Quicklinks:
- Can Border Collies Eat Oranges?
- Are Oranges Safe For Your Border Collie?
- Will Eating Oranges Benefit My Border Collie?
- The Potential Dangers of Oranges For Your Dog
- What About Orange Juice?
Can Border Collies Eat Oranges?
We all know how healthy oranges are. Packed with vitamin C and plenty of other nutrients, oranges make a healthy, refreshing snack for us humans—and orange juice is a go-to breakfast staple—but are they safe for your border collie? In this article, we’ll answer the question “can border collies eat oranges” and if so, how much of it they can eat, and under what conditions.
Are Oranges Safe For Your Border Collie?
While not every fruit is dog friendly, for example, grapes are known to be extremely toxic to dogs. Oranges can be safely given to your collie. However, it’s important to keep portion sizes small, so no more than one or two segments of an orange per. Generally speaking, your border collies treats should only consist of around 10% of their total calorie intake for the day, which would equate to a few sections of an orange.
A lot of dog owners often comment on how their dog seems to be like a bottomless pit when it comes to other fruits or veggies, but when it comes to oranges, many dogs will turn their nose up at oranges, because citrus fruit has a more bitter flavor, fruits, including tangerines and clementines can also be a problem for some dogs. Like other citrus fruits like grapefruits and lemons, oranges are quite acidic and high in sugar—both of which don’t necessarily belong in the diet of a healthy collie.
Will Eating Oranges Benefit My Border Collie?
Just like other fruits, oranges are packed with nutrients and antioxidants—and of course, known best for providing vitamin C. They’re also rich in beta-carotene and potassium, low in sodium, and contain some fiber.
So, what does that mean for your border collie? Just like us humans, oranges may provide some benefits to your collies immune system because of the amount of vitamin C that they have, as well as a host of antioxidants. However, it’s important for dog owners to know that their dogs already produce vitamin C naturally within their bodies, so giving your collie oranges for the benefit of vitamin C isn’t actually necessary. The good news is if you think your dog enjoys eating oranges, then a little bit of extra vitamin C won’t hurt them; it’s a water-soluble vitamin that will simply be passed through their body, so any excess won’t accumulate in the body.
Additionally, some experts believe that a boost of vitamin C, like munching on an orange, may be beneficial for dogs if they’ve ingested a toxic substance like propylene glycol, onion powder, and other oxidative toxins.
Lastly, some research has led experts to believe that dogs who are either extremely active or suffer from high anxiety may get some special benefits from snacking on the odd orange; these dogs may have decreased liver function, which is the organ responsible for producing vitamin C.
The Potential Dangers of Oranges For Your Dog
Even though oranges aren’t toxic to dogs, it doesn’t mean that you’ll want your collie to eat as much as they want. One significant health concern with oranges is with their high acid and sugar content, which could potentially lead to gastrointestinal issues for your dog, including vomiting and diarrhea.
As always, it’s always good to check with your veterinarian before offering your dog human foods like oranges. If you get the go-ahead from your vet, make sure to start with only a small portion (a slice or two) at a time and then monitor your dog to make sure that they don’t have any negative reactions. You may also want to opt for navel oranges, which come already seedless. Dogs that shouldn’t be given oranges include dogs that are overweight or have known conditions like diabetes or digestive issues because the sugar content in oranges can make these conditions worse.
Another potential danger of oranges has to do with their seeds, peels and pith, which can potentially contain trace amounts of certain toxic compounds. You should always remove the seeds of an orange before offering to your dog, as they can also be a potential choking hazard. Perhaps even worse is the oranges peel, which can easily become lodged in your dog’s digestive tract, causing a dangerous (and potentially fatal) blockage that would require surgery.
What About Orange Juice?
You may be wondering if border collie could share your morning glass of orange juice, the answer from experts a resounding no, as the juice is merely a concentrated source of the citric acid and sugars from the fruit, both of which could aggravate your dog’s stomach and it won’t provide any additional nutritional value.
