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Dogs love vegetables, especially crunchy ones with light and subtle flavors! Munching down on a veggie is a great way to keep your pup entertained, and give them a healthy treat that can promote healthy digestion, and give your dog an extra boost of vital nutrients.
While every dog’s taste buds are different, one of the most universally loved vegetables is cucumber!
So refreshing and crisp, cucumbers are a delightful snack for humans and canines alike, and a perfectly safe treat to share with your pup. In this quick guide, we’re going over the basics of feeding your dog the occasional cucumber piece and answering common questions about the humble cucumber.
Are Cucumbers Safe for Dogs?
The answer to ‘can dogs eat cucumbers’ is simple. Yes! Cucumbers are a completely safe food for dogs, so unless your dog has a cucumber allergy, it’s totally fine to share a slice or two with your canine companion.
It’s worth noting that some dogs may be extra sensitive to new foods, or foods that are high in fiber, like vegetables. This can cause some dogs to experience an upset stomach, diarrhea, bloating, etc., but is rarely serious. If your dog has severe allergies be sure to consult with your veterinarian before introducing a new food.
Nutritional Value of Cucumbers
Like most vegetables, cucumbers contain a healthy amount of fiber, which can help keep your pup comfortable and regular. Cucumbers also include a small amount of vitamin C, an important antioxidant. Since your dog shouldn’t be eating a lot of cucumbers, they won’t get much fiber or vitamin C from the occasional cuke treat.
What dogs can benefit from is the hydrating water content of cucumbers. Cucumbers are around 96% water, making them a great choice for keeping pups hydrated in the summer or encouraging dogs that are reluctant to drink to consume more water.
How Much Cucumber Can Dogs Eat?
A few slices every once in a while (i.e. once a week).
Cucumbers are super low in calories, so you don’t have to worry about high blood sugar or excessive calorie consumption if your pooch eats too many pieces. However, it’s important to remember that eating too much of anything can cause an upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, bloat, and general discomfort.
As long as you feed your dog cucumbers in moderation, they don’t need to worry about how they will impact your dog’s health.
Dogs & Cucumbers FAQ
Because cucumbers are such a popular healthy dog treat, there are tons of questions from loving pet owners beyond “can dogs eat cucumbers?” Here are just a few of the most common questions about this tasty veggie:
Can Dogs Eat Cucumber Skin?
⚠️ Yes, but in moderation. Most dogs have no problem eating and digesting cucumber skin, but if you want to be extra safe or your dog has a sensitive stomach, remove the skin. Because the skin is tougher than the interior of the cucumber it can be slightly more difficult to digest, which could trigger a reaction in sensitive pups.
Can Dogs Eat Cucumber Seeds?
⚠️ Yes, but in moderation. Like the skin of the cucumber, the seeds are typically safe for dogs to eat. However, removing the seeds is a good idea for dogs with sensitive stomachs, or for the first time you introduce this food to your pooch.
Can Dogs Eat Cucumber Flavored Foods?
❌ No. In general, it’s best to avoid artificially flavored foods. Cucumber-flavored foods may also contain other ingredients that are unsafe for dogs, so stick to dog-approved cucumber treats or raw, unseasoned cucumbers.
Can Dogs Drink Cucumber Water?
✅ Yes! Give your dog the spa experience by offering them a bowl of water with cucumber slices floating in it. Beware, your pup might end up bobbing for cucumbers and making a mess, so consider putting their bowl on a towel.
Can Dogs Eat Whole Cucumbers?
⚠️ Theoretically yes, but it’s not recommended. Whole cucumbers pose a potential choking hazard, so it’s better to cut a small piece for your dog instead. If your dog somehow gets ahold of and eats an entire cucumber, just be sure to keep an eye on them for any signs of gastrointestinal distress.
Fun Ways To Feed Your Dog Cucumber
A simple slice of cucumber is a fabulous treat for your dog, but if you want to spice things up a little to pamper your pooch, try this dog-friendly recipe featuring cucumber:
No-Bake Dog Pancake Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of rolled oats
- 1-2 ripe bananas
- 1 tablespoon of ground sunflower seeds
- 100 grams of firm tofu
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- ½ cup of plant milk (or you can use vanilla soy milk)
- sliced cucumber and coconut for decoration
Directions
- Pulse oats in a food processor until a powdery oat flour forms.
- Add bananas and milk to oat flour and blend until smooth.
- Preheat a nonstick pan over medium heat. If your pan isn’t nonstick, grease it with coconut oil.
- Using a small spoon, add the pancake batter to the hot pan. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side.
- Remove pancakes from heat and allow them to cool completely.
In meantime, make the frosting. Blend tofu and tahini in a food processor. Add about a third of a cup of milk at a time until you get a thick, hummus-like texture.
