Can Dogs Eat Mango?

Source © Shutterstock

Dog owners might be curious if their dogs can eat mango. If so, they should know that this should be fine. Mangos aren’t suitable for use as a staple. However, these fruits contain a fair amount of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and other useful nutrients. On top of that, mangos are sweet, which is relevant because dogs are unlike cats in that they are actually capable of tasting sweetness. Combined, these characteristics mean that mangos can be suitable as a snack for dogs from time to time so long as the feeding is done in moderation.

Dogs Can Be Allergic to Mangos

Mango allergies don’t come up a lot. However, mango allergies are a very real thing that can happen to both us and our canine companions. As such, dog owners who are planning to feed mangos to their dog shouldn’t feed the latter a lot of mango in a single session. Instead, it is a better idea to feed their dog a small amount of mango to see how their dog reacts to the food. If the dog does well, then that is good. In contrast, if the dog starts showing symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and itchiness, well, a small amount of mango should make for a less serious outbreak, though this is still something that dog owners should see a veterinarian about. In fact, dog owners might want to consult their veterinarian before feeding mango to their dog because said professional should be able to provide them with the best information about what their dog can and can’t eat, which is very important because one dog can be very different from another in the same way that one human can be very different from another.

You Are Going to Need to Remove the Mango Skin

There are both people who eat their mangos with the skin and people who eat their mangos without the skin. Mango skins contain a fair amount of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. However, mango skins aren’t exactly the best-tasting thing out there. On top of that, they contain certain substances that can cause allergic reactions in eaters. As such, there are decent arguments for humans either keeping the skin before eating or removing the skin before eating. Now, if dog owners are planning to feed mangos to their dog, the story is very different. Yes, the mango skin contains nutrients. Unfortunately, the mango skin has a couple of issues with it. One, it is slippery enough that a dog might swallow it before it has been chewed enough. Two, it is quite a bit more difficult to digest than the mango flesh. Combined, these issues mean that the mango skin can pose a potential threat to a dog’s well-being, which is why it should always be removed if someone is planning to feed mango to their pet.

You Are Going to Need to Remove the Mango Pit

Generally speaking, people avoid eating the pits of fruits. After all, no one wants to chip a tooth. Never mind swallowing the pits of fruits either whole or broken up into somewhat more manageable pieces. This is particularly true because some of them are just straight-up poisonous. To name an example, cherry pits contain cyanide, which has a well-earned reputation for being something that should be avoided. When intact, cherry pits are concerning but not too concerning. However, they become much more dangerous when they have been either crushed or ground-up, which is why people shouldn’t use un-pitted fruits to make smoothies. In any case, mango pits are surprising in that they are edible. In most cases, people eat them when the mangos are still unripe. This is because the mango pits will harden as the mango ripens, thus making them difficult to consume without some extra processing. Regardless, dog owners shouldn’t try to feed mango pits to their dogs. Humans can manage with such things, whether by chewing them or by using various tools to process them. Dogs are not so capable. Instead, mango pits can be a very real choking hazard for them, meaning that it is best to remove them.

Cut Up the Mango

For that matter, dog owners should cut up the mango before feeding the fruit to their dog. Mango flesh becomes softer when it ripens. As a result, dog owners might assume that it will be fine just feeding large pieces of mango flesh to their dog. This can be a very bad idea because excessively large pieces remain choking hazards, meaning that it is better to cut them up into smaller and thus more manageable pieces instead. Naturally, the same goes for unripe mangos, which are harder.

Too Much Mango Causes Diarrhea

There is one final reason that dog owners should avoid feeding their dog too much mango. In short, this can cause diarrhea as well as other gastrointestinal issues. Partly, this is because fruit contains a lot of fiber, which can cause that effect when eaten in excess. However, it should also be mentioned that large amounts of fructose can act as a laxative as well. As such, moderation is wise.

What Are Some Other Fruits and Vegetables that Dogs Can and Can’t Eat?

Dog owners who are looking for other snacks for their dog should know that there are other fruits and vegetables that are suitable. To name some examples, apples, bananas, cucumbers, peaches, and pears are all suitable for canine consumption so long as they have been properly processed. This can mean removing their skin, removing their seeds, and cutting them up into easy-to-swallow pieces. However, there are also fruits and vegetables such as grapes, onions, and tomatoes that should be avoided because they pose serious threats to canine health. Besides these, there are also some fruits and vegetables that dogs can eat but probably shouldn’t bother with for one reason or another. To name an example, dogs can eat asparagus but shouldn’t bother because raw asparagus is too tough while cooked asparagus isn’t nutritious enough for them.