can dogs eat dragon fruit

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Dragon fruit is an exotic fruit that grows on a plant known as Honolulu Queen, which is scientifically known as Hylocereus Cactus. It commonly has bright red skin with green scales. This makes it resemble a dragon, which is the reason for its name. It also has other names like Pitaya and Strawberry pear.

This fruit has a very distinct taste falling somewhere in between a Kiwi and a pear. It is also full of Nutritional benefits like Protein, Vitamin C, Iron, and Fiber.

Now when we are talking about foods that we enjoy as humans and are nutritional for us, we might sometimes be wrong in assuming that these same foods are good for our pets and birds as well. There are many nutritional benefits like carbohydrates and Iron, which might be good for us but can spell a death sentence for our pets.

Dragon Fruit is an appropriate feed for your dog? can dogs eat dragon fruit 

The answer to that question is a resounding yes! Dragon Fruit is a very healthy treat to give your dogs. It is full of the vital nutritional benefits we need and is also very delicious. However, one thing we need to clear before you feed it to your dog is to think of it as a “treat” and not the main meal. 

We say this because Dragon Fruit has one nutrient that does not do your dog any favors if consumed in extravagance. That Nutrient is the Iron, which, if fed in excess, will make your dog sick to a disease that is called “Iron storage Disease.” This disease damages the liver and can be even fatal in the long run.

Now taking that out of the way, let us get back to the good side of the Dragon Fruits and how it can benefit your dog if you feed it to them.

benefits of dragon fruits:

Here are the nutritional benefits in detail that are associated with dragon fruit.

high in antioxidants:

Free Radicals are substances that are produced inside your body when your body breaks down food or you are in proximity or exposed to radiation or tobacco smoke. These Free Radicals are dangerous to your body as they aid diseases like cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants are what protect your body and its cells against free radicals. These AntiOxidants also do the same for your dog’s internal organs. 

Dragon Fruits is full of antioxidants. Betalains, which are found in the pulp of the dragon fruit, help control the cholesterol of your dog, leading to a healthier immune system. This also greatly reduces the risk of other diseases that might be fatal for your bird. Another AntiOxidant found in dragon fruit is Flavonoids, which aids in providing a better functioning brain and keeps it healthy as well. They also greatly reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

good fiber content:

Fiber is a very important nutrient that is necessary to sustain a lot of our and our pet’s bodily functions. One of the most important functions that fiber has in your dog’s daily life is to help keep the digestive system going smoothly. This not only leads to smoother stool passages but also keeps your dog comfortable on the inside. Fiber also helps in protecting from various diseases like diabetes.

iron:

Iron is a good nutrient that helps in transporting the blood around the body of your dog. However, this is also one of the reasons we preach moderation as Iron can also become a nuisance for them in the form of “Iron Storage Disease,” which can attack the liver of your dog. There is still vitamin C in there as well, which helps the Iron be absorbed, but appropriate portioning of it is still necessary and you only give it to your dog as a treat and not as a main meal.

vitamin c:

Vitamin C is an important nutrient that helps in boosting the immune function of your dog. This nutrient also helps protect the vital white blood cells in your dog’s body, which destroys the internally harmful substances. Vitamin C is also helpful in absorbing Iron, which is itself an important nutrient that helps in blood flow but also can damage your dog’s liver. 

Is dragon fruit safe for dogs?

There should be no drawback of feeding dragon fruit to your pet dog if you practice, as I am constantly reiterating, Moderation, which is very important. Nothing should be good in excess, and the prescribed foods to give them in meals are there because they fulfill all the nutritional needs of your dogs. You should only feed your dog dragon fruit from time to time and let them have this kiwi-pear tasting goodness only in the form of treats.

“Iron Storage Disease,” which I am mentioning for the third time here, is a disadvantage, which is the main cause and reason for giving dragon fruit to them in moderation.

There might rarely be some instances of allergic reactions popping up, but you can only know that if you observe your pet dog as a good pet owner should. But other than that, Dragon Fruit is a tasty and nutritional food that should be fed to your pet if you want to.

conclusion:

So, I hope you understand and clarify whether dragon fruit is an appropriate thing to feed your dog. This exotic food is full of nutrients like AntiOxidants, Fiber, Iron, and Vitamins, which helps your dog live their life healthier. It helps in protecting from free radicals and protects from diseases like diabetes. Vitamin C in dragon fruits helps protect the white blood cells, which are important to boost the immune system. So you should feed your dog dragon fruit when you want to but do be sure to five appropriate potions and in the form of treats.

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Can Dogs Eat Dragon Fruit?

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Dogs are very fun to keep as pets because of their interactive nature. People will keep them around because they will play with you and you will find yourself having a good time as long as they are around. They will engage in different kinds of sports with you and they will become stars if you train them right. Dogs are one of the nicest, most loyal animals to keep around and it is very unlikely that they will let you down in terms of being on guard and alert as long as they are trained right.

Dogs, however, are quite high maintenance, you can not bring a dog into your home just out of the blue without doing any sort of research and such. You will have to put in a considerable amount of effort if you want to keep a dog as a pet. This is a whole chore that you can not do poorly if you want to keep a dog that is healthy and happy. Keeping your dog happy is very important and maintaining a healthy environment for your dog is extremely necessary if you want to keep a dog. Without that, there are higher chances that your dog will fall very ill and become unhappy with the place that it is living in.

