25 Fruits Dogs Can and Can't Eat [+Infographic]

Apple 🍏| Apricots | Avocado 🥑| Bananas 🍌| Blackberries | Blueberries | Cantaloupe | Cherries 🍒| Cranberries | Coconut 🥥| Dates | Figs | Grapes 🍇| Honeydew 🍈| Kiwi 🥝| Mango 🥭| Oranges 🍊| Peaches 🍑| Pears 🍐| Pineapple 🍍| Plums | Raspberries | Strawberries 🍓| Tangerines 🍊| Watermelon 🍉

Why Feed Fruit to Dogs?

Fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are good for us. Indeed, some fruits are superfoods and help fight cancer. But are all fruits good for dogs too?

The answer is both yes and no. While many fruits are safe for dogs to eat, some fruits are toxic, and some carry unwanted risks. For example, dogs cannot eat avocados and grapes, while the pits in cherries and plums can also pose a problem.

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On the contrary, some other fruits help strengthen their immune system, improve skin, reduce inflammations, and aid digestion. With this in mind, for your dog's well-being, it's essential to know which fruits dogs can eat and which may be dangerous for their health.

Fruits Dogs CAN Eat ✅

Wondering what fruits are good for dogs? Here's your guide to fruity goodness for your pup.

Apples

Can dogs eat apples? Come on, who would resist munching on a crunchy apple? The flesh is a sweet, juicy source of vitamin A & C and an excellent source of fiber but beware the seeds. Apples pose no significant concerns for dogs' health except for apple seeds. They usually contain traces of cyanide, and dogs should avoid them.

Also, an apple core is a choking hazard. To keep tails wagging, feed your dog sliced, deseeded apples!

Bananas

Bananas come in convenient packaging (the skin) and makes for a healthy snack on the move. They are packed with potassium, which is essential for a strong heart and efficient kidneys. Bananas are also decent snacks for dogs, thanks to their high biotin, magnesium, and fiber content.

But be aware bananas are high in sugar. If your dog gains weight easily, give bananas only as an occasional treat. Also, be wary of peels. Banana peels are not toxic to canines, but they can cause intestinal blockage.

Blackberries

These berries are juicy, delicious, and full of vitamins. But can dogs eat blackberries? The rich dark color hints that blackberries are high in antioxidants, along with vitamin A and C. They contribute to a strong immune system and healthy skin in dogs.

Too many blackberries can cause tummy upset and diarrhea, so you should mind the portions. As for the serving type, feel free to give fresh or baked blackberries in moderate amounts.

Blueberries

Are fruits good for dogs? It's a big "yes" for blueberries.
These juicy bubbles of goodness are rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants. Dubbed a superfood by some, blueberries are also packed with fiber and phytochemicals, making them a solid treat for your pup.

Blueberries are an ideal training treat. An individual blueberry gives a rewarding pop of sweetness with added antioxidants and vitamins.

Melon

Can dogs eat cantaloupe melon? Yes, but only in moderation. This fruit has high sugar content. Diabetic dogs and those prone to weight gain should only eat cantaloupe as an occasional treat.

Prepare cantaloupe for your pet by removing the seeds and cutting the flesh into chunks. Don't let your pup lick the melon skin as it may harbor bacteria. Also, cantaloupe rinds, much like watermelon ones, should be removed to eliminate the choking risks.

On the plus side, cantaloupe is rich in vitamin A, B, and C. These are great for digestive health and strengthen the immune system.

Cranberries

Cranberries are fine treats for dogs, which your pooch might enjoy. These make a tart treat, which isn't suited to every dog's taste. Cranberries contain vitamin C and are naturally acidic, which makes them a natural urinary disinfectant. For this reason, cranberries are recommended for dogs with urinary tract issues. As with many fruits, cranberries are good in moderation.

Can dogs eat cranberries? Yes
Will all dogs enjoy eating cranberries? Possibly not.

Coconut

Coconut milk is heralded for its health-giving properties, but what about coconut meat? Can dogs eat coconut?

Coconut is arguably just as good for dogs as oil. It is a source of natural anti-inflammatories, which can benefit conditions like arthritis, skin allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease.

However, the upside of coconut is also its weakness. Coconut meat contains medium-chain triglycerides (a form of fat). It makes it unsuitable for dogs prone to pancreatitis or those with delicate stomachs.

Coconut meat is high calorie, so pooches on diets should avoid it.

Honeydew Melon

And can dogs eat honeydew? It is a sugary sweet treat suitable for most dogs, except for pups with diabetes. The high sugar content makes it unwise to give honeydew to a diabetic dog.

Honeydew is rich in vitamin B & C and has a potassium content similar to bananas. It also contains traces of copper and iron, which makes for healthy red blood cells.

