Can Dogs Eat Pomegranate?

Pomegranates are a popular fruit at holiday time, and their seeds make for great garnishing. Their jewel-colored juice has become more available in grocery stores too! But can dogs eat pomegranate? We did some digging into the research– turns out it’s not so simple.

can dogs eat pomegranate

First and foremost, pomegranates themselves are not toxic to dogs. In fact, pomegranates have plenty of health benefits to offer our pets in fruit, juice, and extract form. These beautiful fall fruits are rich in antioxidants and high in fiber, potassium, folic acid, and vitamin C. That said, eating a large quantity of raw pomegranate may upset your dog’s stomach, so it’s best to provide small bites or better yet, offer dog treats or food enhanced with pomegranate.

What are pomegranates?

Pomegranates come from a plant family that is not toxic to dogs, according to the ASPCA. Pomegranate season in North America begins around October and runs through February (just like citrus fruits), which means they’re often incorporated into tablescapes and recipes as part of this fruit’s superfood status due to its juicy seeds as well as vitamin C content; it also contains iron, fiber K vitamins.

can dogs eat pomegranate

Not fatal for dogs

Technically, the seeds of a pomegranate are not poisonous to dogs like some other foods. It would be highly unlikely for your dog to experience organ failure or death after ingesting this fruit; unlike raisins and grapes which can lead to kidney problems if eaten in large quantities (raisin) chokes them out completely while pomegranates will only cause digestive issues.

Similar to acorns, pomegranate seeds contain tannins. Tannins can cause stomach issues in canines that tend to result in vomit and diarrhea. A pomegranate peel is also a choking hazard, so if you’re whipping up some pomegranate ginger apple cider, be sure to toss those peels straight into the garbage.

Signs your dog has eaten pomegranate

If you suspect your pup has eaten some of the pomegranates from your fancy charcuterie board, make sure he drinks plenty of water and keeps an eye on him for a few hours. Chances are that within this time period his stomach will begin to reject whatever it was trying to consume so if things go smoothly after that then congratulations! If not though be ready because every dog is different when dealing with these types of foods which means there may come out all manner of symptoms after eating something like this including vomiting in rare cases where dogs have trouble digesting them.

When to call the vet

If you catch your pup red-handed eating an entire raw pomegranate, it’s best to call a vet or Animal Poison Control. They will be able to give advice on the next steps based upon size and age as well as any health issues they may have had in the past.