The dragon fruit is very colorful and attractive. Its colors attract you to eat it. But what about the dog. Can dogs eat dragon fruit? Yes, the dog can eat dragon fruit. This fruit is attractive and colorful, and your dog will surely want to eat it when your dog sees it. So, you don’t need to stop your dog from eating dragon fruit. The dragon fruit is safe for your dog.
What is Dragon Fruit?
Dragon fruit is a beautiful fruit. Recently it got the attention of people all around the world due to its unique, attractive look. This fruit is local to Central America and southern Mexico. But now, it is cultivated worldwide.
This fruit is given its name dragon fruit due to its looks which resembles the dragon’s appearance. The dragon fruit is also known as pitaya, pitahaya, and strawberry pear.
There are different varieties of dragon fruit, and the most unique type is the black seeds with red pulp. The yellow dragon fruit also exists in which the skin of the fruit is yellow, and the pulp is white with black seeds.
The taste of the dragon fruit is in between the pear and kiwi.
Nutritional Value of The Dragon Fruit
Alon with the unique look of the dragon fruit, the dragon fruit also has several nutrients that can provide many health benefits. The nutrients present in one serving of the dragon fruit are as follows:
| Nutrients | Value in grams |
| Calories | 102 |
| Fats | 0 gram |
| Sugar | 13 grams |
| Fibers | 5 grams |
| Proteins | 2 grams |
| Vitamin A | |
| Vitamin C | 4 mg |
| Iron | 1 gram |
| Magnesium | 68 mg |
| Calcium | 31 mg |
Other essential compounds present in the dragon fruit are:
Betalains:
This betalain is present in the pulp of the dragon fruit. It gives a deep red color to the dragon fruit.
Hydroxycinnamates:
This compound has anti-cancer properties.
Flavonoids:
Flavonoids are antioxidants and good for brain health.
Nutritional Benefits of Dragon Fruit To Dogs
the nutrients present in the dragon fruit provide the following health benefits to the dog:
Vitamin C
vitamin C is present in the dragon fruit, this vitamin C help in the improvement of the immune system and reduces inflammation. So, if your dog has weak immunity, you can offer dragon fruit to the dog to improve the dog’s immunity.
Dietary Fibers
the dietary fiber content is also very rich in the dragon fruit. These fibers are beneficial for good digestive health. And the nutritional fibers are helpful to regulate the blood sugar level in the body.
Antioxidants
The antioxidants present in the dragon fruit make your dog look younger. Because antioxidants are essential to fight against the free radicles produced in the body due to cell damage. This property of the antioxidants present in the dragon fruit slows down the aging process in the dog.
Calcium
Calcium is present in the dragon fruit, as we all know that calcium is essential for strong bones. So by giving the dragon fruit to the dog, you can make the dog’s bones strong.
These are the main benefits provided to the dog by eating the dragon fruit. There are some other compounds present in the dragon fruit which can provide many other health benefits.
Health Risks of Dragon Fruit To The Dog
The dragon fruit is not poisonous to the dog. But these can also cause some problems to the health of the dog if overeaten as follows:
- The dragon fruit is sweet in taste, and it contains a good content of sugar. This high sugar content in the dragon fruit makes it unfit for the dog to eat in high quantity. This high sugar content can cause diabetes in the dog.
- The high sugar content of the dragon fruit can also cause teeth issues to the dog.
- The dragon fruit can also cause obesity and weight gain in the dog if eaten frequently.
The best thing for you will be to talk to the vet before giving it to the dog. Because it is possible that your dog has an allergy to the dragon fruit or has any medical condition in which the dragon fruit is unsuitable for the dog.
Can a Dog Eat The Skin Of The Dragon Fruit?
The skin of dragon fruit is spiky and thick. It will be difficult for the digestive system of the dog to digest. If your dog has eaten the skin of the dragon fruit, it can cause stomach upset or abdominal pain in the dog.
So, you should not give the dragon fruit to the dog along with the skin. You just have to scoop out the pulp of the dragon fruit and give it to your dog.
Serving Tips of Dragon Fruit To Dog
You can give the dragon fruit to the dog in the following way:
- Peel off the fruit cut the fruit pulp into small pieces. And serve it to your dog.
- You can blend the pulp of the dragon fruit to form the soft and smooth puree and serve it to your dog.
- Another way to give the dragon fruit to your dog is to add it to the dog food.
FAQs
Can dogs have dragon fruit seeds?
Generally, the seeds of the fruits should be avoided to give to the dog. But the sources of the dragon fruit are safe for the dogs to eat. These are not too hard that can cause the problem indigestion. So, yes, dogs can have the dragon fruit seeds.
But you should keep in mind first to give a meager amount of dragon fruit to the dog to know if it is safe for the dog to eat.
Is dragon fruit good for German shepherds?
Yes, the dragon fruit is perfectly safe for the German shepherd dog to eat. It is non-toxic in nature. But you should always keep the amount of dragon fruit given to the dog in moderation.
Conclusion
The dragon fruit is a beautiful-looking yummy fruit. It contains a lot of nutrients. These nutrients present in the dragon fruit are responsible for the excellent health of the dog. The dragon fruit must be added to the dog’s food in a meager amount in the start to know i9f the fruit is safe for the dog or not. Because the effect of fruit and food changes according to the breed, gender, age, and weight of the dog.
It will be good to talk to the vet to know the effects, side effects, and warnings about the dragon fruit to the dog.
