With so many yummy types of human food around, it is easy to be tempted to share with your fur baby. You really need to be careful about what you feed to your dog, though. There are a lot of human foods that are highly toxic to dogs. Just because you can eat it does not mean your dog can too. For this reason, you need to always check the list of toxic foods for dogs, before feeding your pet anything new. So, that being said, are nectarines an ok food to feed to dogs?
Yes, nectarines have not been found to be toxic to dogs in any way. There are, however, some factors you should consider before you start feeding this new treat to your pet.
Should You Feed Your Dog Nectarines?
Nectarines are a sweet, healthy citrus fruit. There is no research showing that nectarines have any adverse side effects on dogs. These fruits are not considered toxic or dangerous. Furthermore, these are a very healthy source of many vitamins and so can be considered to be a healthy snack for your dog.
Benefits of Feeding Nectarines To Dogs
Nectarines are considered to be a refreshing summer fruit that is so sweet and delicious it’s hard to believe that it’s also healthy. Here are a few benefits of feeding nectarines to your dog.
They are a healthy snack. These little citrus fruits pack a big nutritional punch. They are high in magnesium, vitamin A, Vitamin C, and fiber. You should keep in mind, though, dogs naturally produce their own vitamin C. When you feed them fruits or other foods with lots of additional vitamin C it can increase their energy levels tremendously.
The fiber found in nectarines can be really beneficial to older dogs who have digestive problems. Obviously, too much fiber can upset a dog’s stomach as well. Just be sure you use moderation.
Fresh Only
It is very important to remember that the health benefits of feeding nectarines to your dog only apply to fresh nectarines. Canned nectarines are often canned in sugary syrup and can have other added ingredients. You should always avoid feeding your dog canned fruit.
Feeding Nectarines to Your Dog Properly
To ensure that your dog can safely enjoy this healthy treat, you need to follow some guidelines when it comes to feeding nectarines to your dog.
The way you prepare the nectarine for your dog is important. You should always wash any fruits or vegetables before you or your dog eats them. Fruit and veggies can be covered with dangerous pesticides or herbicides or other contaminants.
The nectarine should be sliced into pieces. You must remove the pit before serving it to your dog. The pit poses a serious choking hazard. Not only is the pit a choking hazard, but like with most seeds of most fruit, the pit contains cyanide, which is a dangerous poison. Always give your dog a small amount to start with just to see how they react. Some dogs have allergies to certain foods, so you will need to check to make sure the dog handles the nectarine all right before feeding it more.
Things to Consider
Nectarines are high in naturally occurring sugar. Even naturally occurring sugar, though can be detrimental to dogs who are on a weight loss or weight management plan. Obviously, nectarines are a more healthy type of snack than some other things, but they should still be fed in moderation because of the sugar content.
Nectarines also have a high fiber content. If fed in large quantities, it can cause stomach upset.
Remember that the pit of the nectarine is not safe to eat under any circumstances. The pit must be removed. Do not give your dog a whole nectarine.
There are also dangers associated with eating rotten fruit. Rotten nectarines in particular pose a special threat to dogs. Rotten nectarines contain mycotoxin which is toxic to dogs. The symptoms of mycotoxin poisoning will happen within 30 minutes of ingesting the fruit. Symptoms can include restlessness, drooling, panting, vomiting, seizures, abnormal eye movements, and a high heart rate. If you think that your pet ingested rotten nectarine, you need to seek out emergency veterinary care immediately.
Dogs and Toxic Foods
There are many different foods that have been identified as toxic to dogs. Please remember, that just because it is safe for you to eat does not mean it is safe for your dog to eat. You must check each and every type of food you choose to feed your dog outside of high quality dog food.
Vets have worked hard to create exhaustive lists of dangerous foods for dogs. Talk with your vet to get the full list and to better understand what symptoms to look for.
Keeping your pet safe means doing the work of finding out what is and is not good for it to eat.
