A very popular fruit, oranges are great for people. But can dogs eat oranges as well, and are oranges for dogs safe to consume? What about the health benefits of giving oranges to dogs, and are there any side effects? Let's take a closer look at this famous fruit and how it may affect your dog.
If you've been wondering, “can I give my dog oranges,” the answer is YES – dogs can eat oranges without any issues and oranges are not toxic to dogs. The only caveat is that you give oranges to your dog in moderation, and that your pet doesn't have any medical conditions which oranges can aggravate.
If you're into making your own homemade dog food, this could be a good ingredient.
As a citrus fruit, oranges are full of nutrition and are very health for people. But for a very small group of dogs with certain pre-existing health problems, oranges may not be recommended. Let's investigate further the benefits and side effects of oranges for dogs.
Table of Contents
READ ALSO: Can Dogs Eat Apples?
What are oranges?
The orange, or sweet orange, is a citrus species fruit that belongs to the family of Rutaceae. There are many different varieties of oranges which is a result of mutations, with another well-known type of orange called bitter orange.
An orange was born when scientists crossed mandarin with pomelo. Today, it's one of the most popular and nutritious fruits. It's relatively low-calorie, moderate in natural sugar content, contains mainly water and provides multiple essentials vitamins and minerals.
This is what fresh raw oranges look like:
As one of the most common fruits, oranges are often part of a healthy diet due to their high content of fiber, Vitamin C, folate, thiamin and tons of antioxidants. Oranges also have some unique properties, some of which may be great for dogs. But can dogs eat oranges and reap all the same benefits humans can?
Oranges for Dogs 101
Can Dogs Eat Oranges
So can you give your dog oranges without any fears? Yes, dogs can eat oranges safely as long as they don't have any of the specific medical conditions discussed below.
As with most other vegetables and particularly fruits for dogs, oranges for dogs must be given in moderation because of the high carbohydrate content that mostly comes from the natural sugar in oranges. Oranges make a great occasional snack for a dog.
Oranges are very nutritious and pack a good amount of vitamins, including:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
- Fiber
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Folate
- Thiamin
These vitamins, minerals and antioxidants improve health, and many studies that we investigate below have confirmed that. Also, it has been observed that dogs can absorb most of these vitamins, thus giving an orange to a dog may be a very good idea.
Aside from the above, oranges also contain unique and powerful antioxidant compounds which makes oranges a healthy snack. Here's a science-based breakdown of the most vital plant compounds found in oranges and how they improve health:
Citric acid, which prevents kidney stones and promotes kidney health (1, 2)
Lycopene, which provides many different overall health benefits (3)
Hesperidin, which improves general health (4, 5)
Anthocyanins, which may improve heart health (6)
Beta-cryptoxanthin, which reduces inflammation and may prevent arthritis (7, 8)
All of the above and below has been based on both human and animal studies; however, few studies investigated the relationship between these compounds or oranges in dogs. Nevertheless, it's safe to assume that as long as oranges for dogs are safe, there's a change that canines can reap at least some of the health benefits from oranges.
Moreover, there are specific ways that consuming oranges may improve health where researchers investigated oranges specifically. Here's a brief breakdown:
- Oranges improve heart health and prevent heart diseases (9, 10, 11, 12)
- Oranges improve iron absorption and may prevent anemia (13, 14)
- Oranges prevent kidney stones (15, 16)
- Oranges strengthen body's immune system and fight inflammation (17)
- Oranges may improve age related skin issues (18, 19)
- Oranges fight and prevent different forms of cancer (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- Oranges protect an aging brain and boost brain function (25, 26, 27, 28)
As you can similar, as is the case with giving bell peppers to dogs, oranges as well may have many different health benefits most of which are related to its unique antioxidant compounds and Vitamin C.
Oranges vs orange juice for dogs
The next question you may have is “can I give my dog orange juice?” The answer would be somewhat of a yes, technically. However, there's really no reason to do that.
If you give your dog orange juice that's freshly squeeze and natural, then you're essentially giving your dog oranges in liquid form without the benefit of fiber.
So even though you technically can let your dog drink a little bit of orange juice, it's not advisable since orange juice is still high in natural sugar content and without the fiber it may contribute to harmful metabolic effects and weight gain (29, 30, 31).
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7 Potential Benefits of Oranges for Dogs
Now that we've established that oranges for dogs are safe to consume in moderation, and that they may provide many health benefits through their rich vitamin and mineral content, let's take a look at specific reasons of why give oranges to dogs.
Here are seven health benefits oranges may provide dogs with:
1. Vitamin A promotes eye health in dogs.
Oranges are a good source of beta-carotene. Other than the above mentioned health benefits of this compound, beta-carotene found in Vitamin A also improves a dog’s eyesight and promotes overall eye health.
This vitamin may help keep your dog’s bones, coat, and skin healthy as well.
