Human grade food can be healthy for our canine friends, but can dogs eat oranges?
Dogs have a different digestive system than we do and citrus fruit, like oranges, can be hard on a dog’s digestive system. Too much citric acid can cause diarrhea and vomiting in dogs. Generally speaking, it’s usually safe to feed dogs one or two orange slices (segments) per day.
If you’re asking Can dogs eat oranges? you’re probably wondering about other fruits and vegetables as well. This post will guide you through those questions to help you make the most informed food choices for your dog.
Oranges versus Processed Treats
Have you looked at the calories on a bag of processed dog treats? In addition to the added calories, there are countless ingredients including sodium that can be harmful to the overall health of your dog. In my mind, substituting those high-cal treats with fresh fruit or even dried sweet potato slices has to be a better option.
Can My Dog Eat Oranges and Orange Juice?
It’s recommended that you don’t let your dog drink orange juice. Concentrated orange juice (nothing but oranges) and orange “drink” (added sugar) both add a lot of calories to your dog’s diet and adds no additional health benefits.
Orange juice has all of the important vitamins or an orange, but so much more. Water is the best source of hydration for any dog.
Overall Caloric Guidelines for Dogs
It is recommended that dogs receive 30 calories per pound of body weight. Dogs can safely eat oranges in small quantities. However, it’s important to consider your dog’s overall caloric consumption. Feeding oranges to your dog is fine in small amounts as long as it replaces other added treats.
Suggested Caloric Ratio:
- A 5 pound dog = 120 – 180 calories per day for full-grown dogs
- 10 pound dog = 420 – 630 calories per day for full-grown dogs
- 20 pound dog = 700 – 1050 calories per day (same as above)
- 30 pound dog = 930 – 1400 calories per day (same as above)
- 50 pound dog = up to 2000 calories per day
- 70 pound dog = up to 2500 calories per day
- 100 pound dog = up to 3600 calories a day
**Always check with your veterinarian for your dog’s precise caloric needs. Activity level, dog’s physical health, and other factors can impact how much a dog should eat to avoid weight gain. Remember that natural sugars are still sugars with the same amount of calories.
Wondering what else your dog can or can’t eat? Check out my post on 32 Poisonous Plants You Should Know About.
The Safest Food for Dogs
The safest food for dogs is created by canine nutritionists. These people know exactly what it takes to keep a dog healthy from the puppy stage straight through to the senior years.
The following companies create custom meal packages based on your dog’s unique dietary needs. Each company has professional staff who ensure the right balance of fat, fiber, minerals, and vitamins are present in every bite. When asking yourself Can dogs eat oranges? remember that small segments are better than large amounts.
Can Dogs Eat Oranges and Bananas?
Bananas are a great source of magnesium, which aids in kidney and heart function. Unfortunately, bananas are high in sugar. For that reason, it’s best to limit banana in a dog’s diet. Make it an occasional treat, not a daily trend.
Can Dogs Eat Oranges and Watermelon?
Dogs love watermelons, especially on a hot summer day. Watermelons are mostly water and, therefore, safe for your dog. Seedless watermelons are easier on the digestive system.
Watermelons also contain vitamins A, C, and B6.
Can My Dog Eat Apples?
Apple slices may help keep your dog’s teeth clean, but they are not a substitute for professional dental care. Apples are a great source of fiber and are a good alternative to highly processed dog treats.
The tough core could be a choking hazard for some dogs. The seeds can be toxic to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Oranges and Blueberries?
Blueberries contain antioxidants which are thought to improve a dog’s immune system functioning. In addition, blueberries are a great source of fiber, and vitamin C.
Too much of any fruit adds unnecessary calories to a dog’s diet. Watch the amount of blueberries your dog eats. Too many can cause diarrhea and stomach upset.
Can Dogs Eat Oranges and Strawberries?
Strawberries are a nutritious snack idea for your dog. If you have a particularly small dog, you might want to mash up a few strawberries to add to their food dish. Likewise, you can cut them up into smaller pieces to have available as treats.
Unsafe Food for Dogs
Some unsafe fruits and vegetables for dogs include the following:
Are Raw Potatoes Toxic for Dogs?
Raw potatoes contain a substance known as “solanine” that is toxic to dogs. In nature, solanine acts as a defense to keep insects away from the potato. Unfortunately, it can cause symptoms that look like food poisoning in dogs.
It’s not a medical emergency if your dog happens to swallow a small piece of potato. A regular diet of raw potato, however, can cause health problems.
Onions
Onion toxicity is one good reason not to feed your dog table scraps. Cooked and raw onions can cause red cell damage in dogs. Accidentally swallowing a piece of onion isn’t a medical emergency. However, it’s best not to regularly feed onions to your dog.
Grapes and Raisins
You probably already knew that grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs, and scientists are not exactly sure why.
The reality is that not all dogs will become sick from ingesting grapes and raisins. Other dogs, however, can develop renal failure within 72 hours of eating one or the other.
According to a report written in the Merck Veterinary Manual by Sharon M. Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, PhD, DABVT, DABT, University of Illinois, “Affected dogs develop anuric renal failure within 72 hours of ingestion of grapes or raisins.” She goes on to state that as few as 4 or 5 grapes contributed to the death of an 18 pound dog.
The list above is just a small sample of food that can be toxic to dogs. For more information on grape toxicity in dogs, read: Raisins and Grapes.
Read this post on Feeding Your Canine Athlete, published by Cornell University.
Let the Veterinarian Have Final Say on Your Dog’s Diet!
No article or post online can tell you exactly what or how to feed your dog. Ask your veterinarian, “Can dogs eat oranges?” and he/she will probably say yes, in reasonable quantities.
Some of the foods listed above are specifically bad for dogs with diabetes. Others, like grapes and chocolate, are toxic to all dogs.
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Can Dogs Eat Oranges? Summing It Up
At the end of the day, we all want happy and healthy dogs. Not only do WE need to know what we can and can’t give our dogs, it’s important to also tell others. Let guests politely no that table-scraps are a no-no. Let doggy day camp attendants and dog walkers know what your dog can and cannot eat.
Oranges, just like many other fruits and vegetables, are safe for dogs most of the time. However, if your dog is an exception to the rule, make sure to speak up.
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