Is it okay to give my dog fruit? He seems to like mandarins. Should I encourage fruit or is it not advisable?

From what I understand, as long as it's given in moderation. Otherwise it will cause loose stools. Anyone know any different? :)

Samma will eat anything I give her, especially if I'm eating it too. I think fruit, in moderation, is good for dogs, just like humans. Introduce it slowly, like you would a baby/toddler--one type at a time. Watch the acidic levels. Too many grapes will sometimes result in the "dreaded runs." (one time, samma got into a bag). Mine also love bananas & pineapple chunks.
toodles

Hi folks
I think there was a thread about this a couple of weeks ago, and it was said that dried fruit is not good. It is strange though that some dogs LOVE fruit, and others won't touch it. Morris usually spits it out or hunts it, whereas Elsa wolves it down (but she is a greedy BT!) I would think that fruit is fine in moderation, but as in children, too much will cause trouble...got to go...Elsa's after the fruit bowl again!!
Emily

I've made an interesting discovery tonight and that is that there is a foodstuff in existence that Thistle doesn't like. That is banana:-)

Thats ok thistle you can send them to alice , she will have them:) and you need not even peel them for her. She swiped a bunch off the counter last week and ate them skin and all . She is always on a diet so must have decided sod that im having them all . guess there must be a monkey in her somewhere . Mari

A recent thread on this board mentioned that grapes were toxic in large quantities.

W.L that is true . but it seems that banana apples and pineapple is good .

My lab will knock you down for a piece of melon - preferably cantaloupe - she'll scrape it off the skin with her teeth if you hold it for her - quite amusing:)
KirstyS

All my dogs have enjoyed melon skin, one used to chop it into small pieces with his teeth and then spit out the pieces!! The mess! But he enjoyed it <G> There were only two things he wouldn't eat other wise - one was cucumber (give him a salad sandwich and he's pit out the cucumber!) and the other was shelfish or crabsticks.......

Just a note, Samma likes Bananas of all kinds. Not fussy.
Chienne is like me & only likes them when they're still slightly hued green. Sweet & slightly crisp. Not mushy. She also likes them in very tiny pieces. Fussy.

So, you might just try various ages/sizes of bananas before writing them off :D :D :D
toodles

It's interesting you should say that because Thistle did condescend to eat a tiny piece I cut off for her. I'll be peeling grapes for her next. Actually I'm giving her a fairly wide berth at the moment as she rolled in something foul thismorning- fox poo I think:-(

Stinky puppy --- Have fun washing her up ;)

I really hope the mockodile avoids fox poos - although he is a bit of a pussy and deosn't seem to like getting wet or dirty :) (One good point I spose!!)

If he knows what's good for him he will avoid that stuff like the plague as he almost gave himself a heart attack tyring to get away from........wait for it...... the bucket and sponge the other day !!! (another little "quirk" of his - HURRAH )

Beth

My bitch will happily eat with a fork !! I have to hold it of course and I shouldn't really feed her from my plate but if I put a bit of food on my fork and pass it to her she ever so delicately takes it off the fork and munches it - just like a lady :D

any body heard of dried fruit being very dangerous and can kill a dog

Only if it was wolfed down and got caught in the throat to cause choking

Dried fruit as in raisins and sultanas, being derived from grapes can be poisonous, and being dried have a higher level of toxins weight fro weight than grapes - I had a dog who ate a whole 'farmhouse' type fruit cake and had terrible diorreah for several days afterwards.... She was a healthy young dog, lab sized, so I daren't think what it might have done to an elderly dog with liver or kidney problems...

Hi again,
It makes perfect sense now that I see what you're talking about....It could be the amount & concentration because of being dried. Since they're concentrated, it affects us too. We just know when to stop eating before it makes us sick. I know if I ate a whole box of raisins or prunes, I'd be near the loo for the next week hurting too.

I remember a while ago, Samma the wonderpup got a hold of a entire package of raisins. She managed to open the cupboard. She had the runs for about 2 days and then she was fine. She's also singlehandedly destroyed Parmisian Cheese containers. Sigh. High maintenance dogs, gotta love them while staying one step ahead at all times.
toodles

not sure Patricia - but is it anything to do with the fact the fruit could absorb fluid in the dogs stomach and swell thereby causing a problem (like dried sugar beet pulp for horses - should be soaked before feeding)

My Gsd loves fruit and veg, she loves Banana, and if you manage to drop a carrot while cutting them up for tea, she grabs it and runs off with it. She eats the odd raw potatoes as well.

Jane.

You'll probably find your Mal does too Jane ;)