Dogs will eat pretty much anything that falls in front of them. For pet owners, that can be a scary reality.
Many people know the dangers of a dog snacking on dark chocolate, certain flowers or other common items that can be toxic. But what about fruits?
We reached out to a pair of experts from two of the nation's top veterinary medicine schools — Dr. Sherry Sanderson of the University of Georgia and Dr. Edward Cooper of the Ohio State University — asking them which common fruits were safe for a dog to eat and which ones they should avoid.
Sanderson was quick to point out that most commonly eaten fruits are fine for dogs to eat sparingly. "Where I have concerns is if pet owners want to give large quantities of these fruits to their dogs. If they get carried away with doing that, they could disrupt the nutrient balance of a complete and balanced commercial diet," she said.
Sanderson recommended that pet owners limit treat intake to less than 10 percent of the dog's daily caloric intake.
Both of the doctors agreed on which fruits were most dangerous for dogs — noting that grapes and raisins may cause kidney failure — as well as the ones that were safe for consumption. Their major difference came in discussing lemons.
Both experts agreed that lemons were generally safe for dogs to eat but Sanderson said she would avoid giving them to a pet, "out of kindness." Meanwhile, Cooper joked that it "can be fun to watch their reaction to the bitterness."
Below is the full list of fruits we asked the doctors about.
Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.
