Last updated on March 23rd, 2023 at 06:46 am

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Can Dogs Eat Watermelon Rind?

As a dog owner, you might be wondering if dogs eat watermelon skin and all kinds of other foods we find delicious. When you try to figure out is watermelon rinds are good for dogs or not, there will always be some type of surprise and challenge . The truth is that watermelon can be ok for dogs, but it can also lead to a few health problems. Generally, it can be suitable for a dog if you remove the rind, as that’s what leads to gastrointestinal tract problems for many dogs. 

So, let’s dive in!

The Dangers of Watermelon Rind 

Is watermelon ok for dogs? Yes, it is, but the watermelon rind is what can be problematic. 

Quick Answer

No. The rind itself doesn’t have anything problematic for dogs, it’s the overall texture that can be a problem. If a dog ate watermelon rind, he’s not really in danger. However, you do want to ensure that the dog chews the watermelon rind before swallowing. 

Otherwise, those large pieces can end up leading to gastrointestinal issues.  

So, can dogs eat watermelon rind? In theory, they can, but if it’s not sliced properly and your dog ends up eating larger pieces, that’s going to be an issue. This is why, it’s not recommended to feed watermelon rind to your dog, to begin with. There are much better watermelon options to consider, as you will notice below. 

How Can you Feed Watermelon To Your Dog? 

If you are wondering if watermelon is bad for dogs. Well the simple answer is definitely no. Watermelon surprisingly great for dogs if you know how to feed it properly and prevent any possible problems. 

Great ways to feed watermelon to dogs:

• Feeding watermelon in chunks by slicing it beforehand can help quite a bit. Good idea to remove the seeds and rinds, as it will be a lot safer for your dog. 
• Watermelon Dog Ice-Cream
• Feed watermelon in frozen chunks. 

What you can do is remove the seeds and rinds, freeze it and then you take it out for your pet to enjoy. 

It’s a great way to cool your dog down, and can lead to some amazing benefits. 

• Another good option is to create puree from watermelon if you can. 

Of course, you still have to remove the rinds and seeds, and you can freeze the puree for later use if you want. 

Should You Call Your Vet If Your Dog Ate Watermelon Rind? 

Quick Answer

Maybe. You should only call the vet if your dog has significant signs that he chokes up or he can’t breathe properly. 

As mentioned above, watermelon rind is not as problematic if the rind is chopped and you only have smaller pieces. This is why we recommend taking your time and chopping the watermelon rind carefully if you want your dog to consume it safely. Yet there are many other ways to serve watermelon, so offering watermelon rind to your dog might not be the best idea, to begin with. 

We also recommend checking on your dog’s health if you decide to offer him watermelon rind. Sometimes, the rind can lead to digestive issues, diarrhea and even stomach pain. Checking that and making sure that your pet is not dealing with any consequences is incredibly important. 

– Remember, watermelon rind can actually be toxic for some dogs. So it’s not worth getting risks to try it out when you can easily feed watermelon in the form of puree or just chopped pieces.

Conclusion – Can dogs eat watermelon skin?

Can dogs eat watermelon skin or watermelon rind?

Ideally, you want to avoid feeding this kind of stuff to your dog, as it can lead to various issues. We always recommend taking your time and talking with the vet, just to make sure everything is ok. 

At the end of the day, you need to focus on the process and ensure that everything is tackled in an appropriate manner. Yes, it’s not going to be easy to stop your dog from eating watermelon rind, but you have to do it. 

Thankfully, you can prepare some watermelon treats beforehand and keep them in the fridge, then offer them to your dog whenever you want. This is the right way to take care of your pet, and the results can indeed be very good. Just try to take that into consideration, and leave watermelon rinds as a last resort.