Dr Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC, explains that pomegranates are not toxic to dogs. However, that doesn’t mean that the fruit is safe for dogs to eat. “As the saying goes: ‘just because you can, doesn’t mean you should,’” he says.

The pomegranate is a small, fruit-bearing tree native to Iran and northern India and cultivated around the world Pomegranate is a small, fruit-bearing tree native to Iran and northern India and cultivated around the world.

The fruit and seed are used in modern herbal medicine. In some traditional folk remedies, the rind and root or bark may also have been used, but they contain potentially toxic substances and should be avoided.

A pomegranate is a sweet, tart fruit with thick, red skin. While the skin is not edible, it holds hundreds of juicy seeds that you can eat plain or sprinkle on salads, oatmeal, hummus, and other dishes. 

The fruit and seed are used in modern herbal medicine. In some traditional folk remedies, the rind and root or bark may also have been used, but they contain potentially toxic substances and should be avoided.

The red-rich fruit is known to be one of the healthiest for a reason. It is called a divine fruit because it is the most mentioned fruit in theological books.

Pomegranate has anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-tumour properties and is said to be a good source of vitamins, especially vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E, as well as folic acid. It contains two compounds – punicalagin and punicic acid which give it all the potent benefits. 

Health And Nutritional Benefits Of Pomegranates

1. Packed With Nutrients

Overall, pomegranates are low in calories and fat but high in fibre, vitamins, and minerals.

Below is the nutrition for the arils in one average pomegranate:

• Calories: 234
• Protein: 4.7 grams (g)
• Fat: 3.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 52 g
• Fiber: 11.3 g
• Vitamin C: 32% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Folate: 27% of the DV
• Magnesium: 8% of the DV
• Phosphorus: 8% of the DV
• Potassium: 13% of the DV

2. Rich In Antioxidants

Antioxidants are mostly found in plant foods. They are natural molecules that help neutralize harmful free radicals in our bodies, they are man-made or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage. 

Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants and polyphenolic compounds, including punicalagin, anthocyanins, and hydrolyzable tannins.

Getting antioxidants from fruits such as pomegranates is a great way to support overall health and prevent disease.

3. May Help Keep Inflammation At Bay

Inflammation is when the body sends cells to defend against an irritant. It is a key aspect of the body’s immune defence but chronic inflammation can also occur in response to other unwanted substances in the body, such as toxins from cigarette smoke or an excess of fat cells (especially fat in the belly area).

While more research is needed, research shows that consuming pomegranate juice can reduce certain markers of inflammation.

4. May Have Anticancer Properties

Research has found that compounds in pomegranate have anti-cancer properties. Pomegranate is used to prevent cancer, not only in the aforementioned cases but also in other cancer types, according to older research, pomegranate extract may be beneficial for prostate cancer.

5. May Offer Heart Health Benefits

There is evidence that fruits rich in polyphenolic compounds, such as pomegranate offers a lot of health benefits, Pomegranate juice may help lower blood pressure and protect the heart and arteries.

6. Support Urinary Health

Test-tube and human studies have found that pomegranate extract may help reduce the formation of kidney stones. In one 2014 study, pomegranate extract was found to inhibit the mechanism associated with stone formation in people with recurrent kidney stones. 

Additionally, animal studies have found that pomegranate extract can help regulate the concentration of oxalates, calcium, and phosphates in the blood, which are common components of kidney stones.

7. May Have Antimicrobial Properties

Pomegranate compounds may help fight harmful microorganisms. For instance, they may protect oral health by reducing the growth of germs that can contribute to bad breath and tooth decay.

8. May Improve Exercise Endurance

The polyphenols in pomegranates may increase exercise endurance.

One small study found that pomegranate extract increased time to exhaustion and improved performance in trained cyclists.

Other research has found that pomegranate supplements may improve both endurance and muscle recovery. However, research using pomegranate juice has found no benefit for muscle recovery after exercise, indicating that more studies are needed.

9. Good For Your Brain

Pomegranates contain antioxidants called ellagitannins, which help reduce inflammation in the body. Some studies have found that ellagitannins may help protect the brain against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease by reducing oxidative damage and increasing the survival of brain cells.

