Can Dogs Eat Pomelo? 12 Surprisingly Helpful Tips
Your Guide To: Can Dogs Eat Pomelo?
Fact checked and reviewed by:
Dr. Joseph Menicucci, DVM, MBA
Once you welcome a pooch into your life, you do everything possible to keep them happy and healthy. The bond is so strong that you may soon start sharing table scraps with them.
With time, you’ll find your furry companion begging for a piece of your pomelo fruit—and you’ll be tempted to oblige them.
Before sharing a section of the delicious citrus fruit with your pooch, you can’t help but wonder if it’s safe for your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Pomelo? Dogs can safely eat pomelo, but only in moderation.
Like many fruits in the citrus family, pomelo has a high sugar content.
Since a dog’s digestive system isn’t equipped to handle too much sugar, overindulgence leads to digestive distress. Your dog experiences bouts of diarrhea and vomiting if it overindulges.
Can Dogs Have Pomelo? Can Dogs Eat Pomelo Fruit?
Dogs can safely eat pomelo fruit, but only in moderation. Offering too much triggers the risk of digestive distress due to the fruit’s high sugar content. While dogs can digest and metabolize sugar, their digestive systems are overwhelmed by excessive amounts.
Unlike humans, dogs have lower amounts of amylase, the enzyme that breaks down glucose and sucrose. That’s because, as carnivores, their digestive tracts are better equipped to break down and use animal-based proteins and fats.
As such, your pup will likely experience stomach upsets, diarrhea, and vomiting after overeating pomelo fruit. Still, pomelo fruit should be an occasional treat, not a regular feature of your dog’s diet.
Offering the fruit regularly may lead to excessive sugar intake, which may endanger your dog’s health. High sugar intake may lead to dental issues, weight gain, and canine diabetes.
Is Pomelo Toxic for Dogs?
The flesh of pomelo fruit isn’t toxic for dogs. Your pooch can safely enjoy this delicious treat in moderation. However, you should only serve the peeled fruit to avoid endangering your dog’s health.
The skin of pomelo skin is tough and fibrous and contains essential oils that are toxic to your furry companion.
Can Shih Tzu’s Eat Pomelo?
Pomelo is generally safe for Shih Tzu when offered in moderation, especially considering the dog’s small size. An adult Shih Tzu needs 340 calories daily, while puppies and seniors need 280 calories.
Overindulgence can trigger a bevy of health-related issues—from digestive distress to weight problems. A 100 grams of pomelo fruit contains 38 calories; hence it can easily lead to obesity in Shih Tzus with a sweet tooth.
Can Dogs Eat Pomelo Skin?
Never feed pomelo skin to your pooch—always peel the fruit to remove the peels and membranes before offering it to your dog. Unlike the refreshing flesh, the peel poses a digestive challenge.
They’re packed with tough fibrous materials that are difficult to digest. Undigested fibers may irritate your dog’s digestive tract or lead to gastrointestinal obstruction.
Like most citrus fruits, the rind of a pomelo fruit contains concentrated essential oils that may irritate your dog’s mouth and stomach. Eating pomelo skin may lead to excessive drooling due to the bitter taste and stomach discomfort.
Besides the bitter, unappealing taste, pomelo skin may contain pesticide residues that may affect your dog’s health. Washing may help remove the residual but may not eliminate all traces.
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Are Pomelos Good For Dogs?
Pomelo are good for dogs but only when offered in moderation. The juicy fruit makes a tasty and refreshing occasional treat for your pouch. Although it contains some essential nutrients, you’re better off not using pomelo as a health supplement. Instead, you should use it as a treat to break the monotony and excite a dog’s tastebuds.
Typically, pomelo has a milder taste than grapefruit—balancing between sweetness, tartness, and a slight hint of bitterness. Varieties like Honey Pomelo are sweeter. Pomelo is sweeter than an orange but not as juicy.
What Health Benefits Does Pomelo Have?
Can Dogs Eat Pomelo? Incorporating pomelo into a dog’s diet can be beneficial so long you don’t overindulge. Pomelo is rich in vitamin C, lycopene, fibers, and minerals 10 that may benefit your dog.