Honeydew has to be served without any seeds and preferably cut into tiny cubes. Remember that honeydew is still a treat because feeding too much may cause diarrhea and stomach upset.

Kiwi

Kiwi is a safe fruit for dogs that contains healthy doses of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. It also contains flavonoids and carotenoids, which are great antioxidants. They protect against cancer, help cell rejuvenation, and strengthen the immune system.

This juicy snack contributes towards healthy skin, blood circulation, and the digestive system. Although canines' nutritional requirements are different from humans', kiwi is still an excellent snack for your pooch.

Mango

Mangos make for a tasty, nutritious treat. But can dogs eat mango as a part of a regular diet? Rich in carotenoids, potassium, vitamins, and minerals, strips of mango flesh are sweet treats for pups. However, mango should still be served sparingly or as a part of a balanced canine diet.

Be careful to remove the hard pit. Like apples, the mango pit contains cyanide which is toxic to dogs and interferes with breathing. Also, a mango pit swallowed whole will block the bowel, requiring urgent surgery to remove it.

Oranges

Oranges are rich in vitamin C and can help flush toxins from the body for a natural detox. Peel your pooch an orange to boost their skin and coat condition. Sweet and juicy, oranges are safe for dogs and taste great. Generally, oranges, tangerines, and mandarines should still be an occasional treat and not a regular diet.

Read more: Can Dogs Eat Oranges? Benefits of The Tasty Citrus

Avoid feeding orange skin, large amounts of pith, or seeds to your dog. These parts of an orange contain an oil that may irritate dogs' stomachs and is best avoided.

Pears

Are pears good for dogs? Shortly, pear is a safe fruit for canines. On the nutritional side, pears contain copper, fiber, and vitamin C & K. Vitamin K is essential to aid blood clotting, while vitamin C makes for a strong immune system.

As with other fruits, to get the most of pears, you should remove the pit and seeds first since they contain cyanide in tiny amounts. Besides that, pears are best served fresh rather than canned with sweet syrup.

Pineapple

Is pineapple good for dogs? The short answer is a big "yes."

Beneath their tough, prickly skin (remove and feed only the flesh to your dog) lays a cocktail of sweet goodness. Pineapples contain vitamins, folate, and zinc which are great for a dog's digestion and immune system. This fruit also contains bromelain, which helps break down proteins and makes them easier to digest.

Be aware pineapples are sweet and sugary, so feed in moderation. Also, big chunks can pose a choking hazard, so keep those pieces treat-sized.

Raspberries

Rich in vitamin C, manganese, and fiber, raspberries are a tasty antioxidant treat. But are raspberries good for dogs? Thanks to their nutritional benefits, an occasional raspberry won't hurt your dog.

However, raspberries might contain micro-traces of natural xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. It means that dogs can have raspberries in moderation but don't feed them by the bucket load.

Strawberries

And what about strawberries? A humble strawberry contains various healthy nutrients; these include manganese, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamin C, E & K.

Thanks to their enzyme content and a solid nutritional profile, strawberries are also great for dogs' health. This substance can mildly whiten a pup's teeth, which is another great perk.

On the downside, strawberries contain a protein (which gives strawberries their red color) which causes an allergic reaction in some individuals. The signs include swelling of the dog's lips and a sore mouth, some of the common allergic reactions in dogs.

Tangerines

Can dogs eat tangerines? Much like oranges and other citrus fruits, tangerines are safe for dogs to eat. In some cases, tangerines can also cause stomach upsets.

They should still be served in moderation because of their high sugar content. So if your dog has an excessive weight, mind that tangerines should be more of an occasional treat.

Watermelon

Think of watermelon as a refreshing and healthy drink. Made up of 92% water, a slice of watermelon is an excellent way to give your dog extra fluid in hot weather. But is watermelon good for dogs?

The answer is "yes," but with a few precautions. Watermelon contains vitamin A, B6 & C, and potassium, promoting healthy nerve function and strong muscles. Watermelon rinds are choking hazards, so you should remove them in the first place.

Fruits Dogs CAN'T Eat ❌

Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, some fruits are not as innocent as they appear. There are fruits dogs can't eat because the flesh is dangerous, or the pits will make your fur friend ill.

Apricots

Can dogs have apricots? Not really. While the fruit is succulent and bursting with potassium and beta carotene, the pit is dangerous.

Just like apples, plums, and peaches, apricot pits are a source of toxic cyanide. And to make matters worse, the pit is the right size to lodge in a small dog's gut which can cause a serious blockage. And if your pooch eats too many apricots, they can cause diarrhea and stomach upset.

As a compromise, always slice the fruit of the pit when giving apricots to your dog.

