Can dogs eat cantaloupe - A to Z ANIMAL

Let’s know about Can dogs eat cantaloupe. Summer is always a great time to enjoy a whole cantaloupe or even slices of it. Some of us would love to have it in a watermelon shake while most would enjoy it raw. Regardless of where you want to enjoy summer melon, it’s often best served with your furry 4-legged best friend. After all, you can’t really deny that they’re going to want one or two of that refreshing cantaloupe on your plate, too. But can dogs eat cantaloupe? Is it even safe? If you want the short answer, well, cantaloupe is safe for dogs to eat. However, there are a few issues that need to be understood beforehand before you start serving up multiple bowls of freshly sliced melon to your mutts.

Cantaloupes Are Packed With Micronutrients Remember what we say about all fruits and vegetables being excellent sources of vitamins and minerals? This is what cantaloupe brings to the table. Aside from the fact that it’s actually 90 percent water, it makes sense that it could be given to pets, especially dogs who aren’t really keen on drinking water. Apart from the water content of melons, they are also exceptional sources of the following micronutrients.

Table of Contents

Vitamin A

Hundred grams of raw cantaloupe can easily give you around 170 micrograms of Vitamin A which is essential for good vision. While there are other rich sources of Vitamin A, cantaloupe is thought to be particularly beneficial in improving the vision of dogs. This may have implications for reducing the risk of macular degeneration, especially among senior dogs. Vitamin A is also an excellent antioxidant that, in conjunction with Vitamin C, can actually boost your dog’s ability to fend off infection and manage a variety of inflammatory and stress-related conditions.

beta carotene

This precursor to Vitamin A is generally touted as a wonderful antioxidant that may have a variety of effects, especially when it comes to the prevention and management of inflammatory conditions. And since beta-carotene is an important precursor molecule for vitamin A, it plays a role in the development of healthy skin as well as a healthy and shiny coat. It also aids in normal bone development which should be very beneficial for dogs that are highly active. Beta-carotene may play an important role in the prevention of certain canine cancers as well as in the promotion of optimal reproductive health.

vitamin C

Many people do not know that cantaloupes are excellent sources of Vitamin C. One hundred grams of fresh watermelon has approximately 36.7 milligrams of ascorbic acid and is especially beneficial among dogs that are predisposed to developing bone, joint, and skin problems. The reason for this lies in the well established abilities of ascorbic acid to promote increased synthesis of collagen.

It is a protein that is an important component in many connective tissues of the body. Bone and cartilage are just two examples of different types of connective tissue in the body. If dogs are unable to synthesize collagen, they may present with a variety of musculoskeletal, connective tissue, and articular problems. They can be canine arthritis and other joint problems. In addition to its role in collagen synthesis, Vitamin C is also known for its antioxidant properties. This can help in the reduction or elimination of the incidence of inflammation in the dog’s body.

Read More –

potassium

This mineral is a very important component of cellular functioning whereby its interplay with sodium facilitates the transmission of electrical impulses that, in turn, help muscles contract and relax. In other words, it serves as one of the essential components of a mechanism that allows muscles to contract and nerves to generate impulses; Therefore, it is important in optimal neurological functioning and muscular system integrity. Can you imagine if your dog’s brain was not able to communicate with other body parts because there were no potassium ions that interact with sodium and other molecules? Technically, you have a dead pet.

These are only 4 of the many micronutrients found in cantaloupe. It also contains thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, folate, niacin, choline, vitamin K, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc, sodium, and trace amounts of phosphorus. Although these micronutrients are only found in trace amounts, they may provide additional health benefits for your dog.

Giving Cantaloupe to a Diabetic or Obese Dog Is Not a Good Idea

It is true, melons are an excellent source of water, vitamin C, potassium, beta-carotene, and vitamin A. It is also a great source of fiber which can aid in more efficient movement of the bowels. Unfortunately, that’s basically about it. What you already know about melon or cantaloupe, like all other fruits, is that it is rich in sugar. In fact, one hundred grams of raw watermelon easily contains 7.86 grams of sugar (remember, that’s 90 percent water or, in this case, 90.2 grams of water). It also contains plant proteins but these are available in almost negligible amounts. You need to understand that cantaloupe’s moderately high sugar content may increase the risk of some dogs that are already predisposed to developing diabetes.

It should be noted that giving your dog a basket full of cantaloupes is not necessary for a diabetic dog. Increase in blood sugar is known as hyperglycemia and it is a very natural phenomenon after every meal. Any organism that consumes a carbohydrate rich meal will eventually have an increase in blood glucose levels a few hours after the meal. During this time, the body is rearranging and organizing these sugar molecules to feed on for the cells. After some time, because most of the sugar in the blood has been taken inside the cell, blood sugar levels return to normal. So, hyperglycemia after a meal is a natural and normal phenomenon. Problems occur when these sugar molecules in the blood are not efficiently transferred to the cells and other tissues that normally take up such substances. There are two ways in which this can happen.