Vitamin C:
While dogs can synthesize their own, incorporating vitamin C-rich foods into their diets helps them flourish. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that boosts immune function to help dogs combat illnesses.
It stimulates the production of collagen, a protein that provides strength and integrity to dogs’ skin, bones, and blood vessels.
Lycopene:
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that helps minimize the harmful effects of free radicals.
It protects your dog’s cells from oxidative stress and damage, drastically reducing the risk of developing chronic disease. Lycopene helps maintain cell integrity in dogs, keeping them healthy.
Potassium:
Dogs need adequate potassium to support heart and kidney function, muscle contractions, and nerve transmission.
Copper:
Copper supports vital functions such as making connective tissues blood vessels, and maintaining the immune and nervous systems.
Fibers:
Pomelo is rich in dietary fibers, which may help support your furry companion’s digestive health. Fibers help promote regular bowel movement and prevent constipation by adding to the bulk of the stool.
They’re also essential to weight management because they’re difficult to digest. However, given the downside of feeding too much pomelo to dogs, they may not ingest sufficient fibers to reap these benefits.
What’s the Best Way to Serve My Dog Pomelo? Can Dogs Eat Pomelo?
The best way to serve your dog pomelo is to peel the fruit and cut it into small portions. Pomelo resembles an orange and comprises several sections. After removing the rind, break the sections apart and remove the seeds.
Pomelo seeds pose a choking hazard and may be difficult for dogs to digest; hence, they add no nutritional value. Cut the sections into smaller pieces depending on your dog’s size to avoid a choking incident.
As with any new dog food, you should introduce pomelo gradually. For the first time, offer a small piece of peeled pomelo and observe for reaction. While pomelos are relatively safe for dogs, your pooch may have individual allergies or sensitivities.
Look out for adverse reactions such as digestive distress (vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite) or allergic reactions. Consult a veterinarian if your pup shows any adverse reactions.
Offering a small piece is advisable because it helps you zero in on your dog’s sensitivity and allergies. You may have trouble telling allergic reactions for the symptoms of overindulgence since they also include digestive distress.
You may offer pomelo as a standalone treat or mix it into your dog’s food. If in doubt, consult your vet before introducing the fruit to your dog’s diet.
How Much Pomelo Should I Give My Dog?
Since you’re offering pomelo as a snack—stick to the 10% rule. Treats and snacks shouldn’t exceed 10% of your dog’s daily food intake. Like other fruits in the citrus family, pomelo fruits are high in sugar and calories. Typically, 100 grams of skinned pomelo contains 38 calories and 10 grams of carbohydrate.
While portion control can help prevent digestive distress, you shouldn’t make pomelo a regular feature in your dog’s diet. Offering the fruit too frequently may increase the risk of obesity in small dog breeds such as Shin Tzu or inactive dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Pomelo? The health risks will likely outweigh the benefits when you offer too much pomelo per serving or small portions too frequently.
Can Puppies Eat Pomelo?
Pomelo makes a safe and refreshing treat for puppies. You may introduce the fruit immediately after weaning the puppies. Pomelo’s rich nutritional profile can greatly benefit puppies during their formative stages. However, you should tread carefully because puppies can be highly sensitive to foods.
Introduce the citrus fruit gradually and stick to small portions until you’re confident your pups can handle it safely. Ideally, you should offer a small piece of pomelo as a standalone treat and observe your pooch for adverse reactions.
As a rule, you should only introduce one food item at a time. That helps you identify the root cause of a distress or allergic reaction. Call the vet if you notice any adverse reaction after a pup consumes pomelo fruit.
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So, Can Dogs Eat Pomelo? What’s the Verdict?
Dogs can safely eat pomelo but in moderation. Although pomelo makes a sweet and tasty dog treat, offering too much may trigger a slew of health issues in dogs.
It may lead to digestive distress and saddle your pooch with bouts of vomiting or diarrhea. Be sure to ditch pomelo skin as it contains strong essential oils that may harm your dog’s health.
Portion control when feeding your dog pomelo keeps the fruit’s sugary contents from overwhelming its digestive system. Too much sugar in a dog’s diet may lead to digestive problems and trigger the risk of obesity or dog diabetes.
If you’re looking for more nutritional advice for your pet, The American Canine Club is a great starting point for all things canine health.