Avocado

You or one of your friends probably like to eat avocado toast for breakfast. They are really nutritious and healthy. But not everything that is good for humans is good for animals. Avocados contain a substance called persin, which is toxic to dogs. The concentration of persin is highest in the peel, but even the flesh contains too much for a dog to handle.

Compared to other animals, dogs are the most resistant to persin, but the risk is not worth it because avocados contain too little for a dog to eat properly.

How do you know if your dog has been poisoned by a peach? The symptoms of peach poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea. If your dog has accidentally eaten an avocado, contact your veterinarian for advice. You can avoid a lengthy visit to the vet and discuss the problem with him/her using Vet Chat. You'll get a quick response from a certified veterinarian at any time for any health-related question, including your dog's diet.

Cherries

Cherry pulp is delicious, but there's not much of it compared to the size of the pit. So, can dogs eat cherries? A significant risk here is your dog gorges on the tasty pulp and will gobble down the pits by accident. While technically cherry flesh is OK for dogs, the high cyanide content in stems, leaves, and pit make this fruit unsuitable for canines.

Not only do the pits contain cyanide, causing breathing difficulties and death, but they will also block the bowel. Untreated, this damages the gut wall and can be fatal.

Dates

Are dates good for dogs? Although dates aren't toxic, they aren't recommended as a dog treat. For one thing, only the flesh is edible and can have at least some nutritional benefits. A dog wolfing down whole dates, including the pits, risks a serious bowel obstruction.

Also, dates are high in fiber and sugar, so eating more than a few causes doggy diarrhea. Don't panic if your dog snaffles the odd date, but this isn't something to encourage.

Figs

Can dogs have figs? They are one of those fruits dogs can't eat except in strict moderation. The advice is to feed no more than one or two fresh figs per week as their high fiber content causes diarrhea in dogs.

In addition, figs contain ficin, which can be irritant to some dogs. Signs of a reaction include heavy drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. Don't panic if this happens; fig flesh isn't a toxin, just an irritant, so the symptoms should pass.

Grapes

Grapes head the list of fruits dogs can't eat.

Both grapes and raisins are highly toxic to dogs. Feeding even a few can cause kidney failure in some unlucky dogs. The toxin is as yet unidentified, but this doesn't change the fatal facts.

Never feed grapes (or raisins) to dogs. If your dog consumed grapes accidentally, contact your vet immediately.

Peaches

Can dogs eat peaches? Vitamin A in this fruit can help dogs fight infection. While it's fine to offer your dog slices of fresh peach, once again, it's the pit that's a hazard. Still, don't forget that fruits should be just a tiny part of a dog's diet, and the same applies to peaches.

The pit is the perfect size to lodge in the intestine and cause a life-threatening blockage. Plus, pits contain cyanide. Enough said.

Plums

Can dogs eat plums? The problem with plums is their size relative to the pit. The fruit is okay to eat, but there's not much of it. A dog nose down in a bowl of plums will also eat the pits, which has potentially life-threatening consequences.

Yes, the pits contain cyanide, but more worrisome is that a pit is a suitable size to block the intestine. Therefore, plums should be avoided unless you first slice the fruit of the pit.

As dog owners, we should make ourselves aware of certain fruits and other foods that may be toxic to dogs. That way, we can prevent our dogs from ingesting something toxic. However, we never know when our dog may ingest something toxic in their environment, especially when outside. Because unexpected pet emergencies may happen, we should be prepared for such occurrences and be able to provide our pet with the treatment that they need.

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Hints and Tips

Yes, your dog can have too much of a good thing. A fruit binge is likely to upset your dog's stomach, so take things slowly.

Introduce one new fruit at a time. It allows your dog's digestion to get used to the new treat. As your dog adjusts to the sweet goodness and fiber, it's OK slowly to offer more. If your dog gets diarrhea at any stage, then rein back on the quantity for a few days.

As a rule, if we (the humans) typically don't eat the skin or the pit, then neither should the dog. Be aware that dogs will not pick out the pits, and if swallowed, it can be very dangerous. Remember to feed only the fruit and carefully remove seeds or the pit.

Also, don't forget to wash fruit before serving to remove contaminating bacteria that could cause illness.

Can My Dog Eat Fruit?

Fruits are good for pups, with many positive health benefits. From better bladder health to slimming down your dog, fruits can improve your dog's overall well-being.

How about making small changes, such as switching some commercial treats to fruit? It will strengthen the dog's immune system and give them a glossier coat.

Just be careful to avoid those fruits dangerous to dogs such as avocado and grapes. Remember to feed fruit in moderation, especially at first, to allow your dog's tummy to adapt to all that sweet goodness.

Cheers to happier, healthier fur-friends!

Dog fruits chart

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Infographic

We prepared the infographic with a full list of safe & dangerous fruits for dogs so you can save & share it with your friends!