Imagine it’s summer, and you are on a picnic with your dog, where you are carrying a basket full of peaches. ((because why not?) At that moment, if your doggo sniffed through that basket, you may wonder, “can dogs eat peaches?”
Well, yes. Peaches are safe for dogs, and your dog can enjoy the summer delight, BUT in moderation. As a responsible dog owner, you should be aware of all the risks and things to remember before you toss them a peach.
So let’s get started!
Are Peaches Good For Dogs?
Peaches are one of the human foods that dogs can eat safely. In fact, peaches have everything that a dog can fall for- It is juicy, fleshy, sweet, and even healthy. So, to help you out with the “health” part, here are the benefits of peaches for dogs:
1. Vitamins and minerals
Peaches are rich in essential vitamins and minerals for your dog’s health. All these benefits help to maintain the dog’s well-being. Here is the list of all the vitamins and minerals in peaches:
- Vitamin A: for better vision
- Vitamin C: for reducing inflammation
- Vitamin E: promotes immunity
- Potassium: for heart health
- Phosphorus: promotes healthy bones and teeth
- Magnesium: relaxes dogs and keeps their bones strong
- Manganese: for energy and strong joints
2. Fibrous
Even though peaches are soft and juicy fruits, they can help smooth out dogs’ bowel movements. They have some amount of fiber that can help your dog’s overall gastrointestinal health. There are far better options for fibrous fruits like apples, which are not just juicy but high in fiber, too. But if your dog wants a tasty diet that is easier to chew and digest- peaches are the one!
3. Antioxidants
Besides being delicious summer treats, peaches are also a great source of antioxidants. In a polluted world, we can at least feed our dogs a diet that helps them fight the free radicals. Peach juices (unsweetened) can help your dog to fight off the diseases.
Can Dogs Eat All Varieties of Peaches?
Peaches are safe for dogs. But, in the growing world, people are expanding their groceries by making more stuff from their favorite fruits and vegetables. In the case of peaches, we will explore whether or not these by-products of peaches are safe for dogs:
1. Canned peaches
Nope. No. BIG NO. You should never serve your dog canned peaches or any other canned item whatsoever. Canned peaches are soaked in sugar syrups, sweeteners, artificial flavors, colorings, and preservatives. All these not only degrade the benefits of peaches but also can harm your dog’s health in the long run. You must only feed your dog fresh peaches handpicked by you!
2. Peach syrup
You should not serve your dog peach syrup if it is store-bought. The commercial syrups and jams have preservatives and artificial sweeteners, making them palatable and addictive. But if our focus is our dog’s health and taste, then you should make the peach puree at home.
It may not taste like syrup as there is no sugar, but peach syrup with no sugar, just blended flesh, is far better. If your dog is toothless, they will love blended or mashed peach’s flesh.
3. Peach yogurt
We do not recommend serving store-bought peach-flavoured yogurt for dogs. Most of these contain xylitol toxin, the same toxin in marshmallow. Ingesting it in high amounts can be deadly to dogs (article). To keep it safe, you can take plain unsweetened yogurt and add mashed or chopped peaches to it. You can freeze it or serve it fresh!
Things to Keep in Mind When Feeding Your Dog Peaches
Here are the final takeaways and things you MUST keep in mind before you feed your dog a tasty treat of peaches:
1. Peach fuzz
You should be aware of your dog’s allergic triggers, as peach fuzz might be one of them. A lot of humans have terrible allergies to the allergens of peach fuzz. To check if your dog has peach fuzz allergy, you can monitor the signs of- Rashes, itching, uneasiness, “sunburn” type skin, etc.
2. Pits
One of the most dangerous parts of peach is the pit or seed. It contains a toxin named cyanide, which is deadly to dogs and humans if consumed in massive amounts (article). Even though one pit may not have enough cyanide to kill a dog, the pit is big enough to cause severe choking hazards. It would be best to separate the pit from the flesh before feeding your dog peaches.
3. Nor for diabetic dogs
If your dog is diabetic, you must consult your veterinarian before introducing any new food item to your dog. There might be some exceptions, especially when it comes to fruits that have natural sugars. Peaches are sweet and high in sugar, so they may or may not imbalance the blood sugar levels in dogs.
Conclusion
To sum it up, it is evident that the answer to “can dogs eat peaches?” is YES. Dogs can eat peaches safely as they serve many health benefits to dogs. The only catch is to be cautious of the pit, allergies, and moderation. Rest, this summer, peaches might become your and your dog’s new favorite fruit!
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You should not feed your dog peaches in syrup due to their high sugar content. Excessive sugar can potentially lead to health issues in dogs. Although sugar is not toxic, one should avoid feeding dogs excessively (article).
Yes, you can feed your dog peaches with the skin. It is not harmful, yet we recommend chopping the peach into small pieces so your dog does not gulp down too much skin. Unless your dog is allergic to the peach fuzz, you can safely feed them peach with skin. But do not feed them leftover peach peels or skin, as it can cause choking hazards.
Just like peaches, dogs can eat nectarines in moderation, too. They both serve similar health benefits for dogs, making nectarines and peaches a great snack. Just follow the instructions and remove the pit before feeding them one.
You can give your dog up to 2-3 slices of peaches a day. We do not recommend adding peaches to all your dog’s meals and treats, as there are far healthier options as well. The amount of peach a dog can eat also depends on the size and age of the dog. Hence, you must contact your veterinarian.