Can dogs eat peaches? My mouth is watering at the thought of a juicy peach, and while this succulent summer fruit is good for us humans to eat, you do have to exercise caution when feeding a peach to a dog.
The fact is, dogs can eat peaches but yet again the fruit pit is bad for them. The peach seed contains cyanide and if consumed by your dog will cause all sorts of issues.
However, the juicy part of the peach will be a delicious treat for your pooch, so you do not have to avoid feeding your dog peaches altogether.
Can Dogs Eat Peaches – The Benefits
Peaches are actually packed with health benefits for both our dogs and us. You can feed the juicy peach part to your dog and they will benefit from the rich source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients contained within.
In fact, the Nutritional Guide states that one large peach has fewer than 70 calories and contains 3 grams of fiber. So while being low in fat, a peach will also help with your dog’s digestive system.
Like most fruits, peaches are also a good source of vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is said to help towards cancer prevention.
The vitamins and nutrients within peaches are said to be good in the renewal of skin cells and tissue repair. However, although the studies that report this finding have been carried out to highlight the benefits in humans, they have not been declared as such for canines.
Eating peaches can be good for your dog’s immune system. The fruity goodness helps support normal liver and kidney function due to the anti-oxidant qualities of the peach. This can help keep your dog’s organs working as they should.
Can Dogs Eat Peaches – The Big Precaution
Having said all of the above regarding the benefits of dogs eating peaches, there is still that major issue of the toxic pit. If your dog eats a peach without your supervision, he could very well end up in trouble.
The peach pit contains cyanide, and this can be deadly to a dog. If cyanide is released by through your dog digesting the fruit pit, it will work its way into their liver and cause cyanide poisoning very quickly indeed. The symptoms of this can range from vomiting and diarrhea (a natural reaction to eating the pit and your dog’s way of ridding themselves of the toxic substance), to seizures and death if too much has been consumed without adequate attention.
If you suspect your dog has eaten a peach seed, (and the seeds of fruits such as plum or avocado), you should take him to the vet as soon as possible.
Another hazard is that of the peach pit becoming a throat or intestinal blockage to your dog. Again, the impact of this can be fatal if it stops them from breathing and you are not able to administer the correct care fast enough. Again, your vet should be the first person you call should your dog swallow a peach seed.
Can Dogs Eat Peaches – Preparation
If after the warnings above you still wish to feed your dog peaches, you should obviously remove the pit first. Having done so, small slices as a treat or chunks placed into the bowl will work.
Again, be careful not to over do it. While peaches do have all the health benefits we listed above, and are very delicious, too much of the fleshy fruit part may cause a little tummy ache if your dog is not used to it.
To avoid any potential onset of diarrhea, give your dog only a little bit of peach, (no more than one) at any one sitting.
Bottom Line
While peaches do have their health benefits, the fact they contain a pit that is very poisonous to dogs does mean you need to be careful when feeding your pooch any.
Likewise, if you have a peach tree in the garden, you will want to make sure that the ground is clear of any dropped peaches, so that your dog has no opportunity to start munching on them when left unattended. Similarly, any low hanging peaches on branches should be cleared away if a dog is going to be near by.
Other than that, peaches are perfectly safe for dogs to eat.