Can Dogs Eat Dragon Fruit?

Can dogs eat Dragon Fruit? Yes, dogs can eat Dragon Fruit in moderation because its flesh is packed full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a wonderful and healthy treat or snack for dogs.

I brought home a bag of Dragon Fruit yesterday. My two furry friends have never seen this exotic fruit before and were immediately attracted to the red color of this superfruit. I was excited to introduce this fruit to them but then wondered, “Can my dog eat Dragon Fruit?” I wanted to make sure Dragon Fruit is safe for doggy consumption.

Can dogs eat Dragon Fruit?

Dogs will love eating Dragon Fruit because its flesh is soft, watery, and easy to eat. Unlike other fruits where the seeds are generally harmful to dogs, the seeds in Dragon Fruits are completely safe for dogs to eat.  

If your K9 friends have never had Dragon Fruit before, it’s important that you introduce this new fruit to them in small tiny amount and feed it to them slowly. After your pooch has consumed Dragon Fruit, watch for any reactions. If your pup has an upset stomach or is sick after eating it, avoid giving him any more of this fruit. 

Dogs that do not react negatively after eating Dragon Fruit can continue eating this exotic fruit.

Can dogs have Dragon Fruit?

Dogs can have Dragon Fruit in moderation as it is non-toxic and completely safe for dogs to eat. However, before feeding Dragon Fruit to your dogs, proper preparation is key. Dog owners will need to peel off the external skin layer first and only allow their furry friends to eat the flesh of this fruit. 

Let’s take a deeper dive into the history of this fruit and find out how Dragon Fruits can help benefit our canine friends’ health.

Fun Fact: Plum is another sweet fruit that requires proper preparation before our dogs can eat it. In our article, Can Dogs Eat Plums? we share two major preparation tips you don’t want to miss!

Dragon Fruit for dogs

If you’re wondering, can dogs eat pitaya, the answer is yes. That’s because pitaya (or pitahaya) and Dragon Fruit are the same fruit. Dragon Fruit or pitaya is believed to have originated in Central America, South America, and Mexico. This colorful exotic fruit is grown on a cactus in North America, South America as well as Central America.

This sweet fruit was then brought over to countries in mainland Southeast Asia such as Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Cambodia. Today, Dragon Fruit is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world as well as in Southeast Asia India, the Caribbean, United States, and Australia.  

Depending on where the Dragon Fruits were cultivated and grown, they can come in different colors. For instance, there are four main types of Dragon Fruit: pink Dragon Fruit (most common), red Dragon Fruit, yellow Dragon Fruit, and purple Dragon Fruit.

Did you know? Chickpeas are widely grown in India. While they provide many health benefits to humans, can the same be said for dogs? Check out Can Dogs Eat Chickpeas? to find out what, if any, nutritional values these beans can provide to our furry friends.

Can dogs eat pink Dragon Fruit?

Yes, dogs can eat pink Dragon Fruit. The external skin of the Pink Dragon Fruit is bright reddish-pink in color with pointy yellowish leaves growing out of the skin.

Inside, the flesh is white with tiny black seeds. This type of Dragon Fruit usually comes from Vietnam. 

The Dragon Fruit that grows in Ecuador and Nicaragua has pink external skin with a flesh that varies from light to deep pink in color.

Can dogs eat red Dragon Fruit?

Yes, dogs can eat red Dragon Fruit as it is safe for doggy consumption. Can dog eat red Dragon Fruit? Red Dragon Fruit is similar to the pink Dragon Fruit except that the flesh of the fruit is ruby red in color.

There are also tiny crunchy black seeds in the red flesh that are fine for dogs to eat. 

Red Dragon Fruits are enjoyed throughout the year in Central American countries such as Costa Rica. They are healthy for dogs because they are also packed full of minerals, vitamins, potassium, and fiber which we will discuss in more detail below.

Did you know? Starbucks has a refresher beverage called The Mango Dragonfruit drink. The red color of the drink comes from pieces of real red Dragon Fruit flesh. If you’re a big Starbucks fan, don’t forget to grab a puppuccino for your pooch. Check out How Much Is A Puppuccino At Starbucks? to learn more.

