Can Dogs Have Pomegranates?

Pomegranates for Dogs

Apparently, dogs and pomegranates have a rocky connection, as it can be both good and bad for your pup. It’s one of the best fruit options when added to high-quality dog foods by real professionals. But, it can cause all sorts of problems if your pooch snatches a raw pomegranate and devours it in full, along with its seeds of course. If it happens, some vomit and diarrhea may come next.

So, can dogs have pomegranates? Yes, they can because they’re not toxic to dogs. But you should proceed with caution because anything more than a small amount might make your dog sick.

Pomegranates themselves are not dangerous for your pet; in fact, they offer many health benefits in juice and extract form. This fall fruit contains loads of vitamin C, potassium, fiber, folic acid, and antioxidants. The important consideration is regarding the way you feed this fruit to your dog. A large quantity of raw pomegranate will never sit well with your dog’s delicate stomach. Therefore, you should always proceed with small bites or limit yourself to dog foods fortified with pomegranate. That’s how you can keep both dogs and pomegranates in one picture without experiencing any negative effects.

What Makes Pomegranates Bad for Dogs?

As mentioned already, pomegranate is not toxic to dogs, so don’t panic if your dog has one. But, depending on how much he has devoured, be prepared to deal with some tummy troubles and occasional vomit as well.  The reason is that dogs are not tuned to live on a fruit-based diet and their digestive system doesn’t work like ours to process seeds effectively. Therefore, giving them a raw pomegranate is likely to form a double whammy to their stomach and digestive system.

We all treat our canine friends to be part of our family, and it’s natural to think they’re like us. Newsflash: they’re not! Their digestive needs are entirely different and the super punch of antioxidants is a bit too much for them. While your dog may be able to handle a small dose of ellagic acid and anthocyanins found in pomegranate, they just can’t consume these antioxidants in a concentrated form. Tannins in pomegranate have the potential to upset your dog’s stomach but professionally made dog foods with pomegranate have a little amount of those tannins, which is why they are safer for dogs.

Yet another issue is related to the seeds of pomegranates that contain the sweet yet tart juice. The problem is that dogs are such chowhounds that they won’t bother chewing the seeds to release the juice. When swallowed whole, and in large quantities, those seeds are surely going to create all sorts of problems.  But, again, there’s no evidence that pomegranate seeds are poisonous to dogs or cause organ failure after ingesting the fruit.  It means the seeds of pomegranate are different from grapes and raisins that can cause kidney failure in some cases.

Similarly, the outer part of a pomegranate, called the aril, is a bit too tough for dogs to digest.  So, naturally, they’re going to develop digestive issues when they eat its outer part. The peel is also considered a choking hazard, especially for small dog breeds. But, the upside to these digestive issues is that they cause your dog to get rid of the pomegranate on his own.

Is There a Better Way to Give Pomegranate to Your Dog?

While raw pomegranate flesh and seeds are likely to trigger stomach discomfort in dogs, you can reap the health benefits of this fruit by switching to its extract. 

For instance, a recent study has found that supplementing your pooch’s diet with a teaspoon of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) can help provide an antioxidant boost without causing any digestive trouble. In return, it may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in dogs, which is among the most common causes of canine death.  Antioxidants are also beneficial for dogs with allergies because vitamin-C reduces inflammation during flare-ups. Similarly, PPE has anti-inflammatory properties – thanks to its punicalagin content. Therefore, your dog may benefit a lot if he’sstruggling with arthritis or minor joint pain.

Besides giving your canine partner some pomegranate peel extract, you can also include pomegranate dog treats in their diet. It may be a great idea if your pooch is in love with the taste of the juicy fruit. The only consideration is to take your time and opt for high quality treats only.

Alternatively, you can also try some good recipes to include pomegranate in your dog’s diet. While it’s important to talk to your vet about dosing, the following recipe may prove safe in most instances.

The recipe contains only three ingredients –eggs, oats, and pomegranate. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare all the ingredients with cooking taking no longer than 20 minutes. In about half an hour, you’ll have some delicious treats ready for your furry friend.

·        Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.

·        Take a pomegranate and pick seeds out carefully. Add them to the food processor bowl.

·        Now, blend the seeds nicely and stop when thoroughly pulverized.

·        Take 2 cups of oat flour and add it to the pomegranate mixture.  

·        Now, add 2 eggs to the mixture and pulse to pulverize nicely. Stop when you have workable dough – add more flour if needed.

·        Take the mixture and turn it out onto your work surface. Roll it gently to 1/4 –inch thickness.

·        Take a parchment-lined cookie sheet and place nicely cut pieces of dough on it. Bake for about 25 minutes or less if you notice it becomes browned around the edges.

·        Turn off the oven with cookies still inside. Let it cool naturally to get a crunchier cookie.

·         Feed it to your furry friend who is going to love it.

Conclusion

Without a doubt, there are concerns regarding dogs eating certain fruits and vegetables. But, if you make your morning drink with lots of ground-up fruits, including pomegranates, and your canine friend loves licking the inside after you finish your cup, you can find ways to make more fruits available to them. Pomegranate treats are great and so is pomegranate peel extract. So long as you avoid raw pomegranate, you’re less likely to notice any untoward reaction.