It’s only natural to wonder if mandarins are safe to feed your dog, as this citrus fruit is highly prized for its delicious flavor and is also regarded as a health food by many people.
There are a few things to keep in mind before you start peeling a mandarin and feeding it to your dog, but the short answer is yes.
Come along as we weigh the benefits and drawbacks of giving your dog this food and share some tips for making sure your dog gets to enjoy it without compromising his or her health.
Can dogs eat mandarins?
Treating your dog with a piece of mandarin now and then is probably safe. Mango is safe for dogs to eat in moderation, but there are better options for dog treats.
What is a Mandarin?
The mandarin, as you may have guessed, is related to oranges and other citrus fruits. They’re flatter on top and bottom, and much smaller and sweeter than oranges.
It’s simpler to remove the skin because it’s thinner. While oranges are available year-round, mandarins are more of a fall fruit. Mandarin varieties include clementines and tangerines.
Are Mandarins Bad for Dogs?
There are a few potential problems with giving mandarins to your dog, which I will discuss below.
Sugar
The excessive sugar in mandarins is bad for your dog’s health in many ways. It can cause cavities, weight gain, and even diabetes. It has been found that 45 percent or more of dogs aged four and up are overweight. A simple glance at that number should be enough to convince you to keep your pet off of all table sugar.
You shouldn’t include mandarins in your dog’s diet if he or she is already overweight, has diabetes, or has other sugar-related health issues.
Seeds
Although clementines don’t have seeds, the seeds of mandarins and tangerines do, and those seeds contain traces of cyanide that could be harmful to your pet.
Even though your pet would need to eat a lot of the seeds before they became dangerously contaminated with cyanide, the risk is still there if they were to be chewed or crushed. So, if you want to give your pet some mandarins or tangerines, make sure you take the time to remove the seeds first.
Peels
Your pet may experience stomach distress, vomiting, and diarrhea if it ingests mandarin peel due to its high acidity and difficulty being digested.
The peels are also highly likely to contain pesticides, which can be extremely toxic to your pet’s health if he or she eats them.
Diarrhea, disorientation, excessive drinking, pawing at the face, tremors, rashes, and other symptoms may all be brought on by pesticide poisoning.
Upset stomach
When fed in large quantities, mandarin oranges can make a dog sick to their stomach and even give them diarrhea, even if the seeds and peel are removed.
Are Mandarins Good for Dogs?
There are some benefits to sharing small amounts of food with your dog.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, found in abundance in mandarins, is an antioxidant that protects against disease and helps keep your pet healthy.
Removal of free radicals and reversal of oxidation damage are two additional benefits of vitamin C. Cancer, kennel cough, bacterial infections, joint disease, and other ailments are just some of the reasons vets prescribe it to dogs.
Vitamin A
The mandarin’s vitamin A content will shield your dog’s mucous membranes and improve his night vision.
Minerals
Many minerals, such as calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and zinc, can be found in a mandarin. These minerals participate in countless bodily processes, giving your pet energy and ensuring its health.
Water
Water-rich mandarins can help keep your pet hydrated and prevent constipation.
How to feed mandarin to your dog
Don’t be surprised if your dog shows zero curiosity about trying a segment because many dogs dislike the taste of citrus fruits.
If you want to try feeding it to your dog, you should first remove the seeds (seeds contain traces of cyanide) and then give them a very small piece of fruit to see if they like it.
You could try offering your dog some other non-citrus fruits, like apples or bananas, or you could just stick to some tasty dog-friendly treats if mandarin isn’t his thing.
Just keep in mind the “10% Rule”: Your dog should only get 10% of his or her daily caloric intake from treats, with the remaining 90% coming from the dog’s regular, balanced diet.
Can My Dog Eat Mandarin Oranges?
There is no evidence that mandarin oranges are harmful to canines. In spite of how delicious the tempting fruit looks and smells, it may not do your dog any favors after it has been consumed in large quantities.
When consumed in large quantities, citrus fruits can cause stomach upset in dogs because their digestive systems aren’t adapted to process them. The high sugar content of oranges could be harmful to your dog if he or she is diabetic.
The orange peel may also cause vomiting and diarrhea in your dog if he or she has eaten an unpeeled mandarin. For this reason, you should keep your dog away from any citrus fruits that have not been peeled.
Can My Dog Eat Satsumas, Clementines, or Tangerines?
You may be surprised to learn that the term “mandarin orange” refers to a wide range of fruits with orange skins. Smaller and sweeter than regular oranges, mandarins are classified as a subset of oranges.
There are many types of mandarin oranges, such as the Japanese satsumas, the more common clementines, and the more exotic tangerines.
All are classified as mandarin oranges despite minor differences in characteristics, such as the easier-to-peel reputation enjoyed by satsumas. Therefore, all three of these common orange fruits can benefit from the guidance provided here.
Should I Feed My Dog Mandarins?
Your dog should get all the vitamins it needs from a regular, balanced diet that has been approved by your veterinarian. A slice of mandarin here and there won’t hurt, but there’s no need to include citrus fruit in your dog’s diet.
In some cases, depending on the dog’s and orange’s size, PetMd says that dogs can eat an entire standard orange.
As vitamin C is water soluble, even large doses won’t cause harmful accumulation in the body, so they can safely enjoy one or two mandarin segments every day. However, in order to avoid any gastrointestinal distress, you should peel and remove the fruit’s seeds before eating it.
Conclusion
This analysis of the potential advantages and disadvantages of giving mandarin oranges to your dog’s diet was presented for your information.
In moderation, it’s fine and may even have health benefits for your dog, but giving too much can lead to weight gain and other issues.