Mangoes are considered one of the sweetest fruits to snack on for humans. People often turn to them for a healthy alternative to some junk food, and it has several vitamins and nutrients to justify the calories. Dogs can sense the sweetness of the food, and often try their best to sneak a bite. Should that be allowed, or are owners best to keep mangoes out of reach?
Can dogs eat mango?
A mango is as safe for a dog as it is for a human. They are sweet and tasty to the vast majority of dogs, so they will welcome the opportunity of trying it out. It makes an excellent snack for dogs since it provides vitamins and nutrients. It is also easy to chew.
Keeping foods easy to consume
A ripe mango is pretty soft, making it very easy to chew up for dogs. With that said, when they do get a chance to try food that is sweet and tasty, they are swift to scarf it down. That is why it is worth taking the extra bit of time to make sure that the food is very easy to consume so that there are no complications.
Preparing a mango is pretty easy, so there is not a lot of work to make it dog-friendly. It is just one of the many reasons why it is a great snack option for dogs if a human wants to share. Not many people enjoy having to spend a lot of time preparing certain food options for their dogs.
Are there any dangers for dogs consuming mangoes
There is very minimal risk for any dog consuming mangoes. For those who want to make the experience as seamless as possible, make sure to peel it and remove the pit to avoid any complications.
The skin of a mango is thin enough that dogs do not have much of a problem chewing through it. With that said, it does pose a minor digestive problem. The same goes for pits, as they only mess with smaller dogs. They might have trouble passing the pit, so pay close attention to their actions after consuming. They might start acting differently, requiring a visit with a veterinarian in some extreme cases.
Another reason why dogs should avoid the pit in a mango is the fact it has a tiny amount of cyanide in it. This is not going to do too much damage and people should not be too alarmed, but it could cause some overall sensitivity for some pets. They will not understand the effects of overeating mango until everything starts to set in.
What are the main health benefits of mangoes for dogs?
A lot of the benefits that humans get from mangoes can be applied to dogs as well. They are filled with many different vitamins, while also giving an overall boost to the immune system. If a dog needs any help getting the proper nutrients below, start using mangoes as a sweet treat.
Fiber
Fiber is crucial for dogs in a lot of the same ways it helps out humans. For example, it helps out in helping digestion, maintaining a healthy weight, cutting down on diabetes risks, and more. So many people have dogs but do not necessarily focus on fiber compared to some other benefits. Some traditional foods for dogs have them, but getting fiber naturally from fruits and vegetables makes sense.
Vitamin A
Dogs need healthy amounts of Vitamin A each and every day to stay healthy and grow to their full potential. Veterinarians will suggest an increase in Vitamin A if a dog is having trouble with their vision, bone growth, reproduction, or even immune deficiencies. It is an excellent all-around vitamin that helps the dog become healthier overall.
Vitamin B6
All the B vitamins play a vital role in the dog’s health, but Vitamin B6 is very crucial. It helps with glucose generation, nervous system function, hormones, immune system, and red blood cells. There are other sources for Vitamin B6, but mangoes are one of the tastiest ways to get it.
Vitamin C
Most people are very aware that Vitamin C is plentiful in a lot of different fruits. Mangoes have a natural supply of Vitamin C, and it serves as a very valuable antioxidant. It takes care of harmful free radicals in the body and relieves the dog a bit by keeping inflammation down. Dogs naturally synthesize Vitamin C in their liver, but there is nothing wrong with getting additional amounts through diet.
Vitamin E
A dog is always a risk when it comes to oxidative damage. Vitamin E help with that, as well as cell functioning and metabolism. The importance of Vitamin E gets overlooked at times, but natural sources are always valuable.
Additional benefits
Along with everything listed above, mangoes are great to help with many other health issues as well. For example, mangoes do a great job of lowering cholesterol levels fairly rapidly in dogs. They also have nutrients to help with better eyesight, digestive health, and inflammation control.
Above all else, it is not a food that a person needs to force-feed their dog. By providing a small number of mango bites, it is a snack that most can get behind.
What are the best ways to serve mangoes to dogs?
Some people like to be creative with how they give their dogs mangoes. The majority of dogs are not exactly picky, but they will appreciate different types of treats depending on the time of year, and how old they are.
Frozen mango slices
This is a perfect way to cool dogs down during the summer, or to give to any dogs that are currently going through teething. It is very soothing in the mouth for dogs, and even though they are frozen, they do not get so hard that they are impossible to chew.
Dried mango
Dried mango is a little chewier than other options, but it is not that tough that dogs will suffer. This is a great option when going on long hikes, or to just have as a snack around at all times. Dried mangoes are much easier to buy in bulk and work through compared to ripe options. This means a person can buy bigger bags and get a bit of a discount. There might not be as many vitamins and nutrients in dried mangoes compared to ripe options, but there are still health benefits.
Mango purée
This is the easiest way to mix mango into other food items. Make sure that the other food is perfectly safe for the dogs as well, and it can turn into a delicious snack. If creating purée seems like too much of a hassle, a person can go ahead and purchase mango baby food from the store as well.
Mango-flavored dog treats
Since mangoes are so healthy for dogs, some dog treats utilize the flavor. The great thing about these dog treats is that they do not expire nearly as fast as fresh mangoes, so people can buy a bag and have them around for a while.
There are a few manufacturers who make these treats, and dogs tend to show some type of preference as time goes on. Try a few highly-rated options out and see how they react.
What is the perfect portion size for dogs?
Dogs should have a little less than a human when it comes to proper portion size for mangoes. That means starting with about 1/8 of a cup of mango for smaller dogs, and going all the way up to about a 1/4 of a cup for larger dogs. Eating a lot more than that in one sitting can cause a dog to have an upset stomach because the fruit has large amounts of sugar and fiber.
Mangoes are pretty tasty for a reason, and that comes down to the amount of sugar in even a small serving. If a dog eats too many sugary foods, they have a chance of putting on pounds and suffering from diabetes as well. If a dog has any signs of sugar issues or suffers from diabetes, the standard recommendation is to stay away from mangoes and other sugary fruits.
Final thought on mangoes for dogs
Fruits and vegetables in moderation are perfectly fine for dogs in most cases. Mangoes fall in that safe category, and as a soft fruit, owners do not have to worry about much in general.
Remember that there are other fruits out there for a dog to try out, and keeping portion sizes small makes the most sense. A lot of fruits have sugar in them, so even sampling a few different options can be a little risky. Space out fruit treats, and everything should be okay in the end.
Shawn Manaher is a serial entrepreneur but when he isn’t working, he loves dogs. He’s owned different pets over the years, and always gives a part of his heart to each pet.
