Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers?

Do you love sharing food with your dog? Since some human foods are surprisingly toxic for dogs (like grapes and raisins), it’s always good to check first before giving your pup new goodies. Luckily, cucumbers are safe for dogs—as long as they’re cut into bite-size chunks and given in small quantities, especially in relation to your dog’s size.

There’s a lot more to know about dogs eating cucumbers than you might expect. Can dogs eat cucumber seeds? What about the skin? Can dogs have pickles? Could your dog have an allergic reaction to cucumbers? Is it safe for diabetic dogs to eat cucumbers?

Read on for these answers and more!

Are Cucumbers Safe for Dogs?

Yes! Dogs can safely eat cucumbers. Just make sure to cut them into small pieces and give them to your dog in moderation. Too much of a good thing can cause choking hazards or stomach problems.

That said, they’re an excellent low-calorie snack option for pups who need to lose or maintain their weight: since the vegetable is 96% water, half a cup of cucumber slices only has 8 calories, compared to 40 calories in a typical medium dog biscuit. Cucumbers are also low in sodium and fat.

As healthy as cucumbers are for dogs, you should not feed pups pickles. The added salt and spices can cause problems for your pooch.

Can Dogs Eat Cucumber Seeds?

Yes, cucumber seeds are safe for dogs to eat. However, some puppies or adult dogs may have trouble digesting them. In that case, you may want to remove the seeds before feeding cucumbers to your dog.

Can Dogs Have Cucumber Skin?

Yes, dogs can safely eat cucumber skin, but it can be difficult to digest in large quantities. If your dog seems to struggle with it, you can remove all or part of the cucumber’s skin before feeding it to your pooch.

Can Dogs Drink Cucumber Water?

If you make cucumber water at home, it’s totally safe for your dog to drink some. However, you should avoid giving store-bought cucumber water to your pup as it may contain harmful additional ingredients, such as xylitol (a sugar substitute).

Can Dogs Eat Pickles?

Since pickles contain seasonings, salts, and other potentially harmful ingredients like onions, you should not let your dog eat them.

How to Feed Cucumbers to Dogs

Remember to keep all of your dog’s treats for the day, including cucumber, to less than 10% of their daily total calorie intake. Keeping that in mind, the best ways to feed cucumbers to dogs include:

• •Dehydrated, for a chewy snack

• •Cubed or sliced in small enough pieces your dog won’t choke on them

• •Chopped up and mixed with other dog-friendly fruits or vegetables in a tasty salad

Are Cucumbers Good for Dogs?

Yes! In addition to being high in water content and low in calories, cucumbers also contain benefits like:

• •Vitamins K, C, and B1

• •Magnesium

• •Molybdenum

• •Potassium

• •Copper

• •Manganese

• •Biotin

• •Fiber

How Much Cucumber Can Dogs Eat?

Giving your dog too many cucumber slices could upset their stomach. Assuming slices are about ¼” thick and no wider than 1”, you can give approximately one slice per 10 pounds of your dog’s weight. For example, toy breeds should only get 1-2 slices, medium dogs can handle 4-6 slices per day, and large dogs can have up to a handful of cucumber slices.

Can Dogs Have Allergies to Cucumbers?

While cucumber allergies and intolerances are uncommon for dogs, it is still possible your dog could experience a rash, itching, diarrhea, or vomiting. Always introduce new foods to your dog gradually to reduce the likelihood of a severe reaction.

Can Cucumbers Help Freshen Stinky Dog Breath?

Yes! Cucumbers contain phytochemicals and phytonutrients that can help freshen your dog’s breath by killing odor-causing bacteria in their mouth.

Can Diabetic Dogs Eat Cucumbers?

Always talk to your vet before giving your diabetic dog new foods, but cucumbers should be a safe option since they don’t contain starches and are high in moisture and low in calories.

Can Overweight Dogs Eat Cucumbers?

Yep! Low-calorie cucumber slices are an excellent treat for overweight dogs! They can be a great way to reward your dog even when you need to tightly control how much they eat.

If your dog eats too much cucumber, the high fiber and water content could cause gastrointestinal upset, so keep an eye out for loose stools.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat?

Yes! Dogs are still biologically designed to digest raw meat safely and efficiently. In fact, dogs are better able to extract nutrients from raw meat than from cooked diets or kibble. The proof is in their poop. Dogs fed a raw diet have smaller, firmer, less frequent poops than dogs on other diets because their body is getting more nutrition from their food.

Want to try it and see the effects on your own dog? Take the quiz now to see how much it would cost to make the switch to We Feed Raw. Adding even some raw to your dog’s diet can provide benefits!