Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers Or Seeds? Safe? Can Puppies Eat? Good, Bad and Benefits

Dogs have a reputation for stealing food from around the world. If you leave them alone for some minutes, you will see them munching on your food. What they might want to “steal” from you, however, may not be completely safe for them. They may eat some human food, but there are some they can’t. Good examples of unsafe food for dogs are chocolates and grapes.

If you are wondering whether cucumbers are safe for them or not, then keep on reading this article to find out.

What Is A Cucumber?

Cucumber is a plant belonging to the family of gourds with a scientific name Cucurbitaceae. Compared to other fruits, the nutritional value of this fruit may not be as high, but flavor and texture are a great addition to delightful dishes such as salad.

A cucumber is crunchy and very refreshing. It is a good reason that you may want your pooch to have some of these.

Can Your Dog Eat Cucumbers?

YES, there may be a few cucumbers in your pooch. This is a great tasting vegetable that can help your dog’s hydration, particularly during the summer months. Cucumber is 96% water, which will keep your dog refreshed.

Cucumbers also have some minerals and vitamins that are beneficial for your dog’s health. These are the goodness that comes with this vegetable:

• Vitamin C to fight all forms of infections.
• Vitamin K for blood clotting and rapid wound healing. Also, vitamin K is good for strengthening bones. So if you’re taking your dog with you during your outdoor activities, this vitamin will help make its bone is less prone to injury.
• Vitamin B1, B5, and B6 for tissue and muscle repairs, appetite stimulation, and for the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins.
• Potassium is for the proper functioning of your dog’s digestive tract.
• Maganese Your fur baby needs manganese for the metabolization of proteins and carbohydrates and to maintain healthy bones and teeth.
• Copper is for iron absorption and the formation of red blood cells.
• Molybdenum is to stop the formation of tumor growths-whether benign or cancerous.
• Biotin is very important because it is used to keep the tissues healthy, to make the skin healthy and to treat allergies, particularly in puppies.
• Silica is a mineral that helps reduce the pain and swelling of the joints. Thus, cucumber is good for dogs that are prone to have rheumatoid arthritis.

Apart from the nutrients mentioned above, cucumbers also provide your pooch with calcium, fiber, iron, and zinc.

Is Cucumber Safe for Dogs? Can Puppies Eat It, Too?

Being a fur parent, I know that the safety of human food for your pooch is one of your questions. You might wonder if your dog can receive from the cucumber the same amount of nutrients as you do. The answer to that is YES! Cucumber is completely safe for your dog to munch on, it’s so safe that even puppies can eat it.

You can feed it with a few slices of cucumber for as long as your puppy has been weaned from her mother. The idea is to give it a little and see if it has some problems with the tummy. If none, you can increase the amount gradually.

The important thing to remember when feeding a cucumber to puppies is that they should no longer be drinking milk because it can cause an upset stomach.

Is Cucumber Bad for Dogs?

Despite dogs eating cucumbers ‘ nutritional benefits, there are some instances where the two “do not see eye to eye.” Since cucumber is 96% water, it can cause some trouble in its tummy when you feed your pooch with too many of this veggie. It can cause diarrhea and a gassy stomach in them.

These symptoms will go away in a few days, there’s really nothing to be afraid of. But, if the symptoms persist, you might need to talk to the Vet about your pooch just to make sure it doesn’t get dehydrated.

Additionally, dairy products and cucumber are not entirely good when combined. So, if you give dairy treats like milk or cheese, then stay away from cucumber for a while.

Is Cucumber Good for Dogs?

Now that you know that cucumber is safe for dogs, then the question is “if it is good for them?”.

Cucumbers are good for dogs but in moderation. It contains nutrients that are good for the overall health of your dog. However, you should remember that your dog’s main diet should contain the right proportion of carbs and protein and some percentage of fat.

Dogs can be given fresh fruits and veggies, but those are not part of their main diet. These human food are only given as treats, which should only comprise 10% of their total diet.

Therefore, in the case of your fur baby, unlike the human parents who are required to eat more fruits and veggies than meat, it’s the opposite.

