Can dogs eat tangerines? We’re all well-acquainted with the mini-me orange that is the tangerine, and most of us adore them. So, it’s reasonable to wonder if your canine companion may, as well. But are these fruits safe for dogs to consume?
The short answer is yes, tangerines are safe for dogs to consume but do require a bit of preparation on your part to be safe. Dogs either love or despise citrus fruits, so you’ll have to give it a go and see. But the pups who do love oranges, as well as their cousin fruits, will love this treat.
While tangerines are a well-known fruit, it’s still always a must to run new doggy diet additions by your veterinarian. In the meantime, here is what you should know about why tangerines make for an excellent and juicy pup treat.
How Are Tangerines Good For Dogs?
Tangerines are the perfect summer fruit — light, sweet, and entirely refreshing. We love them, so there’s really no reason to think that our dogs wouldn’t. And luckily, they’re dog safe!
Also, they can be quite fun! Tossing a little tangerine morsel to your pup to catch mid-air is usually a fun activity for them. Plus, it allows you to have control over properly preparing the bit they consume.
Fun aside, tangerines are also quite nutritionally beneficial for dogs. They include vitamin C, folate, potassium, and beta-carotene.
According to RVT Rachel Hinder of Embrace Pet Insurance, “Giving dogs tangerines in small quantities won’t hurt them and will provide some of those valuable nutrients.”
Dogs can be a bit iffy about citrus, so you’ll just have to test it out. However, if your dog typically likes oranges or other citrus fruits, then likely they’ll love tangerines.
How Can I Safely Give Tangerines To My Dog?
Moderation and proper preparation need to be employed when serving your dog tangerine. Luckily, this fruit makes preparation really simple.
Tangerines should always be peeled free of the skin. Citrus fruit skins tend to be rich in oils that cause severe stomach upset in dogs.
Offering your dog a whole tangerine is definitely not a good idea. However, if your dog does ingest the peel, they’ll likely process it and be just fine. This can vary, though, depending on the size of your dog.
Seeds are also always a cause for concern. Seeds in some fruits, such as apples and pears, contain cyanide, but even when they don’t possess toxic properties, they’re a choking hazard.
All you need to do to safely serve tangerine to your dog is peel the skin, push out the seeds from the fruit, peel off any of the white under-peel stuck to the flesh, and you’re good to go.
That being said, moderation is really important here. Tangerines are a high-sugar fruit, and too many can cause serious digestion issues and an unbalanced diet. Additionally, dried tangerine should be avoided, as it has an even higher concentration of sugar.
Does your dog enjoy the occasional tangerine treat? Or does your dog have an aversion to citrus fruits? Let us know in the comments below.
