When it comes to fruits that you have in your house you are best off knowing what dogs can and cannot have. This includes nectarines, can dogs eat nectarines? We explain everything you need to know below.
Can Dogs Eat Nectarines?
Yes, dogs can have nectarines, they are part of the Rosaceae family of fruit. Other fruits also include peaches and plums.
Nectarines and peaches are very similar, you can tell the difference between them because a nectarine has a smooth skin whereas a peach will have a bit of a fuzzy skin.
Nectarines do have a few health benefits for your dog, especially on a hot summer’s day for a treat.
When it comes to giving your dog a treat, you should start by only giving them a small amount of nectarine. This rule applies to all breeds, no matter the size of the breed.
You should then keep a close eye on your dog to make sure they are ok and do not have any allergic reactions.
You can then increase the amount you give your dog slowly. Please make sure you do not overfeed them, as no fruit or veg can replace a dog’s diet.
Benefits of a Nectarine
Nectarines are full of minerals and vitamins, which makes them a good treat for your dog. One vitamin they do contain is Vitamin A along with beta-carotene. These two will help maintain your dog’s bones, teeth, and healthy skin.
Furthermore, they are a good fiber source for your dog’s digestion, along with potassium which is good for the health and wellbeing of your dog. Nectarines also contain vitamin C and magnesium.
Nectarines are low-medium in sugar and are surprisingly low on the glycemic index, compared to other fruit like watermelon.
What you need to consider is that all fruit contains some type of sugar. You just need to be careful as too much sugar can affect your dog’s weight and teeth.
Check out the below table from the USDA FoodData Central Database, showing what can be found in a nectarine. If you would like to view the full table, please click the link above. We have only added the main nutrients and ingredients you will find in a nectarine.
100g serving of Raw Nectarine
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water | 87.59g |
| Energy | 44kcal |
| Protein | 1.06g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.32g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 10.55g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.7g |
| Sugars, total including NLEA | 7.89g |
| Calcium, Ca | 6mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.28mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 9mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 26mg |
| Potassium, K | 201mg |
Hazards of Nectarines
Pits
What you need to take seriously with a nectarine is the pit, the pit contains small amounts of cyanide. Along with it being a choking hazard as well.
There is a debate currently going on that the cyanide from the pit can seep out from it and on to the surrounding flesh of the nectarine.
What you should do is cut up the nectarine and cut around the pit, this should not cause any problems for your dog. You should never give a dog a full piece of fruit that has pits or seeds in it.
If your dog has accidentally swallowed a pit, then you are best calling your veterinarian. You may think this is being a bit overdramatic, but it can become a choking hazard. Not to mention it can get stuck in a dog’s digestive system.
Regarding the dog’s digestive system the pit can get stuck in their stomach. Specifically, their intestinal tract, which could be very serious. This is more of a risk and likely to happen than the actual cyanide poisoning mentioned above from one pit.
Some signs to keep an eye on if your dog has swollen a pit are:
- Panting
- Painful stomach
- Vomiting
- Unsteadiness
The Cyanide Aspect
The pit contains small amounts of cyanide and you may think it is only a very small amount of cyanide. One is not going to harm them, which you might be correct. Most experts have stated that they would need to have swollen several pits or seeds over a certain amount of time for there to be traces of cyanide in their body, which would cause toxicity.
According to veterinary toxicologists (specialists who study the effects of toxic or poisonous materials), it requires many pits to cause signs of concern. The exact number required to produce cyanide toxicity depends on the size of the dog and whether the dog chews the pit.
Read the original article – PetMD
What you are not considering is that dogs have a much lower tolerance when it comes to toxins, dogs are a lot smaller than us. With some breeds, they are tiny compared to us, which means their organs are a lot smaller than ours. This is why it can only take a small amount.
Canned and Already Prepared Fruit
You should never give your dog any type of canned fruit or already prepared fruit. These will contain a high amount of concentrated sugar syrup.
If your dog has had it in the past and you are saying they enjoyed it, that is not the point here. Dogs should never have such a high amount of sugar.
If given on a regular basis it will easily lead to weight gain. Which will lead to further illnesses like diabetes, heart problems, joint issue, and pancreatitis to name a few.
Fallen Fruit
How about the fruit that has fallen from a tree on your walk with your best friend? The answer is no, there are so many factors that you need to take into consideration here that it is not worth it.
You do not want to encourage your dog to forage. This will lead to them constantly doing it on their walks and they could find something toxic to them.
One example is, if the fruit has fallen from the tree and it has been there a while, it would have started to decompose. Which can produce ethanol, which is another word for alcohol.
As I am sure you know, you should never give your dog anything with alcohol in it, it is highly toxic.
The above rules apply if you have a fruit or veg patch, please make sure you fence them up so your dog cannot access them.
How Much of a Nectarine Can a Dog Have?
As with anything when it comes to a dog eating any human food, it should be in moderation and given on a treat basis only. It is only a treat, do not go overboard. Dogs should not be eating a full nectarine, or even half of one if they are a smaller breed. If you have to question yourself, have they had too much already, then they probably have.
You should not be feeding your dog nectarines on a regular basis.
Too much of any fruit or vegetable can have the opposite effect on them. From them having diarrhea, stomach problems, or even gaining weight, which is never good.
How to Feed Nectarines to Your Dog
First off, as we have mentioned above you should make sure to remove the pit from the nectarine.
The second is to cut up the nectarine into small portions, no matter the breed or size. This stops anything like choking from happening. They can then be used as small treats; you do not want to overfeed your dog though.
It is also to be noted that if you have a fruit ball you need to make sure you have it out of reach. This is just a precaution, to make sure your dog is not tempted to sneak a quick nectarine or apple.
Conclusion
Can dogs eat nectarines? Yes, they can. As long as it is in small amounts and only given on a treat basis. Nectarines cannot replace a dog’s diet, a dog receives everything they need in their daily dog food, anything else is a treat.
A good rule of thumb is, if it is meant for humans then its classed as a treat, as long as it is not toxic.
Please make sure to remove any pits, pips, seeds, or stones from any fruit before you give them to your dog, this vital to remember. You do not want your dog to have a build-up of these in their system.
