Can Dogs Eat Mango? Fact Checked By Our Vet
Written By Eloisa Thomas | Canine Coach, Double M.A in Anthropology.
Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | B.A Journalism & Science.
Last Updated: 30th November 2023
This wonderful tropical fruit is sweet, juicy and healthy… for humans! But, can dogs eat mango?
Can you share the deliciousness with them?
Before sneaking some mango to your pup, check with actual experts! We’ve reviewed what veterinarians have to say about dogs eating mango:
Can Dogs Eat Mango?
Yes, but not as is. Mangoes are a stone fruit, meaning they have a large, single seed right in the middle. Of course, for humans, it’s easy to know the seed shouldn’t be eaten but dogs tend to be more curious.
Related: What Fruit Can Dogs Eat?
Mango seeds can be very dangerous to dogs because they are a choking hazard! If your dog tries to eat a whole mango by themselves, you could be looking at a very expensive and stressful trip to the vet. Save yourself the trouble and keep curious pups away from this fruit until you’ve cut it up.
PRO TIP: Got an overly eager, food-motivated pup? Then teaching them the release cue could save you a lot of trouble! That way, they can release whole mangoes if they ever get to them. To do this, let them pick something on their mouth and then say “let go” or any other cue in a firm but calm voice. Slowly pry the item away from your dog. Quickly give them a treat to associate the cue with a positive (the treat) and repeat consistently. After a few days or weeks, your dog will be so eager to get the treat that they’ll release on cue as soon as you say the words. Now you can use this exercise whenever they get where they shouldn’t!
Should Dogs Eat Mango?
While mangoes might not be dangerous to dogs, should your dog eat mango? According to the latest veterinarian research, this fruit might be a nice addition to your dog’s diet. Here are some of the benefits of mangoes for dogs:
Mangoes improve digestive health
As they are high in both soluble and insoluble fibre, mangoes can help your dog’s digestive health. This is especially important if your dog tends to “scoot” on the floor or isn’t “regular” enough. The fibre will speed up his digestion and ensure they go to the bathroom more often. On the other hand, the fibre in mango is also considered a prebiotic. Prebiotics are the main food source of your dog’s gut microbiome: and it ensures all those healthy bacteria stay strong and keep helping your dog’s overall health. Finally, mangoes are also rich in a digestive enzyme called amylase, which can help break down other food molecules and improve overall digestion.
Full of antioxidants
Oxidation is a natural process, and it’s the main cause of ageing. But did you know that your dog’s diet can help slow down this process? By adding antioxidant-rich foods like mangoes, you’ll be helping your dog’s body regenerate itself.
Including a healthy dose of antioxidants has also been linked to a lower chance of chronic diseases in both dogs and humans. Mangoes are rich in Vitamin E, Vitamin C, beta-carotene and other polyphenols [1] that will contribute to keeping your dog ageing gracefully and healthy. Of course, make sure their regular dog food also has plenty of these beneficial compounds!
Supports eye health
Some of the nutrients in mango that help fight ageing might also be beneficial to your dog’s eye health! Mangoes have two powerful antioxidants: lutein and zeaxanthin. Researchers discovered that both of these tend to accumulate in the retina of the eye, where they act as a natural sunblock and slow down the growth rate of cataracts [2]. On top of these two compounds, mangoes also have plenty of Vitamin A, which also protects your eyes and skin from excess sunlight. Of course, eating this fruit alone won’t completely prevent any eye trouble, but it can help increase your dog’s chances of maintaining healthy vision throughout their life!
Improved coat and skin health
Mango is especially rich in vitamin C. This vitamin is essential for collagen-making protein. In turn, collagen is the main protein in your dog’s skin, coat and nails. Because of it, a lack of collagen can quickly turn into brittle nails, a dull coat and sensitive skin.
The benefits of adding vitamin C sources to your dog’s diet aren’t clear. However, some researchers have concluded that this compound might help ill and ageing dogs, particularly if they have skin imbalances or a patchy coat.
How To Give Mango To Your Dog
Only offer mango pulp to your dog
As we already mentioned, whole mangoes are a no-go for dogs. To give mango to your dog, simply cut up the pulp in small bite-sized chunks. The pit in mangoes can be very dangerous both because it causes intestinal blockage and because it is high in cyanides. Eaten in enough quantity, cyanide intoxication can lead to medical emergencies and even death in dogs.
PRO TIP: Did your dog eat a mango pit? Don’t wait: whether they just munched on a chunk or ate the whole thing, this is considered a veterinarian emergency. Take them to the vet as soon as you realise what happened: they’ll help prevent intestinal blockages and treat cyanide intoxication if it were necessary.
Don’t give them mango skin
Mango skin should never be fed to your dog because it is too tough and isn’t easily digested. Plus, it’s likely your dog won’t chew it completely, which in turn can lead to intestinal blockage. As we said, this is a dangerous veterinarian emergency that can be easily prevented!
On the other hand, mango skins are rich in urushiol, an irritating compound that researchers know causes allergic reactions in both humans and dogs [3]. If your dog accidentally eats mango skins, monitor them closely. If they seem scratchier than usual, or they have a sudden rash, call your vet.
PRO TIP: Monitor your dog’s “normal behaviour” BEFORE you suspect they are sick! This will make it easier to actually detect if something is wrong. Make it a habit to see whether or not they scratch often, how they sleep, how they smell, etc. so you get used to their “normal” state.
Mouldy mangoes are banned
You should never feed or allow your dog to eat mouldy or rotten mangoes. Any fruit that’s rotten or mouldy should be out of the question as well. Rotting fruit is high in alcohols that are poisonous to dogs, and the mould in fruits produce toxins that could be fatal to your pup.
PRO TIP: Do you think your dog got into mouldy fruit? Check for these symptoms: digestive issues, lethargy, tremors, pale gums, excessive salivation, seizures, difficulty walking or any other strange behaviour. If any of these appear, take your dog to the vet immediately so they can treat the poisoning!
Final Thoughts
Mangoes can be a great addition to your dog’s diet, provided you only give them the pulp! This juicy fruit is packed full of vitamins, antioxidants and other goodies that can help round up your dog’s diet. Just remember to make it an occasional treat! This and other fruits should only make up around 10% of your dog’s weekly intake.
Do you have a fruit-loving pup at home? Have they ever tried mango? Let us know in the comments below!
You might also like:
- Can Dogs Eat Strawberries?
- Can Dogs Eat Banana?
- Can Dogs Eat Pineapple?
- Can Dogs Eat Orange?
- Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?
- Can Dogs Eat Grapes?
- What Food Can't Dogs Eat?
References
- Rajan S. Mango: The King of Fruits. In The Mango Genome. Part of the Compendium of Plant Genomes book series 2021 (pp. 1-11). Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-47829-2_1
- Derese S, et al. (2017) Chapter 21 Mangifera indica L (Anacardiacea). In: Kuete V (ed) Medicinal spices and vegetables from Africa: therapeutic potential against metabolic, inflammatory, infectious and systemic diseases. Elsevier, London, pp 451–483. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128092866000212
- Shah KA, et al. Mangifera indica (mango). Pharmacognosy reviews. 2010 Jan;4(7):42. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249901/
