pre-prepared complete feed can also benefit from the addition of fresh fruit to their diet as a meal topper, treat or as part of their enrichment activities, such as on a lick mat. We have listed some of our favourite fruits to feed below:
Strawberries
Strawberries are a great sweet treat for your pup, full of fibre, antioxidants and vitamin C. Strawberries also contain malic acid, an enzyme which can help whiten your dog’s teeth as they eat.
Apple
Apples are a rich source of vitamins A and C. Malic and tartaric acids can help inhibit the growth of bacteria in the digestive tract, soothing indigestion and upset tummies. Apples are also thought to have a cleansing effect on the liver.
Banana
Bananas are a rich source of potassium, biotin, copper and vitamins. They also offer good levels of magnesium which can help with the absorption of vitamins. Bananas are higher in sugar than other fruits so should be offered as an occasional treat to dogs watching their waistline.
Blueberry
Blueberries are a superfood for your dog, containing high levels of antioxidants, anthocyanins, vitamins and minerals. Antioxidants are thought to have anti-cancer and anti-aging properties and fight the free radicals which cause cellular and molecular damage.
Melon
Melon makes an excellent cleansing and rehydrating snack with its high water content. It is packed with nutrients and fibre and is ideal to serve your pup in warm weather.
Pineapple
A tropical treat for your pup, pineapple is a nutrient dense snack which can help boost the immune system and digestive health. Packed with thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and folate. Pineapple is also full of minerals and particularly rich in manganese, iron and magnesium.
Mango
Mango is a delicious treat for your dog and is a rich source of vitamins (A, B6, C and E in particular), potassium and beta-carotene. Mangoes are higher in sugar than other fruits so should be offered as an occasional treat to dogs watching their waistline.
Peach
Peaches are packed with vitamins, including A and C, antioxidants and can help boost the immune system and improve kidney function. They make a great frozen treat in warm weather, try them pureed and frozen onto a lick mat.
Top Tips for feeding fruit
- Always chose fresh fruit, as tinned or dried options can often contain added sugar, sweeteners or artificial preservatives.
- Where possible, select organic fruit. If organic is not an option, washing your fruit in cool water with a splash of cider vinegar before feeding will help remove any traces of spray residue which may have been used during growing.
- Ensure to serve fruit in appropriately sized pieces for your dog so as not to pose a choke risk. Fruit can also be enjoyed mashed or pureed, mixed into food or served on a lick mat.
- Only offer the fleshy parts of the fruit, ensuring to remove any skin, pips, stones or tough cores.
- Everything in moderation… whilst fruits provide your dog with a host of nutritional benefits, they do contain natural sugars so should not make up more than 10% of your dog’s diet.
- Fruit can make a tasty addition to frozen treats helping to cool your pup down in hot weather.
If your dog has any existing health conditions or you are at all concerned about adding fruit to their diet, seek veterinary advice before feeding.
Grapes (including raisins and sultanas) are toxic for dogs and should never be offered in any quantity. If your dog consumes them by accident, you should contact your vet as soon as possible.