Yes, dogs can eat clementines, but only in small amounts. Dogs, unlike humans, cannot process a lot of citric fruit. If they eat too many clementines, they may experience diarrhea, vomiting, and other stomach upsets. Additionally, the fruit is rich in sugar, which can cause weight gain and diabetes if eaten too much and too frequently. So, it is best that the dogs only eat the fruit as treats.
Here is the detailed answer to the question ‘Can dogs eat clementines?’
Clementines For Dogs
Clementines are actually one of the most popular fruits among dogs. The fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals, contains little to no fat, and is low in calories. The low caloric content makes the fruit a healthy treat. However, like with any treat for your dog, you should absolutely know what you are feeding them.
As we mentioned before, dogs can eat clementines but should only eat them in small amounts. Additionally, the fruit should only be fed to your dog occasionally. In small amounts, clementines can be a healthy addition to the dogs’ diet, but too much can be a cause for concern. Clementines are packed with healthy vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, manganese, calcium, and phosphorus. These nutrients are good for the skin, teeth, bones, and other parts of the body. However, excessive amounts can cause harm.
Moreover, the fruit is especially high in sugars. Sugar can cause obesity if consumed too often or too much. Excess sugar may also lead to diabetes, so it is important to be aware of how many clementines your dog eats on a regular basis. So, it’s best to stick with clementines as an occasional treat. You can start off small, maybe feed just half of one every few weeks. But if your pooch craves it a little more, you should only feed them 1 or 2 segments on a daily basis. Anything more than this risks obesity and other weight issues.
Furthermore, you should never feed the skin and the seeds along with the fruit to your pup. Clementine skin can be really hard on your pets’ stomach. If they swallow a large part of the skin, the dog risks choking and intestinal blockage and since dogs can’t digest the peel, they could also suffer from diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and bloody stool.
As for the seed, it is ok if your dog swallows one or two by mistake. However, eating too many clementine seeds is highly discouraged. Clementine seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide, so eating too many can poison your dog. The amount that will poison your dog varies, but it’s best not to risk it. So, it’s best if the pooch doesn’t eat clementine skin and seeds.
And keep in mind that if you have a dog with diabetes and/or obesity, clementines should not be fed to them. The sugar can cause a drop in blood sugar levels and induce hypoglycemia. This is especially true for diabetic dogs who require insulin injections. Consult your veterinarian first before feeding clementines to diabetics as they may need to monitor their blood glucose levels more frequently during or after eating the fruit.
In addition, if your dog is an older one, you should be extra careful about feeding them sugary treats. Older dogs do not have the same capacity to metabolize the sugar as their younger counterparts, and clementine is still a sugary treat. So, you need to be sure that your older dog doesn’t become too addicted to their favorite fruit before you start feeding it to them regularly.
Conclusion
As we have discussed in this article, clementines are great for your dogs. Many people feed the fruit to their pooches as a way to give them vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. But, like with any treat for your dog, you need to understand the limits of the fruit. Clementine is not harmful or toxic in large amounts, but excessive consumption can lead to weight issues and obesity. It can also lead to diabetes, so you must be aware of how much your dog is eating.
In small amounts, the fruit is a great treat for your dog. Just be careful about how much they eat of it and make sure you monitor them after they eat it. Always consult with your veterinarian first before feeding clementines to dogs who have diabetes or weight issues. And if you have a pooch with any type of health concern, you need to be extra careful about giving them clementines as a treat.
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Have you ever tried giving clementines to your dog? Did they like it? We would love to hear from you. Please share your experience with us by leaving a comment below!