I love mangoes. Whenever I see them in the shop, I try to get a couple. I just love mango’s juicy texture, sweet flavor and of course the fact that it’s packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
The other day when I bought mangoes and brought them home, Jo, my Welsh Corgi Mix, looked at it kind of funny. I wasn’t sure if she can have it. It made me wonder, can dogs eat mangoes? Is it safe? So I decided to do some research and turn to my trusted veterinarians. This is what I found out:
Yes, dogs can eat mangoes, but in strict moderation. The mangoes are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, but also sugar. That makes them kind of a “no-no” for dogs. Besides, you should not feed your dog mango peels (skin) and mango pit (seed) because they are hard to digest and potentially harmful to your pup. If you want to try mangoes with your dog, you should give her mango meat (flesh) only as a treat, when teaching her new tricks and commands.
Keep reading to find out why mangoes are good for dogs; if it’s safe for them to eat mangoes and what parts of mangoes dogs can eat:
Contents
- Are Mangoes Good For Dogs?
- Is Mango Safe for Dogs to Eat?
- Which Parts of Mango Can Dogs Eat?
- How Much Mango Can Dogs Eat?
- How To Serve Mango To Your Dog?
- Conclusion
Are Mangoes Good For Dogs?
Yes, mangoes are good for dogs and us humans too.
Mangoes are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In some parts of the world, they are called “king of fruits“, because of their nutritional benefits. There are 4,000 types of mango with different shape, size, color and taste.
Mangoes are also rich in polyphenols, including mangiferin, that acts as antioxidants and protects our bodies against free radicals and thus some cancers as well.
Mangoes are well known for boosting immunity, heart, eyes, skin, hair and digestive health. No wonder they are called the king of fruits!!
Is Mango Safe for Dogs to Eat?
Yes, in general, mango is safe for dogs to eat — especially mango meat (flesh). There is one catch, though. As mentioned above, they have quite a high amount of sugar. One hundred grams of mango contains almost 25 grams of sugars, which means you should feed mango to your dog only sporadically and only as a treat.
You should not feed your dog with mango skin and mango pit. They are both hard to digest and pit poses a choking hazard, especially for small dogs. Additionally, both mango skin and mango pit may cause allergic reactions.
Are Mangoes Poisonous to Dogs?
No, in general mangoes are not poisonous to dogs.
However, with that said, you should be extra careful with mango skin and mango pit. Compared to cherries, there is not a high amount of cyanide in the mango pit; however, the pits are quite big and pose a choking hazard, especially for the small dogs.
Also, there have been some skin allergy cases connected with mangoes, so if you are introducing this super-food to your pup, start small, only with a few pieces.
Which Parts of Mango Can Dogs Eat?
After we learned that Mangoes are safe for dogs to eat, and if given to your dog in moderation, they are an excellent treat, let’s look at what parts of the fruit you can give to your dog.
Mangoes are quite exciting fruit. When ripe, have this fantastic vibrant colors. They consist of three main parts:
- Mango skin
- Mango meat, also known as mango flesh
- Mango pit, also known as mango seed and mango stone
Besides raw mangoes, you can also get dried mangoes, mango ice cream, mango sorbet, mango butter, mango popsicles and other processed mango food variations.
| Mango Part | Is it Safe for Dogs to Eat? |
| Mango skin | ✖ No – it is hard to digest and may contain mild toxins from the environments |
| Mang meat (flesh) | ✓ Yes – the flesh is the most nutritious part of mang and it is a very healthy treat |
| Mango pit (seed) | ✖ No – it is too big and hard to digest |
So which parts of mango can dogs eat? And what about the processed sorts? Let’s find out:
Can Dogs Eat Mango Skin (Peels)?
No, dogs shouldn’t eat Mango skin (peels). It is edible, however, it’s hard to digest and can cause your pup a bellyache, vomiting and diarrhoea. What is more, it may contain toxins it contracts from the environment. That’s why it’s better to peel the skin off of the mangoes before you give them to you dog.
