Can Dogs Eat Papaya? Nutrition Facts & Safety Guide

Our diet is so similar to dogs that we overlook the fact that not all food can be suitable. We need to mind their diet according to their breed and size. It was already proven that fruits can also be healthy for them but can that be said to papaya as well? Yes. Dogs can eat papaya and it’s safe to do so.

There are a lot of dogs that like to eat papayas and some even love them. Here are some things to take note of should you decide to feed your dog some papaya.

Is Papaya Fruit Safe for Your Dog?

It is not just safe to treat your dogs with Papayas but it was confirmed to have health benefits too. Papayas contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber that are nutritious for your dogs. Vitamins K, C, E, and A with antioxidants can help in strengthening the immune system. Vitamins C and its antioxidants further aids in reducing inflammation and healing process for burns. Minerals like potassium, folate, magnesium, and calcium can assist in healthy growth, especially if given to puppies.

Papayas are such a good source of fiber that boosts digestive health. Having similar traits with pineapple, it can help to smoothen the digestion of food.
With all the nutrients papayas have it shows that it’s helpful with dogs that have stomach aches or heartburn.

How to Serve Papayas to Your Dogs

First of all, check the papaya carefully and avoid serving if there are any spots or odor on it. Rinse the papaya then peel off the skin. Dogs are unable to digest the papaya skin and if they accidentally eat it, it may affect cause loose stools.

Papaya seeds can cause an intestinal blockage so it needs to be removed.
Cut the papaya into bite-like portion and see if your dog likes it. Observe for any adverse effect like allergies and if it shows stop immediately. If there’s no issue continue to give papaya as a treat but make sure that it’s in moderation.

There are also varieties of papaya to serve such as dehydrated papayas. It is too sweet that it’s not recommended for dogs with health conditions like diabetes, arthritis, or pancreatitis. Frozen papayas are good to serve during hot days like summer but ensure that your dog doesn’t have sensitive teeth.

There are also papaya enzyme tablets to consider but it cannot be compared to dog pills. It has a similar effect with fresh papaya but it doesn’t contain all the vitamins and minerals seen on fresh papayas. Have a chat with your vet should you decide to have it as one of the supplements for your dogs to help with the dosage.

Just remember that the fresher the papaya the better it will be for your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Papaya Seeds?

Of course, there will always be a risk in eating fruits and that’s no different from papaya.
An allergic reaction can occur if the dog at one point eats papaya. Be vigilant with reddening of the skin particularly near the mouth.

Papaya seeds may look soft and edible but it cannot be digested properly that it may cause pain when being released. It also said that it contains trace amounts of toxic cyanide.

If dogs eat too much papaya it can lead to diarrhea because of its fiber content. Other digestive issues may show if it’s severe.

Consulting your vet regarding any symptoms that are harmful to your dog is the best course of action.

Fun Fact

Have you ever heard of pawpaw? A pawpaw is similar to papaya because it’s under the same category of fruit but they are considered as different. It is more yellow than the papaya and has a mellow taste. Pawpaw is larger and round while the papaya is more oval.

There are many types of papayas and you may get confused about which is the right one for your dog. Green to yellow colored papaya is deemed to be the best choice for dogs. Needless to say, nothing beats fresh fruit when serving it to your dogs.

Featured Image: 3centista from Pixabay