Can Dogs Eat Grapefruit?

Our furry friends come to us with four paws and a wet nose, therefore it is important for us to take the right care of them and ensure they don’t accidentally consume something toxic that can leave them ridiculed.

But when it comes to taking care of your dogs and feeding them right, some people often feed them whatever they are eating, and sure biscuits are ok, but are grapefruits as healthy to eat for dogs like humans?

Is there a way to safely feed grapefruits to the dogs?

In this post, you will find that out and more questions regarding grapefruits in dogs that can help you judge if it is best for your pet or not.

We will do this in the form of the most commonly asked questions so that you can directly jump into the exact question you need answers for.

Can dogs have grapefruit juice?

Let’s start with one of the most common ways people consume grapefruit, by using it as a beverage.

And while it has been shown that grapefruit juice is good for humans to get some healthy source of vitamins A and C while also improving their heart, skin and overall immune health it is not the same for your pet.

In fact, grapefruit juices are actually toxic for dogs, grapefruit juices are a huge NO when it comes to giving treats to your pets.

You may look for other alternatives when feeding fruits to your pet, in fact, it can be more dangerous than consuming orange peel.

Can dogs eat grapefruit peel?

No, Feeding or even letting your dog consume the peel of grapefruit is not considered safe by this report.

It can be as toxic as eating the grapefruit itself, so you must avoid feeding your dogs grapefruit or storing them in a place where they can easily reach it.

However, most dogs tend to avoid grapefruit because of how it tastes and also because they are acidic.

It can be hard for some dogs to properly digest peels and can cause things like diarrhoea, vomiting and other harmful things.

In fact, grapefruit flesh is not as safe as some say, it may cause some dogs an allergic reaction and they may have some gut irritation.

How harmful are grapefruits to dogs?

So, let’s come to the main question, is eating grapefruit harmful for your dogs and if it is, how much?

Yes, feeding grapefruits to your dogs is not a good idea, it can cause digestive issues and can cause some diseases that may potentially be fatal to your dog’s overall health.

However, feeding grapefruit to dogs in a small quantity and occasionally may not be that bad, but it is better for you to spend money on buying good dog foods and other short snacks that you can feed safely.

Risking your dog’s health for grapefruit is not an ideal choice so find other types of veggies and snacks.

How much grapefruit can kill my dog?

It is unlikely that grapefruit might kill your dog, maybe if he/she is very weak or small, but mostly consumption of grapefruits can cause discomfort and physical issues like digestive problems, mood swings etc.

But that is no excuse to think of grapefruit as a viable option when it comes to taking care of your pets.

Buy good quality dog foods and consider other types of fruits and vegetables that are healthy for your pets.

Do dogs ever eat grapefruit?

As mentioned, dogs are not very fond of the sour or sweet taste of grapefruit but every once in a while they might want to try it, they might accidentally eat it while reaching for something else.

But most of the time they try to avoid and steer clear from fruits like these as they can smell and they don’t like the smell of grapefruit.

It is however best to store grapefruit in a place where it is not accessible by your dogs, just to be on the safe side.

Can diabetic dogs eat grapefruit?

The same applies to diabetic dogs, regardless of the insulin injections and other types of treatments that do not make your dog immune to the harmful and toxic effects of grapefruit.

Dogs with diabetes will still face issues with their tummy and physical state and in some cases because of your dog’s condition with blood sugar he/she might face other threats to their physical health.

Also as your dog is diabetic you should take extra care and carefully select the meals and snacks you are planning to give them.

My dog accidentally consumed grapefruit. What now?

If your dog ate grapefruits in huge quantities or is showing signs of illness then you should immediately take the help of your nearest veterinarian.

Contact them tell them how much grapefruit your dog ate, what are the symptoms he/she is facing and what can you do right now.

The signs to look out for are depression, vomiting, sudden adverse behaviour and digestive issues like diarrhoea.

But if you are noticing some other form of behaviour that isn’t normal it is still best to give your vet a call.

A veterinarian may conduct a physical test for your dog and may take his/her stool sample for further analysis.

However, if your dog ate a small quantity of grapefruit and is fine after hours then it should not be a matter to be concerned about but be mindful of their behaviour and don’t take any chances.

But what about vitamins in Grapefruit?

While some dog owners might be concerned about feeding the necessary nutrition required by a dog to keep them well-nourished and healthy,

But did you know that dogs don’t need the vitamins packed in a grapefruit?

Yes, Unlike humans dogs can make their own vitamin c and therefore feeding them that in excess amounts only leads to problems discussed above.

And if your dog is really weak or has insufficient vitamins here is a list for you to explore all the healthy forms of vitamins and sources to feed them.

Final words:

Grapefruit is one of the fruits that are not advisable to feed animals including cats, dogs and even horses.

While nutritious and delicious to humans they don’t do much of favour on your pet's health and therefore you should take great care while buying and storing grapefruits in a secure location.

There are really more reasons for you to keep your dogs away from grapefruit.

But there are other forms of treats you can safely give to your pets like biscuits, apples, chicken etc.

The list goes on, but just for keeping things safe it is best to avoid feeding your dogs grapefruit as each dog may have different adverse effects to them.

Thank you for reading!