Ellagitannins are believed to produce a compound in the gut called urolithin A, which has been studied for its ability to reduce inflammation in the brain and delay the onset of cognitive diseases. Nonetheless, more research is needed.

10. Supports Digestive Health

Eating pomegranate may help support the health of your gut microbiome, which plays a key role in many aspects of health. Test-tube research has found that pomegranate can increase levels of beneficial gut bacteria, suggesting that it may have prebiotic effects.

Prebiotics serve as fuel for the beneficial bacteria in your gut and support a healthier gut microbiome. Additionally, pomegranate arils are rich in fibre, which is essential for digestive health and may protect against some digestive conditions.

Can Dogs Eat Pomegranates?/ 3 Considerations When Feeding Your Dog

Unlike other fruits that are super toxic to dogs, including rhubarb and grapes, pomegranate seeds aren’t actually poisonous. The health benefits of pomegranates make them a superfood for humans as they offer antioxidants and nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folic acid. 

However, as a dog parent, you need to know that not all human foods are safe for dogs and that your furry friend doesn’t have the same digestive system as theirs may not break down the fruit the same way and this can pose risks for your pooch.

• 1. Pomegranate seeds and skin can be a choking hazard. Eating too many pomegranate seeds at once can cause choking,Dogs should not eat pomegranate seeds as they contain traces of cyanide which is toxic to dogs and the fruit’s skin can cause an intestinal blockage in your dog’s stomach. While pomegranate skin isn’t toxic to dogs, it’s very difficult for their stomachs to diges
• 2. The fruit contains a high amount of fibre. , the pomegranate’s thick skin can easily cause bowel obstruction or be a choking hazard.  In severe cases, too much fibre can even cause a dog to poop blood. dogs who eat too much fibre can experience weight loss, flatulence, bloating, diarrhoea, and vomiting.

3. The tannins can cause stomach upset. The main phenolic compounds in pomegranate juice are hydrolyzable tannins and their derivatives. Tannins are a compound found in pomegranates and other fruits that can cause damage to the liver and kidneys.

Can Dogs Eat Pomegranate Seeds?

Dogs can technically eat pomegranate seeds because they are non-toxic. That’s a good thing too since your pooch isn’t exactly going to stop munching the fruit to spit the seeds out!

The problem is that pomegranate seeds are hard and a dog’s digestive system isn’t adapted to break them down. In fact, you’ll probably notice the seeds come out whole almost exactly as they went in!

Because these seeds don’t digest, it’s possible that eating lots of pomegranate seeds will irritate your dog’s gut. Like many things, the best thing to do is to make sure your pup doesn’t eat a lot so they stay happy and healthy.

Can Dogs Eat Pomegranate Juice?

It’s a tricky one because although pomegranate juice is safe for dogs to eat and isn’t going to poison them, it is packed with sugar. About 14g of sugar per 100 ml of juice, in fact. While a lot of sugar isn’t going to immediately hurt your pooch, eating too much of it can cause problems over time. 

Just like us humans, your dog can suffer from tooth decay and poor oral health if they eat too much sugar, especially if they aren’t having their teeth brushed regularly. Dogs can also suffer from diabetes, which can be caused by having too much sugar in their diet.

The stacks of sugar in pomegranate juice will also trigger spikes in your dog’s blood sugar, which can cause hyperactivity. That also means it’s not suitable for diabetic dogs to drink.

Some owners might want to try supplementing their dog’s diet with a little juice to add a boost of nutrients, but I think there are better ways to provide those nutrients in your dog’s dinner.

For instance, although pomegranates are famed for being incredibly rich in antioxidants, blueberries actually contain more! Blueberries are perfectly safe for dogs to eat, and they don’t have as much of a risk of causing your dog stomach upset.

You can use some as little treats or toppings for your dog’s dinner, or smash them with some yoghurt for a delicious treat in their Kong.

