Fruits That Are Safe for Dogs

It’s not uncommon to want to spoil your dog by sharing your favorite human snack instead of a dog treat. After all, if it’s safe for you to eat, it must be OK for your dog to eat, right? Not necessarily.

Fruits Dogs Can Eat

In moderation, many fruits can be delicious and healthy treats for dogs, providing a source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Here are some of the dog-friendly fruits you can share as an occasional treat.

Apples

Apples are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, as well as fiber for your dog. They’re low in protein and fat, making them the perfect snack for senior dogs. Just be sure to remove the seeds and core first. Try them frozen for an icy warm weather snack. You can also find it as an ingredient in apple-flavored dog treats.

Bananas

In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They’re high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They’re also low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog’s main diet. You can also find banana dog treats that never get overripe!

Blueberries

Blueberries are a superfood rich in antioxidants, which prevent cell damage in humans and canines alike. They’re packed with fiber and phytochemicals as well. Teaching your dog to catch treats in the air? Try blueberries! The powerhouse fruit is a popular ingredient for blueberry dog treats, sometimes in combination with other superfoods like yogurt.

Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe is packed with nutrients, low in calories, and a great source of water and fiber. It is, however, high in sugar, so should be shared in moderation, especially for dogs who are overweight or have diabetes. Try freezing balls or cubes of cantaloupe for your dog for a refreshing summertime enrichment snack.

Cranberries

Both cranberries and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will actually like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many cranberries can lead to an upset stomach.

It’s also worth noting that many dried cranberries sold for people to eat are sweetened, so giving them to your dog is adding unneeded sugar to their diet. Instead, if your dog craves the tangy taste of cranberries, opt for unsweetened fresh or frozen fruits, or pick up some crunchy cranberry dog treats.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are especially good for overweight dogs, as they hold little to no carbohydrates or fat, and they’re full of satiating hydration. They’re loaded with vitamins K, C, and B1, as well as potassium, copper, magnesium, and biotin. Cool cucumbers are an excellent hot weather treat if your dog enjoys them, and you can even freeze slices for a fun enrichment snack.

Mango

This sweet and juicy tropical treat is packed with four different vitamins: A, B6, C, and E. Mangoes also have potassium and both beta-carotene and alpha-carotene. Just remember, as with most fruits, remove the hard pit first, as it contains small amounts of cyanide and can become a choking hazard.

Mango is high in sugar, so use it as an occasional treat, especially for dogs who struggle with weight. A less messy option for getting the benefits of mango’s superfood nutrients is a chewy mango dog treat.

Oranges

Oranges are fine for dogs to eat, according to veterinarians, but it’s common for dogs to be turned off by any kind of strong citrus smells or tastes. Oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. In small quantities, the juicy flesh of an orange can be a tasty treat for your dog.

Vets do recommend tossing the orange peel and only offering your dog the flesh of the orange, minus any seeds. Orange peel is rough on their digestive systems, and the oils may make your dog literally turn up their sensitive nose. If your dog isn’t a fan of fresh citrus, there are a few dog treats with oranges to choose from.

Peaches

Small amounts of cut-up fresh or frozen peaches are a great source of fiber and vitamin A, but just like cherries, the pit contains cyanide. As long as you completely cut the flesh away from the peach pit, fresh peach flesh can be a great summer treat. Be sure the pits are safely discarded in dog-safe trash receptacles.

Skip canned peaches, as they usually contain high amounts of sugary syrups. Even canned or jarred peaches “in natural juice” have more sugar than any dog needs. Frozen peach slices can be a fun, hot-weather enrichment snack for dogs.Mango

This sweet and juicy tropical treat is packed with four different vitamins: A, B6, C, and E. Mangoes also have potassium and both beta-carotene and alpha-carotene. Just remember, as with most fruits, remove the hard pit first, as it contains small amounts of cyanide and can become a choking hazard.

Mango is high in sugar, so use it as an occasional treat, especially for dogs who struggle with weight. A less messy option for getting the benefits of mango’s superfood nutrients is a chewy mango dog treat.

Pears

Pears are a great snack because they’re high in copper, vitamins C and K, and fiber. If you’re sharing pears with your dog, just be sure to cut the pear flesh into bite-size chunks and remove the pit and seeds first, as the seeds contain traces of cyanide. Skip canned or jarred pears with sugary syrups, even the ones labeled “in their own juice.” You can also find pear dog treats with other functional ingredients like duck or salmon.

