Fresh pomegranates are as little, red, sparkling jewels, and that is why their seeds are so often used to garnish plates during the holiday season. Of course, it is not all about looks. Pomegranates are great-tasting and refreshing, as well as highly beneficial for us humans.
What about our canine friends? Can dogs eat pomegranates too? Is it safe for your four-legged friend to enjoy a pomegranate snack?
We did some digging, and we have found all the answers for you. Unfortunately, the answer cannot be given as a simple yes or no. Things turned out to be a bit complex, so it would be a good idea for you to stay tuned to the very end and make sure you have all the important info before deciding whether to allow your dog a pomegranate snack or not.
Are Pomegranates Toxic To Dogs?
We have good news – pomegranates themselves are not toxic to our canine companions, and it is thus safe to give them to dogs in both fruit and juice form. Even the extract of pomegranate is safe when given in moderation.
You have to be careful when you first introduce pomegranate to your pooch, no matter what form you choose. Start with small bites, and if your pup has no digestive issues or allergic reactions, you can slowly increase the “dosage.”
It is advisable to keep the servings of veggies and fruit minimal in general. Pomegranates are no exception to this rule. Your dog should have a meat-based diet; fruits and veggies only serve to enrich it with some additional vitamins, minerals, and plant-based compounds. The vets recommend that vegetables, fruits, and herbs, should compromise no more than 5-10% of your dog’s total daily food intake.
If you cross this limit, you risk inducing digestive issues and making your dog sick. Your canine friend could end up with an upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting. For this reason, you should never give pomegranate or any other fruit or veggie as an entire meal. You should think of pomegranate as an occasional treat for your pet. You can also add some pomegranate juice to your dog’s regular meal from time to time.
If you ask yourself why to bother at all, you should know that pomegranates have a plethora of health benefits for your pet. They are rich in antioxidants – valuable compounds that can help prevent cancer. These exotic fruits are also high in potassium, fiber, folic acid, and vitamin C.
The tannins in pomegranate are the troublemakers that can upset your pet’s stomach. You should avoid feeding your dog raw peel, seeds, or flesh, but some studies have shown that pomegranate extracts can be highly beneficial for your dog’s diet.
Even though you should avoid raw pomegranate peel, it is recommended to supplement a dog’s diet with pomegranate peel extract (PPE). Many studies that have been conducted recently have shown that PPE can have a positive impact on your dog’s digestive and gut health.
There is yet another study that suggests pomegranate extract can have a positive effect on your dogs’ heart health as well. If you want to supplement your dog’s diet with this extract, you should first consult the vet. Your vet is the only one who can set the proper dosage and recommend adequate sourcing.
The good news is that you can always buy your dog treats containing pomegranate. They are highly unlikely to cause any trouble since they are not so rich in tannins. On the other hand, the treats will also provide health benefits, only without the risk.
What If Your Dog Eats A Whole Pomegranate?
Don’t worry. You should not panic even if your pet eats a whole raw pomegranate, especially if it’s not his or her first time trying this fruit. Even if your four-legged friend was hungry enough to devour the entire fruit, seeds, peel, and all, there is not too much reason to fear.
It would be best if you still kept an eye on his or her reaction. Make sure your dog drinks plenty of water too. Be on the lookout for any unusual symptoms. In most cases, there are no adverse reactions to pomegranate. In the worst-case scenario, most of the time, eating raw pomegranate causes vomiting, but not much else. The good news is that any stomach upset usually does not last long. You will have to do quite a bit of cleaning, though.
The bottom line is that vomiting is a natural reaction to your dog’s digestive system. It is trying to expel the fruit to recover more quickly. Therefore, unless the vomiting is severe or lasts for too long, there is no need to go to the vet.
If your canine best friend has only had some pomegranate seeds, there should not be any problems at all. If he or she seems to like the pomegranate seeds, you can feel free to give him or her a few every couple of days. It will make a refreshing snack or treat. Just make sure it’s only a few seeds – do not go overboard.
How To Make Your Dog Some Homemade Pomegranate Dog Treats?
We have come up with some simple pomegranate dog treat recipes for you to surprise your pup. They are super-easy to whip up so you can make a batch and treat all the neighborhood dogs too.
The best thing of all is that these delicious dog treats will provide your pet with all the health benefits of pomegranate.
So, What Ingredients Do You Need?
As we already said, the recipe is simple, and thus the ingredient list is rather short. There are only three ingredients:
- One whole pomegranate (but you can use only a half of a pomegranate, and add about 200 grams of unsweetened applesauce or pumpkin puree to mix things up a bit)
- 200 grams of oat flour (if you do not have it, you can make it by simply pulverizing oat in your food processor)
- Two whole eggs
It would be a good idea to have some extra flour on hand just in case you need to add it to get a workable dough.
You will need about 15 minutes or so to prep the dough and about 20 minutes more cooking time. All in all, it will take only about half an hour for about 36 delicious treats your dog is sure to enjoy and benefit from. It’s not a bad deal at all!
Extra Tip: You can add some food coloring to make the treats pop!
Here Are The Step By Step Instructions For You To Follow
- Preheat your oven to 170ºC
- Wash the pomegranate well and cut it into quarters
- Take out the seeds and put them into the food processor bowl
- Blend the seeds until they are completely pulverized
- Add the oat flour and pulse
- Once the dough is smooth, add the eggs and pulse once again to combine
- Take out the dough and turn it out onto your work surface
- If needed, add more flour until you get the workable dough
- Roll the dough to a 0.5cm thickness
- Use cake cutters of the desired shape to cut out the treats
- Place the treats on a greaseproof-paper lined baking tray
- Bake for about twenty minutes or until the treats become brown around the edges
- Turn off the oven and leave the biscuits inside for about 10 minutes more- that should make them super-crunchy just like dogs like them!
That’s it! Simple, isn’t it?
It is now time to treat your dog and watch him or she enjoy the sweet pomegranate biscuits you have baked, especially for them! You will enjoy it too, we are sure, knowing that you have made a healthy treat for your best friend ever!
Learn More: What Can Dogs Eat? A Comprehensive List Of Dog-safe Foods
