Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers?
Yes, dogs can eat cucumbers.
Cucumbers are completely safe for your dog to eat. They are low-calorie vegetables.
Cucumbers contain Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Potassium, and Magnesium.
Dogs love to eat cucumbers. Cucumbers are 96% of water and can be very beneficial in summers to keep them hydrated on hot days. But, it is recommended that serving a lot of cucumbers may be harmful to your dog’s stomach.
Being a dog lover, you might be worried about how you can feed your dog with cucumbers or whatever questions you have in your mind.
Yours most Frequently Asked Questions on the query: Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers?
How many cucumbers can I give my dog a day?
Cucumbers are low-calorie snacks for dogs. Dogs love to eat them. Feed your dog with no more than 2 or 3 slices of cucumber. As it contains 96% water, overeating cucumbers can upset the dog’s tummy. It is highly recommended to remove the seeds and skin of the cucumbers before serving them to dogs.
Are cucumbers good for dogs to eat?
Yes, Cucumbers are perfectly safe for your dog to serve with. It is a very low-calorie vegetable. Cucumbers are also very low in fats and sodium. Cucumbers are 96% water, so serving in bulk can cause stomach upset. Cucumbers can cause diarrhea in dogs if given more than 10 percent of the diet. They help in keeping the dog hydrated on hot days of summer.
Can dogs eat the skin of a cucumber?
No, Cucumber skin and seeds both are not good to eat. Both these things should be removed first before serving.
Cucumber skin is not soft, therefore hard to digest. It can create digestive problems in the stomach. Skin and seeds can cause bloat and gas.
Can cucumbers give dogs diarrhea?
Cucumbers are 96% water.
The water and fiber can cause gas, bloat, and diarrhea.
So, serving them to dogs in moderate amounts would be a safe option. Excess cucumbers with skin and seeds are not good for dogs to serve.
Scientifically Viewed: Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers?
Before we call out food good or bad based on some already set traditions or some specific experiences, we need to check:
- How much nutrients do Cucumbers contain, and
- Does your dog even require nutrients from Cucumbers? If YES, then,
- How much is it good for your dog (depending upon its weight and age)?
Vegetable Facts: What Nutrients are Contained in Cucumbers? (per 100 g)
Source: USDA
Looking at the following Cucumbers nutrition table, we notice that they are rich in Potassium, Carbs, Vitamin A & C. Fiber, Protein, and Iron contain a considerate part.
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Total Fat | 0 g | |
Saturated fat | 0 g | |
Cholesterol | 0 mg | |
Sodium | 5 mg | |
Potassium | 140 mg | |
Total Carbohydrate | 2 g | |
Dietary fiber | 1 g | |
Sugar | 1 g | |
Protein | 1 g |
Vitamin C | 10 mg | Vitamin A | 4 mg |
Iron | 2% | Calcium | 2 mg |
Phosphorus | 0 mg | Zinc | 0 mg |
Magnesium | 0 mg |
Dogs Nutritional Requirements: Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers
View/Download the complete table
Nutritionally, dogs require more proteins but cucumbers are a good combination of Pottasium, Protein, and Vitamin A/C in addition to the energy it gives in terms of Carbohydrates.
It is also mostly water, so it keeps your dog hydrated too.
So, a simple straight forward answer to:
Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers? would be:
YES, but occasionally and moderately.
Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers? Can Dogs Have Cucumbers?
Cucumbers are low-calorie vegetables and with almost 96% of water.
You should always serve Cucumbers in a moderate amount to your pet.
Remove the skin first, slice it into a round shape and remove the seeds from the center. Chopping and serving cucumbers with skin and seeds can upset your pet’s stomach.
Why Your Dog Should Not Eat Cucumbers?
Cucumbers are low-calorie vegetables and have many other nutrients. But cucumbers are 96 % water. Overeating cucumbers with skin and seeds can harm your dog. It can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, bloat, and gas.
Health Benefits: Why Your Dog Should Eat Cucumbers?
Cucumbers are a great snack for dogs to eat. Cucumbers are low-salt and low-sugar. They have no fats.
They are low in calories and are best for dogs to serve as a side diet.
Cucumbers are 96% water and can keep your pet hydrated on a hot sunny day.
Cucumbers contain Vitamin C, Vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, copper, and other nutrients which are very beneficial for a dog’s health. Vitamin C improves the immune system of your pooch.
It is suggested that this snack must be no more than 10% of the total diet of your dog.
Cucumber Recipes for Dog: Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers
1. Apple-Cucumber Dog Treat
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of Apple Sauce
- 1/2 cup of shredded Cucumber
- 1/2 tablespoon of Cilantro chopped
- 1 cup of Spelt Flour
Instructions:
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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In a bowl mix all ingredients by hand.
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Once the dough is well-mixed roll dough into 1 inch balls and places them onto the prepared baking sheet. Press down on the tops with a fork to flatten.
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Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, cool, and refrigerate.
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Makes 1 to 2 dozen rounds.
You can try adding some tomatoes and corn too.
2. Cucumber and Salmon Dog Treat Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of chopped cucumber, seeds removed;
- 1 small tin of water-packed salmon;
- 1/4 cup unseasoned broth or alternative dog-safe liquid;
- 1 egg;
- 2 tablespoons of ground flax;
- 1 tablespoon of spirulina powder (optional for color);
- 2 cups of brown rice flour, plus additional flour for rolling.
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 180C.
- Mix the cucumber and salmon and broth in a blender. Shift it into a mixing bowl.
- Combine all remaining ingredients except flour.
- Mix it well.
- Now add flour and make a very nice dough.
- Give some rest to the dough.
- Now cut to shapes.
- Bake it for 15-20 minutes.
- The treat is ready.
- Let it cool before serving and storing. Store it in an airtight jar.
3. Strawberry Cucumber Melon Dog Treats
- 3 Cups of Watermelon Chopped
- 1 Cup of Strawberries Chopped
- 1/2 Cup of Cucumber Water
- Extra fruit for toppings
- Crush the fruit and blend together in a food processor.
- Using a mini muffin pan with silicone liners, fill each spot with 2 Tablespoons of the mixture.
- Set a small piece of fruit in the middle.
- Place in the freezer until frozen.
- Once frozen, pop out of the silicone liners and store in the freezer.
Some Fun Facts about Cucumbers:
- Cucumbers can be up to 2 feet long.
- A whole cucumber has only 16 % calories.
- A whole cucumber contains 96% of water.
- The cooling effects of cucumber can soothe sunburn.
- Cucumbers contain Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6, folic acid, Vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.
I hope this guide helped you know about can dogs eat cucumbers or not.
The Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers? guide contained all the scientific information along with answers to your frequently asked questions and with some really nice recipes and fun facts, pros and cons of about can dogs eat cucumbers.