Can Dogs Eat Oranges or Tangerines?

Although many dogs love the same food as their humans and always come over to beg a bit whenever we sit at the table, sometimes people wonder whether it's appropriate to give certain foods to our pets.

What benefits and drawbacks can oranges and/or tangerines have for our dogs? In this Soyunperro article, we'll talk about the properties of citrus fruits, specifically oranges and tangerines, in a dog's diet.

Nutritional Value of Orange and Tangerine in a Dog's Diet

Oranges and tangerines, like most fruits, are mainly made up of carbohydrates, which don't represent a fundamental part of a dog's diet.

However, they have a sweet taste many dogs love, so we can use them as a natural treat and give them to our pet as a reward, making them a good alternative to commercial processed products.

Fruit in general contains a large proportion of water, so giving our pet orange or tangerine will help it stay hydrated during walks, especially on hot summer days.

In addition, citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, an essential micronutrient for health. It's a water-soluble vitamin, so unlike fat-soluble ones, if consumed in excess it doesn't build up in the liver (with the risk that involves) but instead gets filtered by the kidneys and excreted with no problem in urine.

Does Orange Have Any Harmful Effect on a Dog?

Oranges and tangerines have no notable drawbacks as food for dogs. The only contraindication would be that excessive consumption isn't recommended for diabetic dogs, due to their relatively high sugar content, though there's no need to worry too much about this either.

We should remember the orange or tangerine should be peeled before giving it to our pet. It's not that the peel is toxic itself, but it has very low nutritional value and can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

Can Dogs Have Orange Juice?

Many people prefer having oranges squeezed rather than as solid food. After all, a good orange juice with some toast is a great breakfast, right? For this reason, some people may think it's also a good idea to give their dog orange juice.

Although this isn't bad on its own, it's unlikely our pet will accept orange in juice form. In addition, this way it loses some nutrients like fiber, which although it provides no energy to our pets, is beneficial for bowel movement and prevents constipation.

On the other hand, we should remember they aren't able to drink as efficiently as us, so they usually drink small volumes of liquid frequently throughout the day. Generally, it's best to simply offer it water, which should always be available ad libitum (freely).

Orange as a Regular Part of the Diet

In recent years, "natural" diets have become very popular as an alternative to commercial pet food, among which the BARF diet (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) stands out.

These diets generally contain a high proportion of animal-based protein (meat) and a variable amount of fruits and vegetables, cereals (except "no grain" diets), or other ingredients like dairy (yogurt).

In this article, we won't cover this diet's supposed benefits or potential risks for pets. However, one of the drawbacks of this diet compared to commercial kibble is that we ourselves have to prepare our pets' food, so it's important to be careful about the proportion and amount of each ingredient in the ration to avoid nutritional imbalances.

Orange and tangerine are foods we can include in this type of diet, though it should be noted not every dog likes them. For this reason, when giving your dog new foods, remember you should do it gradually to avoid intolerances or rejection. Start by giving it a couple of small pieces and watch for signs like diarrhea or vomiting over the next 24 hours. If everything's fine, you can include this food in its diet, always in an appropriate proportion.

In conclusion, just like the vast majority of humans, your dog can eat oranges and tangerines, though, as with any other food, always in moderation and as part of a varied, balanced diet.