Can dogs eat yellow Dragon Fruit?

Yes, dogs can eat yellow Dragon Fruit. Can dogs have yellow Dragon Fruit? This colorful yellow Dragon Fruit is also safe for dogs to eat.

Grown in South America, this sweet fruit has a bright yellow skin with white flesh that’s filled with tiny black seeds so it’s similar to pink Dragon fruit except the external skin color is yellow and bumpy. 

Did you know that compared to pink, red, and purple Dragon Fruit, the yellow Dragon Fruit has the highest concentration of Vitamin C.

Can dogs eat purple Dragon Fruit?

Finally, we have the purple Dragon Fruit. Yes, dogs can eat purple Dragon Fruit because it is also safe and non-toxic. The external skin of the purple Dragon Fruit is similar to that of the pink Dragon Fruit and the red Dragon Fruit in that it is bright reddish-pink in color. 

What’s special about purple Dragon Fruit is that it is packed full of the antioxidant betalain as well as being rich in folate. There’s also a high beta carotene content in purple Dragon Fruit so it is great for your dog’s eyesight.

Can dogs eat white Dragon Fruit?

Yes, dogs can eat white dragon fruit. White Dragon Fruit is a rich source of vitamins, especially vitamin C. It is packed full of beneficial antioxidants.

Also, white Dragon Fruit contains dietary fiber, which promotes digestive health. The high water content in white Dragon Fruit also helps keep the body hydrated.

Furthermore, the tiny black seeds within the fruit are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which can benefit heart health.

While on a family picnic this spring, my friend’s Border Collie, Daisy, snatched a piece of white Dragon Fruit from a bowl someone had left unattended.

She ate half of it with zest, much to my family’s initial alarm.

However, Daisy romped about as usual, showing no signs of discomfort. Thus confirming that white Dragon Fruit is typically safe for canine consumption.

Can dogs eat Dragon Fruit seeds?

Yes, dogs can eat Dragon Fruit seeds. Can dogs have dragon Fruit seeds? Based on experience and expertise, I can assert that Dragon Fruit, also known as pitaya, is generally safe for dogs to consume, including its seeds.

I remember when my friend’s Golden Retriever, Luna, nibbled on a piece of Dragon Fruit her owner had dropped on the kitchen floor. Luna savored the fruit, eagerly licking its vibrant flesh and tiny seeds from the floor.

To her owner’s relief, Luna faced no adverse effects after consuming the Dragon Fruit seeds. This reinforces the understanding that Dragon Fruit seeds are generally safe for dogs to ingest.

Can dogs have frozen Dragon Fruit?

Yes, dogs can have frozen Dragon Fruit, but the size should be appropriate to the dog’s size to prevent choking.

Recalling a story I encountered, there was a time when Mia, a petite Shih Tzu, was given a small, bite-sized piece of frozen Dragon Fruit by her mindful owner during a warm day.

Mia took her time licking and nibbling at the frosty morsel, clearly savoring every bit.

It was evident from this and other experiences that when served in suitable sizes, frozen Dragon Fruit is not only a refreshing treat for dogs but also poses no harm.

Dragon Fruit and dogs

We may never know whether people shared Dragon Fruit with their canine friends back then, but it’s highly likely. It’s possible that while dog owners were enjoying this fruit as a refreshing treat, they may have allowed their furry friends to snack on it too.  

One can enjoy this sweet refreshing fruit in a number of ways. You can enjoy it cold, juiced, or in a sorbet.

In addition, many will use the strong heavy pink color of the Dragon Fruit’s external layer to naturally dye pastries, food, and clothing.  

Not only was Dragon Fruit used as a fruit or food, but it was also used for medicinal purposes too.

For instance, many will eat Dragon Fruit in the hope to improve their eyesight or help relieve symptoms of hypertension (high blood pressure) such as shortness of breath or headaches.

Many people who have diabetes will eat Dragon Fruit because they believe the tiny black seeds in this fruit can help lower their blood sugar levels. 

While this sweet refreshing fruit has proved vital for human diet and health, is it healthy and good for our four-legged friends? Let’s find out.

