Pomegranate peel is an edible coating on the outside of the fruit. Researchers say that pomegranate peel may be toxic to dogs, but it is still up for debate. Many people believe that dogs can eat pomegranate peels without any problems, but others recommend consulting your veterinarian before feeding your dog this particular type of food.
Can Dogs Eat Pomegranate Peels?
Possibly! The exterior of a pomegranate is actually comprised largely of water-soluble, low molecular weight polysaccharides (such as arabinogalactans) which are not recognized by most animals. However, dogs do consume pomegranate seeds, and believe it or not, they can eat the whole fruit with the peel so it is likely, not toxic.
What You Need To Know
- Pomegranate peels contain many nutrients, particularly pectin and ellagitannins, but some dogs may have difficulty digesting the arils. Therefore, pomegranate peels can cause an upset stomach if fed to dogs that are not used to eating raw or unpasteurized foods or are tender-stomached dogs that have gastrointestinal issues.
- Pomegranate peels are rich in tannins, which can cause digestive upset if consumed by dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Pomegranate peels combined with other foods, such as the seeds may lead to toxicity. Pomegranate seeds contain substances that can result in severe illness in certain dogs (or people) such as hemolytic anemia (bloody diarrhea), kidney failure, and even death. The orange-colored peels appear to be nontoxic, so long as they are eaten after cooking.
- The toxic parts of pomegranate peels are the white patches that contain a red pigment called ellagitannin. In humans, ellagitannins have been linked with tumors when given in large amounts. In dogs, however, they have not been known to cause any problems.
- What’s more, is that most dogs seem to be able to tolerate it well. Just remember to cook pomegranate peels before feeding them to your dog.
Some dogs can also have serious allergic reactions to red fruits such as strawberries, apples, and pomegranates. These allergies are triggered by a protein found in the fruit that is usually harmless for most individuals but is very sensitive for some – especially cats and dogs. Symptoms of an allergy include itching and scratching at all times of day or night; the rash may look like hives or be composed of round raised wheals (called urticaria).
You might also be interested in Can Dogs Eat Pomegranate Seeds?
How To Serve Pomegranate Peels to Dogs
It turns out that some dogs can eat pomegranate and its peel, and others should avoid them. Check with your veterinarian before giving any foods to your dog, as some ingredients may irritate their stomach or lead to an allergic reaction. As for whether or not a dog can eat a pomegranate’s skin, it really depends on the dog’s condition and the size of its stomach.
If you want to give your dog a pomegranate peel, make sure it’s organic. It shouldn’t contain any chemicals or pesticides, which can harm your dog. For extra safety, you may consider grating the peel instead of giving out whole sections of the fruit.
You could also give your dog a few drops of fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice to get the same health benefits without worrying about giving too much fiber at once. Check out our article “Can dogs drink pomegranate juice?” for more information.
Conclusion
Can dogs eat pomegranate peels? The answer is quite complicated. They can eat pomegranate peels but this can be dangerous if they’ve eaten a large amount. If you must feed your dog this part of this fruit, make sure you give them only a small amount and be very careful in watching their reactions to ensure they don’t choke on any peelings they might ingest. Also, watch out for any reactions such as diarrhea or vomiting.
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To explore more, read our other pomegranate-related dog articles that you might be interested in.
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