Can French bulldogs eat watermelon?
I wondered one summer when I came across following interesting facts about watermelons:
- Watermelons are both a fruit and a vegetable
- There are nearly 1200 varieties of watermelons worldwide!
- The seedless watermelon variety not genetically engineered!
The good news is that yes, dogs can eat watermelons too and the fruit is a healthy summer snack for our canine friends.
In this guide, we will take a look at the health benefits of watermelon, at what age you can safely feed it to your Frenchie, how to feed it, and also whether you can feed its seeds and rind to your pet.
Can French Bulldogs Eat Watermelon?
Yes, Frenchies can safely eat watermelons.
Unlike fruits like grapes and raisins, watermelons are not toxic to dogs. In fact, these fruits are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals.
We will study in the subsequent sections how watermelons can benefit your French bulldog.
We will also tell you which parts of the fruit your Frenchie can and cannot eat.
Be sure to check out our related guides on:
Can French Bulldogs Eat Watermelon Safely? What Are its Benefits?
As stated earlier, Frenchies can safely consume watermelon.
Here are the health benefits of watermelons for French bulldogs:
1. Keeps your pet hydrated
Drinking water is good for humans and also for our dogs.
Watermelon contains nearly 92% water which makes it an excellent snack for those hot summer months.
2. Could aid in weight loss/weight management
Watermelon is an excellent food for obese dogs and diabetic dogs.
The higher water content combined with fiber can keep your Frenchie full which is great if you have placed it on a calorie-restricted diet.
3. It contains many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
Watermelons are packed with beneficial compounds, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Just one cup of chopped watermelon can provide your Frenchie with the following nutrients:
- Vitamin C – nearly 10% of the recommended daily value
- Vitamin A – nearly 9% of the recommended daily requirement
- Beta carotene and lycopene
- Citrulline – an important amino acid
- Potassium – nearly 1% of recommended daily intake
- Vitamins B1 and B5 and vitamin B6 – almost 0.5% of daily intake.
4. Has anti-cancer properties
Studies show that watermelon could reduce the risk of certain cancers in dogs and humans.
This is mainly due to its lycopene content. Lycopene is known to lower IgF or insulin growth factors that are responsible for cell-division in cancer cells. Higher IgF could contribute to risk of cancer.
5. Can benefit heart-health
Another benefit of regular watermelon consumption is that its vitamins, lycopene, cucurbitacin, magnesium, potassium, and citrulline could lower the risk of heart disease in canines and humans alike.
6. Lower oxidative stress and combat aging
Powerful antioxidants in watermelon can combat premature aging in dogs.
These vitamins and minerals fight free radical damage – free radicals are rogue molecules that not only cause aging but could also become cancerous.
Antioxidants like vitamin C and lycopene in watermelons fight oxidative stress and inflammation and could make your Frenchie more energetic.
7. Benefit their coat and skin
Since watermelons contain many B-vitamins as well as vitamins A and C, it can nourish your Frenchie’s skin and coat.
We all know that Frenchies tend to have skin and coat issues. They are prone to dry skin, irritation, and hot spots. A diet rich in B-vitamins could prevent these issues and make the skin and coat supple and soft.
Also Read: Best French Bulldog Shampoo
8. Improves digestion
Watermelon’s high water and fiber content can reduce constipation and keep your pet regular.
With watermelon intake, your Frenchie could avoid anal gland troubles, stool dryness or hardness, and other constipation or regularity problems.
Also Read: Best Dog Food for Anal Gland Issues
At What Age Can French Bulldogs Eat Watermelon?
We are sure you have wondered at some point: Can French bulldog puppies eat watermelon?
The answer is yes.
With a few precautions like removing the seeds and rind, you can safely feed watermelons to a puppy aged 2 months and above.
As always, practice moderation. In excess, watermelon could cause diarrhea or loose stools.
When we say moderation – it means feeding no more than one cup of the fruit – with the rind and seeds removed.