Is Dragon Fruit good for dogs?

Yes, Dragon Fruit is good for dogs, but be sure that your K9 friends are only eating the flesh of this fruit. This exotic fruit provides impressive health benefits to dogs. As mentioned before, Dragon Fruit is chock full of vitamins and minerals that are great for our furry friends. 

Here are all the nutritional values our pups will receive from eating Dragon Fruit. 

Vitamin C in Dragon Fruit strengthens our dog’s immune system

Dragon Fruit is packed full of Vitamin C which improves and maintains a strong immune system in dogs. Older dogs with osteoarthritis may experience inflammation and having a moderate amount of this exotic fruit can help reduce that inflammation. 

Also, Vitamin C can help improve your furry friends’ cognitive functions or intelligence so they are able to learn, understand, remember, and think properly.

It’s important to note that our canine friends’ bodies make their own Vitamin C so they actually do not really need their owner’s help with receiving this vitamin.

However, it certainly doesn’t hurt to give your pups a small amount of Dragon Fruit to give them a little extra boost of Vitamin C.

Dragon Fruit has antioxidants that fight against free radicals in dogs

In addition to Vitamin C, Dragon Fruits contain antioxidants as well. Antioxidants prevent oxidation from happening in our dog’s cells so it helps fight against free radicals. Why is this important?

Because free radicals are the unstable atoms or bad stuff that can damage your dog’s cells and can cause aging, illness, and even cancer in dogs.  

Since Dragon Fruit contains antioxidants, allowing your pooch to eat a small amount of Dragon Fruit will protect their cells from damage.

Low-calorie fruit snack is perfect for dogs on weight management

Low-calorie fruits are great for dogs, whether they are on weight management or not. Low-calorie fruit means that your pooch can enjoy a little bit of this refreshing fruit without going over his calorie intake for the day. 

If you give your pooch 3.5 ounces of Dragon Fruit, you’ll be glad to hear that there are only 60 calories. Make sure to only feed your pooch a moderate amount of Dragon Fruit occasionally and avoid feeding your pup too much of it. There’s a reason why which we’ll discuss next.

Omega-3 and Omega-9 in Dragon Fruit keeps your dog’s coat and skin healthy

Yes, there are also essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-9 in Dragon Fruit. These two fatty acids come from the tiny crunchy seeds in Dragon Fruit. Not only that, but the tiny black seeds also contain natural oils.

Omega-3 and omega-6 both help keep your dog’s hair and skin healthy by making the coat shiny and strong and the skin moisturized. They also strengthen your furry friend’s immune system. If your pup has inflammation, these two fatty acids help to reduce inflammation.

Fiber in Dragon Fruit promotes regular bowel movements in dogs

Fiber, fiber, fiber! Fiber is that goodness that not only promotes regular bowel movement in dogs but also helps lower your dog’s cholesterol level and regular his or her blood sugar. 

However, be sure not to feed your pooch a lot of Dragon Fruit because there are 1.8 grams of fiber in just 3.5 ounces of Dragon Fruit. Eating too much Dragon Fruit that is filled with fiber will make your canine friends very gassy and can lead to the following: 

• Difficult time absorbing minerals. 
• Fiber imbalance. 
• Diarrhea. 
• Having to go to the bathroom frequently. 
• Accidentally defecate in the house due to an urgency to defecate. 

So moderation is key when feeding your pooch Dragon Fruit.

Is Dragon Fruit safe for dogs?

Yes, Dragon Fruit is safe for dogs in moderation if only if dogs eat the flesh of this fruit. As you can see from above, Dragon Fruits provides tons of health benefits to our canine friends if properly consumed in small amounts. 

There are cases when Dragon Fruit may not be safe for dogs. Let’s discuss the skin of the Dragon Fruit.

Can dogs eat Dragon Fruit skin?

No, dogs should not eat Dragon Fruit skin. Can dogs have Dragon Fruit skin? Absolutely, not because Dragon Fruit skin is not only hard and leathery but also spiky. This makes the skin very hard to chew and can even be a choking hazard for dogs. 

