Can a Dog Eat Peaches?

Source © Shutterstock

For those who have a cat or hamster named “Peaches” this article is not talking about them. It is referring to the fruit that many people love, whether it is fresh or canned. Dog owners must exercise the requisite responsibility to make sure what the dog is eating has been checked to make sure they don’t get sick, but with that out of the way we will answer the question: “Can a Dog Eat Peaches?”

The first issue to tackle is whether the peach has any nutritional value for the dog. The easy answer to this is – definitely. Consider vitamins A and C, the antioxidants in abundance, its ability to ward off cancer, high in fiber, and is great for your dog’s skin health. Shoppers know there are two kinds of peaches to consider: fresh and canned. The next issue is to find out whether your dog can eat either or both. The short answer is: fresh is fine, canned are contrary to canine health.

Here’s why. The first and perhaps most obvious reason is they have added sugar. There are other artificial sweeteners in many brands, only adding to the problem. Then there are the chemical preservatives, which when combined with the other sweets can have you taking your dog to the vet for emergency care.

Source © Shutterstock

How to Prep Your Dog to eat a Peach

That leaves only fresh peaches, but when it comes to its natural sugar your dog is likely to have problems digesting that as well. (Artificial sweeteners only make things worse.) But that does not mean they cannot eat them. What it does mean is that you need to exercise moderation in how many peach slices they can have to avoid any potential problems.

The first thing you need to do is to prepare the peach for eating. Dogs might eat just about anything put in front of them, and in the case of peaches they come with a pit. You may not know this but peach pits contain cyanide which will poison your dog. Then there is the size of the pit which can first get caught in the dog’s throat and result in choking. But even if they manage to get past this first blockage danger, the pit might also block your dog’s digestive tract. This second blockage may not be something you become immediately aware of.

The simplest way to eliminate any of these pitfalls is to simply remove the pit from the peach before giving it to your dog. Problem solved.

Another potential problem is when you buy a peach at the local store it likely has been sprayed with a variety of chemicals to keep it fresh and marketable. Wash each peach before feeding it to your dog as the next step in the preparation process. Don’t make the mistake that because a dog will eat the unwashed peach even after smelling it, that they will know that it is bad for them or has the potential to harm them.

How much can you give your dog?

Since you aren’t likely to eat a moldy peach, don’t treat your dog as someone who would. The fact is that molds contain toxins that can make them very sick or perhaps even kill them. Follow the rule that if you wouldn’t eat it, then to your dog you shouldn’t feed it.

Now that we have prepared the peach for feeding, the question is how much should we give to the dog? The rule of thumb is between 1 and three average size slices. There are several reasons for limiting the quantity. First is that the dog’s digestive system will not be able to keep up with all the sugar it has to digest. Second is that as with people, too much of something can result in diarrhea, a result you will probably have to clean up after one way or another.

So those are the major points to consider before giving your dog peaches. There are minor points, such as whether your dog likes them at all. Some dogs don’t. Then there is the issue of cleaning up after you have prepared and shared with the dog. The pits and peelings you removed and thrown in the trash may be their next target to enjoying more peaches. Make sure they will not be able to rummage through the trash in the hunt for more.

Peaches should be seen as a treat to share with your dog rather than a main source of nutrition. Dogs prefer meat as the main source of their diet, and it helps to keep them healthy. Using peaches as a slight change of pace is a great idea, but shouldn’t become a habit.