Pineapple

A few chunks of pineapple are a great sweet treat for dogs, as long as the prickly outside peel and crown are removed first. The tropical fruit is full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It also contains bromelain, an enzyme that makes it easier for dogs to absorb proteins.

As with other fruits, don’t choose canned or packaged pineapple in sweetened syrups, as dogs don’t need added sugars in their diets, especially if they’re prone to obesity. You can also find pineapple dog treats for a taste of the islands on the go.

Pumpkin

Pure pumpkin is a healthy food for dogs. Pumpkin is full of antioxidants, but its superpower is that it works to relieve both diarrhea and constipation in dogs.

If you’re buying canned pumpkin, always choose 100% pumpkin puree, or you can also roast pumpkin in the oven yourself and feed the peeled pumpkin flesh to your dog. There are also many pumpkin supplements and pumpkin dog treats for dogs to enjoy.

Raspberries

Raspberries are safe for dogs in moderation. They contain antioxidants that are great for dogs. They’re low in sugar and calories, but high in fiber, manganese, and vitamin C. Raspberries are especially good for senior dogs because they have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help aging joints.

Raspberries contain small, naturally occurring amounts of xylitol, so limit your dog to no more than 8 ounces of fresh or frozen raspberries. You can also choose a dog treat that includes raspberry as an ingredient.

Strawberries

Strawberries are full of fiber and vitamin C. Along with that, they also contain an enzyme that can help whiten your dog’s teeth. Like all fruits, strawberries contain natural sugar, so offer them in moderation.

Frozen strawberries can be a fun enrichment treat for dogs. You could just eat the strawberries yourself and hide your dog’s favorite strawberry training treat in a cute strawberry-shaped snuffle mat instead!

Fruits Dogs Should Avoid

While some fruits are perfectly healthy for humans, they could contain compounds, seeds, or parts that are dangerous, if not toxic, to dogs. It’s best to keep these fruits out of your dog’s reach to ensure their safety.

Avocado

While avocado may be a healthy snack for dog owners, it shouldn’t be given to dogs. The pit, skin, and leaves of avocados contain persin, a toxin that often causes vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. The fleshy inside of the avocado fruit doesn’t have as much persin as the rest of the plant, but it still can be too much for dogs to handle.

Avocado flesh is also high in fat, which can cause gastrointestinal upset for dogs, or contribute to health conditions like pancreatitis if too much is consumed. Your dog can still enjoy the benefits of avocado if you look for dog treats for skin and coat that include avocado in the ingredients.

Cherries

With the exception of the fleshy fruit around the seed, cherry plants contain cyanide and are toxic to dogs. Cyanide disrupts cellular oxygen transport, which means that your dog’s blood cells can’t get enough oxygen. If you have a cherry tree in your yard, be sure your dog doesn’t have free access to fallen fruit. If your dog eats cherries whole or cherry pits, watch for dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, and red gums, as these may be signs of cyanide poisoning, which is a veterinary emergency.

When enjoying cherries yourself, be sure to secure the discarded pits in a dog-proof trash can or trash bin that your dog can’t access, and let kids know not to share their cherries or cherry pits with your dog. To allow your dog to safely experience the antioxidant benefits that cherries have, consider cherry-flavored dog treats.

Grapes

If you think your dog has eaten grapes, call your veterinarian. Grapes and raisins are highly toxic to dogs, no matter their breed, sex, or age. In fact, grapes are so toxic that they can lead to acute sudden kidney failure. Always be mindful of this dangerous fruit around dogs, especially if you have children who eat grapes or raisins in your home.

If you’re throwing away grapes or raisins, don’t put them in a compost heap your dog has access to. Be sure your trash can is designed to be dog-proof or placed where they can’t access it.

Tomatoes

While the ripened flesh of the tomato fruit is generally safe for dogs, the green parts of the tomato plant contain a toxic substance called solanine. A dog would need to eat a large amount of the tomato plant to make them sick, but it’s better to skip tomatoes all together just to be safe. If your dog likes to explore your vegetable garden, be sure to prevent them from having access to your tomato plants.