Mangoes!!! Probably the only fruit that almost everyone likes, no matter if it’s a two-legged human or our four-legged canines. But is this seemingly harmless tasty fruit safe for Spaniels to eat??? Well, let’s find the answer.
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Can Spaniels Eat Mango?
Yes, Spaniels can consume mango as long as the fruit has been peeled off and the pit has been removed. This super tasty fruit comes along with high amounts of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and therefore its consumption offers numerous health benefits to the pup. However, just like every other fruit, there is a proper dosage to this, without which you are risking the canine to many health conditions.
What makes Mango a Good Treat for Spaniels?
Blessed with the goodness of essential fibers, vitamin A, B6, C, beta and alpa carotene, ripe mangoes are quite nutritious for canines. Upon being offered in the right dosages, the summer fruit has been found to be a good bowel stimulator, and hence can be safely offered to Spaniels with a history of improper bowel syndrome.
The fleshy part of a mango consists of considerable amounts of beta and alpa carotene (as previously discussed). These components when ingested work together to ensure a smooth, shiny coat and skin in canines, and thus are quite necessary for enhancing their overall quality of life.
Similarly, alpha-carotenes are also known for their damage-reducing capabilities caused by gradual oxidation due to aging, while beta carotenes are highly essential in preventing pigmentation. So, when considered all together, mangoes are both a healthy as well as a tasty natural substitute that can be offered to dogs safely.
Are there any side effects to Spaniels eating Mango?
Apparently as nutritious mangoes are, they can be similarly dangerous for our little fur babies when administered inappropriately. For instance, if overly fed, a dog may get severe diarrhea, throw up, or become extremely lethargic. This happens usually when the components are not fully broken down and absorbed by the canine digestive system, and therefore this fruit is only good when given in the right amounts and with regular intervals.
Some other side effects of mango consumption in dogs, include:
Probable Allergies
Not all Spaniels are made similar. Thus, where a dog may easily munch down a whole mango, others may exhibit food allergy signs and symptoms. So, prior to introducing the fruit for the first time, vets and nutritional experts often advise doing a sample test first. This way you can be sure of what you are feeding the canine and what to expect.
Dental Decay
Another side-effect of regularly feeding mangoes to canines includes dental decay. Mangoes are known for their sweetness and while they are super healthy and nutritious, their elements do contribute to increased plaque and tartar formation. So, unless your dog is regularly brushed and undergoes professional dental treatment every once in a while, risking their pearly whites is never a wise option.
Choking Hazards and Possible Toxicity
Furthermore, mangoes can be bad for Spaniels if their outer skin is not peeled off properly. The skin consists of high amounts of urushiol, a harmful toxin, that can hamper the pup’s health when ingested. Sudden painful rashes may pop-out all over their body, causing them severe discomfort, tummy aches, stomach bloating, and so much more.
Mango skin also poses a choking hazard for most dogs and therefore it is always best to offer only the juicy, fleshy part of the fruit to canines.
Cyanide Poisoning
Finally, another thing to be wary of when offering mangoes to canines is their pit. Similar to all other seed types, mango pits arrive with huge amounts of cyanide within them. When ingested, these compounds affect the tissues, lowering their oxygen absorption quality eventually leading to an abnormally high tissue death.
Cyanide poisoning signs typically begin within 15-20 minutes of accidental consumption of the mango pit, with health severities varying based upon the amount ingested. In extreme cases, the pup may face trouble in breathing, lose control over their body, suffer from extreme seizures, with the last side-effect being death.
What should I do if my Spaniel swallows a Mango pit?
Well, the best bet here is to seek vet assistance immediately. Don’t wait for the dog to try and throw up, as it will only lead to further deterioration of their health. Depending upon the size of the mango pit, it could suspend within their stomach or intestines, causing them not only a great deal of discomfort and pain, but also putting their lives on a rather risky point.
Once at the vet’s clinic, the doc will give them a thorough examination, including x-rays, MRI, blood and urine tests. This is to analyze the extent of damage caused within the spaniel’s body since the time of ingestion, and therefore speculate the right treatment methods.
Typically, in such cases, the vets may either choose induced regurgitation or cleaning of the stomach through canine-safe soap and water solution. These are predominantly non-invasive methods, although the latter is done with the pup under the influence of anesthesia. Once all the ingested toxic elements are out, the pup may be kept under observation for a few hours before discharging them to their homes.
How often can I give mango to my dog?
Now this is a tricky question. But the answer lies with the canine’s breed, life stage, activity levels, previous medical history and existing health conditions.
For instance, if you have a small breed pup aged 1.5 years with no such complicated health conditions, then offering them small fleshy pieces of the fruit once every week is no big deal. But, in case your Spaniel is an adult dog aged 3 years, with a predisposed vulnerability to a number of diseases, then consulting a vet before introducing any amount of the fruit is a must.
As discussed above, there are many benefits and risks associated with the consumption of mangoes by canines. So, unless discussed with a vet in detail, administering the fruit to your beloved fur baby is like knowingly playing with their life and this is not something a responsible pet parent would do.
How do I offer Mango to my Spaniel?
Slice it
Probably the simplest of all mango recipes, for this, you will have to:
- Wash the tropical fruit thoroughly. Usually cleaning them under running water works out best. Make sure to clean the fruit by applying gentle pressure onto the skin.
- Next, peel the outer layer of the mango. Take the help of a knife or a vegetable peeler to get rid of this choking hazard.
- Remove the pit by separating the fleshy part from the seed. Never and I repeat NEVER allow your dogs to ingest or swallow mango pits.
- Slice the remaining portion of the mango (fleshy part) into conveniently shaped pieces based upon your pooch’s preference. It is better to offer them small-medium sized pieces.
Make it into puree
To make puree:
- Clean the mango properly
- Peel off the outer skin and dig out the pit
- Pour the juicy part into a blender and blend the contents on medium-high mode for 2-3 minutes. Add water for seamless blending.
- Afterwards, filter the contents properly, making sure that the puree doesn’t have any more suspended items
- Offer a small amount of the puree to the Spaniel. You can also add cottage cheese to make it more impeccably delicious.
Freeze them
A recipe for hot summer days, this will require you to:
- Repeat the cleaning and cutting process as mentioned in the first two recipes.
- Once done, cut the mango into smaller pieces and deep freeze them in an ice cube tray.
- Later, offer these cubes as small delicious treats to your little woofers and watch them excitedly slurp away the palatableness of the summer fruit.
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Reference:
- akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fruits-vegetables-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20dogs%20can%20eat%20mangoes,can%20become%20a%20choking%20hazard.
- akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-mango/
- purina.com/articles/dog/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-mango
- pawlicy.com/blog/can-dogs-eat-mango/
- missouripoisoncenter.org/is-this-a-poison/fruit-pits/
- merckvetmanual.com/special-pet-topics/poisoning/cyanide-poisoning
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