Can Dogs Eat Mango Meat (Flesh)?
Yes, dogs can eat mango meat (flesh). It’s the best part for them and us, humans, to eat. When ripe, mangoes meat is pretty soft, but it’s still a good idea to cut it in smaller pieces, especially if you have a small dog like me.
Can Dogs Eat Mango Pits (Seeds)?
No, dogs can’t eat mango pits (seeds). They are hard to chew, swallow, digest and will obstruct your dog’s digestive tract. You should always get rid of the pit before you give mangoes to your pup.
What Happens If My Dog Eats Mango Pit?
The symptoms of your dog eating a mango pit are mainly:
- Bellyache
- Aggressive behavior when you touch your pup in the stomach area
- Vomiting
- Difficulties in going for the number two
- Lethargy
In case you had mangoes around, and you notice some of them missing and your pup suffering from the above symptoms, it’s time to call the emergency vet. Prepare to rush your pup to the hospital, so the situation doesn’t get worse.
Can Dogs Eat Mango Ice Cream?
No, dogs shouldn’t eat mango ice cream or any kind of ice cream for that matter. Ice cream is usually full of sugar which is harmful to dogs in large quantities. Besides, some ice creams use chemically engineered flavors that resemble mango and other fruit flavors, and they can be harmful to your pup
Can Dogs Eat Mango Sorbet?
No, same as with mango ice cream, the dogs should not eat mango sorbet or any kind of sorbet for that matter. Sorbet, being slightly more healthy than the ice cream, is still full of sugar which is harmful to dogs in large quantities. Additionally, sorbets can also be full of artificial ingredients, such as xylitol which is toxic to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Mango Popsicles?
No, same as with mango ice cream and sorbet, dogs shouldn’t eat commercially sold mango popsicles. They are full of sugar which can be harmful to your pup in large quantities.
However, here is an idea, what about freezing the mango meat chunks and giving them to your pup as a treat during hot summers? Now, that’s a mango popsicle I would love to try!
Can Dogs Eat Dried Mango?
Yes, in general, the dogs can eat dried mango, if it’s dried naturally, without the addition of sugar. Try to check the ingredients before buying dried mango. There are many brands with and without sugar. Choose the one without sugar, dried naturally.
Dried mangoes are also quite “chewy”, so it might be a good idea to cut it into pieces before giving bigger chunks to your pup.
Can Dogs Eat Mango Butter?
No, dogs shouldn’t eat mango butter. However, mango butter is an excellent skin and paw care product. If your pup suffers from dry skin or has cuts in her paws, it’s a great idea to add a bit of mango butter with the medical ointment you use.
Mango butter is full of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids which help the skin to regenerate faster.
How Much Mango Can Dogs Eat?
Due to high amount of sugar, the dogs should eat mangoes only as treats. As mentioned in my article “Can Dogs Eat Pineapple“, there is a rule of 90/10 when it comes to regular dog food and treats. This means that regular dog food should represent 90% and treats 10% of your pup’s daily food intake.
You should give your pup a maximum one to two cubes of mango meat (flesh) per day, but not every day. You should reserve mangoes for special occasions when teaching your pup new commands and tricks.
How To Serve Mango To Your Dog?
The best way to serve mango to your dog is the following:
- Wash the mango under running water
- Peel off the mango skin
- Cut the mango meat from around the pit
- Cut the mango meat into small cubes
- Voila, you and your pup are ready for an awesome treat
If you want to save the cut mango for later, you can freeze it and use it later.
Conclusion
These are some interesting facts about mangoes. It made me test it with Jo, my Welsh Corgi mix, the next time we go to the doggie class. I wanted to teach her new commands and tricks, and I think she will love mangoes, same as me. And if not, well, then there is more left for me 🙂
I hope you enjoyed this article and it will help you make better food choices for your pup.
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