Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Kiwifruits?
Kiwi is a sweet fruit which is available year-round and packed with more Vitamin C than a tangerine and more potassium than a banana. But the question is, can dogs eat kiwi? Short answer is, it’s perfectly fine and it’s provides an abundance of health benefits if you share with your dog with a few minor details to be aware of.
According to the ASPCA, “The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reports that most dogs will not have any toxic or allergic reactions when digesting kiwis. Most dogs love kiwi, but you should check with your veterinarian if you are unsure of whether or not your dog can eat kiwi. This will depend on the size and age of your dog, as well as its overall health. The kiwi fruit is a small, fuzzy, black-brown fruit that comes from the kiwifruit plant. Kiwis are native to China and were first cultivated in New Zealand in the early 1900s.
Can Dogs Eat Kiwis?
Never give your dog a whole kiwi regardless of size. Smaller breeds, such as the Maltese or Chihuahua, won’t be able to swallow one in its entirety, but larger dogs like Golden Retrievers or German Shepherds could but has a potential hazard of blocking your dog’s airways and cause asphyxiation. Some smaller dogs like the Havanese may have trouble digesting a kiwi, so it is always best to understand what your dog can and cannot eat.
Similar to changing dog foods, when you want to try something new with your dog, start slowly. You should start off by adding only a small amount of the item to the food at first. Introductions must be made very cautiously, especially if the dog is not used to human foods. Some dogs are simply not able to tolerate such things and can react violently. “Some dogs just don’t tolerate things other than their own food,” says Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, from a New York City’s Animal Medical Centre.
A Kiwi’s tough, outer skin and flesh both have high levels of insoluble fiber. This roughage stimulates the intestines, making food pass through more quickly. High amounts of fibre in a dog’s diet can result in an upset stomach or diarrhoea. Although the skin is safe to eat, it’s best to remove it before feeding Kiwis to your dog.
Feeding your dog kiwi should be considered a treat, and not a substitute for nutritious foods.
In other words, Kiwis should be something that you should give as a reward for dogs for doing good behaviour or not misbehaving in a way that warranted a negative consequence.
Nutritional Benefits of Kiwi
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a proven antioxidant in humans but produces more controversy in dogs. Humans require the vitamin in their diets because the human body cannot produce it by itself and must gain it from food sources. Dogs, on the other hand, produce their own vitamin C whereas humans do not.
Vitamin K
Kiwis contains Vitamin K which is used to treat clotting disorders in dogs, Even though the amount contained is not high to be recommended as a good source of vitamin K for those dogs that need it.
Water
While the best fruit to keep dog hydrated would be watermelons, kiwi fruits does the job too. In order to keep your dog hydrated, he needs to consume around 25-50 milliliters of water per kilogram of body weight every day. A 7.5-kilogram terrier may need 200-350 milliliters, and a medium size dogs like Labrador will require 750-1,500 milliliters. A dog’s fluid consumption will vary depending on the weather, temperature, and age of the animal.
According to experts, there are about 80ml of water in 100g of kiwi. While one glass of kiwi juice wouldn’t meet your dog’s daily water intake but drinking it would be refreshing and hydrating.
Digestive Enzymes
Kiwifruit contains an enzyme that helps to break down proteins. The enzyme goes to work on proteins in the stomach and small intestine, improving digestion and reducing discomfort from gastrointestinal bloating. It’s also proven to reduce intestinal gas in humans.
There’s a small chance that some of these effects may be seen in dogs, since kiwis not toxic to dogs in general. In fact, most of the digestive elements of a kiwi are beneficial to their daily health.
Just a reminder, some premium brand dry dog food contains many vital nutrients, such as vitamins and mineral already. Moreover, since dry dog food already comes with antioxidants (like vitamin E), adding a source of antioxidants in the form of kiwi is not necessary for digestive health.
High Fiber
Kiwifruit has high fiber content — both soluble and insoluble. This, paired with the fruit’s high water-retention abilities, can slow down your gut transit time; the length of time it takes for your food to pass through your digestive tract.
A high-fiber diet may cause an increase or change in the number or frequency of your dog’s bowel movements with increase potential for it to lead to diarrhoea
Summary
There is always a chance that a dog may have an adverse negative reaction to certain foods. Be sure to take read on foods that are not safe for dogs. With that saying, it is always recommended to introduce only one new food in smaller qualities at a time, so you can run tests on the dog’s body and be sure about the food causing this reaction. When in doubt, you should always consult with your Vet. You don’t like being sick, neither does your dog.
