If you were to ask a pet owner for a piece of advice, they would probably tell you that it is of utmost importance to know what you can feed your pet and what you can’t.
This is especially important when it comes to feeding your pet dog. dogs are social eaters and will happily share whatever their humans are eating. And a lot of the time, we end up happily sharing food that we assume is safe, such as fruits, because it is healthy food.
However, that is not entirely the case. Humans and dogs are two vastly different species, and just because something is healthy for us doesn’t mean it is healthy for our dogs. In fact, there is a very thin line between safe and toxic when it comes to foods for our dogs.
Moreover, just because our dogs happily accept and eat whatever we’re offering them doesn’t mean that it’s safe. Domesticated dogs are very different from wild ones. Unlike the wild dogs, ours don’t have that survival instinct that will alert them about food not being safe. Thus we can’t rely on their instincts and have to be well informed.
Read on to find out whether cantaloupe is a safe bet when it comes to feeding your dog.
What do dogs eat?
As a dog owner, you should know the food that your feathered friend eats. If you know what constitutes their normal diet, then only will you be able to ensure that they live a long and healthy life? We have compiled a list of the different food groups and then a list of specific foods that are needed to maintain a healthy diet.
Fruit: Fruits play a very important role in your dog’s diet. There are no specific restrictions on giving your dog fruit, and they can eat anything ranging from apples to oranges to melons to bananas.
However, you must also know that you need to give fruit to your dog in a combination of at least 3 different varieties of fruit a day and that this combination needs to be changed up a bit as well. The reason this is important is to ensure that your dog doesn’t consume one particular fruit in excess. It might not seem like such a big deal, but some fruits are high in sugar content, so they need to balance out with lesser sugar-rich fruits.
Vegetables: Veggies also make up an important role in your dog’s daily diet. Examples of vegetables include celery stalk, carrots, spinach, and peppers, to name a few.
However, as is the case with fruits, vegetables need to be offered in different combinations.
Bird Food: While dry bird food doesn’t count as an essential food, it is highly recommended as a supplement.
Seeds: Seeds are not meant to be a daily food option for your dog but do hold quite a bit of importance in their diet. However, not all seeds are appropriate, so it is important to know which ones to give.
dogs and Cantaloupe:
Cantaloupe, also known as rockmelon or sweet melon, is part of the melon family. Although not as popular as the other varieties, Cantaloupes are known to be a healthy food choice. Loaded with the following nutrients, there’s no question of why we shouldn’t include them in our diets.
- Vitamin A is an important nutrient that helps in improving our vision and eye health. Eating cantaloupe also improves our immune system and ensures we have healthy red blood cells.
- Vitamin C is a key role player in muscle production, blood vessels, and collagen, which is found in our bones. It also helps tackle illnesses such as cancer, asthma, and diabetes.
- Folate is known to fight off certain kinds of cancer and also works on strengthening brain function.
- Water makes up around 90% of this melon and is important in keeping our kidneys healthy and functioning, ensuring smooth digestion, and maintaining healthy blood pressure.
- Fiber is also present in cantaloupe, which is known to help prevent constipation. That’s not all that it is needed for. Fibre also reduces the risk of diabetes and heart problems and also helps with maintaining a proper weight.
This is only scratching the surface of all the related health benefits that comes part and parcel with eating cantaloupe. However, while the provided list ensures that the pet owner will live a healthy life if they eat this fruit, the actual question is whether the pet can eat this particular fruit. Should we feed our dog cantaloupe?
Can dogs Eat Cantaloupe?
The good news is that cantaloupe, just like other kinds of melons, is a great nontoxic food option for your dog!
Cantaloupe is rich in fiber, and just like fiber is important for human digestion, it is equally important for our dogs. While dogs don’t usually get constipated, fiber is still beneficial for their digestion.
Vitamin A and C present in cantaloupe keep their feathers shiny and healthy. Vitamin C is known to boost your dog’s immunity.
In this melon, potassium also works in keeping their heart healthy and maintains their blood pressure at an ideal level.
Feeding cantaloupe is not just restricted to the flesh of the fruit. Unlike apple seeds that are toxic to dogs, you can give your dogs the cantaloupe seeds as a snack.
Conclusion:
Cantaloupe is an ideal healthy food to offer your dog, and with all the health benefits that come with it, there is no reason not to offer it to your feathered friend. However, don’t get worried if your dog doesn’t seem too inclined towards the fruit. Like humans, dogs have their food preferences, and it depends on their taste buds if they eat the food. There are different melon varieties, so if they don’t like cantaloupe, you can try other options. Just make sure you’re feeding a well-rounded balanced meal to your dog.