Food safety
Can Dogs Eat Dragon Fruit? Yes, the Flesh Without the Skin
Yes, dogs can eat dragon fruit. The ASPCA lists pitaya, the cactus that grows dragon fruit, as non-toxic to dogs and cats, and the soft flesh with its tiny black seeds is easy to share in small pieces. Peel away the thick, leathery skin first, and keep the portion small, because the fruit is sweet and fibrous. Here is how to cut it, how much to give by weight, and what to watch for.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read2 sources
Why dragon fruit is safe for dogs
Dragon fruit, also sold as pitaya or pitahaya, grows on a climbing cactus called Hylocereus. The ASPCA's plant database lists it as non-toxic to both dogs and cats, with no known toxic principles. The flesh, whether white or deep magenta, is mostly water, with some fiber, natural sugar and small amounts of vitamins.
The little black seeds are soft and edible, unlike the hard pits of cherries, peaches or plums, so you do not need to remove them. Do not confuse the fruit with the dragon tree, a common houseplant in the Dracaena family, which the ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs and cats.
How to prepare dragon fruit for your dog
Rinse the fruit, cut it in half lengthwise, and scoop the flesh out with a spoon or peel the skin back. Throw the skin away; it is not known to be toxic, but it is tough, waxy and hard to digest, and big pieces could cause choking or a stomach upset.
Dice the flesh into pieces about the size of a blueberry for dogs under 20 lb and grape-sized pieces for larger dogs. Frozen cubes of plain dragon fruit make a cooling summer treat, and a spoonful mashed into a lick mat stretches a small amount into a longer activity.
Spreading a few safe pieces across a snuffle mat or packing them into a puzzle toy turns a small treat into a few minutes of sniffing work.
How much dragon fruit by dog weight
Keep dragon fruit within the 10 percent treat allowance that applies to all snacks. A dog under 20 lb can have one or two small cubes, a dog of 20 to 50 lb three or four, and a dog over 50 lb a few tablespoons of diced flesh.
Offer it a couple of times a week rather than daily, and start with less the first time to see how your dog's stomach copes. Dogs with diabetes, dogs that are overweight and dogs on a prescription diet should only have fruit if their vet agrees.
Puppies and dragon fruit
Puppies can taste dragon fruit once they are eating solid food. Offer one tiny cube, mashed if your puppy is very young, and wait a day before giving more. Sweet fruit and new textures upset a puppy's stomach more easily than an adult's.
Keep it occasional so it does not crowd out your puppy's complete food. Keep whole fruits and peel out of reach, since a puppy chewing on a large piece of skin is more likely to choke or vomit.
Red urine, dried fruit and other products
Red-fleshed dragon fruit contains strong pigments that can tint stool, and sometimes urine, pink or red for a day after eating. That is harmless on its own. If the color lasts longer than a day, or your dog strains or seems uncomfortable when urinating, call your vet to rule out another cause.
Dried dragon fruit, smoothie bowls, sorbets and dragon fruit drinks usually carry added sugar, and some products use xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. If your dog ate anything containing xylitol, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 right away; a fee may apply.
Signs dragon fruit disagreed with your dog
Too much dragon fruit usually shows as loose stool, gas or vomiting within a few hours to a day, and settles once you stop. A food sensitivity is uncommon, but itchy skin or repeated stomach upset after a new food is worth mentioning to your vet.
Call your vet the same day if vomiting repeats, you see blood in the stool, your dog refuses food, or a dog that swallowed a large piece of skin seems to be gagging or in pain. Choking or trouble breathing needs an emergency clinic now.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can dogs eat dragon fruit skin?
It is best to remove it. The skin is not known to be toxic, but it is thick, waxy and hard to digest, and large pieces could cause choking or vomiting. Scoop out the flesh and throw the skin away.
Can dogs eat dragon fruit seeds?
Yes. The tiny black seeds inside dragon fruit are soft and edible, and there is no need to remove them. They are very different from the hard pits of stone fruits, which should never be given to dogs.
Can dogs eat red dragon fruit?
Yes, red or magenta dragon fruit is just as safe as the white-fleshed kind. Its pigment may tint your dog's stool or urine pink for a day, which is harmless. Call your vet if the color lasts longer.
Can dogs eat frozen dragon fruit?
Yes, plain frozen dragon fruit cubes with no added sugar make a good warm-weather treat. Cut the pieces small before freezing for dogs under 20 lb, and skip frozen smoothie packs with other ingredients.
Is dragon fruit good for dogs?
Dragon fruit is a safe, low-calorie treat for most dogs in small amounts. It is not a necessary part of a dog's diet and should be an occasional extra alongside a complete dog food.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
