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Last Updated on June 30, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur
CAN DOGS EAT KIWI?
Can dogs have kiwi or eat kiwi skin? Yes, your furbaby can eat kiwi (we will get to the skin later in this article) but that doesn’t mean your furbaby can eat kiwi. Let me explain, if your fur kid has an allergy to kiwifruit then obviously, they cannot eat kiwis.
Unfortunately, kiwis are widely becoming one of the top food allergens in the world.1A Comprehensive Review on Kiwifruit Allergy: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Management, and Potential Modification of Allergens Through Processing – Wang – 2019 – Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety – Wiley Online Library Symptoms of a kiwi allergy could come in several different forms, from respiratory issues to digestive problems, just to give you an idea.
WHAT IS A KIWI?
So, what is a kiwi, well a kiwi is actually a very large berry, often called Chinese Gooseberry. It is a vining plant that produces “berries” that are about the size of an egg and have a lovely soft brown fuzz covering them, while the inside is a bright, beautiful green with little black seeds.
WHAT ARE THE NUTRITION FACTS OF KIWI?
Kiwis are a great source of vitamins and minerals. They contain iron, copper, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, zinc, selenium, B-Vitamins and vitamin A. In fact, 100 grams or about 3.5 ounces of kiwifruit also contains;2FoodData Central (usda.gov)
- 1.06g Protein
- 0.24mg Iron
- 198mg Potassium
- 74mg Vitamin C
- 7.8mg Choline
- 1.3mg Vitamin E
- 40mcg Vitamin K
- 8.99grams Sugars
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS TO FEEDING YOUR DOG KIWI
One of the benefits of kiwi for dogs is that the kiwifruit is a great source of Vitamin C, E and K as well as Potassium. Kiwis are regarded as having antioxidant3Hunter, D. C., Greenwood, J., Zhang, J., & Skinner, M. A. (2011). Antioxidant and ‘natural protective’ properties of kiwifruit. Current topics in medicinal chemistry, 11(14), 1811–1820. https://doi.org/10.2174/156802611796235134 and anti-inflammatory properties. What this means for your furbaby is that since they are an antioxidant like blueberries or apples, they can help scavenge excess buildup of free radicals in your dog’s system.
When free radicals build up, they are known to cause issues with your dog’s cells and tissues and can even cause illness. By giving your dog fruits high in antioxidants you can attempt to combat this, as the antioxidants are said to neutralize the free radicals.
In fact, scientific research indicates that kiwis were found to have anti-cancer properties.4Lippi, G., & Mattiuzzi, C. (2020). Kiwifruit and Cancer: An Overview of Biological Evidence. Nutrition and cancer, 72(4), 547–553. https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2019.1650190 This has been discussed as being both directly and indirectly related to the kiwifruit since kiwis are high in vitamin C or ascorbic acid and vitamin C is known for its antioxidant properties. Also, kiwis are a good source of fiber and can stimulate regular bowl movements.5Lippi, G., & Mattiuzzi, C. (2020). Kiwifruit and Cancer: An Overview of Biological Evidence. Nutrition and cancer, 72(4), 547–553. https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2019.1650190
In one study, 23 patients were given raw kiwi fruit or extract and it was discovered that the peptide of kiwi is Kissper, which has also been linked to anti-inflammation of the intestinal wall.6Ciacci C, Russo I, Bucci C, Iovino P, Pellegrini L, Giangrieco I, Tamburrini M, Ciardiello MA. The kiwi fruit peptide kissper displays anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects in in-vitro and ex-vivo human intestinal models. Clin Exp Immunol. 2014 Mar;175(3):476-84. doi: 10.1111/cei.12229. PMID: 24168016; PMCID: PMC3927908. The kiwi fruit peptide kissper displays anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects in in-vitro and ex-vivo human intestinal models – PMC (nih.gov) .
In conclusion, the “’naturally protective’ properties of kiwifruit seem to involve modulating immune responses in a positive way.”7Hunter, D. C., Greenwood, J., Zhang, J., & Skinner, M. A. (2011). Antioxidant and ‘natural protective’ properties of kiwifruit. Current topics in medicinal chemistry, 11(14), 1811–1820. https://doi.org/10.2174/156802611796235134
HOW TO’S WHEN FEEDING YOUR DOG KIWI
Kiwi, if your dog is not allergic, should be fed to dogs in moderation. You know that saying, “too much of a good thing”. You don’t want to create digestive disturbances and introducing new foods or too much of something can create those.
Can dogs eat kiwi skin? The skin of the kiwifruit contains a lot of fiber and although your dog may be able to digest the kiwi with the skin, you should remove it anyways. Giving your dog a whole kiwi is also not desirable as this can pose a choking hazard. Cutting the kiwifruit into small bite-sized pieces is preferred and you can choose to leave the little black seeds in there or remove them.
HOW TO CHOOSE A RIPE KIWI
You want to make sure that you choose a kiwi that is not mushy but is firm to the touch. This should produce a ripe kiwifruit. Make sure it is free from bruises and doesn’t look like its shriveled up.
ALTERNATIVES OPTIONS TO FEEDING YOUR DOG KIWI
If you are looking to feed your furbaby some healthier snacks and treats but don’t want to go through all the fuss of making it at home yourself. These dog treats
contain pectin, carrots and apples. Pectin is found naturally in fruit and people often use it as a thickening agent. Pectin has actually been shown to reduce inflammation in mice.8Markov, P. A., Volkova, M. V., Khasanshina, Z. R., Martinson, E. A., & Popov, S. V. (2021). Voprosy pitaniia, 90(6), 92–100. https://doi.org/10.33029/0042-8833-2021-90-6-92-100 These treats are chewy like gummies and made and grown in the USA from Organic fruits and veggies.
Another healthier option if you want to give your dog fruit but don’t want to do it yourself is,
made with only 1 ingredient and grown in the USA. You could also make these yourself in a dehydrator or in the oven for 6-15 hours on low heat.
Check out our other articles for more information on foods such as;
