As people become more concerned about their health, the craving for a variety of exotic fruits increases. Lychees are a tropical fruit popular all over the world. It has a deliciously sweet, fragrant taste made up of many important nutrients necessary for good health. Of course, we always want to share good things with our Australian Shepherd. As most responsible owners know, some fruits are not suitable for dogs. But can Australian Shepherd dogs eat lychee fruits?
What Is Lychee Fruit
Like other exotic fruits, the lychee is becoming increasingly popular in United States and Europe. The lychee originally comes from China. Today, lychees are grown in subtropical climates such as South Africa, India and Australia, Mexico and the southern United States.
The skin of ripe lychees is pink and pimple-like. This thin and easily peeled skin is inedible. The flesh is white, tastes very sweet, slightly sour, and has a slight scent of roses. The inner core (looks like chestnut) is very hard, brown and inedible.
Can Australian Shepherd Dogs Eat Lychee
Yes, you can give your Australian Shepherd to eat lychee fruit, but in moderation. It is important that the fruit is ripe. Of course, peel off the hard skin, and remove the pit (otherwise known as lychee seed). Only the white, juicy flesh inside the fruit is the edible part.
Exception: do not give canned lychee fruit. Manufacturers put them in pure sugar water. As a result, they are not suitable for your dog.
When buying lychees, you should make sure that the fruits are not too soft. The shell (hard skin) must be undamaged. Lychee fruits can be stored for around 1 week at room temperature or in the vegetable compartment. Immature lychees are green, so make sure the fruit is pink in color.
Also, when introducing new food for your dog, always feed a tiny piece first to see if it has any side effects, like vomiting or diarrhea. If not, then you can safely give this delicacy to your dog in moderation.
Tip: You can freeze lychees by removing the skin and seed and packing only the flesh in a freezer bag. This would be perfect delicacy during hot summer and healthy ice cream.
Lychee Benefits For Dogs
Lychee fruit is high in fiber and good source of vitamins. It is also a low calorie fruit with a high source of protein and is a natural diuretic (natural diuretics improve kidney function).
Health Benefits of Lychee Fruits For Australian Shepherd:
- Large amount of vitamin C
- Vitamins A, B1 and B2
- Rich in magnesium
- Lots of calcium
- Rich in phosphorus
- Potassium
Is There Any Dangers Of Lychees
The main thing with lychees is that they need to be prepared before giving to the dog. The main danger may be if the dog eats all the lychee, as it is a fairly large fruit and the dog may choke. As well as difficulty digesting and complicating the stomach and intestines.
As mentioned above, the skin should be peeled off and the seed removed. The dog can only eat the flesh. Start with a very small amount, and watch for side effects, behavioral changes. If you don‘t notice anything, then you can occasionally taste lychee with your friend!
What Part of Lychee Fruits Can Dogs Eat
As you probably know, lychee fruit has hard skin, white flesh, and large brown seed. Which parts can be eaten?
Can Australian Shepherd Dogs Eat Whole Lychee
No, dogs are not allowed to eat whole lychee. It is about the same size as a golf ball, so your dog risks choking on it or causing a blockage in his intestines.
Lychee Pits
Lychee pit (also could be called lychee nut or seed) is not edible part. Each fruit contains large brown seed that you should remove before giving lychee to the dog. Not only does it taste bad, but it can also have harmful effects on the digestive system.
Also, it is quite big and there is a potential choking hazard. Keep in mind that only the edible parts that are suitable for humans, are also suitable for the dog.
Lychee seed contains a substance called saponin that can be toxic to both humans and animals. The main symptoms to look out for are stomach cramps, farting, vomiting, diarrhea. If you suspect your dog has ingested lychee seed or is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Lychee Jelly
No, dogs should not eat jelly. Usually, jelly won‘t have nutritional benefits for dogs due to the high sugar content. Often there are artificial sweeteners found in jelly.
Jellies contain certain nutrients, but the amounts are insignificant compared to the sugars they contain. Consuming too much sugar can cause a variety of health problems in dogs, including diabetes.
Final Thoughts
If the dog wants to eat lychee and there are no side effects, then you can give some lychees in moderation. However, as mentioned above, you must peel the hard skin and remove the seed. Just try it out and see if your Australian Shepherd is a fan of it. The lychee will certainly add variety to your Aussie‘s bowl.
Of course, keep in mind that various delicacies should not replace a normal diet. In fact, it should be only 10 percent of daily calories.