Have you ever tried to prepare a salad bowl with cucumber slices in it? If you have, then you’ve probably noticed how your dog stands there looking at you, wanting something so bad!
Yes, dogs can go absolutely bonkers over a few slices of cucumber! If only kids these days were as excited.
Being the responsible dog owner you are, you know that you must give your dog an overall healthy and balanced diet, and you know that cucumbers are touted everyday in the fitness community as one of the best vegetables around.
However, you don’t really know if cucumbers are safe to feed your dog, which is why you’re here reading this article.
The Reason We All Think About Feeding Our Dogs Cucumbers
Cucumbers are one of the best (and most popular) vegetables you and I think about eating if we’re on a diet, due to the fact that a whooping 1 kilogram of cucumbers yields 200 calories – that’s humongous!
Go try to weigh 200 calories worth of cucumbers and see for yourself how many cucumbers that is.
Whenever I’m dieting and trying to slim down a bit after a rough patch in life that sees me put on a few pounds, I make great use of cucumbers because of how full they make me feel throughout the day for such a low amount of calories.
But, you’re not here to listen to my dieting adventures, you’re here to learn about whether or not your dog can safely eat cucumbers.
So, can dogs eat cucumbers? Let’s find out!
Can Dogs Eat Cucumber?
Yes, dogs can eat cucumbers!
(Fun fact: Did you know that the scientific name of cucumbers is Cucumis Sativa? Or Cucumis Sativus if you’re referring to a single cucumber in its singular form).
Cucumbers are in no way toxic to your dog, so you have nothing to worry about if your dog gets their paws on some pieces of cucumbers.
Feel free to give some to Fido as a special treat from time to time in case you feel like they’re getting bored from their diet (even though your dog will never get bored from eating the same dog food every day, day in & day out), or as a reward if they’re being a good girl/boy during training sessions.
But, don’t stop here – read on, as there are some important pointers you’ll have to follow to make sure that any cucumbers you feed your dog as an occasional treat won’t harm them. Without knowing these facts, many things can easily go wrong with your dog in the process.
How Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers?
Start off by carefully washing the cucumber to remove all pesticides and chemicals that may remain on it, and peel off the skin.
As long as you peel the cucumber and remove its skin, it’s completely fine to give it to your dog.
Dogs can’t eat cucumber peel (or cucumber skin) the same, easy way you and I could, it could prove to be very difficult for your dog to digest.
The most popular (and the best) way to give your dog cucumbers is to cut them up into small slices and give your dog 2-3 pieces as a treat every now and then, probably even mixing the cucumber slices with some of your dog’s food.
You can also choose to feed your dog boiled cucumbers. If you choose to do so, boil the cucumber pieces for around 5 minutes, then give 2-3 of these pieces to Fido!
What you DO NOT want to do is turn a cucumber into a pickle and then feed that to your dog.
As we’ve already covered in great detail in this article about dogs eating pickles, pickles contain very high levels of salt and vinegar that are very harmful for dogs if they eat them, and very troubling for their digestive systems.
Stick to feeding your dog the most natural form of a cucumber instead.
How Much Cucumbers Can Dogs Eat?
Even though cucumbers aren’t toxic to your dog in any way, that doesn’t mean that your dog can eat an infinite number of cucumbers and still be fine.
If eaten in excessive amounts, vegetables (such as cucumbers in this case) may lead to stomach problems in dogs, most notably of which are stomach aches and diarrhea.
So, if your dog eats cucumber and you notice that they have any digestive problems, you’re best off not feeding your dog any cucumbers anymore in the future.
If your dog eats some cucumbers and doesn’t show any problematic signs in digestion, even though that means that you’re fine giving them cucumbers to eat, always remember that moderation is key!
Cucumbers For Dogs: Are They Good For Them?
Cucumbers are good for dogs because they:
– Are mostly made of water, which means that the carbohydrate content in them is extremely low – both of which factors make this vegetable an excellent treat for your dog.
Also, and because of the extra-high water content in cucumbers, you’ll be hitting two birds with one stone here, as this is an excellent food you can give them to help keep them properly hydrated throughout the day (supposing you are already giving them enough water as well, that is).
– Are loaded with phytonutrients and phytochemicals that freshen the odor of your dog’s breath.
Many dog owners are increasingly noticing that their dog’s breath smells bad, so feeding your dog cucumbers can help out, albeit it’s not the be-all end-all solution for this problem, of-course.
– Are rich in antioxidants
– Are a great source of vitamin A, B1, B6, C and D, and K
– Contain a compound called sterols which helps reduce cholesterol levels
– Are rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and fiber
– Keep blood pressure levels well regulated
– Contain silica, which helps improve joint health and ease pain from arthritis
– Keep your dog’s skin in excellent condition and improve your dog’s coat
– Are extremely low in calories, which makes them an excellent choice for a dog treat during positive reinforcement training.
If your dog is overweight and you’re limited with the choices of treats you can feed them (because you obviously want to have them on a special diet that’s going to help them lose some of that extra fat they’re carrying around with them), cucumbers are a gift sent from the heavens above!
Compare that to a treat very high in sugar and much higher in calorie count like figs, and you’ll see which of the two is a better choice for overweight dogs trying to slim down.