Curious about whether dogs can eat persimmons? Persimmons are loaded with vitamin C, which is generally healthy for dogs. However, it is important to know that canines actually produce their own. While your dog can have persimmons, it’s best to keep this delicious berry limited to a sweet treat. And when you do give your dog persimmons, you must always remove the pit. The seeds and pit can cause problems in your dog’s small intestine, including blockage and diarrhea.
Although fruits can be an excellent addition to your pup’s diet, like all good things, moderation is critical before things turn bad. Let’s explore the health benefits of persimmons as well as how they can be toxic and dangerous for dogs to eat often.
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Are Persimmons Toxic To Dogs?
Many human foods are not safe for dogs to eat, but you can rest-assured that persimmons are not toxic to dogs or bad for them to have as a treat. While they can be known to cause a bit of diarrhea in some pets, they are actually loaded with health benefits, and they are good for dogs when given in moderation.
Persimmons are high in vitamin A, potassium, lycopene, manganese, folic acid, and beta-carotene. Most of these nutrients are anti-oxidants, so persimmons are a great addition to most canine diets. Another benefit is that persimmons have anti-inflammatory properties, making them good for dogs that suffer from stiff joints or arthritis.
Persimmons Are Natural Laxatives
One of the biggest problems with persimmons is that they are a natural laxative. While they are not going to harm your puppy, they may cause a bit of diarrhea. Small dogs should only have a few bites of persimmon, while medium to large breed dogs can have one or two persimmons per serving. If you notice diarrhea, stop feeding persimmons to your dogs and find other healthy treats to feed them instead.
Can Dogs Eat Persimmon Seeds?
Many fruit seeds are actually toxic and dangerous for dogs to have. Fortunately, persimmon seeds are not toxic, but they do pose other dangers, so you should avoid them anyway. Persimmons are large, so it only stands to reason that their seeds are large, and can pose a choking hazard.
They can also cause health problems by inflaming your dog’s small intestine or causing intestinal blockage. Make sure that you remove the seeds before giving your dogs persimmons.
If one of your dogs eats a persimmon while you’re not looking, and ends up swallowing the whole thing, seed and all, watch for signs of choking. Generally, it’s a good idea to also contact your veterinarian and explain the situation, as you may have to take your dog in to be examined if the seed causes any type of blockage.
Yes, Dogs Can Eat Persimmons in Moderation
Persimmons are a great choice when you’re deciding which fruits to add to your dogs’ diets. Most dogs enjoy the taste of the fruit which means it’s likely that yours will too. If not, there are other options that are just as healthy, including apples, bananas, and watermelon, and dogs seem to love all of these.
Always make sure that you remove the seed before giving your dogs persimmons, and of course, that you wash them thoroughly, especially if they are not freshly picked and coming from a super market.
