Can Dogs Eat Oranges? This Mystery Is Ripe for Unpeeling
Rocky Kanaka
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Before feeding your dog anything not specifically made for dogs, it’s important to do your research to find out if it is safe for your dog to eat. Some fruits and vegetables are safe and even healthy for dogs, but others are bad for dogs, and can even cause serious health issues if eaten in large amounts.
Luckily, oranges are safe for dogs to eat in small quantities and are a good source of natural sugar if your dog has a sweet tooth. Of course, foods that are high in sugar shouldn’t be a big part of your dog’s diet, but as the occasional treat, fresh orange slices are perfectly safe for your dog.
However, you need to prepare the oranges correctly. Dogs shouldn’t eat the rind, pith, or seeds of the orange, even though the flesh is safe to have in moderation. You’ll also need to be aware of the nutritional value of oranges so you can understand what could be causing issues if your dog does have a negative reaction to an orange.
Are Oranges Good For Dogs? Nutrition & Health Benefits
Fresh orange slices are relatively healthy snacks, but that doesn’t mean they are necessarily good for your dog. Your dog should be getting the vast majority of their nutrition from their dog food, so treats like orange slices are more for their sensory and emotional enjoyment than for their physical health. It’s also important to remember that too much orange can be bad for your dog.
Citrus fruits like oranges are high in citric acid, which can cause issues from simple gastrointestinal upset to serious central nervous system depression in dogs. One or two slices of orange once every few weeks won’t hurt your dog, but if oranges become part of their everyday diet or they eat a large quantity, they could face health problems.
Some dogs with more sensitive stomachs may not even tolerate one or two slices of orange. The high sugar and citric acid content can be too much for their digestive systems, and you might see immediate signs of GI upset. If you notice that your dog has loose stool, an upset stomach, or other indicators of gastrointestinal issues discontinue giving them oranges immediately.
It’s also important that you are only feeding the flesh of oranges to your dogs, never the peel, pith, or seeds.
Can Dogs Eat Orange Slices?
Yes! Peeled slices of fresh orange are safe for your dog to eat in moderation. 1-2 slices should be the limit for big dogs, and ½-1 slices for small ones. This shouldn’t be an everyday treat, but once a week or a few times a month is fine.
Can Dogs Eat Orange Peels?
No. Orange peels contain oils that can be irritating to your dog’s stomach. They are also tough, fibrous, and hard to chew, making them a choking hazard. If your dog eats too many pieces of orange peel, they could also put them at risk for intestinal blockage.
Can Dogs Eat Orange Pith?
No. Like orange peels, orange pith—the white spongy part of the orange—can upset your dog’s stomach.
Can Dogs Eat Orange Seeds?
No. If your dog accidentally gets a seed in an orange slice you don’t need to worry, but you should do your best to always de-seed oranges before you feed them to your dog.
How To Safely Feed Your Dog Oranges: Preparation & Recipes
If you want to feed your dog plain orange you can simply give them a fresh peeled slice or a frozen piece on a hot day. However, there are also more creative ways to add orange to your dog’s diet, like using this citrus fruit as an ingredient in dog treat recipes. Here are three delicious ways to use oranges to spice up your dog’s snacks.
2-Ingredient Orange Creamsicle Dog Treats
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Freeze Time | 3 hours |
| Yield | 9-10 single-serving treats |
Created by Droolicious Dog Treats this super-simple two-ingredient creamsicle recipe uses fresh orange flesh and plain yogurt, a great source of healthy fats. Frozen into whatever shape you choose, these simple creamsicle bites can be stored in your freezer until a hot day, or added to your dog’s food as an occasional treat.
Ingredients
- 1 large orange—navel oranges are a good choice
- ½ cup plain non-fat yogurt
Instructions
- Peel and remove the white center from the orange, then transfer the slices to a blender or food processor.
- Add the yogurt to the blender and combine with orange slices until smooth with no chunks.
- Carefully pour the mixture into a silicone ice cube tray and transfer it to the freezer.
- Freeze for 2-3 hours or until solid.
- Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a month!
Healthy Orange, Banana, and Mint Doggy Ice Cream
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Freeze Time | 24 hours |
| Servings | 4 scoops |
If your dog has a slightly more sophisticated palette, they’ll love this doggy ice cream recipe with orange, banana, and fresh mint! Developed by Tonya Wilhelm from Raising Your Pets Naturally this recipe needs to freeze overnight, so be sure to plan ahead to prepare this treat for your pup.
Ingredients
- 2 bananas, peeled, chopped, and frozen solid
- ½ large orange—peeled, seeds and pith removed
- ½ TBSP fresh mint leaves, minced fine
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until you have a smooth puree.
- Poor the puree into serving-sized containers or a large container so you can scoop later, then transfer to the freezer.
- Freeze for 24 hours or until solid.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a month.
Orange and Cranberry Dog Biscuits
| Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Bake Time | 15 minutes |
| Yield | (20) 3-inch cookies |
Does your dog like a crispy cookie more than a creamy dessert? Then they’ll love these crunchy cranberry and orange dog biscuits! Created by Sues from We Are Not Martha, this recipe is gluten-free, quick to throw together, and lightly sweetened with honey to tantalize your dog’s taste buds.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups almond flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup fresh cranberries, chopped
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ and prepare a cookie sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine almond flour and rolled oats and mix.
- Add cranberries, egg, honey, and coconut oil to the almond flour and oat mixture. Mix until just combined. You will have a dough that is a little sandy but will hold together when squeezed and worked a little.
- Lightly flour a work surface and dump out the dough. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a ¼-inch thick sheet.
- Cut cookies using a 3-inch cookie cutter, re-rolling the scraps as necessary. You can use a smaller or larger cookie cutter, but you will need to adjust the bake time.
- Transfer the cut cookies to your prepared baking sheet and bake for 12–15 minutes or until the treats are lightly golden around the edges.
- Cool the treats on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack until they reach room temperature.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Can Dogs Eat Oranges? FAQ
Wondering what type of oranges are safe for dogs or whether they can have orange-flavored foods? Here are a few answers to your common questions about dogs and oranges.
Can dogs eat orange rinds?
No. Dogs shouldn’t eat the outer rind or the inner white pith of the orange. Both of these parts are difficult to chew and present both a choking hazard and a potential for intestinal blockage. The oils found in the rind and pith of orange peel can also upset your dog’s stomach, so you should avoid feeding these parts of the orange to your dog.
Can dogs eat blood oranges?
Yes! Blood oranges are safe for dogs to eat as long as they are peeled.
Can dogs eat Cuties?
Yes! Cuties are a variety of mandarin oranges called clementines. Both clementines and tangerines are types of mandarin oranges and are safe for dogs to eat when peeled.
Can dogs eat Halo Oranges?
Yes! Like Cuties, Halos Oranges are clementines, a variety of mandarin orange that is safe for dogs.
Can dogs eat cara cara oranges?
Yes! Cara cara oranges are safe for dogs to eat in small quantities.
Can dogs drink orange juice?
No. Commercial orange juices typically have added sugar, vitamins, and preservatives that could upset your dog’s stomach. A tablespoon or two of fresh-squeezed orange juice that contains only 100% orange is fine for your dog, but we don’t recommend making this a habit.
Can dogs eat orange sherbet?
No. Sherbet is high in added sugars and other ingredients that make it delicious but bad for dogs. It’s also important to avoid human foods like sherbet that could contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs and can be deadly even in small amounts.
Related Posts:
- Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms? Identify the Innocent Varieties vs the Toxic Types
- Can Dogs Eat Grapes? Debunking Myths for Curious Pet Parents
- Can Dogs Eat Bananas? A Delicious Dilemma Unpeeled!
