Dogs can eat mandarin oranges in moderation. Be sure to peel them and remove any seeds before feeding them to your dog.
Did your dog get a hold of some mandarins? Do you want to know if they are safe to eat? Can dogs eat mandarins? Do you like them, but you’re not sure if your dog can eat them? These are all valid questions and something that a lot of great dog owners think about.
When our dog is begging at our feed, it can be hard to resist them sometimes. But, we all know that feeding our dog table food isn’t always the best idea.
In this guide, you’ll learn if mandarins are safe for dogs.
Can dogs eat mandarin oranges?
Mandarins are a popular citrus fruit that many people enjoy and your dogs can enjoy them as well. It is perfectly safe for your dog to eat small amounts of mandarin oranges as long as they like them.
That said, before you start breaking out the mandarins and peeling them up, you’ll want to consider the health benefits and risks of feeding these to your dog. There are a lot of things your dog will enjoy but if they’re not supplying them with essential health benefits, there really isn’t a point outside of giving them a treat.
Health Benefits of Eating Mandarins for Dogs
You’ll be happy to see that there are plenty of wonderful health benefits for your dog. Here are some of the major ones:
Vitamin C
Mandarins have a lot of vitamin C which helps keep your dog’s immune system strong. Mandarins contain antioxidants which are actually helpful for dogs with ailments like cancer and infection.
Vitamin A
Similar to C, vitamin A helps with your dogs vision and protects their mucus membranes. Having vitamins like A and C is important because it’s not always something your pup will get in their food. Supplementing ingredients like mandarins in small doses can aid their overall diet.
Minerals
There are several minerals in mandarin oranges that are extremely valuable to a healthy dog’s diet. These include magnesium, iron, copper, and potassium. These minerals do a number of things for your pup and overall help them feel energetic, happy, and healthy.
Water
Sometimes our dogs do not drink enough water for a variety of reasons. Whether they’re too busy running around and playing or they’re simply not thinking of it, it’s important that dogs drink enough water to prevent dehydration. Consuming food with water also helps prevent constipation so oranges and watery citrus fruits in general can be a great supplemental item in their diet.
Health Risks of Eating Mandarins for Dogs
While there are some health benefits, there are plenty of reasons to consider not feeding your dog mandarins as well. Keep in mind as you go through these risks that many of the same risks apply to us as adults and only if you’re feeding your pup large quantities of mandarins.
Sugar
We all know that fruit contains a lot of sugar and like we said, the same rules apply to us as humans. Consuming large amounts of natural sugar can cause obesity, tooth decay, and even canine diabetes. With more and more dogs being overweight, it’s important to limit their sugar. While it may not seem like a big deal, if your dog is eating a lot of other foods that are high in sugar, mandarins could be the item that tips the scale.
Can dogs eat orange peels? (Nope)
It’s crucial that if you do feed mandarins to your dog that you peel them first. Many dogs won’t eat the peel anyway but certain breeds aren’t as picky about their food. The peels of citrus fruits are very bitter and difficult to digest which can lead to vomiting, stomach upset, and diarrhea.
Also, bear in mind that a lot of orange peels contain pesticides from the growing stage which can lead to a number of dangerous health risks such as rashes and poisoning.
Seeds
While seeds are not always found in various types of mandarins, it’s important to pay attention to the ones that do contain seeds. Are mandarin seeds toxic to dogs?
These seeds can contain a small percentage of cyanide which causes a number of health issues. For this reason alone, it’s recommended that you do not feed your dog any mandarins that have seeds.
Will Mandarin Oranges Hurt Dogs?
This leads to the overall question, what can go wrong? If you decide to feed your dog mandarin oranges, are there any situations that could pose a serious health risk to your pup and the answer is, maybe.
You’d likely have to give your dog a lot of oranges for them to encounter any issues or face a freak situation where an orange is contaminated with a pesticide or something like that. The chances of this happening are small but not zero.
How Many Mandarins Can My Dog Have?
It’s recommended that you only feed your dog up to one full mandarin orange at a time. Your pup should never have more than 10% of their daily intake of treats so the amount of oranges you choose to feed your dog will slightly depend on their overall diet.
Our general consensus usually leans towards safe rather than sorry. If you decide that you want to give your pup oranges because they love them, just be sure to do so in moderation and always be careful about what the oranges look like, whether or not they have seeds, and how many other treats your pup has had that day.
Remember, dogs are a lot like us. You can give them nearly anything in moderation but you want to keep their overall diet in mind and realize that a cheat day every once in a while won’t hurt them.
Best Way to Feed Mandarins to Your Dog
Can dogs eat oranges and mandarins? We know the answer to that question, but how? The important key consideration is that you peel them and remove all seeds. While they do not always get sick from these components, again, better safe than sorry.
Removing the peel ensures that your dog does not get an upset stomach and removing the seeds will prevent any arsenic from entering their system.
Once you have peeled and removed the seeds from the orange, the way you choose to feed your dog is up to you. You can give it to them as a standalone snack or find a way to incorporate it into their diet.
We would recommend feeding it to them by itself because if you add it to their food, they can become used to the sugary taste and reject food that doesn’t have the same level of sweetness. Consider it a treat every once in a while for a dog with a sweet tooth.
Can Puppies Eat Oranges?
Yes, puppies can also have oranges but we’d suggest giving them a much smaller amount than you would feed a mature dog. Puppies are more prone to digestive issues as their system is developing so you’ll want to be more careful about what you feed them in general.
Can Dogs Have Orange Juice?
Orange juice is safe for dogs but not recommended. The biggest issue with fruit juices is the fact that most of them come from concentrate which is loaded with added sugars and artificial coloring and flavor. These ingredients are a hazard to your dog’s overall health and wellbeing. While they’re not necessarily “unhealthy,” they’re simply not necessary and we can’t see any reason to give them to your pup.
Conclusion
Can dogs eat mandarins? Yes, but in moderation and with much care. Our dogs love to eat the things we eat and sometimes it can be hard to resist their adorable face. Next time your pup is begging for an orange, peel it, remove the seeds, and see if they like it. Do so with care and they’ll be more than fine!
