Humans enjoy the flavor of oranges in a huge range of products. From the fruit in its easy-peel form to orange-flavored cakes and candied fruit pieces, this excellent and flavorful citrus fruit can be found just about anywhere.
Oranges are a great source of vitamin C, that’s true, but they also have plenty of other nutrients that make them an excellent addition to your day. But the question here is: Can dogs eat oranges? Keep reading to find out about how this citrus fruit affects your pup.
Can Dogs Eat Oranges?
The short answer is that dogs can eat oranges, but we’re going to explain that a little more because the last thing you want to do is overfeed your pup using citrus fruits and make them ill. Your dog doesn’t need to eat an entire orange and they shouldn’t.
Oranges are naturally sweet, and even though they have plenty of nutritional benefits, it’s important to limit your dog to a few slices of orange a day.
How Many Oranges Can my Dog Eat?
If you let them, they’ll eat the whole thing. Eating too much of this citrus fruit, with its high amount of natural sugars, could cause an upset stomach and not all dogs tolerate the citric acid of oranges. Limit your pup to one or two pieces of orange a day – yes, pieces, not the whole thing!
Dogs can safely eat oranges in moderation, though larger dogs will be able to eat more of the fruit than smaller dog breeds. An orange, to a dog’s body, is like a treat. Treats should only ever make up 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake, so be sure to take that into account on any day your dog is fed oranges or other fruits. Too many oranges can only be harmful.
Can Puppies Eat Oranges?
Puppies can have oranges, too, but they are as susceptible to getting an upset stomach from citrus fruits as toy dog breeds. Try feeding your puppy just half a piece of orange first before you give them any more of the fruit.
Remember that large pieces of food can be a choking hazard; keep whole oranges out of the reach of your dog to avoid mishaps.
Good Reasons to Feed Your Dog Oranges
- Oranges can boost your dog’s immune system
- Most dogs like the taste
- They’re healthy
- They can be made into a mixed salad of fruits and veggies for your canines
- Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, so dogs consuming extra Vitamin C won’t hurt
Can Dogs Have Mandarin Oranges?
Like standard oranges, dogs eat mandarin oranges without any problems. In fact, your dog can eat the entire range of available orange-type fruits. This includes mandarins, tangerines, clementines, and satsuma oranges.
Like common oranges, be sure to feed your dog mandarin orange segments rather than giving the fruit to them whole. You don’t need to do anything special to the orange other than wash it. Your dog can even benefit from eating the orange pith (the white stringy part of oranges) because it’s full of antioxidants and other goodness.
As far as human foods go, the best kind of orange to feed your dog is probably navel oranges. These are seedless oranges that take away the potential for further stomach upset without skimping on the health benefits of the fruit.
If you can’t find navel oranges or other seedless oranges, be sure to remove any seeds from the fruit before feeding your dog any slices. Small quantities are best when it comes to oranges.
Can Dogs Eat Orange Peels?
Even though humans avoid eating orange peel the majority of the time, they can be a healthy addition to your dog’s total calories for the day. Remember to avoid feeding your pup a whole orange, but know that it’s perfectly safe for them to have the peel of the fruit, as well as a segment or two.
Obviously, don’t feed your dogs the entire peel, but they will enjoy the somewhat bitter flavor and it will give your canine companions something to chew on for a while.
Can Dogs Drink Orange Juice?
Can dogs have orange juice? Well, while your dog can tolerate oranges and orange juice, and the fruit isn’t toxic to dogs, it’s not recommended to give your dog orange juice – even the “no added sugar” kind.
This is because orange juice is a highly concentrated form of its fruit and the sugar content is quite high even for humans. It may be natural sugar, but you still don’t need to use a sweet treat that’s going to hurt your pet’s stomach.
There’s far too much sugar in orange juice for it to be suitable for even adult dogs. It doesn’t matter if it’s freshly squeezed or a carton from your local supermarket, it’s just best to avoid this sugar-filled drink. The acidic nature of the juice may be too much for your dog to handle, too.
An orange by itself has the power to keep your dog hydrated. Pet parents may enjoy freezing small pieces in water to make tasty treats for the summer months. There’s no need to use orange juice.
Are Oranges Good for Dogs?
Are you itching to know the answer to “are oranges bad for dogs or are they good for them?”. We’ve got you covered. Now that you know that dogs can eat oranges and how much orange they can have each day, let’s talk about some of the other impacts of this citrus fruit n a dog’s diet.
Diabetic dogs should only be fed small amounts of orange because of the fruit’s ability to increase blood sugar levels. Orange is a healthy snack to feed your dog in moderation, but dogs with a sensitive digestive system may struggle with eating oranges in larger amounts.
Not every dog’s body digests oranges the same way. It’s crucial that you keep an eye on your furry friend after feeding them something new because giving a dog human foods is always a bit of a risk.
When to Avoid Oranges
If your dog has a particularly sensitive stomach and is known for having other allergies to fruits or vegetables, we wouldn’t recommend trying to feed them any orange pieces.
Yes, dogs can eat oranges and there are no toxic compounds in the fruit to hurt them, but they don’t need to eat them to be healthy. Dogs produce Vitamin C without any interference from outside sources, and the regular food your dog eats will take care of their daily nutritional needs.
Considering the potential for raising their blood sugar, giving them an upset stomach, and other problems, there’s no point risking your dog’s health over trying to feed dogs oranges when they don’t need them; especially if you know your dog can’t handle most human foods.
That said, non-sensitive dogs should be fine with oranges and other citrus fruits. But, like any new food, if you’re going to try feeding your dog oranges for the first time… Go slow and give your dog a small, seedless segment to start with. Large breed dogs can eat more orange slices, but you should always start with an insignificant amount.
Reasons to avoid feeding most dogs oranges:
- Overweight dogs won’t benefit from having more sugar added to their diet
- Your dog has issues with other “dog-friendly” fruits
- Your dog often gets gastrointestinal problems when eating human food
- There are certain toxic compounds in the peel, pith, and seeds
- Seeds are a choking hazard
- Someone in your home is allergic to citrus fruit
- High natural sugar content
- You have a diabetic dog
Though we’ve mentioned toxic compounds, these are only trace amounts and your dog won’t be at any risk if they eat a small amount of orange.
How to Tell if Your Dog Can’t Eat Oranges
When a dog is allergic, intolerant, or sensitive to a certain type of food, they often display unusual behavior that you can look out for. For fruit allergies in dogs, here are the signs you should look for:
- Itching
- Bloating
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Gagging
- Fur loss
- Skin inflammation
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
Some of these signs take longer to appear than others. A good rule of thumb is to check for changes in your dog’s bathroom habits after they’ve tried something new. No one wants to spend more time than necessary near their dog’s poop, but it’s the quickest way to tell if they’ve eaten something that doesn’t agree with them.
However, if your dog immediately shows any of these symptoms after eating an orange, we would advise taking them to your vet and seeking advice. Particularly if they begin to get extremely lethargic.
