Yes. Dogs can eat dried mangoes in moderation. Dried mangoes contain many nutritional benefits apart from being sugary. However, being a devoted pet parent, it is essential to check the ingredients added to the store-bought dried mango before offering it to your dogs.
Table of Contents
What Is A Dried Mango?
Dried mangoes are dehydrated mangoes that are dried to increase their shelf lives, thus making them available throughout the year, even during the seasons when fresh mangoes are unavailable. Homemade dehydrated mangoes are made by slicing them and drying them with the help of a dehydrator. They are natural candy with no preservatives, chemicals, or artificial flavors. Dried mangoes are a tasty treat by themselves; however, they are added as toppings on cocktails, ice creams, fruit salads, and oatmeal pudding to enhance the flavor and fortify the food with essential benefits that a fresh mango offers.
Is Dried Mango Safe for Dogs?
Although dried mangoes are non-toxic and can be treated as a healthy snack for dogs, it is best to give them in moderation. Dehydrating mangoes can make them less nutritious and have the same sugar content as a fresh mango; however, it becomes concentrated in the dried mango, so it is best to limit it as an occasional treat.
Dried mangoes contain a rich source of vitamins, antioxidants, proteins, potassium, beta carotene, and dietary fiber, thus making them a healthy treat or snack for dogs. Let us know how these nutrients impact a dog’s metabolism.
Antioxidants: Dried mangoes are loaded with antioxidants. Chronic inflammation, a hallmark of many complex health conditions in animals, is neutralized by antioxidants. In addition, antioxidant intake may help with any chronic autoimmune illness.
Protein aids in forming new skin cells, hair growth, and the development of organs, enzymes, antibodies, hormones, and other biological functions.
Beta-carotene: Beta-carotene is a potent antioxidant and an immune system regulator. In dogs, it’s also a provitamin A. Both cell-mediated immune responses are influenced by beta-carotene. Beta-carotene boosts plasma antibody levels and improves hypersensitivity in dogs.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble substance that creates coagulation proteins necessary for blood clotting. Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone), which is generated in plants and may be ingested through food or supplements, is the most common dietary source of Vitamin K.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C serves as a powerful antioxidant. It can help prevent inflammation and cognitive aging by scavenging free radicals that damage the body’s functioning. Although dogs’ livers can generate vitamin C independently, supplementation may provide health advantages in some situations.
Vitamin A: It is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps in a dog’s eyesight, cellular differentiation, immunological responses, reproduction, and bone development.
Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is essential for a healthy immune system. However, vitamin B6 is engaged in over 100 different interactions during the breakdown and digestion of meals. Vitamin B6 also aids the correct development of a puppy’s brain during pregnancy and early puppyhood.
Folate: Folate ensures fast cell development during puppyhood, adulthood, and pregnancy, regulates homocysteine levels in the blood, and employs amino acids to construct new proteins. Vitamin B9 or folate has a role in regular blood production, immunological function, cell division, and tissue development.
Dietary fiber: Fiber is an excellent source of nutrients for a dog’s digestive system. The healthy bacteria in your dog’s colon digest fiber into fatty acids. This fatty acid then aids in the recovery of the colon by preventing the expansion of harmful bacteria.
Potassium: Potassium is an electrolyte that is essential for your dog’s health. Potassium helps electrical charges in the heart, nerves, and muscles work correctly. If your dog lacks this vital mineral, you may notice that they are constantly fatigued, which is not normal, or have no desire to eat. Potassium also helps in:
Regulating muscle contractions and heartbeats
Optimizing cognitive functions
Boosting metabolism
Aiding normal blood flow
Increasing bone density
Why Is Dried Mango Bad for Dogs?
Dried mangoes may have some nutrients but cause a few health issues in dogs. A dried mango slice cannot be as nutritious as a fresh one. It just acts as a substitute during the other seasons. The dehydration process also increases sugar concentration, making it unhealthy for dogs. Consuming dried mangoes in excess can lead to diabetes, weight gain, and dental issues. Let us see what the effects of these ailments on dogs are:
High Sugar: Dried mangoes contain high levels of sugar. Fructose is the sugar content that is found in fruits. It is also known that some modern fruits have more sugar than the wild fruits grown decades ago. Some selective breeding has created sugary and bigger mangoes. Since a dog’s digestive system is designed only to process proteins and fats, high sugar foods consumed daily may harm dogs. However, they can be limited only to occasional treats. The immediate aftermath of consuming sugar is that it disrupts a dog’s digestive health, which leads to restlessness, diarrhea, and vomiting. If your canine consumes dried mangoes regularly, check out for these diabetes symptoms:
Dehydration
Weight loss
Lethargy
Excessively thirsty
Increased urination
Serving Methods: Some types or ways of serving dried mangoes can also be hazardous to dogs. For example, dried mangoes as a topping on cereals, ice creams, and dipped in chocolates are not the right ways to feed your dogs.