As with any new foods, start slow and feed only a small quantity of watermelon to your young pet in the beginning.
(Good news is that most Frenchie puppies do not have any adverse reaction to this delicious fruit.)
If any loose or watery stools or upset stomach does occur, cut back on the quantity.
Can French Bulldogs Eat Watermelon Seeds?
If you have been following our blog, then you know that the pits, seeds, and stones of certain fruits are extremely harmful to our beloved Frenchies.
For example, apple seeds are known to contain traces of cyanide which, in excess quantities, can be extremely dangerous for small-to-medium-sized dogs like Frenchies.
Thankfully, we cannot say the same about watermelon seeds.
Unlike apple seeds, watermelon seeds are not known to contain cyanide or other toxins.
So, if your pet swallows a couple of seeds with its watermelon slices, it shouldn’t be a cause for concern.
However, in excess, watermelon seeds could lead to abdominal pain, intestinal blockage, and other painful symptoms.
Therefore, it is best to avoid feeding watermelon seeds in excess to your French bulldog.
Can French Bulldogs Eat Watermelon Rind?
Watermelon rind is also edible. In fact, the entire fruit can be eaten!
Herbivores like cows and buffaloes relish watermelon rinds. But are they safe for our canine companions?
Watermelon rind is crunchy and it makes an excellent post-meal snack for your pet. The crunchy rind can remove plaque and tartar which could even reduce your Frenchie’s bad breath.
(Naturally you must not substitute this for brushing!)
Being rich in fiber, watermelon rind can fill up your pet and prevent hunger pangs or begging for table scraps. It is an ideal snack for helping an overweight Frenchie lose weight.
However, when eaten in excess, watermelon rinds can cause loose watery stools, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and other unwanted symptoms.
To be on the safe side, avoid feeding the rind in excess to your pet.
Can French Bulldogs Drink Watermelon Juice?
Ahh! Watermelon juice! Who doesn’t like its sweet, cool, taste? It is an excellent summer-thirst quencher, isn’t it!
But can we give our French bulldogs watermelon juice?
Yes, you can safely let your pet lap up watermelon juice. However, the best beverage for Frenchies on hot summer days (and throughout the year) is water.
If you can, always choose homemade watermelon juice.
Avoid commercial juices which contain many preservatives as well as large amounts of sugar. Both these ingredients are unnecessary for Frenchies.
Preservatives in juices could even cause digestive troubles in sensitive dogs.
Also, watermelon juice in excess could lead to loose, watery stools or diarrhea. So, as always, please practice moderation when feeding it to your Frenchie.
Also Read: Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs with Sensitive Stomach
Important Things to Remember when Feeding Watermelon to French Bulldogs
Watermelons are generally very safe for French bulldogs to consume. However, there are certain precautions you must take when feeding the fruit to your Frenchie:
1. Avoid feeding the rind
The rind of the watermelon is also edible – many animals like cows, goats, buffaloes, eat the rind with great relish.
However, in French bulldogs, excess rind consumption can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, loose stools, etc.
2. Remove the seeds before feeding
In excess, the seeds of watermelons can cause blockage and could also lead to bloating or abdominal pain.
So avoid feeding watermelon seeds in excess to your fur baby.
3. Everything in moderation
As with everything, it is best to feed your French bulldog watermelon in moderation.
Excess melons can lead to diarrhea or loose stools.
These symptoms usually disappear within a couple of hours but it is best to take your pet to the vet if the diarrhea persists.
Here’s a quick table to show you which parts of watermelon are safe for Frenchies to eat:
| Parts of Watermelon | Safe or Unsafe for French Bulldogs |
| Flesh | Safest |
| Seeds | Okay if eaten accidentally but moderation is key. Too many seeds can cause blockage. |
| Rind | Okay to consume in moderation – crunchy texture removes tartar and plaque (not to substitute regular brushing). In excess can cause blockages, diarrhea, etc. |
| Juice | Okay to consume in moderation – preferably homemade and not commercial. |
How to Feed Watermelon to French Bulldogs?
