Fruits are an essential part of our diet. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
I know of many dog owners that like feeding their dogs fruits as an occasional treat. That is fine if given in moderation.
But what if you are looking to feed your dog something rather exotic like a rambutan fruit?
There isn’t much of an issue with feeding your dog rambutan. Rambutan is rich in vitamins and minerals which can be beneficial in some ways. You need to moderate the amount as fruits are generally high in sugar.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the nutritional benefits, potential risks, and precautions to consider when feeding rambutan to your dog.
What is A Rambutan?
Just to be clear, a rambutan isn’t related to an orangutan in any way.
Even though they are both hairy, one is a primate and another is a tropical fruit.
It is native to Southeast Asia but has been making headways into the Westen world. These days you can easily buy them at your local Asian supermarket.
This fruit gets its name from the Malay language which means hair which refers to the hairy skin of the fruit.
Rambutan flesh is firm, translucent in color and has a sweet clean taste to it.
Nutritional Value Of Rambutan
Here’s the nutritional breakdown of 100g of rambutan:
Cals: 73 kcal
Carbs: 17g
Protein: 0.6g
Fat: 0.1g
Fiber: 2g
Rambutan is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B5, copper, manganese and iron.
Can Dogs Eat Rambutan?
You can allow your dog to enjoy the sweet taste of rambutans if wish to but it has to be fed in moderation.
I will get more into this later.
There are some health benefits that your dog can get from eating rambutan.
The rich source of vitamins and minerals can help with the following:
Better Immune System
Ensuring that your dog has a robust immune system is important. This helps to prevent infections and more serious ailments like cancer and chronic diseases.
What’s the one thing that we try to boost when we are sick?
Vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that is vital for your dog’s immune system and health.
A study found that “rambutan extract had significant antioxidant activity, which can help protect against oxidative stress and inflammation1“.
Better Digestive System
Fruits are good for our digestive tract due to their high fiber content.
Your dog too can benefit from having some fiber in its diet to help with regular bowel movements.
Given that you should moderate the amount of rambutan that your dog eats, other good sources of fiber can be from fresh pumpkin and psyllium husk.
How Many Rambutans Can I Feed My Dog?
Although it is safe to feed your dog rambutan, you need to be sure to not overfeed your dog.
A couple of rambutans a week is more than enough for your dog.
The reason for this is that dogs do not actually require any form of plant matter in their diet.
Dogs are primarily carnivores which means that they can survive purely on animal protein.
They have a sweet tooth and can get addicted to sweet food items.
It is best to limit any form of sugar in your dog’s diet.
Too much rambutan can make your dog fat and upset its digestive system.
Precautions To Take When Feeding Rambutan
There are a couple of important things to note when feeding your dog rambutan.
Cut The Flesh Into Smaller Pieces
Do not just feed the entire rambutan fruit to your dog.
Some rambutans are large enough to turn into a choking hazard if you have a small dog or puppy.
Remove the skin and the flesh from the seed.
There can be some fibrous husk stuck on the underside of the rambutan flesh so make sure to remove that too.
Watch For Allergic Reactions
Every time you feed your dog something new, there’s a risk of your dog being allergic to the food.
Many dogs are allergic to dairy and nuts so most fruits are fine for them.
But if you do notice your dog starting to scratch and develop inflamed skin, stop feeding any rambutan.
Is Any Part Of A Rambutan Poisonous?
Do not feed your dog the rind or skin of the rambutan as it can be toxic in high quantities.
A study on the effects of rambutan rind on rats showed that 12.5% of the rats died when fed a high dosage of rambutan rind extract daily2.
The seed of the rambutan has been found to contain a toxic chemical called saponin.
High dosages of saponin can depress your dog’s central nervous system and cause symptoms such as:
- Loss of appetite
- Severe stomach upset
- Diarrhea
- Loss of coordination
- Lethargy
- Low heart rate
There’s no need to totally avoid feeding your dog rambutan as long as you remove the skin and seed first.
References
2. Safety assessment of hydroethanolic rambutan rind extract: acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies