Can Dogs Have Cucumbers with Skin? Find Out Now If They Are Safe!

Written by Kristiyana Burdeva

When you have a dog, often you are faced with the challenge of picking out a healthy snack for your furry friend. You don’t want to feed your pet with foods rich in artificial additives that can result in health problems. In cases like these, a lot of dog owners prefer to feed their little companions with fruits and vegetables. Not all should be listed in the menu, but fruits like bananas, apples, blueberries, and vegetables like zucchini and carrots are known to be safe for dogs. But can dogs have cucumbers? Is the skin safe for them? These are the questions we are going to answer for you today.

Can dogs have cucumbers?

can dogs have cucumbers can dogs eat cucumber with skin


Yes, dogs can have cucumbers! This fruit (although mostly believe it is a vegetable) is a great snack choice for your puppy, as it is rich in many healthy properties. It’s crunchy and low in calories, as opposed to the biscuits we often feed to our dogs with. When you give your dog cucumbers, make sure they are cut in small pieces to prevent choking. Never feed your dog a whole cucumber. But how much cucumbers can a dog have? And what benefits does eating this fruit offer?

Can dogs eat cucumber with skin?

Yes, they can! The skin/peel of the cucumber is perfectly safe for your dog. In fact, most of the nutrition benefits of cucumbers are in the skin itself. As long as you feed your pet with organic cucumbers, you shouldn’t worry about the peel/skin.

How much cucumbers can dogs eat?

Cucumbers really are a great healthy treat for your dog, but as with any food, you shouldn’t overdo it. Veterinarians say that if you prefer to feed your dog with cucumbers, the fruit should take up not more than 10% of their daily diet. Anything over that can upset the dog’s stomach and result in diarrhoea.

What benefits can cucumbers have for dogs?

how much cucumbers can dogs eat cucumber benefits for dogs


Now that you know that cucumbers are safe for your dog, do you want to find out how they can positively affect your furry friend?

A dog treat low in calories

As already mentioned, cucumbers have very little calories, so they are a great alternative to dog biscuits. This is because this fruit is 96% water. Cucumber treats won’t result in weight gain for your dog, but just the opposite. Veterinarians often offer them to dog owners when the dog is put on a weight loss diet.

Cucumbers will keep your dog hydrated

When you have a dog, you may sometimes face problems when it comes to your pet drinking enough water. Even if you frequently change it, your dog still doesn’t seem to go near it. As cucumbers are made from 96% water, they are a great snack to keep your puppy hydrated. You can even place some chopped cucumber pieces in the water bowl to encourage your dog to drink it.

Cucumbers are full of antioxidants

This fruit is known to be rich in antioxidant compounds known as flavonoids. They occur naturally in foods. These antioxidants can help your dog control the harmful free radicals in their body. What are free radicals, you ask? They are damaged cells which arise from normal metabolic processes in your pet’s body. Free radicals are also the outcome of toxins like drugs or pesticides. They can be the reason for diseases like cancer or kidney and joint disease. Feeding your dog cucumbers can help prevent them.

Can lower the risks of cancer for your dogs

Cucumbers contain polyphenols. These are called lignans and are micronutrients found in plants. Lignans can lower the risks of cancer. Research is still being conducted on the subject, but lignans can help protect your pet from certain cancer types. This can be done by lignans working with the dog’s bacteria of the digestive tract. The bacteria can convert lignans into compounds which can help with lowering the risks of ovarian, breast, prostate and endometria cancer.

Cucumbers have anti-inflammatory properties

We mentioned that cucumbers are rich in flavonoids. One of these flavonoids, fisetin, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Fisetin can prevent the activity of COX-2, which is an enzyme that causes inflammation and pain. What’s more, fisetin’s anti-inflammatory characteristics can help with fighting diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.

Do you by any chance also have a pet cat at home? To be safe, why not read our article about which foods are toxic for cats. You might be suprised!

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Kristiyana

Kristiyana

AUTHOR
Kristiyana Burdeva is a content writer interested in the latest trends when it comes to hairstyles, fashion, makeup, interior design and tattoos. She loves to travel, and often embarks on road trips with her friends. Kristiyana likes to spend time in nature, going on hikes and camping trips. Ever since she can remember, she has loved to share her personal thoughts and opinions through writing and enjoys reading classical literature works.   Experience 
  • Author at Deavita.net since 2022, Kristiyana has written over 300 articles on various topics related to hairstyles, fashion, makeup, interior design, tattoo art, healthy lifestyle and kitchen recipes.
  • Prior to working at Deavita.net, Kristiyana worked as a freelance writer for various projects.
  • Her interest in hairstyles started back in late 2016 when she first started experimenting with hair dyes, and has been dyeing her own hair and that of close acquaintances ever since
  • Kristiyana has experience in working for a beauty company that sells luxurious cosmetics, which sparked her interest in learning about and establishing a quality skincare routine.
  • When it comes to cooking, she loves trying out new recipes, especially ones with various kinds of spices and herbs, and enjoys cooking for her family and friends.
  • In her yearly years, Kristiyana was very fond of drawing and painting and went on to study Arts for a brief period, and follows many artists on social media till date, tattoo artists included.
Education  Kristiyana went on to study in a specialized high school for English and German, and her love for the languages continues to date. She obtained a bachelor's degree in English and American studies. During her studies, she wrote numerous essays, poetry works, short stories and translated different texts. She was also involved in many volunteering programs, where she helped to educate children that came from unstable communities, or projects connected with the European Solidarity Corps.

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