Help your Frenchie stay cool and hydrated this summer with these cool and delicious watermelon recipes:
1. Watermelon cubes/slices
Use seedless watermelons or remove the seeds as far as possible.
Slice it or cube it into bite-sized pieces. Feed your Frenchie straight from your hand or place the cubes in its treat dispenser.
2. Frozen treats
Puree the watermelon without its rind and seeds. Mix it up with plain Greek yogurt and a bit of honey.
Freeze the treats in ice trays for about 4 hours. Give your Frenchie these frozen watermelon treats on hot summer afternoons.
3. Tropical delight!
Blend watermelon with coconut milk and freeze in Kong toys.
Your Frenchie will have a delightful time licking these delicious tropical treats.
4. Banana and watermelon frozen treats
Puree bananas and watermelon in a blender. Add the mixture to molds and freeze. Fill them inside Kong toys or give them as is to your Frenchie as a post-meal snack.
For more delicious watermelon recipes, visit this site.
What Fruits and Veggies Can French Bulldogs Eat and Not Eat?
Here are some of the fruits and vegetables your French Bulldogs can or cannot eat:
- Apples – yes, but without seeds.
- Bananas – yes
- Asparagus – No
- Avocadoes – No
- Blackberries – Yes
- Blueberries – Yes
- Broccoli – Yes, in moderation as they can make your Frenchie gassy.
- Cantaloupe – Yes
- Carrots – Yes
- Celery – yes
- Cherries – No
- Coconut – yes, without the husk
- Cranberries – Yes.
- Cucumbers – Yes
- Eggplant – No
- Guava – No
- Jackfruit – No
- Limes/lemons – No
- Mango – yes, in moderation
- Nectarine – Yes, without seeds
- Oranges – Yes, without seeds
- Pineapple – yes
- Pears – yes, without the seeds.
- Peaches – Yes, without pits
- Plums- No
- Potatoes – No
- Raspberries – Yes
- Strawberries – yes
- Sweet potatoes – yes
- Tomatoes – No
FAQs on Can French Bulldogs Eat Watermelon?
1. How much watermelon can my adult French bulldog safely eat?
Doctors recommend no more than one cup of watermelon per day for small dogs like Frenchies, in summers. Make sure you remove the seeds and the rind of the fruit before feeding.
In excess, watermelon could cause loose watery stools due to its high fiber and water content. So, make sure you observe your Frenchie stools. Make changes or avoid feeding the fruit if your pet develops diarrhea.
2. How much watermelon can my Frenchie puppy eat daily?
Feed no more than one cup of watermelon with the rind and seeds removed to your Frenchie puppy 2 months and older.
Avoid feeding watermelon seeds in excess as they can lead to blockages and abdominal pain.
3. Can French bulldogs eat watermelon daily?
Yes, in summers, you can feed your Frenchie a cup of watermelon on a daily basis. It is a great hydrating snack and most Frenchies love it.
You can also make frozen treats of the fruit to feed in-between meals. Being rich in vitamins and antioxidants, they are great for your Frenchie’s health and well-being too.
4. Why do dogs like watermelons so much?
Most dogs, Frenchies included, love watermelon for its sweet taste. It is also cooling and refreshing on hot summer days.
You can further enhance the watermelon’s taste by combining it with bananas, coconut milk, and plain yogurt to make tasty frozen goodies for your dog.
Conclusion – Can French Bulldogs Eat Watermelon
Can French bulldogs eat watermelon?
Yes, French bulldogs and Frenchie puppies 2 months and older can eat a cup of watermelon daily, without any adverse effects. However, you must avoid feeding the rind and seeds of the fruit to your pet.
Watermelon juice is also quite safe for French bulldogs as long as it is sugar-free.
We hope this guide helps you feed this delicious hydrating fruit to your Frenchie this summer.