Ways To Feed Your Dog Pomegranate

There are a few different ways that you can serve pomegranate to your dog. Let’s take a quick look at some of the ways you can introduce the fruit to your dog:

• Fresh: The simplest and easiest way to introduce pomegranate to your dog is by serving the seeds (the edible parts on the inside) fresh. You can drop a few pieces of them on the floor to see how your dog reacts to them. Chances are, your dog will love them and eat the seeds instantly. After you offer some of the fresh seeds, wait for a while and keep an eye on your dog to make sure that he doesn’t develop an upset stomach or seem to be in any signs of discomfort. If everything seems okay with your dog and there are no signs of gastrointestinal issues like vomiting, you can begin treating your dog to the seeds more often.
• Mashed pomegranate: Since the edible part of the pomegranate is the internal seeds, you may want to mash them up to make it easier for your dog to eat them—especially if your dog is prone to eating too fast and choking. Mashing the pomegranate seeds up into a pulp can reduce the choking hazard and provide a safer way for your dog to eat the fruit. You can serve some of the mashed pomegranates on top of or mixed in with your dog’s usual healthy dog food if you want to add a boost of nutrition and flavour.
• Mixed with other fruits or yoghurt: Another way to feed your dog pomegranates is to mix up the fresh seeds with other fresh fruits that are safe for dogs (see our list below) and combine them with plain yoghurt. This combination makes a healthy, nutritious snack for your dog and when served cold, makes a refreshing summer treat.

Dog Treats Made With Fruits And Vegetables: Recipes 

1. Pumpkin-Avocado Dog Biscuits

Ingredients:

½ ripe avocado, peeled and mashed
½ cup pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon honey
1 ½ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, combine avocado, pumpkin, and honey and stir until well-combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour and baking powder together.
Stir in the dry ingredients into the avocado mixture until it forms a dough.
Roll out the dough into a floured surface until ¼ inch thick
Cut out the dough using your preferred cookie cutter and arrange them on the baking sheet.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until biscuits are firm and brown on the edges.
Cool the treats and store them in an air-tight container

2. Pineapple-Molasses Dog Treat

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ⅓ cup molasses
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 (8 ounces) can crushed pineapple, drained

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a large baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl whisk flour, baking soda and baking powder.  Set aside.
3. In a smaller bowl, whisk molasses, olive oil, vanilla and egg.  Add drained pineapple and stir well to combine.
4. Add liquid pineapple mixture to the flour mixture and stir well with a spoon to combine.
5. Drop by tablespoons full onto a prepared baking sheet.
6. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.

3. Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 2 large spotted/brown bananas (230 grams)
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter (make sure it is drippy)
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil, soften/melted

instructions

1. Mash bananas. Add bananas to a medium bowl and mash until fairly smooth. You can also use a food processor, hand mixer, or stand mixer with the paddle attachment (this is what I usually do).
2. Add remaining ingredients. Then add your softened coconut oil and peanut butter and mix until combined. You want to make sure your peanut butter is runny so it incorporates well.
3. Place in moulds. Add a heaping tablespoon or so to your bone silicone moulds. The mixture will make 10-12 treats.
4. Let your pup lick the bowl 
5. Freeze. Pop them in the freezer for 2-3 hours to firm up.
6. Let your pup enjoy! If needed, let them defrost for a minute or two (they are pretty hard). Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

4. Strawberry Banana Dog Treats

Servings: 30 dog treats 

Author: Pam – For the Love of Cooking

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour (I needed more flour – about 1/4 cup)
• ½ cup oats
• 1 ripe banana, mashed well (about 1/2 cup)
• ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
• 5-6 strawberries, hulled & diced
• 1 egg, beaten well

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine the flour, oats, mashed banana, peanut butter, strawberries, and egg together until well combined. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour as needed. 
3. Working on a floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use more flour as needed.
4. Use a cookie cutter to cut out the desired shape and place it onto the prepared baking sheet.
5. Place into oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
6. Store in a sealed container for 3-4 days or in a zip lock bag in the freezer. Enjoy.

