Watermelon

Watermelon is one of the better summer treats for a dog. It is roughly 92% water, so it delivers hydration on a hot day at almost no caloric cost. Cubed and frozen it becomes a post-walk reward, and it is a useful way to get extra fluid into a dog who does not drink much on his own. The preparation rule is not optional. The American Kennel Club is explicit that both the rind and the seeds have to come off before watermelon goes to a dog: seeds can cause an intestinal blockage, and the rind causes GI upset and can obstruct as well. Seedless varieties still contain soft white seeds, which are the lower-risk kind, but the black mature seeds in a traditional melon should all be picked out. Take off the green skin and the firm pale layer underneath it, and serve only the red flesh. Cut cubes small enough to pass if swallowed whole, and cut before you freeze rather than after. A few cubes is a serving; keep watermelon and all other treats inside 10% of daily calories. The water and sugar together will produce diarrhoea if a dog eats a large amount at once. Skip watermelon that has been salted, soaked in alcohol for a picnic, or mixed into a fruit salad with grapes, since grapes are toxic to dogs. Pickled watermelon rind is out for the same reasons the plain rind is, with salt and vinegar on top. Loose stool from a generous helping settles once you cut back. But if your dog swallowed a mouthful of seeds or chewed through a discarded rind, watch closely. Repeated vomiting, lethargy, a painful abdomen, or straining with nothing passing all point toward an obstruction, and that needs a veterinarian or an emergency clinic straight away rather than an overnight wait. Small dogs get into trouble faster, so do not sit on the decision. Do not induce vomiting at home; note what was eaten and when, and let the vet decide.