Most dogs do not chew their food. They rush through their food and instead of chewing through their food, they simply swallow it. Since the Dragon Fruit skin is tough to chew, it could get lodge in your dog’s throat or esophagus. If your pup successfully swallows the Dragon Fruit skin, it could cause intestinal blockage.

Both of these require immediate medical attention and you should contact your vet right away. In severe cases depending on the size of the lodged Dragon Fruit skin in the dog’s body, it may require surgery. 

So, proper preparation is key here. Remove the Dragon Fruit skin first and only allow your pooch to eat the flesh.

Handy Hint: Another sweet fruit that requires the skin to be peeled off first is Lychee. Check out Can Dogs Eat Lychee? to find out if Lychee is safe for dogs to eat.

Is Dragon Fruit bad for dogs?

As you can see, Dragon Fruit can be bad for dogs if your pooch eats the skin of this fruit and if they eat too much of it.

Is Dragon Fruit okay for dogs?

Yes, Dragon Fruit is okay for dogs in moderation. Is Dragon Fruit poisonous to dogs? Dragon Fruit is not poisonous to dogs if prepared properly such that the skin is peeled off first before eating the flesh. While Dragon Fruit isn’t poisonous or toxic, some dogs may not enjoy it or may not feel good after eating it. 

Be sure to monitor your dog’s reaction after he has eaten the Dragon Fruit, especially if this is his first time eating it. 

Proper preparation is key so that your furry pals can safely enjoy this refreshing fruit. Simply remove the skin first before feeding the flesh to your pups. After removing the skin, you can cut the white, red, or purple flesh into tiny square pieces. 

Alternatively, you can slice the Dragon Fruit in half and using a spoon, scoop out the flesh before feeding it to your canine friends. 

Is Dragon Fruit plant poisonous to dogs?

No, Dragon Fruit plant is not poisonous to dogs, however, dogs should not eat the Dragon Fruit plant anyways. Our canine friends can enjoy the flesh of the Dragon Fruit and avoid the external skin as well as the plant.

Signs my dog likes Dragon Fruit

Now that you know Dragon Fruit is safe for doggy consumption, you’ll want to see that your furry friends actually like this exotic fruit.

To start off, if your pups have never had Dragon Fruits before, make sure you introduce this fruit to them first. Start by only giving them a small tiny piece and see if they have any negative reaction from it. 

If you’re not sure whether you can feed your pooch Dragon Fruit, it is always a good idea to call your dog’s vet and ask.

Dogs that are fine after consuming a little bit of Dragon Fruit can continue to eat this fruit.

If your pooch has negative reactions from eating Dragon Fruit such as feeling nauseous and vomiting or have watery diarrhea, it’s best to stop feeding them anymore Dragon Fruit. 

Don’t be surprised if your canine friends do not like the taste of this sweet nutritious fruit. Since the flesh of the Dragon Fruit is both soft and mushy, some dogs may not enjoy these textures.

Many dogs will enjoy it regardless of the mushy and soft texture because this fruit is sweet and watery and which dog doesn’t like sweets, right?

If your four-legged friends are wagging their tails, eating the Dragon Fruit with excitement, keeping their tails in an upright position, licking their lips, pawing at your leg, constantly staring at you or the Dragon Fruit, or begging for more after eating a small piece of Dragon Fruit, then it means that they enjoy eating this fruit.

So, can dogs eat Dragon Fruit?

Dogs can definitely eat and enjoy Dragon Fruit. However, dog owners should be careful with how much Dragon Fruit they feed their pooch. Dragon Fruit has a high fiber content so eating a lot of this can cause dogs to become very gassy and may even lead to diarrhea or vomiting in dogs. Thus, it’s best to only feed our pups Dragon Fruit in moderation. 

Our four-legged friends can enjoy Dragon Fruit when it is properly prepared before consumption. Peel off the thick leathery skin first before feeding the flesh to your pups. 

If you do these two things, your pup can safely eat the Dragon Fruit and will reap tons of health benefits from it.

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The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding dietary needs.

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitaya

https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/benefits-dragon-fruit