- To assemble, place a dab of tofu frosting on a plate, followed by a pancake. Spread some tofu and tahini frosting on the first pancake, then top with the second. Repeat until you have used 4-6 small pancakes. All ingredients must be cold.
- Frost the sides of the cake using the leftover frosting.
- Lastly, decorate the cake with cucumber and coconut slices.
As we enter the hot summer months, plenty of people are taking a bite out of fresh, cold fruit to ward off the heat. A little bit of citrus — with its refreshing bite and pleasant sweetness — is the perfect way to keep yourself hydrated and energized, but can dogs partake in this yummy treat?
At The Dog Bakery, we’re committed to making sure every dog gets to enjoy as much of the world’s flavors as they can. That’s why we’re constantly reviewing foods to see if they’re dog-safe. We’ve covered mangos, avocados, and more! Now, we’re taking a bite out of tangerines.
Can Dogs Eat Tangerines?
Let’s start with the big question…
Yes! Dogs can eat tangerines!
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s run through a few of the most frequently asked questions about feeding dogs tangerines.
Are Tangerines Healthy for Dogs?
✅ Yes! These delightful fruits are — like oranges — packed with plenty of vitamins and minerals. They’re a major source of:
- Fiber
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
However, tangerines are also full of sugar. So, like most fruits, they should be given in moderation.
Can Dogs Eat Clementines?
✅ Yes! Clementines are in the same family as oranges, and they’re safe to feed your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Mandarin Oranges?
✅ Yes! Mandarin oranges are safe to feed your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Satsuma?
✅ Yes! A satsuma is just another type of mandarin orange, which means it’s safe for dogs to eat.
Can Dogs Eat Tangerines or Oranges?
✅ Yes! Both tangerines and oranges are safe for dogs to eat. If you’re planning on feeding your dog some oranges, be sure to remove any seeds and fully peel them before you serve them to your pup.
Can Dogs Eat Tangerine Peels?
❌ No. While dogs can technically eat tangerine and orange peels, they’re extremely hard to digest. To ensure a safe and fun treating experience, you’ll want to remove the peels from any citrus fruits that you serve to your dogs.
How Many Tangerines Can a Dog Eat?
You should only give your dog a few slices of oranges or tangerines in a single sitting. These fruits contain a lot of sugar, so they’re not the best thing to give to your pooch. Nonetheless, your dog will enjoy having a few bites of fresh oranges and tangerines from time to time.
Is It Okay to Let Your Dog Eat Oranges?
✅ Yes! Oranges are a safe treat for dogs to have.
How Should I Serve Oranges and Tangerines to My Dog?
There are plenty of ways to give your dog some fun citrusy treats!
The easiest approach will be to find seedless varieties, such as clementines and “Cuties”, and serve them up after peeling. You can also use seeded varieties, but you’ll want to remove the seeds before giving them to your dog.
If you want to get a little fancier with your plating, you can also try some of these amazing pup-friendly orange and tangerine treats!
Citrus Pupsicle
With a few ingredients, a freezer, and some ice cube trays or popsicle molds, you can easily make some delicious frozen treats for your pup. These are great bite-sized ways to keep your dog cool this summer, and they’re delicious enough for you to eat, too!
To make Citrus Pupsicles, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 whole orange or tangerine, peeled
- ½ cup of plain low-fat yogurt
Once you have this massive (wink wink!) ingredient list ready, it’s time to get started!
- After peeling and removing any seeds from your orange or tangerine, place all of the separated slices into a blender or food processor along with the yogurt.
- Blend this mixture until it’s nice and smooth.
- Pour the mixture into your molds.
- Let the molds rest in the freezer until they’re firm. An overnight stay should do the job.
When you’re ready to serve these delicious treats, just pop them out of the mold and serve them directly to your dog! You can even take one for yourself.
Tangerine and Carob Cookies
Give your pup a taste of chocolate with this pup-safe recipe, which uses dog-friendly carob instead of chocolate. To make this treat, you’ll need:
- 1 cup of carob chips
- 4 clementines or tangerines, peeled
- ⅛ cup of flaxseed meal
- 2½ cups of flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
To make the treat:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Add the tangerines to a blender and puree.
- Mix the carob chips, flaxseed meal, flour, eggs, and olive oil in a large bowl. Add the clementine puree when you’re satisfied with the consistency.
- Knead the dough before spreading it out into ¼-inch thick sheets. Cut out the dough with a cookie cutter.
- After spreading the cookies on a baking sheet, cook for 20–25 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool before serving
Your dog will love these sweet treats, and you might even be tempted to take a bite for yourself!
If you want to give your dog a taste of everything, be sure to drop by our store! We have plenty of unique dog-safe treats, including homemade baked goodies.
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