Does your dog jump around playfully when they see fruits? While some pups could be merely bothered, there are others who love a tangy and juicy taste of fruits like oranges. But the question is are oranges safe for your pup? Can dogs eat oranges?

The answer is yes, dogs can eat oranges. When given in moderation, oranges can be safe as well as beneficial for dogs. Since dogs have a natural ability to produce their own vitamin C, oranges aren’t necessarily a “must” in their diet. But you can help your dog gain nutritional benefits when feeding them oranges occasionally.

Read on to know all about feeding this tangy treat to your pup.

Are There Any Health Benefits Of Feeding Oranges To Your Dog?

Oranges provide lots of healthy nutrients, such as potassium, Vitamin C, fiber, and folate. They also have low sodium which makes them a great snack for dogs. Christine Keyserling, DVM at The Animal Medical Center in NYC says that when some dogs perform extreme exercises or they go through long periods of stress, it can overwhelm their liver’s capacity to produce vitamin C. Therefore, in such cases, feeding these hyperactive doggies with vitamin C enriched fruits like oranges can be beneficial.

When given in a small amount, oranges can also boost your dog’s immune system and benefit their collagen production. Oranges are known to clean your pup’s stomach when they chomp on some foods that are toxic to them such as onions. Dr. Stephanie Liff of the Brooklyn Care Veterinary Hospital tells PetMD that vitamin C could be useful for dogs when they have consumed substances that are toxic to them such as propylene glycol and onion powder.

Are Oranges Safe For Dogs?

When it comes to safety, oranges are typically safe for dogs. However, the fruit should be kept away from canines with certain health conditions. For instance, you need to avoid feeding oranges to dogs that suffer from diabetes or who are overweight. This is because the fruit is also loaded with natural sugar and while natural sugar found in oranges is not typically bad for dogs, however, it can influence the blood sugar levels of overweight or diabetic dogs. When such dogs are fed with oranges in large amounts, they can also gain excess calories.

Moreover, it is also important to know that an orange’s acidic nature and natural sugar can potentially upset your dog’s stomach. Therefore, when you introduce this fruit to your dog’s diet, start with only a piece or two of orange slices to see how they respond. You can slowly increase the amount as they get used to it.

If your dog suffers from any type of stomach disorder such as dyspepsia, gastritis, ulcers, or diarrhea, you should not feed them orange as it may exacerbate the condition. It can also irritate and inflame your dog’s stomach lining even more.

Can Dogs Eat Orange Peels?

It’s always advisable to remove orange peels before providing them to your pet. Although orange peels aren’t toxic, they are difficult to digest. When your dog accidentally eats the peel, it can consequently create blockage in their digestive tract. This may further result in gastrointestinal or gut stress. It can include uncomfortable symptoms such as diarrhea, pain, and bloating. It can also affect the rest of the body and lead to feelings of fatigue and low moods. For these reasons, it’s best to remove orange peels from your dog’s diet.

How Many Oranges Should A Dog Eat?

The number of oranges that a dog should eat primarily depends on their size. For instance, a quarter of a medium-sized orange should be enough for smaller dogs whereas larger dogs may devour the whole fruit.

If you’re confused about the exact number of oranges to feed your dog, we recommend that you only give 1 or 2 slices a day. Since oranges have about 9% sugar by weight, a cup of orange slices consists of about 17 grams of sugar and four grams of fiber. It’s important to give your dog this citrus fruit only occasionally because it’s very high in sugar. Provide no more than 10% of their daily calories from oranges.

Similarly, if you are just introducing oranges to your pup’s diet, give them no more than a piece per day. This way, you will know whether your dog’s stomach is compatible with this sweet yet tangy fruit, without upsetting their stomach in the first place. If you happen to notice any unusual behavior (stress, vomiting, and diarrhea), stop feeding them the fruit at once.  This shows that your dog has a sensitive stomach and feeding such an acidic fruit is probably bad for your dog.

When Can Oranges Be Bad For Dogs?

Oranges can be potentially bad for dogs in the following aspects:

• When oranges are fed to diabetic dogs, the high sugar content can imbalance the blood sugar level in such dogs.
• When they are provided in a large amount, especially to smaller breeds.
• It also depends on what part of the fruit your dog is given. For instance, as mentioned earlier, the skin/peels of the orange are indigestible hence can cause gastrointestinal issues in dogs.

Can Dogs Drink Orange Juice?

There is really no reason to give juice to dogs including orange juice. While oranges in moderation are okay for canines, you may want to avoid orange juice. Commercially produced orange juice is full of high sugar quantities, which are especially artificially made. Dog owners should be cautious about giving their dogs orange juice that contains a high level of citric acid and artificial sugar. Citric acid is very acidic and can cause a lot of stomach problems for dogs.

If your dog has been drinking orange juice all day, you might notice some instances of acidic defecation. Your dog might also feel a burning sensation when excreting.

Another reason that you should avoid giving dogs orange juice is that its sugar content is easily digested by dogs. This causes blood sugar issues for canines which could lead to a dangerous condition called hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia in dogs is characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose. This may cause the dog to have flu-like symptoms. Some indications that your dog is suffering from hyperglycemia include excessive thirst and urination, extreme weakness, and appearing disoriented. Keep in mind that if your dog seems to develop these symptoms, you should get them tested for diabetes; although hyperglycemia is a much more common condition for dogs than diabetes.

Can Puppies Eat Oranges?

Puppies can eat oranges however; they are more prone to gastrointestinal upset than older dogs. Therefore, it is best to provide them with only a minimal number of oranges. Or you could totally substitute the fruit with other healthier fruits like strawberries and kiwis.

How Can You Serve Orange To Your Dog Safely?

You can follow our easy and simple steps if you want to share some slices of oranges with your dog:

• Peel off the fruit properly prior to feeding them to your dog.
• Clean off all the whitish skin parts and pop the seeds out from the orange.
• Cut the slice of oranges into smaller pieces for little puppies so that you can avoid a potential choking hazard.
• You can also freeze the orange pieces for a refreshing summer treat for your dog.
• Try making mixed fruits and vegetable salad with cucumber, celery, apples, carrots, and top it with a few slices of oranges.

Conclusion

So, can dogs eat oranges? Yes, treating your dog with oranges is fine, as long as they are provided in a small amount. The good news is that oranges are relatively good for your pet! They’re a great source of nutrients like Vitamin C and potassium which can strengthen your pup’s immune system. But don’t let them eat too many oranges because the fruit is also loaded with sugar and it can cause obesity or diabetes in dogs with a sensitive digestive system. Make sure to avoid feeding orange peels. And look out for any signs of illnesses if you’re giving oranges for the first time to your pooch.

To explore more, here are some orange-related articles for dogs that you might be interested in.

Have you ever tried giving oranges 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!