2. Vitamin B6 is good for vital body functions and prevents illnesses.
Vitamin B6, which is found in oranges, is needed to metabolize amino acids within your dog’s body. It also helps to prevent the formation of bladder stones and as studies have shown, oranges clearly help prevent kidney stones thanks to this vitamin.
3. Oranges are rich in Vitamin C, an important antioxidant for the body.
Oranges contain significant amounts of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) which may have tons of various health effects on a dog’s body. As an antioxidant, Vitamin C helps reduce oxidative cell damage and may prevent autoimmune diseases and illnesses like canine cancer.
Vitamin C also promotes cartilage and collagen synthesis, as well as combats degenerative conditions and dementia, and it improves hair and skin conditions.
4. Dietary fiber promotes healthy digestion in dogs.
Oranges are well-known for their high fiber content, which has numerous effects on health in humans and dogs. In particular, fiber improves digestion, regulates bowel movements, and aids in weight loss. It also helps prevent diarrhea, flatulence, and constipation.
Furthermore, oranges contain plenty of soluble fiber that contributes to the prevention of hyperlipidemia, or high blood pressure, making them an excellent treat for dogs suffering from this condition or if the dog breed is genetically predisposed for this health issue.
5. Potassium is a critical nutrient for essential body functions.
Oranges are a moderate source of potassium, which helps improve various body functions in dogs, including electrolyte replacement, muscle development, and blood vessel function. In particular, it assists with developing efficient and effective heart health.
6. Oranges are an excellent source of magnesium.
Magnesium is another essential mineral for dogs overall health. It promotes bone growth, production of protein, and the proper absorption of vitamins within the dog's body.
7. Oranges may help reduce joint inflammation in dogs.
As studies with humans have shown, oranges are great at reducing inflammation and preventing arthritis. Active and older dogs benefit from anti-inflammatory characteristics of oranges, which are full of antioxidants that keep dogs’ joints supple and active.
“So, can I give my dog oranges?”
Yes, dogs can eat oranges and they're totally safe for them as long as they are provided as an occasional treat rather than make up your dog's regular diet, and fed in moderation.
Whole oranges are better than orange juice (even though technically, your dog can drink orange juice in moderation) because they contain fiber, a very important part of why oranges for dogs make a healthy snack.
Always remember to wash and peel oranges before you give them to your pups.
But are there any side effects of oranges for dogs, and is there a reason to be cautious when you feed an orange to a dog? Let's take a closer look.
The Bottom Line: Oranges are a safe treat for your dog to snack on, and they provide many nutritional benefits and may improve dog's health in a variety of areas.
2 Potential Side Effects of Oranges for Dogs
Even though dogs can eat oranges and they are safe for your canine to consume, giving too many oranges for dogs may cause some issues and side effects. Here are the two main adverse effects of oranges for dogs that you need to be aware of:
1. Gastrointestinal issues.
Because of its high amount of soluble fiber in oranges, feeding too many to your dog may upset your dog’s stomach, causing either diarrhea or constipation. Dogs with sensitive stomachs are particularly susceptible to stomach pain and upset from oranges.
2. Tooth decay.
Oranges are very high in natural sugars, and if frequently fed to your dog, may cause tooth decay or rot your dog's teeth. Brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis may help lessen the chance of tooth decay, and is actually highly advised by veterinarians.
READ ALSO: Can Dogs Eat Grapes?
More on Oranges for Dogs
3 Safety Precautions
While oranges are relatively safe for dogs when fed in moderation, there are certain safety precautions that you should consider before feeding oranges to your pups. Here are three things you should keep in mind if you give oranges to your dogs:
1. Don’t feed oranges to a diabetic dog.
The high amount of Vitamin C and natural sugars present in oranges make them an unsuitable snack for dogs with diabetes because of the impact these elements have on blood levels.
2. Avoid feeding orange peels to your dog.
Orange peels, or rinds, are fine for people to consume, but not so for dogs. The peel is too difficult for a dog’s digestive system to break down. If your dog eats an orange rind, it may cause stomach upset and pain.
3. Remove orange seeds before feeding them to your pup.
Like many other fruits (such as watermelons), oranges have seeds that contain cyanide. A few seeds may not harm your dog, but if he consumes too many, he may suffer severe indigestion or obstruction of the intestinal tract. It's best to remove orange seeds.
Summary:
Can My Dog Eat Oranges?
In conclusion, dogs can eat oranges without any problems as long as they are fed in moderation and your dog doesn't have a medical condition such as diabetes.
Except in rare situations, oranges are non-toxic and safe for dogs.
Research shows how oranges provide many necessary vitamins and minerals that promote healthy body functions and may prevent cancers, illnesses, and even arthritis.
Remember to wash and peel oranges as well as remove orange seeds from it before giving an orange to your dog.
References
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