Taking care of your dog’s diet is a great responsibility of the owner, because it affects his physical and psychological health. Therefore, every pet parent must choose foods that are suitable for his four-legged friend and avoid those that are harmful to his health.
People often think that dogs can eat anything. That is not true! Moreover, there are foods that are strongly unsuitable for dogs and that could lead to discomfort and sickness. One of the foods that raises the most doubts is fruit: a food so rich in vitamins and nutrients. Let’s take a look at which fruits are suitable for dogs and which ones should be avoided at all costs.
Feeding your dog in summer
During the hot season, dogs should eat lightly. It is advisable to favor foods such as fresh liver with vegetables, as these help digestion and the correct functioning of the intestine. Even if we usually use dry food, we can add courgettes, carrots, rocket and lettuce, which enrich the dog’s body with vitamins and fluids.
In any case, wet food is better during summer, because it is richer in liquids.
Moreover, it’s better to have small and frequent meals than a few very hearty ones, to be taken during the cooler hours of the day.
Fruits in the dog’s diet
As the dog’s diet must be kept fresh and light, we can increase the intake of fruit and vegetables. It is best to choose fruits that are rich in water, such as watermelon and melon. Vegetables, however, should only account for 5% of the dog’s daily food requirements, so it’s important not to overdo with them.
Fruit is a source of antioxidants and fibre, which are essential for your dog’s health and help prevent constipation problems. However, not all fruit is suitable for your dog’s diet. Whenever you give your dog fruit, you must ensure that it has been washed and that there are no seeds or stones in it. If they are swallowed, they can obstruct the dog’s intestinal tract or cause intoxication.
Fruit not to give to dogs
Among the fruits that are not recommended or that should be eaten in small quantities there are:
- avocado
- citrus fruit
- grapes and sultanas.
The flesh of the avocado has beneficial properties for dogs, but the seed, the skin and the leaves contain persin, a substance toxic to dogs that can cause intestinal problems.
Citrus fruits, on the other hand, should only be eaten in limited quantities, as they are very sugary and could lead to weight gain and obesity.
Bananas and apples should also be eaten occasionally as they can lead to intestinal discharge.
Fruits that are best for dogs are blueberries, pears, apricots, peaches, strawberries, watermelon and melon.
In general, especially in summer, fruit is a good food for meeting daily fluid requirements, but it is important to control the quantities and choose fruit that is easily digestible by our four-legged friends.