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Did you know dogs can eat watermelon too?
There are many health benefits to feeding watermelon—especially when it comes to healing a sick dog.
The luscious rosy red flesh in watermelon contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant vitamin.
Lycopene is an organic compound that belongs to the carotene family. They are a group of naturally occurring pigments known as carotenoids that give fruits their vibrant colours. According to this study in fresh fruit, watermelon came first with the highest amount of lycopene.¹
Dietary antioxidants are known to support disease prevention by protecting cells from the damage caused by free radicals and reducing inflammation and cancer.² Watermelon is packed with nutrients and beneficial compounds that can contribute to healthy skin, which are found in vitamins A and C. That must be beneficial for itchy dogs, right?
But perhaps you think dogs shouldn’t eat watermelon or any kind of fruit because they only eat meat? It’s also very misleading that the sugar in fruit is bad for dogs, especially for those who are yeasty. You can find out more about yeast here Yeast and Dogs
Check out this video of wolves eating watermelon: Watermelon-Loving Wolves
Did you know the grey wolf is our companion animal’s closest living ancestor? They share 99.9% of the same DNA! This means our domesticated dog (Canis familiaris) is a direct descendant of (Canis lupus), the grey wolf.
Wolves are also seen eating many other plant foods in the wild—thanks to organisations like the Voyageurs Wolf Project who study them. According to the footage below, blueberries can make up 83% of wolf packs’ weekly diets during July. So, they don’t just eat meat! Fruit is their secondary food in nature, which may come as a surprise.
Perhaps that’s because wolves are often portrayed in nature programs as bloodthirsty, wild animals hunting their prey. But here you can see wolves gently foraging on blueberries:
👉 First-ever footage of wolves eating blueberries
👉 Coyote in a tree eating apples (Yes, coyotes are part of the canine family, too!)
We’ve become so far removed from nature when it comes to feeding our domesticated dogs. If you haven’t already, it’s worth taking a look at commercial Pet Food: https://canine-wellness-specialist.uk/2022/07/20/commercial-pet-food/ Once you see what’s really in it, it makes total sense to start mimicking how dogs would naturally eat. That’s when the magic happens and we get a real shot at reversing some of the chronic issues affecting sick dogs.
In many cases, it’s not our fault, mainly because the issue isn’t discussed enough. Of course, we all want our beloved dogs to be happy and healthy, but it can be overwhelming with the amount of information available. Sadly, much of it is wrong. No one truly knows exactly what a dog should be eating, but nature rarely gets it wrong.
Wild dogs don’t eat both meat and plant foods together. You won’t see them eat a whole rabbit, then go forage for berries straight after. This is explained in Rotational MonoFeeding and The Natural Dog & Cat Diet, which follows this method.³⁴
Watermelon must be fed on its own, away from any other plant food (or meat), because it digests very quickly. Many feeding methods, including BARF and PMR, are making this mistake.⁴
When vitamin C is consumed in its pure, natural form, it helps the body make collagen, a protein that keeps skin supple and hair (or fur, in this case!) strong.
Vitamin A is also important for healthy skin and supports the creation and repair of skin cells.⁵
But it’s not just the flesh that’s good for dogs, the seeds and rind are nutritious too! Yep, your dog can eat these as well. Watch the wolves in the video above as they munch on the rind. My dogs love it, and it gives them something to think about, too.
The seeds contain minerals like:
- Magnesium – supports muscle and nerve function and energy production
- Zinc – key in creating DNA, growing cells, and healing damaged tissues
- Iron – essential for making haemoglobin, which helps red blood cells carry oxygen
The rind is full of:
- Vitamins C, B6, and A
- Zinc and Potassium
What is potassium? Its main role is to maintain normal fluid levels inside cells, move nutrients in, push waste out, and balance the body’s pH between acidity and alkalinity. This helps bring the body back to homeostasis (its natural balance).
Another reason I love watermelon is the power it has to help the body heal, because the body can heal itself if we create the right conditions.
Many people find fasting their dogs difficult (me included!), but sometimes fasting is necessary depending on the severity of the health issue. Universally, fasting or even intermittent fasting is a natural part of healing. You can read more about fasting your dog here:https://canine-wellness-specialist.uk/2024/04/09/fasting-dogs/
Thanks to its whopping 92% water content, watermelon keeps dogs super hydrated and is easy on the digestive system. It’s much less taxing than digesting meat and bone, so it can actually replace a fast if fasting feels mentally difficult.
Just a heads up: when you feed your dog a full meal of watermelon, they’ll pee a lot!
If you have any questions or want to get to the bottom of your dog’s specific health issues or concerns, get in touch.
Thank you for reading,
Teresa
1. Analyzing Lycopene Content in Fruits – ScienceDirect
2. Food Antioxidants and Cancer (nutritionfacts.org)
3. The RMF Diet | Rotational MonoFeeding
5. The Role of Vitamin A in Wound Healing – PubMed (nih.gov)
Canine Wellness Specialist 