Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Small amounts of pomegranate can be okay for dogs, but too much can make them sick, especially the seeds and peel.
- Pomegranates are high in fiber, potassium, folic acid, and vitamin C.
- There are better fruit options than pomegranate to give your dog.
The quick answer: Proceed with caution. A small amount might be fine, but pomegranate tends to make most dogs sick.
The mighty pomegranate
Pomegranates originated throughout the Mediterranean region and have been cultivated since ancient times. The fruit is high in vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, and fiber. Pomegranates are also rich in antioxidants and often considered a superfood. Though pomegranates are super healthy for humans, dogs don’t necessarily benefit from these nutrients in the same way.
Hazards of pomegranates
Pomegranate isn’t poisonous to dogs, so if your dog is quick to gobble up dropped food scraps, you don’t need to worry. However, this exotic fruit is known to make dogs sick. Eating some of the fruit seeds from a pomegranate may give your dog a tummy ache and/or cause vomiting. Dogs aren’t able to digest seeds and fruits as effectively as humans which could be one reason pomegranates cause issues for pups who eat them. Another theory suggests that dogs become sick from the high amount of tannins in a pomegranate.
The peel of a pomegranate should be securely discarded. Because it is so tough, it is difficult to digest and can pose a choking hazard or even cause internal blockage if swallowed. Signs your dog has an intestinal obstruction include vomiting, decreased appetite, and constipation due to the inability to pass food through the digestive system.
Finally, a pomegranate simply isn’t a very practical fruit to share with dogs. Because the seeds are so small, your dog might swallow them whole without even tasting it (and if that’s the case, there are many better fruit options to share with your pup). Plus, peeling and deseeding a pomegranate requires a bit of effort.
If you’re not sure what to share, Healthy Paws has a great list of foods that are safe and not safe for dogs.
