Can Dogs Eat Mandarins? Best Way to feed Them to Your Dog
Mandarins are one of the many citrus fruits from the orange family. They are smaller than oranges and flatter on the bottom and top. Also, their skin is thinner and easier to remove.
The fruits offer many benefits to the human body and are some of the sweetest around. While enjoying them, you may wonder if your dog can also have some. Yes! Dogs can eat mandarins since they aren’t harmful.
Nutritional Value of Mandarins
They contain a couple of elements like:
- Vitamin C – The vitamin, commonly found in citrus fruits, is beneficial to dogs as it is to people. It helps in fighting infections and boosting antibody levels.
- Potassium – It ensures nerves, muscles, and other parts function well.
- Fiber – Fiber boosts a healthy bowel movement and inhibits constipation in your dog. A mid-sized mandarin has 1.6g of fiber. This is a healthy quantity for your pooch to be consuming.
- Iron – Dogs require enough iron to help oxygen circulate to all their body parts. Iron deficient dogs will experience body weakness.
- Vitamin B6 – This is an all-rounder component in your pet’s system. It helps in many body functions, such as growth and reproduction.
- Calcium – Like tangerines, 88g of mandarin contains 36.6 grams of calcium. This is a sufficient amount. Dogs require a good amount of calcium in their meals as the component is important for healthy bones, muscle growth, and teeth maintenance.
Can Dogs Eat Mandarins Safely? Any Toxic Elements?
Some components of mandarins might pose a danger to your dog, good examples being linalool and limonene. They are found in the outer skin of citrus fruits such as oranges and mandarins. So, please don’t allow your dog to eat orange peels or mandarin peels since they are toxic.
The health impacts of linalool and limonene range from moderate to life-threatening based on the quantity they eat.
Look out for symptoms such as:
Additional Ways Mandarins can be Toxic to Your Dog
Peels are not the only non-edible parts of this citrus fruit. Seeds can also be harmful to your dog as they contain a small quantity of cyanide. Note that cyanide can cause poisoning in the dog’s digestive system.
Furthermore, seeds are known to be choking hazards for pets and might cause constipation.
Is Canned Mandarin Safe for Your Dog?
A canned mandarin offers great convenience since it’s seedless and peeled. All you need to do is unseal the can and pour its contents into your pet’s bowl.
However, it can be toxic since it is packaged with artificial sweeteners like xylitol. As a result, your dog might experience serious health issues due to high or low blood sugar. Here are the symptoms of a more than average level of blood sugar in your pet’s system.
- Swollen liver
- Kidney infection
- Infections become harder to treat
- Excessive weight gain
- Wounds and cuts take longer to heal
Note that canned mandarins undergo a long production procedure to make sure they stay fresh for long. During the process, plenty of toxic additives are added.
Nevertheless, if you have to buy the canned variety, ensure to check the expiration date. Moreover, don’t buy cans that look spoiled on the outside. These cans might have holes in them, letting air get into the can, making the fruits poisonous.
How to Safely Feed Your Pet Mandarins
- Feed your pup mandarins 3 times a week
- Remove the skin, the seeds and pitch beforehand
- A single mandarin in one serving is enough
- Look out for any side effects
Alternatives to Mandarins
If your pup develops a sweet tooth for mandarins and yet you can’t find any, you can feed it other citrus fruits such as oranges, clementines and tangerines. However, ensure to exercise moderation while feeding them to your pup to avoid an upset stomach or digestive issues.
At all costs, avoid lemons and limes as they contain compounds that can harm your furry friend.
Final Words
Mandarins are not integrally harmful to your dog. They are a good source of essential nutrients. Remember that feeding your dog with mandarin is all about balance. Provided they eat the proper proportion of the fruit, they’ll be OK.
Peels, pitches, seeds and canned mandarins are a big no for your dog.
Further Reading:
- Can Dogs Eat Grapefruit?
- Can Dogs Eat Pomelo?
- Can Dogs Eat Nectarines? Benefits and Risks
- Can Dogs Eat Persimmons?