Can Dogs Eat Papaya?
Whenever you eat the delicious papaya, you may be wondering if it’s ok for your dog to eat it too, right? Can dogs eat papaya? Well, it’s ok to be confused sometimes, and it’s even better to ask the right questions. Without a doubt, every dog owner goes through this dilemma.
In this post, you will learn what there is to know about dogs and papaya: can dogs eat papaya? The short answer is that they can eat it, and it actually has some benefits.
Benefits Of Papaya For Dogs
Papaya is a really great fruit, and it has a lot of nutrients and vitamins that help you and your dog. Here are its main benefits:
- Source of Vitamins A, C, K, and E
- High quantities of iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium
- Improves the overall heart condition and prevents cardiovascular disease in humans and dogs
- Will help your dog’s coat stay nice and shiny
- Improves bone development in young pups
- Can fight severe diseases such as colon cancer, from forming
- Fights arthritis and helps older dogs suffering from have an easier life
- Prevents bloating and indigestion because of its amazing enzymes
What Not To Feed Them?
Of course, you need to consider things before feeding papaya to your dog because his digestive systems can be sensitive:
- Skin - Before feeding papaya to your dog, make sure you remove its peel. The pup can choke on it or have a hard time digesting it. Make sure there are no peels on the pieces you serve to your dog. The papaya peel should be avoided by humans, too, not just dogs.
- Seeds - Papaya seeds can block your dog’s intestines, putting them at risk. Make sure there are no seeds left in the fruit before serving it because they can cause more harm than good. This is an essential aspect you need to keep in mind.
- Dehydrated Papaya - It’s not a good idea to give dehydrated papaya to your dog. In a dehydrated slice of papaya, the sugar levels are higher than usual. This means that your dog, too, can get dehydrated and at risk for diabetes. Make sure you only feed your dog freshly cut and peeled papaya.
- Hard - Sometimes, dog owners wonder whether they should give soft or hard papaya to their dogs. It’s imperative not to feed them hard papayas. The reason is that the soft ones are a significant antioxidant source and provide way more benefits to the dogs. The best option is to give your dog fresh and ripe fruits.
How To Feed Your Dog With Papaya?
Whenever you give papaya to your dog, make sure it’s cut into small pieces instead of large ones. Your dog will enjoy papaya, as it’s a sweet and tasty fruit. Because of that, he may choke on it, especially if the pieces are too big.
If you don’t have access to papaya, it’s really not a problem. Happily, nowadays, there are supplements for it. Dogs need to get their precious nutrients somewhere, and sometimes, the veterinarians will prescribe supplements. This is the case for both younger and older dogs. They will help your dog’s bowel movement, and they will have an easier time in general.
It’s important not to go ahead and give your dog supplements without talking to the veterinarian first. The wrong quantities can cause more harm than good, and you wouldn’t want your pup to suffer in any way.
Every dog is different, and it’s essential to maintain the right dosage. Happily, your vet wants the best for your dog, so he will give you the best option in this direction.