Can Dogs Eat Orange Peels? No — They Can Block the Gut

Why orange peels are a problem for dogs

The AKC says orange peels are not considered toxic, but they are tough, fibrous and difficult to digest, and that raises the risk of a gastrointestinal blockage that may need veterinary care. A strip of peel does not soften much in the stomach, and dogs rarely chew it properly.

The ASPCA adds that the stems, leaves, peels, fruit and seeds of citrus plants contain citric acid and essential oils. Eating the fruit is unlikely to cause more than minor stomach upset, but the peel holds more of the oils, and large amounts can irritate the gut.

What to do if your dog ate orange peel

Take away any peel that is left and check your dog is not gagging or choking. Estimate how much was eaten: a strip from your snack, the peel of a whole orange, or a bag of peels from the trash. Note your dog's weight too.

For a small strip in a medium or large dog, watching at home is usually enough. For a whole orange's peel in a small dog, or a lot of peel in any dog, call your vet the same day. Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.

For dogs that gulp anything new, a slow feeder bowl or a lick mat keeps portions small and eating slow.

Signs of stomach upset or a blockage

Mild irritation usually shows within a day as drooling, vomiting once, or a soft stool. If your dog is otherwise bright and eating, it usually settles within a day or two.

Call your vet the same day for vomiting that repeats, retching, loss of appetite, a sore or swollen belly, straining or not passing stool, or lethargy over the next few days. Those can be signs that peel is stuck. Go immediately if your dog is choking or collapses.

Orange zest, candied peel and orange oil

Grated zest in baking is a small amount, but the cakes, muffins and cookies it goes into bring sugar and fat, and sometimes raisins or chocolate, which are toxic to dogs. Candied orange peel is sugar-coated and still tough.

Orange essential oil and citrus-scented cleaners are far more concentrated than peel. Do not put citrus oil on your dog or in food or water, and keep bottles and diffusers out of reach. Call your vet or a poison line if your dog licked or swallowed an essential oil.

How to share oranges safely

Peel the orange completely, pull off as much of the white pith as you can, and remove the seeds, which the AKC notes can be a choking hazard for small dogs. Offer a segment, or cut it into pieces for a small dog.

The AKC suggests one or two small segments per day, depending on the dog's size, and says treats should stay within 10 percent of daily calories. As a guide: under 20 lb, half a segment; 20 to 50 lb, one segment; over 50 lb, up to two segments, a few times a week.

Puppies and orange peels

Puppies chew whatever they find, and a peel from the floor or trash is an easy target. Their intestines are narrow, so a piece of peel that an adult dog would pass can block a puppy. Keep peels in a lidded can.

If you want to share orange with a puppy, a small piece of a peeled, seedless segment is enough. Introduce it alone and watch for a soft stool over the next day. Call your vet straight away if a puppy swallowed a large piece of peel.

Other citrus and fruit to give instead

The AKC suggests small pieces of orange or tangerine flesh, without the peel, if your dog enjoys citrus. Lemons, limes and grapefruit are more acidic and better avoided.

Many dogs prefer fruit that is easier on the stomach: blueberries, cored apple slices, seedless watermelon or a few slices of banana. Keep any fruit to a small share of what your dog eats in a day.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.