If you're looking to share a tasty tropical treat with your canine chum, you may be wondering 'can dogs eat mango?'
This wondrous exotic fruit is certainly packed full of nutrients, including vitamins A and C, making it a juicy treat not only for us humans, but canines too.
The good news is that dogs can enjoy mango as one of many human foods dogs can eat but, like everything concerning a canine's diet, it's important to think of the overall balance.
Yes, mangoes can be a healthy dog treat: some of the benefits for our poochy pal include the promotion of good eyesight, a boost to their immune system, help repairing muscles, and essential fiber for improving digestion.
However, preparation and amount is key. If you're looking to serve up mango to your pooch, we'll be exploring some of the key questions around the consumption of this popular tropical fruit for dogs, including serving suggestions.
- Five amazing superfoods you should feed your dog
- Can dogs eat bananas? Find out if this fruit's for them
- Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter? Will it cause them harm?
How much mango can a dog eat?
When pondering, 'can dogs eat mango?' one thing to consider is that many fruits and vegetables we think are healthy for our pets come with a surprising amount of sugar and starch, and are generally best given in moderation.
Mangoes may look healthy, but are actually much higher in sugar and calories than some other fruits. In high quantities, mango can also cause stomach upsets in dogs, including provoking the onset of diarrhea or sickness.
As a good rule of thumb, serve no more than one-quarter cup of fresh mango periodically.
You could also include it as part of a frozen dog treat, or as a Kong filler, if your pooch prefers.
Can dogs eat dried mango?
Maybe you want to know, can dogs eat mango that has been dried? The answer is yes, you can certainly feed your pooch dried mango from time to time.
However, the drying process may strip away some of the health benefits of fresh mango. Much like its fresh counterpart, the sugar content is high, but you may be surprised by how many extra calories the dried fruit version has. Consider swerving the dried mango and opting for a slice of fresh instead.
If you do opt to feed your pooch dried mango, be aware that slices can be tough and hard to chew, which could cause your dog to have a hard time digesting the fruit.
Are mangoes dangerous for dogs?
The response to 'can dogs eat mango' may not be wholly negative, but you still need to be careful. When preparing mango for your pooch, it's always best to remove anything that may present a choking hazard. This includes the leaves that don't have any health benefits for pooches.
Wash the mango first, and look to also remove the pit and peel so that only the fleshy pulp remains. Mango seeds in particular are dangerous to dogs as they contain cyanide compounds, which are very poisonous for our canine friends, while the peel is typically extremely tough, and may not break down inside your dog's stomach.
For smaller dogs, you may look to cut the fruit into smaller chunks, but the soft flesh is generally easy for larger breeds to eat.
It's important to be aware that some pets can experience allergies to any kind of fruit. Consult your vet if you notice signs of lethargy, a decrease in appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Signs of cyanide poisoning include excessive drooling, difficulty breathing, stomach bloat, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures. So next time you're wondering, 'can dogs eat mango?' bear this in mind.
DIY mango dog treats
It might be worth pondering, can dogs eat mango in recipes. If you fancy whipping up your very own homemade dog treats with mango, these creative recipes are sure to please.
You can make all sorts of tropical treats in your kitchen and a blender is particularly handy for softening mango into a juicy pulp that can be enjoyed by smaller pooches you might otherwise have a tough time chewing on mango.
Pineapple mango sorbet
Ingredients
Makes 1 serving
• 1/2 cup of pineapple
• 1/2 cup of mango
• 1/2 cup water
Method
• Blitz all ingredients together in a blender
• Freeze and serve
Recipe via opalthefluff / TikTok
Mango smoothie for dogs
Ingredients
• 4 chunks of frozen mango
• 6 raspberries
• Ice
• Water
• Greek plain yoghurt
Method
• Add the fruit and ice cubes to a bowl and pour into a blender cup and blitz
• Add the Greek plain yoghurt and blend again
• Spoon into a bowl and serve to your dog
Recipe via Gigi the schnauzer / TikTok
Mango Kong filler
Ingredients
• 1 piece of blended fresh mango
• 1 tbsp Greek plain yoghurt
• 1 tbsp dog-friendly peanut butter
• 3 slices of banana
Method
• Mix all ingredients together in a bowl
• Spoon into a Kong and serve
