Can Dogs Eat Cantaloupe?

Cantaloupe is a delicious summer fruit, and of course you want to share all that goodness with your dog. But can dogs eat cantaloupe? 

Yes, dogs can eat cantaloupe, but that doesn’t mean you should go overboard with it. Let’s take a look at whether cantaloupe has nutritional benefits for dogs and what you might need to watch out for.

Is Cantaloupe Good for Dogs?

Not only will your dog find it pretty tasty, but cantaloupe is also good for dogs, too. This is one treat that’s low in calories and low glycemic as well as having no fat or cholesterol. Here are some other ways cantaloupe is good for dogs: 

Hydration

For one thing, like all melons, cantaloupe is over 90% water. That means this sweet treat is excellent for keeping your dog hydrated. Cantaloupe is in season from June through August, which makes it a summer fruit, but you can find it popping up as early as April or May in hot states like Florida and California. 

Electrolytes

Aside from hydration, cantaloupe provides electrolytes, which are essential minerals like sodium and potassium that help keep your dog’s body functioning properly. It also helps everything flow smoothly through your dog’s digestive tract with a lot of dietary fiber. 

Vitamins

Cantaloupe is also good for dogs in terms of the many vitamins it offers, including:

• Vitamin A: Helps with vision, bone growth, skin, coat, muscles, nerves, and cell health
• Vitamin B6: Good for bladder health, immune function, and nervous system functioning
• Vitamin C: Beneficial for healthy bones, cognition, and reducing inflammation
• Vitamin K: Helps with blood clotting and glucose metabolism
• Niacin (vitamin B3): Promotes healthy skin and nerves as well as good digestion
• Folate (vitamin B9): Needed for forming red blood cells and supporting immunity

And the same pigment that gives cantaloupe its orange color, beta-carotene, gets converted to vitamin A in your dog’s body.

Minerals

On top of all those vitamins, cantaloupe also has plenty of minerals, including manganese, magnesium, choline, niacin, selenium, and phosphorus. Minerals are essential for developing strong bones, keeping nerves and muscles functioning properly, maintaining your dog’s healthy skin and coat, and producing red blood cells.

Antioxidants

As if all these benefits weren’t enough, your dog can also get antioxidants simply from enjoying this delicious fruit. Antioxidants protect the cells from damaging free radicals. This helps boost the immune system and slow the aging process. 

Safety Tips for Feeding Your Dog Cantaloupe

We’ve already seen tons of reasons to give your pup some cantaloupe, but there are a few things to watch out for. 

No Rinds

Make sure you only give your dog the fruit of the melon, and don’t let them chew on the rinds. These can become choking hazards, and if your dog manages to swallow pieces of the rind, they can become obstructions in the intestines, which is a serious issue. 

Not Too Much

We all know too much of a good thing is a bad thing, and that’s true for cantaloupe, too. Like all fruit, it has a lot of natural sugar, and too much can cause an upset stomach and diarrhea. The same goes for dietary fiber–too much of it can be hard on your dog’s system. 

Dogs that are overweight or have been diagnosed with diabetes should not have cantaloupe or any fruit. And on the flipside, eating too much fruit and other sugary foods can lead to these same issues.

The general rule for all treats is that they should only be 10% of what your dog eats daily. So you have to take into account store-bought dog treats plus any cantaloupe or other fruit you give your dog.