Dogs are very nice to have around and you will find yourself getting quite attached to them in a very small period of time. This is because of the acts that they do and their extremely playful nature. They are a ball of sunshine inside your home and that does not change as long as they are inside your home. Having a dog is a lovely experience and very soon you learn to take care of them if you do enough research.

Dogs are the ultimate companions if you treat them the right way. It is a popular opinion that dog owners have a calm and subtle temperament, if they become comfortable with you, they will begin to take care of you as well. They will start to sense if you have an issue and they will even try to resolve it. Many people allow dogs to be kept as the utmost emotional support animals. They will be there for you when other people will not be able to be there for you.

Human Foods Dogs Can Eat and Can’t Eat

Dogs actually function very differently from humans. This is very obvious, but some owners are not able to realize that and tend to feed their dogs anything and everything. This leads to the dogs getting very sick. There are a few token foods that you are not supposed to feed your dogs at all. If your dog does get into these types of foods, the situation can likely prove to be quite fatal for your dog. You have to research this topic if you want to keep a dog inside your home as a proper pet.

Dogs are not able to digest all kinds of foods. Chocolates, for example, are something that dogs tend to be deathly allergic to. If they do eat chocolates, it may actually turn fatal in dire situations. Onions are also a type of food that you should not be feeding to your dog. There are foods out there that may cause digestive problems for your dog sooner or later. Cacao is also something that should not be given to your dog. Spices are not very good for the digestive system of the dog and can cause some internal issues.

What exactly is a dragon fruit?

Dragon fruit is a spiky fruit that, from the looks of it, seems quite exotic. It seems quite dangerous from the exterior because of the spiky surface. Many people question how others eat it at all and if it should be eaten. The fact that it might be poisonous is also questioned quite often, but whether it is or it is not is a completely different situation. One reason for this is that this fruit is grown on the surface of the cactus plant and cacti themselves tend to be very poisonous and dangerous if they prick you by any chance.

It is called the pitahaya plant and it is usually found in Central America. Regardless of its harsh exterior, this fruit can easily be eaten by humans because of its sweet and slightly tangy taste. People tend to enjoy fruits like these when they are on vacation because of the way that it is eaten.

Is dragon fruit safe for dogs?

When we talk about dogs, it is actually quite safe to give them dragon fruit for a plethora of reasons, but let’s talk about the amount in which you should be giving the dog the dragon fruit because too much can prove to be quite harmful.

For starters, you have to take great care of the amount that you are giving to the dog. Too much of a good thing can cause the dog to get very sick, very quickly. If the dog has any kind of stomach problems it is very much possible that it will strain the dog’s body and you have to avoid a situation like that at all costs. Apart from that, it is also very important to allow your dog to get used to the idea of the new fruit. You will have to give your dog the fruit slowly and steadily. If you feel that the dog does not like it or it is not eating it after smelling it just remove the fruit from in front of you.

Avoid giving it to the dog ever again because your dog might be following instinct if it is not eating it. If you try to give the dog the fruit forcibly, it will fall ill and you will have to rush it to the doctor in dire cases. Other than that, it may be allergic or might be experiencing some level of digestive problems.

Benefits of dragon fruit for dogs

Vitamin C is very good for the dog and it can be found in dragon fruit in abundance. If you give your dog the right amount of dragon fruit, it will not take very long for the immune system of the dog to start improving and getting better. You will find that the dog eventually gets better in terms of intelligence. This is because of the little extra vitamin C that it will get from the dragon fruit. Its cognitive functions will also begin to improve, slowly but surely. Another aspect in which vitamin C can help the dog is it will reduce inflammation.

Another aspect of dragon fruit that is very advantageous for dogs is that it is very low in calories. The good thing about that is that you can give the fruit to the dog and it may be able to fill the dog up. When your dog is becoming too overweight, you may be able to give the dog the fruit to cover up for the food that you usually give to it. This will give the dog the same amount of energy that it needs but will not give it the same amount of calories.

High-fiber foods are usually good for you because they give you the energy that you need while also maintaining a healthy digestive system. They allow for better flow and improved bowel movements, something which is very necessary for dogs especially because their diets tend to be a lot bigger than many other pets. This is very much the case when we are talking about dragon fruit. It will give the dog the energy that it needs while also being very healthy for the dog in terms of its immune system and digestive system. It will allow the dog to better digest the food and it will help in keeping the weight of the dog quite constant.

Antioxidants are also a very common substance that exists within dragon fruit. People who eat dragon fruit experience an increase in the way that their immune system begins to function. This is mainly because your body becomes more active and puts in extra effort to fight off the bacteria. Your dog may start to fall sick less and less if you are giving it dragon fruit. It is healthy for your dog in this aspect as well and creates a barrier for your dog.

Conclusion

Dogs are curious creatures and they will likely eat anything that you give to them. In a situation like this, it is important to understand that it is your job to do complete research before you bring a dog into your home. You should get the dog to the vet at the very beginning and get it tested for allergies and such to make sure your dog is not fed anything which is out of the ordinary. Keep your dog safe and keep it healthy. Consult a vet if there is anything that you are not sure about.

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