One of the best ways to treat a beloved furry friend is by rewarding him or her with a tasty snack. But pet owners do need to be careful when adding snacks and treats in addition to normal kibble because too many tasty treats can result in obesity, and the wrong type of food can have a negative impact on your animal’s health.
Pet owners who want to supplement their dog’s diet with healthy treats often wonder: can dogs eat dried fruit? This is a very good question since dogs shouldn’t eat all fruit types and should only get dried fruit snacks under certain conditions.
Can Dogs Eat Dried Fruit?
Dogs are omnivores, which means they are capable of eating both plant and animal matter and certain human foods like fruits. These lovely animals can even digest a wide range of fruits and vegetables. Your dog can successfully eat all sorts of fruits and is very likely to enjoy all the same fruit types in dried fruit that they would normally eat in fresh form.
However, not all fruit types are safe for dogs to eat, since some fruits contain too much sugar or may have an acidity level that is unhealthy.
You should also be mindful of the food portions when you are offering dried fruit as opposed to fresh fruits. This is because dry fruit contains the same amount of nutrients and calories as fresh fruit, but the pieces are much smaller once dehydrated.
It is also very important to be mindful of the type of dried fruits you choose to offer. Some store-bought dry fruits contain lots of artificial sweeteners that are not healthy for dogs at all. It is always best to invest in organic dried fruits or freeze-dried fruits when you are rewarding your pet during training sessions.
What Types of Dried Fruits Can Dogs Eat?
Dogs can eat quite a large variety of fruit types, and any fruit that is safe to consume in fresh form is perfectly fine in dry form as long as you mind the quantity. Here is a quick look at some of the best fruits for dogs:
Apples
This is one of the best fruits for dogs because it is rich in vitamins and dietary fiber and is great for cleaning teeth. Just be careful to never offer apple seeds since these contain small amounts of cyanide that isn’t good for dogs.
Bananas
Potassium in bananas is great for enhancing calcium absorption for stronger bones. Bananas are also a good source of other nutrients that offer many health benefits.
Blueberries
Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that can keep your dog healthy. Blueberries do, however, have a high sugar content, which meanssupplementsmight be better for dogs with diabetes or blood sugar problems.
Mango
Mango contains plenty of potassium and fiber and is a good source of vitamins. The fruit is also helpful for reducing inflammation and for improving the digestive system.
Pears
As with apples, these fruits are also rich in nutrients. Pears are a great snack for dogs because they have copper that assists with iron absorption and can boost red blood cell functioning.
Strawberries
These fruits contain lots of vitamin C and are also rich in antioxidants, which makes them a great supplement during wintertime.
What Fruits Can’t Dogs Eat?
Some fruits are not good for your dog’s digestive system at all and shouldn’t be offered in fresh or dry form. Here is a quick look at fruits that you shouldn’t include in your pet’s diet:
Grapes
Grapes and raisins are some of the worst foods to offer a dog. These fruits often result in kidney failure and can also cause breathing difficulties.
Avocado
Avocado isn’t a fruit that you can sun-dry, but we still felt it was important to include it on our list because this fruit can cause diarrhea and vomiting and it is quite toxic to most pets. Avocado is toxic because it containspersin, a fatty acid that is poisonous to large animals. Your dog should be ok with just a little bit of avocado, but large quantities can make a small pup’s stomach upset.
Tomato
Sun-dried tomatoes are very healthy for humans but aren’t very good for animals. While dried tomatoes don’t contain as muchsolanineas green or young tomatoes, it is still a good idea to avoid this toxic plant altogether when rewarding your dog.
How Much Dried Fruits Can Dogs Consume?
Dogs are omnivores but still rely on plenty of protein for optimal health. If you are offering dry food like kibble, you usually don’t have to add additional healthy snack treats like fruits or vegetables since dry kibble usually consists of balanced quantities of nutrients and minerals that dogs need for optimal health.
If you feed fresh food or want to supplement your dog with additional treats, then you should keep fruit to a minimum. Generally, dogs shouldn’t eat more than 1-2 slices or pieces of fresh fruit per day (depending on dog breed or dog size). Dried fruit pieces should be even smaller since these foods are dehydrated and contain a lot more sugar compared to larger fresh fruit slices.
Final Thoughts
So, can dogs eat dried fruit? Yes! It is perfectly safe to offer certain dried fruits to your dog. Just remember that it is important to be mindful of the type and quantity of the dried fruits you offer.
As a rule of thumb, it is best to give no more than 1-2 small pieces of dried fruit to your pet per day. It is also best to only focus on organic fruits that are safe for dogs to eat because some fruits and dried products contain ingredients that are not ideal for your four-legged companion’s health.
We hope that you found this guide useful. If you want to learn more about the best foods to give your dog or want to know more about healthy treat alternatives, then you should have a look at some of the other guides we have onNatural Puppies. Our site has a ton of information about giving your pet the best possible care.
