Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Yes, Without Seeds or Rind

Why watermelon is a safe summer snack

Watermelon flesh is mostly water with a little natural sugar, fiber and vitamins A and C. There is nothing in the ripe red fruit that is poisonous to dogs, and the AKC describes it as generally safe when it is prepared properly and given in moderation.

Because it is so watery, watermelon fills a dog up on very few calories, which makes it a better choice than most packaged treats. It is still a treat, though. It does not replace fresh water on a hot day, and it does not replace a complete dog food.

Seeds and rind: the real risks

Black seeds are the main hazard. One or two swallowed seeds rarely cause a problem in a big dog, but a small dog that eats a slice with the seeds in can choke, and many seeds together can bunch up in the gut. Seedless melons still have soft white seeds; those are less of a worry, but picking out what you can is sensible.

The green rind is hard to digest. A dog that chews a rind at a picnic can end up with vomiting, diarrhea or, if a large piece goes down, a blockage. Never hand over a whole wedge to gnaw on, and keep the rinds out of reach after a cookout.

How to prepare watermelon for dogs

Cut the melon into slices, then run a knife between the red flesh and the white inner rind so no green or white is left. Flick out the black seeds with the tip of the knife and dice the flesh into cubes sized for your dog, blueberry-size for a toy breed and an inch across for a large dog.

For a summer treat, freeze the cubes on a tray or blend seedless flesh and freeze it in an ice-cube tray. If you mix in yogurt, use plain unsweetened yogurt with no xylitol or other sweetener, which the AKC flags as a hidden danger in "light" products.

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 watermelon by dog weight

Keep all treats to roughly 10 percent of your dog's daily calories. Watermelon is light, but the sugar still counts. A practical guide: under 20 lb, two or three small cubes; 20 to 50 lb, a quarter cup or so; over 50 lb, up to half a cup of cubes.

Spread it out rather than giving a whole bowl at once. Start with a few pieces the first time and wait a day to see how your dog does. Dogs with diabetes should only have sweet fruit if the vet who manages their diabetes agrees.

Can puppies eat watermelon?

Yes, a weaned puppy can try a few tiny, seedless pieces of watermelon. Puppies are more likely to gulp food and more prone to upset stomachs, so keep pieces small and soft, and give watermelon on a day when nothing else in their diet is new.

Frozen cubes can be soothing for a teething puppy, but very hard frozen fruit can be a lot for small jaws. Let the cubes soften slightly first, and keep the serving to a couple of pieces.

Signs to watch for and when to call a vet

Too much watermelon usually shows up as loose stool, extra urination or a little gas within the same day. That generally settles once the fruit has passed. Offer water as normal and skip treats the next day.

Call a vet the same day if your dog swallowed a large piece of rind or a lot of seeds and then vomits repeatedly, strains or cannot pass stool, stops eating or seems sore in the belly. Those can be signs of a blockage, and blockages are easier to deal with early.

Other ways to cool your dog down

If melon is not for your dog, try cucumber slices, a few blueberries, or plain frozen pumpkin puree in a lick mat. Each gives your dog something cold and interesting without a lot of sugar.

Skip watermelon candy, watermelon-flavored drinks and any fruit salad that has grapes mixed in. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage in dogs, and candy can contain xylitol.

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