The first is that there are an insufficient number of transporters that will bring sugar molecules out of the blood and into target cells. It is also possible that there are no transporters. This occurs when the pancreas which is supposed to produce these transporters – known as insulin – is diseased or has a problem of its own. Because there is no transporter, what happens is that the sugar molecules stay in the blood for a long time. And because there are no sugar molecules in the cells, there is a strong possibility that these cells will starve and start looking for other sources of fuel. The second mechanism occurs when there are transporters, but there is a miscommunication between the transporters and the cells that receive them.

In most cases, there is resistance to insulin such that the sugar molecules do not move through the blood as well. Technically, some are transferred but at a very slow rate. Based on these two mechanisms, it is easy to understand why eating too much sugar can aggravate an already compromised sugar-transport system in the body. If you give cantaloupe to your dog now and it has uncontrolled diabetes, it may not be able to move the extra sugar into its cells. This causes an increase in glucose in the blood. Canine diabetes is thought to develop later in a dog’s life, usually around 6 to 9 years of canine age, with some breeds being more prone to developing diabetes. These can include the following dog breeds

Australian
terrier
Dachshund
Samoyed
poodle
Schnauzer, both standard and miniature
keeshond
Golden Retriever

Again, understand that cantaloupe is very safe for dogs; Unless you have a mutt that is already diagnosed as diabetic or even obese or is genetically predisposed to developing such metabolic conditions. If your pet doesn’t have an underlying risk for obesity or diabetes, cantaloupe should be fine. However, if you are not sure whether your dog has a genetic predisposition to diabetes or obesity, you may want to subject it to some canine DNA testing.

Also Watch for Gastric Upset Your pet may not be obese or diabetic, but if it eats a lot of cantaloupe, there is a strong tendency that it may get an upset stomach. This is especially true if you happen to give watermelon rinds to Fido. These have been shown to be particularly harmful to dogs as they can cause gastrointestinal problems. Your pet may suddenly have diarrhea. And one of the complications of severe diarrhea is electrolyte imbalance and dehydration. Of course, it is already thinking. But the point is, you’ll feel much safer if you avoid storing cantaloupe altogether. Just focus on giving meat to your pet.

There is another possible reason why your pet may have diarrhea after eating cantaloupe. It has been observed that the surface of watermelon can actually harbor Salmonella, a type of bacteria which is not really friendly to the digestive system. This is why it is highly recommended that cantaloupe be thoroughly washed and scrubbed before cutting to reduce the risk of contaminating the inner flesh of the fruit with salmonella. It is also recommended that any unopened pieces of cantaloupe be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 3 days. This helps reduce, if not eliminate, the risk of salmonella or other pathogenic bacteria in the fruit.

So, can dogs eat cantaloupe?

After what we’ve been discussing so far, it should be clear that cantaloupe is a very safe and nutritious fruit that dogs and other pets love to eat. Just check out the following health benefits that it provides to your dog.

Helps protect your dog’s eyes from macular degeneration through the action of zeaxanthin, an antioxidant that effectively filters out blue UV rays that have been shown to be particularly harmful to dog eyes.
Promotes healthy functioning of the heart muscle by providing your dog with an adequate amount of potassium. An improved cardiac muscle functioning leads to more efficient delivery of oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to all of your pet’s cells. It also helps in preventing premature aging brought about by insufficient oxygen in the tissues.
Facilitates healthy digestion, in particular more efficient movement of the bowels, due to its fiber content. As long as you stay away from the rind, your dog should be able to enjoy all of these gut-friendly benefits.
Hydrates your pet providing for a more stable fluid and electrolyte balance. Just one hundred grams of watermelon is able to give your pet a very tasty, sweet, and fruity flavor in about 3 ounces of water or liquid. This can come in really handy during the hot summer months as dogs can really feel the heat. Giving them a slice or two of watermelon is like making them drink 3 or 6 ounces of water.
It helps improve bone, joint health, and skin health through the action of Vitamin C on collagen production. This guarantees optimal mobility for your dog needed for exercise, play and socialization.
Aid in the prevention of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and other canine health issues. Antioxidants, along with vitamins A and C, all work together to reduce the effects of free radicals by muting the inflammatory process.

So, how should you serve cantaloupe to your furry friend? here are some tips.

Always wash and clean the outer surface of watermelon thoroughly.
Don’t let your pet lick or even ingest the exterior of the cantaloupe.
Forget to re-seed as well as seed. While these may be safe, they can produce an upset stomach.
Slice your melon into 1- or 2- inch thick wedges, depending on the size of your pet. Give maximum 2 slices only.
Give cantaloupe as a treat, but never as a part of your regular diet.

Can Dogs Eat Cantaloupe? Sure they can. But you have to pay attention to some of the things that we have already presented. As long as your pet is not diabetic or obese, giving the little munchkin only pieces of watermelon as a treat should be fine for your mutt.

Post Views: 25