Persimmons are perplexing fruits. They look like tomatoes, but they taste sweet like honey.
What type of fruit are they? Not citrus. And not stone fruits. They are actually berries. And while you can find them around the world, they are are far more common in Asian countries.
If you are enjoying this unique fruit and your dog is interested too you may wonder, can dogs eat persimmons?
This article will indicate whether persimmons are safe for dogs to eat. It will also explore the effects, for better and/or worse, of persimmons on the health of your doggo.
Can Dogs Eat Persimmons?
The short answer is yes. Dogs can eat persimmons. Although many types of foods are unsuitable for dogs, such as grapes, bones, and chocolate, persimmons are not one of them.
In fact, this fruit is nutritious for dogs. It contains many benefits for dogs. So what are they?
Why Persimmons are Healthy for your Dogs
Persimmons are rich in certain vitamins and minerals that dogs need to stay healthy. In particular, they are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Vitamin C.
Here is the ways in which those vitamins help your canines:
- Vitamin A helps prevent medical conditions caused by irregular blood sugar levels.
- Vitamin B maintains a healthy metabolism and maintains the dog’s nervous system.
- Vitamin C is great for strengthening a dog’s immune system as well as their bones.
Unlike other fruits whose peel is indigestible for your dog, they can safely eat the peel of persimmons. The leaves of this fruit are also edible.
In fact, it is used by us humans to make tea. It also has a good amount of fiber in it.
This fruit is an excellent source of fiber. Fiber helps in solving a dog’s digestive problems. Foods rich in fiber can help against bowel movement problems.
Precautions to Dogs Eating Persimmons
However, not all parts of persimmons are healthy and good for your pet.
While the seeds of persimmon are non toxic for dogs, it is possible that in consuming too many seeds, they can cause an obstruction in the stomach.
It is crucial that your dogs do not eat the pit of persimmons. Similarly to its seeds, the pit can also cause intestinal blockage.
Here are symptoms that you should watch out for should your dog eat the seeds and pit of persimmon:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Straining during defecation
- Lethargy
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Lack of appetite
- Drooling and burping
- Dehydration
How to Best Prepare Persimmons for Dogs
In conclusion it is important to note that you must never mix spices and ingredients that are harmful/toxic to dogs with persimmons. If you’re going to give a persimmon to your dog, the recommended way to do so is cooked, pitted and seedless.
Dried persimmons are also a safe option. You just want to wary of how many you give your dog because they are high in sugar.
Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs
This article is part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”
In the next article we cover a very popular food for humans. See about sharing it with your dog in Can Dogs Eat Chili Peppers?