What Are The Health Benefits of Giving Your Dog The Right Proportion of Cucumber?

First, you can combine giving cucumber as a treat along with the right exercise if you have an overweight dog. The cucumber is low in calories, so it won’t add to your dog’s weight problem.

Second, cucumber is a healthy treat that is low in fat and calories. This is much better than the dog treats that are laden with artificial flavoring and calories.

Third, since it’s mostly water, you can bring a few slices while you are at the park. You can enjoy the hydrating and refreshing cucumber goodness with your fur baby.

Fourth, since cucumber is loaded with vitamins and minerals, then giving it as a form of treat will make your dog healthier.

Can Your Dog Eat Raw Cucumber?

YES, you can give fresh and raw cucumber. Your dog will definitely enjoy the crunch and the oozing juice that comes out from cucumber.

Some dog owners prefer boiling the cucumber. This can be done but it loses the crunch.

What About The Skin Of The Cucumber?

Do you think that if you feed your pooch with an unpeeled cucumber, you’ll hurt it? The reply is NO. The cucumber’s skin also contains essential nutrients.

The first thing you need to do is to wash the cucumber and remove any traces of chemicals. Then you slice it thinly so that it won’t be difficult to chew by your pooch.

What About The Seeds?

There are a number of dog-toxic fruit seeds. An example is the peach’s seed. But, the refreshing news is that eating the cucumber seeds is perfectly safe for your dog.

You can also find a variety of seedless cucumber in the market, which is equally good as the ones with seeds.

What About Picked Cucumber?

We love to make a vinaigrette dressing for our cucumber. Can we also flavor our dogs ‘ cucumber? Well, that’s not a good idea. The pickled cucumber has some spices that are not healthy for our fur babies, such as salt and sugar. So, let’s just feed them with raw cucumber and let them savor the crunch of it.

My Dog Has Bad Breath, Can Cucumber Fix The Problem?

YES, that’s because cucumbers have phytonutrients as well as phytochemicals that act as breath fresheners. But don’t replace it with the toothpaste for your doggie. Even if you feed it with cucumbers, your dog’s teeth still need to be cleaned.

Buy a good quality of dog toothpaste, like Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste for Dogs.

How Do You Give Cucumber To Your Dog?

If it’s the first taste of cucumber by your dog, give it slowly. This is to enable its tummy to adjust to the vitamins and minerals present in cucumbers like fiber and potassium. If your pet has no symptoms of tummy pain, you may be able to increase its cucumber consumption.

It’s up to you whether or not to peel the skin. Whatever you choose, cutting the cucumber into small pieces is important.

Then, you can also add the cucumber to its regular dog food.

If you have a teething puppy, you can freeze some cucumber small cubes and then give these as teething veggies for your pup.

How Many Cucumber Can Your Dog Eat?

Always follow the 10% rule, just like all other types of dog treats. You can give a few slices or about 1/8 cup of the cucumber for small dogs. 1/4 to 1/2 cup sliced cucumber can be given to the medium to large breed of dogs.

Cucumber Recipe for Your Fur Baby:

This recipe is a mixture of chicken and cucumber. If your dog is allergic to poultry, please feel free to replace chicken with beef or pork or even fish.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of grated cucumber
• One piece of half-cooked chicken breast or any type of meat
• One tablespoon of parmesan cheese (optional)
• 4 pieces of chopped mint leaves
• One cup of flour

Directions:

• Preheat the oven
• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl
• Form the dough into small balls and then roll out and flatten onto a baking pan
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown
• Cool and give to your fur baby as a treat

You can store the left-overs in the fridge.

Conclusion

There’s nothing like giving a healthy form of snacks or treats to your fur baby. You may choose to give low-calorie dog treats but feel free to let your fur baby taste the cucumber’s goodness on some occasions. It’s healthy and low in calories and fat. Then, how can your dog withstand a cucumber’s crunchiness and juiciness? So, go ahead and let your dog indulge in this healthy and refreshing snack.