Chocolates contain toxic ingredients.
Ice creams may be rich in sugar.
Some cereals may not contain advisable ingredients to feed your dogs.
Other artificial colors and preservatives can cause an allergic reaction in your dog. It will also induce hypoglycemia in your dogs. The symptoms of xylitol toxicity are:
Vomiting
Excessive drooling
Seizures
Coma
Brain hemorrhage
Liver failure
Drowsiness
Loss of consciousness or slow to respond
Dental Issues: If dogs eat sugary treats, they will be unable to brush and remove the sugar foodstuffs stuck between their teeth. This can cause their teeth to decay.
How Much Dried Mango to Feed Your Dog?
After knowing the pros and cons of feeding dried mangoes, you would now understand that you can offer dried mango slices as an occasional treat. Before feeding, check for dog-safe ingredients if it is store-bought. Remember, you should provide them in moderation. Being a pet parent, you know that snacks or treats should not take more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie count, and the rest would come under dog food. Therefore, depending upon your dog’s age and size you can feed dried mango slices to your pet. For example,
If your dog is small, a little piece of dried mango will be sufficient once in a while.
To feed your large dog, a slice of dried mango chopped into pieces as a treat is fine.
If you are a beginner, provide a small amount and feed him gradually. When introducing this treat, do not introduce any other new food to rule out allergies.
Note: It is best to take a prior confirmation from your veterinarian before giving any new food.
How to Serve Dried Mango to Your Dog?
A dried mango slice that is chopped into small pieces, not sugar dipped or has artificial sugar or preservatives added to it, can be offered to dogs. A homemade dried mango slice that is either dried naturally under the Sun or with the help of a dehydrator is good. If you are considering a fresh mango slice instead of dried mango, then you must wash the mango, peel the skin, deseed the mango, and chop them either into slices or fine pieces so that they do not cause a choking hazard for your dogs.
Note
Never feed your pet rotten fruits. They produce ethanol, causing alcohol poisoning when consumed. Symptoms include:
Vomiting
Seizure
Tremor
Alcohol poisoning is lethal to dogs. Hence, consult your vet immediately.
What If My Dog Ate Dried Mango?
If your dog accidentally eats too many dried mango slices, you should immediately take him to a vet. Symptoms to look out for are:
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Heartburn
Anxiety
Vomiting
Retching
Bloating
Weakness
Lethargy
Upset Stomach
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Stomach soreness
Further, contact poison control as soon as possible. The Animal Poison Control Center phone number is (888) 426-4435.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Dogs Eat Dried Mango Peel?
No, dogs should not eat dried mango peels. It contains many nutrients but can be hard to digest, resulting in intestinal blockage.
Can Dogs Eat Dried Mango Pits?
No. Dogs should not eat dried mango pits or any pits or seeds of fresh fruits. They contain cyanide and can be poisonous to a dog’s health. Another side effect of eating the seed is it can cause a choking hazard due to its hard texture and lead to intestinal blockage or internal organ damage in dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Dried Fruit?
No. Dogs can not be offered all types of dried fruits, as some may cause choking hazards. Further, dehydrated fruit is not only rich in nutrients but also calories. Excessive calories can lead to weight gain in dogs.
Is Fresh Mango Fruit Safe for Dogs?
Yes, fresh mango slices or pieces are safe for dogs. However, they should be peeled and deseeded before offering.
Final Thoughts
Dried mango pieces as occasional treats are safe to offer. However, when it is off-season, you want to take a bite of dried mango slices and feel like feeding it to your dog. First, remember that the dried mango slices are organic (no preservatives or artificial sweeteners added). Second, they are skinned. Finally, they are cut into bite-sized pieces. Happy time enjoying dried mangoes!!
