Can Dogs Eat Peaches? Here's What You Should Know

Peaches are a delicious and versatile fruit that is in the same family as plums, apricots, and cherries. They are often enjoyed fresh as a snack, in baked goods like a cobbler, or as part of a frozen dessert like ice cream.

More importantly, peaches offer a wide variety of health benefits, from improved digestion to reduced inflammation. But are these exclusive to humans, or are peaches safe for our furry friends? And are there any risks that might outweigh the benefits of peaches for our dogs?

Let’s find answers to all these questions in this article.

Can Dogs Eat Peaches?

Yes, dogs can eat peaches but with some caution. This means that while the soft peach flesh is totally safe for dogs, you should be careful about the peach pit and stem as they pose a risk of choking and intestinal blockage, especially for smaller dogs.

You should also know that the peach pit and stem contain a small amount of cyanide known as amygdalin. Although a dog would have to consume a significant number of peach pits and stems to get cyanide poisoning, it is still advisable to remove them before feeding peaches to your dog due to the choking risk.

Health Benefits of Feeding Peaches to Your Dog

In small amounts, peaches can be a healthy and nutritious snack for our dog. Below we have discussed 5 reasons why you should consider adding this fruit to their diet.

1. Helps Improve Digestion

Peaches contain dietary fiber that can help improve your dog’s digestive health. It can regulate their bowel movements, preventing constipation, bloating, and diarrhea. It can also help promote their gut health by preventing the overgrowth of any bad bacteria, supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria, and providing energy to the cells lining your dog’s colon.

Another lesser-known benefit of fiber is that it helps to regulate blood sugar levels by slowing down glucose absorption into the bloodstream. It prevents sudden spikes in blood sugar levels and many other health conditions.

You should also note that fiber is good for your dog, but only when eaten in the right amounts. If your dog is eating too much fiber, it can lead to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Thus you should monitor their fiber intake and feed them fiber-rich fruits like peaches in small amounts as an occasional treat.

2. Can Prevent Inflammation

Peaches have anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent chronic inflammation in your dog’s body. They contain a range of antioxidants, such as polyphenols and vitamin C, that can help neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals. These are the unstable molecules that can cause oxidative stress and damage your dog’s cells, proteins, and DNA.

Furthermore, antioxidants are also known to reduce the risk of various chronic health complications, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, arthritis, skin allergies, respiratory diseases, and vision-related problems.

3. Full of Essential Minerals

Peaches are chock-full of essential minerals that help support many bodily functions, from building strong bones to ensuring proper digestion and other metabolic processes. Here’s a breakdown of all the minerals in peaches and their health benefits:

Potassium - Supports nerve and muscle function
Phosphorus - Helps maintain strong bones & teeth; provides energy to cells
Calcium - Helps in building & maintaining strong bones & teeth; supports proper heart function
Iron - Supports the formation of red blood cells & hemoglobin
Magnesium - Helps in regulating nerve & muscle function
Zinc - Supports immune system function, wound healing & cognitive function

4. Supports Eye & Skin Health

Peaches contain beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A. It’s an important nutrient that helps in repairing skin cells and regulating body oil and sweat in dogs, which prevents dry, flaky skin, dandruff, and excessive shedding.

Vitamin A also helps in improving eyesight by supporting the formation of cells that make up the retina and by producing tears that lubricate the eyes, preventing eye infections.

Furthermore, peaches contain vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant with immune-boosting properties. It helps protects a dog’s body against oxidative damage and prevents various skin allergies and infections.

5. Provides Hydration

Peaches contain 89% water which makes them a perfect hydrating treat for your dog. It’ll help keep their bodies replenished and re-energized, especially during a hot summer day. Moreover, peaches contain very few calories and zero fat, making them a healthy option for dogs who are either trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

But please make sure that apart from water-rich fruits like peaches, your dog has access to fresh drinking water at all times. It’ll help prevent dehydration, especially during summer.

How to Safely Feed Peaches to a Dog?

Let’s discuss some helpful tips to ensure that you can safely and responsibly feed peaches to your dog.

Remove the Peach Pit & Stem

Peaches, themselves, are a safe and healthy fruit for your dog. The danger lies in the peach pit (also called stone) and the stem because they pose a risk of choking and intestinal obstruction. If your dog swallows the whole pit, it might get lodged in their throat or the small intestine. They might even need surgery to remove the pit from their body safely.

If, in case, your dog has accidentally eaten the peach pit or stem, you should watch out for any of the following signs of intestinal obstruction:

Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Constipation or straining to poop
Diarrhea
Weakness
Dehydration
Abdominal pain that results in whining, crying, or restlessness
Bloated abdomen

If you see any of these signs of intestinal obstruction, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Additionally, you should also know that the peach pit and stem contain a small amount of cyanide, known as amygdalin. Although your dog will have to eat a lot of peach pits and stems to get affected by cyanide poisoning, it’s still wise to keep them away from your dog.

Stick to Fresh Peaches

Peaches are a popular fruit, and it is sold in various ways, including canned, dried, preserved, and juiced. Although a fresh and ripe peach is the ideal choice for dogs, you can feed them other peach products if they’re made with dog-friendly ingredients.

For example, typical canned peaches made for human consumption contain a lot of sugar, preservatives, and artificial additives that can lead to various health problems if fed regularly, including digestive issues, obesity, and diabetes. The same goes for every other product made from peaches, including dried peaches, preserves, and peach juices.

Therefore, before feeding anything to your dog, it’s always a good idea to read the labels and ingredients to understand whether the product is safe for your dog.

Monitor The Portion Sizes

Peaches, just like every other treat, should be fed in moderation. You shouldn’t allow your dog to overindulge, as this fruit contains high amounts of fiber and sugar that can lead to many health complications and nutritional imbalances.

Ideally, you should consider your dog’s age, weight, dietary needs, health conditions, and nutritional requirements before feeding them peaches. As a general guideline, it's recommended that you follow the 90/10 rule that states 90% of your dog’s daily calories should come from a healthy and well-balanced diet, while the remaining 10% can come from treats like peaches.

You can also talk to your veterinarian before introducing any new food to their diet.

Try Some Fun Recipes

You can easily wash and chop peaches into small pieces for your dog. Most dogs will love the sweet and juicy taste of this fruit. But if you want to take things further and experiment with some recipes, you can try the following ideas:

Frozen Slices - Freeze a few small slices of peaches to make a quick summer day snack
Food Topper - Remove the peel of the peaches, cut the flesh into small pieces, and use it as a sweet food topper
Pureed peaches - Make a puree of peaches with other dog-friendly fruits and stuff it into their KONG toy; you can also freeze the puree in ice cubes for later
Smoothies - Blend fresh peaches with dog-friendly yogurt to make a smoothie
Dehydrated Slices - Use a dehydrator to make a quick crunchy snack with peach slices

Always Start Small

When introducing new food to your dog, you should always start small. Especially if your dog has never eaten peaches, feed them just a slice and see how they react. Although a peach allergy is rare, look out for any of these signs of an allergic reaction:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Hives
Loss of appetite
Difficulty breathing
Swelling on the face, ears, lips, or around the eyes
Sneezing
Excessive licking or itchiness
Red or inflamed skin
Dehydration
Behavior changes like lack of energy or overaggression

If you notice any of these symptoms after feeding a new food for the first time, take your dog to a veterinarian immediately.

Summing Up

Peaches are a safe and nutritious fruit for a dog. They contain dietary fibers that can help support your dog’s digestive health, antioxidants that prevent oxidative stress, and various vitamins and minerals that’ll help support their overall health and well-being.

You should be careful about the peach pit and stem, as they pose a risk of choking and intestinal blockage. They also contain small amounts of cyanide that can be harmful if eaten in large quantities.

If you have any more concerns or you’re unsure about how much peach you should feed to your dog, you should consult with your veterinarian.

FAQs

Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about feeding peaches to a dog:

1. Can dogs eat peaches?

Yes, dogs can eat peaches as a healthy and nutritious snack. Just remember to only give them the peach flesh and remove the pit and stem, as they pose a risk of choking.

2. Can dogs eat canned peaches?

Canned peaches contain a lot of sugar, preservatives, and artificial additives that can lead to various health problems if fed frequently, including digestive issues, obesity, and diabetes. If you want to give your dog peaches as a treat, it's best to stick with fresh peaches that are free from artificial sugars and preservatives.

3. Are peach pits toxic to dogs?

Yes, peach pits (also called stone) can be toxic for dogs as it contains a small amount of cyanide known as amygdalin. They pose a greater risk of choking and intestinal blockage, especially in small dogs.

If you suspect your dog has accidentally swallowed a peach pit, you should keep an eye out for signs of an intentional blockage like loss of appetite, digestive issues, or abdominal pain. In case anything unusual happens, take your dog to a veterinarian immediately.

4. How much peach can my dog have?

It’ll depend on various factors, including your dog’s age, weight, dietary needs, health conditions, and nutritional requirements. But as a general guideline, it’s recommended that you follow the 90/10 rule that states 90% of your dog’s daily calories should come from a healthy and well-balanced diet, while the remaining 10% can come from treats like peaches.

Additionally, you can also talk to your veterinarian to determine the exact amount of peaches you can feed your dog.

5. Can a diabetic dog eat peaches?

Peaches contain a high amount of natural sugar, which can be problematic for diabetic dogs. Therefore, it is best to consult a veterinarian before feeding them this fruit.

Also, if your dog has any pre-existing health conditions, it is important to consult with a veterinarian before introducing a new food into their diet. They’ll help you understand whether peaches are a good fit for your dog and how many peaches would be safe for their health.