🍎 Can Dogs Eat Dragon Fruit? - Exploring the fruit

Summary

Yes, dragon fruit is safe four your dog, but it’s not a good idea to feed them too much as It can cause diarrhea and vomiting in some cases. If you’re going to give your dog this treat, make sure they don’t have any other food other than their normal day to day dog food.

What are Pitahayas?

The pitahaya plant grows from the ground up into a tree that has spiky leaves with white flowers at its top. The fruits are round and have red skin. They grow inside of the flower’s center. When ripe, they turn yellowish-orange and look like small watermelons and drop off, pitahaya and dragon fruit both come from the same genus, it’s called different things depending on where you are in the world.

It’s now available all over the world, and easier than ever to find, as it is sold fresh, frozen, and even in powdered form. Dragon fruit has a very mild flavor that has been described as a tropical pear. It has a soft, sweet, yet crunchy interior, which is reminiscent of kiwi. The best tasting type of dragon fruit is the yellow variety. Yellow dragon fruits have bright orange skins and golden yellow flesh. They’re often used in Asian dishes because they add color and sweetness. You might see them in markets from Mexico to Thailand.

Where does it grow?

It grows best in tropical climates where it gets plenty of sunlight. In fact, this is one of the most popular plants for landscaping because it can be grown indoors or outdoors. You will find them growing all over South America, Central America, Mexico, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, India, Africa, Madagascar, and other places around the world.

Nutrients 🌱

Dragon fruit have lots of good nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, folate, pantothenic acid, biotin, choline acid and many more! Let’s briefly discuss the benefits of these vitamins for your pup.

Vitamin C

This tropical fruit contains lots of Vitamin C. Your dog needs plenty of this nutrient because it helps build strong bones and teeth 😁.

Folate

It’s hard to find food sources of Folic Acid in our diets today. But dragon fruit provides over 100% of what we need daily. Folates help prevent birth defects by preventing cell division during pregnancy.

Beta Carotene

The beta carotene found in the skin of dragon fruits is converted into Vitamin A which is essential for healthy eyesight. Beta carotenes also protect against cancer.

Potassium

A lot of people think that bananas are a great source of Potassium. However, Dragon Fruit has almost twice the amount of potassium that bananas do. This makes it an excellent choice when looking for natural ways to keep your pet’s heart-healthy.

Fiber

Dragon fruit contains high amounts of dietary fiber. This helps keep your dog regular and prevents constipation.

Calcium

Your dog may get enough calcium from products such cheese, yogurt, etc., however, there aren’t many foods with higher levels of calcium than those found in this tasty fruit.

Rich In Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Yes, you read that correctly, the seeds contain omega 3 which is great for brain development, coats and their joints. It’s especially good for puppies who are still developing 🐶.

General Health Benefits 👩‍⚕️

It has been proven that eating dragon fruits helps lower cholesterol levels, reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, improves digestion, boosts immunity, prevents cancer, fights infections, promotes weight loss, increases energy level, enhances brain function, strengthens bones, protects against diabetes, aids in wound healing, relieves constipation, removes toxins from kidneys, stimulates appetite. The black seeds found in the fruit also have their own benefits as mentioned above, aiding pets with blood sugar level issues.

There are no known safety issues with feeding your dog dragon fruit. However, if your dog eats too much at once, she/he may experience: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, like most things moderation is key and if it’s the first time he/she has tried the fruit, a small piece is recommended.

Preparing for your dog

You should wash the fruit before you give him any food containing pitahayas. If she/he eats too much of these foods, their stomach may get upset. Also make sure that there aren’t any pits on the outside of the fruit. These could cause an infection if eaten by your pet due to getting lodged in their gums. You don’t need any special equipment to prepare dragon fruit, simply peel off the tough outer layer and slice it into pieces 😊.

Alternatives - Acai

Acai berries are a delicious berry with an intense flavor that’s perfect for both humans and their four-legged friends to enjoy together. However, exercise caution as they do contain theobromine which is found in chocolate

Conclusion

Yes! Your dog should definitely enjoy eating this delicious fruit. Give your dog a few pieces every day to keep him happy and healthy. If she/he doesn’t like the flavor, try adding a little honey or sugar to make it easier for him to swallow.

You might want to consider feeding your dog fresh dragon fruit instead of dried out ones if they aren’t too ripe. Fresh dragon fruit contains less water than dry ones and dogs really enjoy digging into the white flesh of this fruit!