If you’re like me, you wake up every morning and make a tasty smoothie. This means that I am constantly using fresh and frozen fruits like papaya. When your Pug stares at you every morning, you’ve probably asked yourself “can Pugs eat papaya?”
Can Pugs Eat Papaya?
Well, the great news is that dogs can eat papaya, as long as you don’t give them the seeds, leaves, or the peel. If your Pug does love eating this fruit, make sure that you only feed them in moderation.
Related: Best Fruits for Pugs
Related: Fresh Cooked Food For Pugs
Now let’s look at why you may want to consider feeding your Pug papaya. Don’t forget to read this article to find out what Pugs eat.
Are There Any Benefits To Feeding Papaya To Pugs?
Papaya is beneficial for our gut health, because of all the fiber and enzymes. But is it actually beneficial for your Pug?
Well according to the Dog People, this fruit is rich in fiber, vitamins A, C, E, and K as well as calcium, potassium, and folate.
These nutrients are NOT only beneficial for us, but can also be beneficial for your four-legged friend.
Papaya’s calcium and magnesium are beneficial for both puppies and senior dogs, as it can help support healthy bone growth, as well as preventing hearth issues such as dangerous thickening of the artery walls.
The fiber will also make your dog feel fuller longer. This is great, especially, since Pugs are known for overeating and prone to obesity.
Note: Never feed puppies that are still in their developmental stage. During this time, you need to ensure that they are fed high-quality puppy food to ensure they get all the nutrients they need.
Fun Papaya Facts
Papayas is a fruit that is a part of the Carica papaya plant. The papaya fruit has also been known as the pawpaw or papaw.
This fruit originated in Central America and Southern Mexico, however, today, it is grown in several other parts of the world.
It is an incredibly healthy fruit and is loaded with antioxidants to help fight disease, reduce inflammation and keep you looking younger.
Research has even shown that the lycopene in papaya can even help reduce the risk of cancer.
Nutritional Facts
Now let’s take a look at the nutrients you will find inside of fresh raw papaya (152 grams):
- Calories: 59
- Potassium: 11% of the RDI (Recommended Daily Allowance)
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Folate: 14% of the RDI
- Carbohydrates: 15 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Vitamin A: 33% of the RDI
- Vitamin C: 157% of the RDI
Are Papayas Safe For Pugs?
As long as your Pug doesn’t have any food allergies, your pooch should be fine eating this fruit in moderation.
The fleshy part of the fruit is NOT toxic for dogs. As I mentioned above, it is very beneficial for dogs and there’s no reason your dog can’t eat it.
Consult your veterinarian before adding any new foods to your dog’s diet.
Digestive Problems Can Be Common
Too much of anything can cause your dog some tummy problems. This fruit contains both sugar and fiber content, which can cause digestive problems for your pooch.
Dogs digestive systems can’t process sugars the way our bodies do. There are almost 16 grams of carbohydrates in a serving of papaya.
This is high, especially, for dogs. Too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, diabetes, obesity, and so many other health problems.
What Types Of Papaya Can Pugs Eat?
This fruit can be found in several forms such as dehydrated, desserts, smoothies, and etc. When feeding your pooch, you want to avoid the dehydrated version, as most dehydrated fruits tend to have a lot of artificial sugars.
Your Pug will get more of the benefits of this tasty fruit if it’s fresh and raw. Yes, you can feed them the organic version you get from your local supermarket if you only consume organic fruits.
Frozen papaya can make a great treat for your Pug, especially, when it’s hot outside. You can put a frozen piece of papaya in their water to get them to drink more.
Just make sure they don’t try to swallow the frozen piece whole.
Can Pugs The PawPaw Leaves?
No, absolutely NOT! The leaves can be toxic to both cats and dogs. According to Herbal Goodness, everything on the papaya plant is edible for humans.
Dogs, on the other hand, should never be allowed to eat the leaves. The leaves may have pesticides or external parasites that can harm your pooch.
The papaya leaf juice has been used for medicinal treatments in Southeast Asia for a long time and this juice can harm your four-legged friend.
Not only that, but your dog will have a hard time swallowing it, which can lead to choking hazards.
What About The Skin And Seeds?
Papaya seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide which can be harmful to both you and your pooch. Eating too many can lead to cyanide poisoning.
Not only that, but the seeds can cause your dog to choke or even lead to painful intestinal blockages.
Feeding Papaya To Pugs: Use Common Sense
One of the most important things to remember when feeding your dog any type of fruits or vegetables is to feed them in moderation.
Your dogs treat, fruits or vegetables should NEVER consume more than 10% of your Pug’s daily calories.
Treats should only be given on occasion. Your dog should be getting most of their vitamins and nutrients from well-balanced dog food.
Always monitor your dog whenever they eat papaya or any other fruits. As long as your doggie doesn’t have any side effects from this fruit, you can continue feeding it to them.
If they do get a tummy ache, allergic reaction, bloating or start itching, you need to remove it from their diet immediate!
What Parts Of A Papaya Should You Feed A Pug?
Let’s take a look at the parts of the papaya that are safe for your Pug.
Use this table to help you quickly see which parts of the papaya that are safe for Fido.
| Parts of a Papaya | Safe for Your Pug to Eat |
| Peel | No |
| Flesh | Yes, this is the only part they should eat. |
| Leaves | No, they are NOT safe for your pooch. |
| Seeds | No, they contain trace amounts of cyanide. |
*The only part your dog can eat safely is the fleshy part of the papaya!
How Can I Feed My Pug Papaya?
Now that you know the benefits of this fruit for your Pug, let’s take a look at how to safely feed it to your dog.
If your dog doesn’t like the taste, then don’t try to force them to eat it. Pugs love eating and will let you know if they actually like the taste.
Remove The Peels And The Seeds?
Wash the papaya remove the skin and seeds before feeding it to your dog. Be sure you cut it up into small bite-size pieces, so your dog doesn’t choke.
You can hand-feed your Pug the small pieces or put them in their food bowl. Either way, I have no doubt that they will love it.
Recipes for Dogs
If you’d rather not give it your dog in bite-size pieces, then browse the Internet for some recipes you can try out. Many people have shared some papaya recipes for dogs that you can try.
How Much Papaya Should You Feed Your Pug?
It’s best to give your dog papaya about 2-3 times per week, and should only be used as a special treat. Otherwise, you’ll have to worry about excessive gas, vomiting, loose stools, or diarrhea.
Alternatives To Papaya For Pugs
If your Pug loves eating fruits on an occasional basis, then you may want to consider trying some of these which can be beneficial for your pooch:
Final Word On Feeding Pugs Papaya
As long as your Pug doesn’t have any allergies, they should be fine eating the fleshy part of the papaya. In fact, there are several beneficial properties that may improve the overall health of your dog.
Pugs want to eat what we’re eating, and papaya is definitely better than feeding them ice cream, or potato chips as a treat or snack.
If you’ve never fed your Pug any fruits and vegetables, you may want to contact your veterinarian to ensure that it’s safe to add it to their diet.
References and Further Reading
Healthline – 8 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Papaya