It is common knowledge that grapes are not safe to consume for dogs.
Although grapes and grapefruits are completely different from each other, they may be confused in a quick Google search. We want to ensure you have the correct information on the effects of grapefruits on dogs.
So can dogs eat grapefruit? In this article we will tell you whether grapefruit is safe for dogs or not. We will go over this fruit’s nutrients, and whether it has healthy benefits or harmful effects on our dogs.
We will also tell you a bit more about grapefruit.
Can Dogs Eat Grapefruit?
The short answer is no; dogs must absolutely not eat grapefruit. Grapefruit is a bad food for dogs.
There are many types of fruits that are not good for dogs such as grapes, apricots, avocados, and grapefruit is one of them.
Why is Grapefruit Bad for Dogs?
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), grapefruit is considered to be a toxic food for dogs.
Notably, they caution that you must never feed your dog the peel of grapefruit.
Peels of grapefruits may contain harmful bacteria and are hard to digest. Feeding them the peel can cause obstruction in the stomach.
Both the seeds and peels of grapefruit are toxic for dogs. The same could be said with its pit.
Grapefruits and other citrus fruits like lemon and lime are also acidic. This can cause an upset stomach to your dog.
The citric acid level is too high in grapefruits. So much so that it can cause digestive problems to dogs. This includes vomiting, loose stool and more.
It also contains essential oils that are toxic to our dogs.
Alternatives to Grapefruit for Dogs
But it’s not all bad news. Even though grapefruits are a big no-no for our furry little friends, Clementines can provide a good substitute. Clementines contain a number of benefits for dogs, without the harmful effects.
Health Benefits of Clementines for Your Dog
They are very rich in certain minerals and vitamins. In Particular, clementines are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Fiber, Choline and Potassium.
The following lists key vitamins and nutrients in clementines that help dogs:
- Vitamin A, this can help prevent medical conditions caused by irregular blood sugar levels. To add to that, grapefruits are low in calories.
- Vitamin C, clementines are especially rich in this, which is great for strengthening a dog’s immune system as well as their bones.
- Potassium, this can keep your dog’s bones strong and healthy. This makes clementine a good food for older dogs.
- Fiber, this fruit is a great source. Fiber helps in solving a dog’s digestive problems. Foods rich in fiber such as clementine can help against bowel movement problems.
- Choline, this is an essential vitamin that helps in preventing things such as fatty liver.
So if you want to give your dogs a citrus fruit, skip the grapefruit and go straight for the clementines. The good thing is most dogs do not prefer grapefruits, anyway.
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?”
Next food up in this series are jalapenos. So, how about it? Can dogs eat jalapenos?