5. Pumpkin Cranberry Dog Treats

Ingredients List

• 1 3/4 cup garbanzo bean flour
• 1/3 cup canned pumpkin (NOT the pie-filling variety)
• 1/2 cup mashed banana
• 1/2 cup *fresh cranberries
• 1/8 cup ground flax seeds
• 2 tsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp coconut oil (melted)

* You can replace the 1/2 cup of fresh cranberries with 1/3 cup of dried cranberries if you need/want to. If you do this, add 2 tbsp of milk (dairy or non-dairy) or water to the recipe to replace lost moisture.

Instructions

• Heat oven to 350F
• Line baking tray with silicone baking mat
• Mash banana
• Melt coconut oil
• Put flour, flax seeds and chia seeds into large bowl and stir to mix
• Put mashed banana, pumpkin and coconut oil into separate bowl, use whisk to blend together
• Add cranberries and stir in
• Slowly add wet ingredients to dry ones and mix well
• Use your hands to form dough
• Turn dough out onto a sheet of well-floured wax paper
• Use floured hands to press dough to approx. 1/2 ” thickness
• Cut out desired shapes using cookie cutter or sharp knife
• Bake at 350F for approximately 20 minutes
• Remove  from oven and allow to cool thoroughly 
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week

6. Strawberry Banana Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour (I needed more flour – about 1/4 cup)
• ½ cup oats
• 1 ripe banana, mashed well (about 1/2 cup)
• ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
• 5-6 strawberries, hulled & diced
• 1 egg, beaten well

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine the flour, oats, mashed banana, peanut butter, strawberries, and egg together until well combined. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour as needed. 
3. Working on a floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use more flour as needed.
4. Use a cookie cutter to cut out the desired shape and place it onto the prepared baking sheet.
5. Place into the oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
6. Store in a sealed container for 3-4 days or in a zip lock bag in the freezer. Enjoy.

Read   Also: Can Dogs Eat Rice Pudding? Find Out

7. Blueberry Banana Fruit Leather Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 1 Cup of Fresh Blueberries
• 1 Large Banana
• 1 TBSP of Chia Seeds (optional)

Directions

• Wash and dry your blueberries. Peel and roughly chop the banana.
• Place the blueberries and banana in your food processor. Process on the puree setting. You will want the banana and blueberries to be fully pureed.
• Optional: Mix in your tablespoon of chia seeds. Allow mixture to sit for just a few minutes.
• Your dehydrator should have came with a fruit leather tray. It looks like a smooth tray that sits perfectly in your dehydrator. Smooth and evently distribute your blueberry and banana puree over your leather tray.
• Place the lid on your dehydrator and set the temperature to 145 degrees F.
• Dehydrate for 6-8 hours. My fruit leather took the full 8 hours. You will want the leather to feel firm and not sticky. Allow the leather to cool, chop into bite size pieces (I cute mine about the size of a quarter), and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

8. DIY 4 Ingredient Blueberry & Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Quick Oats
• 1/3 cup of Blueberries (Thaw berries if using frozen)
• 3 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter (Make sure it does NOT contain Xylitol)
• 1/2 cup of Unsweetened Applesauce or two Eggs lightly beaten

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 F.
  Puree or thoroughly mash your blueberries. You want a mostly liquid consistency and not large pieces of fruit. Set the puree aside
• Place 2 cups of Quick Oats in your food processor with a blade and blend for 15-30 seconds. You will want most of the oats to look blended but it’s okay if your mix still has a few large oat pieces.
• Place all other ingredients in your food processor with the oats. Blueberry puree, 3 heaping tablespoons of peanut butter, 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce -OR- 2 lightly beaten eggs. Blend until well combined.
• This is a stickier dough but it will create a dry treat after baking. Roll dough into small one inch balls, place on your baking sheet, and then gently flatten in the middle with your thumb.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes. You will see the edges start to lightly brown.

9. Blueberry Banana Pie Dog Treats

Pie Crust Ingredients

• 3/4 Cup of Old Fashioned Oats
• 1/4 Cup of Unsweetened Applesauce
• Pie Filling Ingredients
• 2/3 Cups Frozen Blueberries
• One medium ripe banana (frozen – this gives a creamier consistency.)
• Optional: A few ice cubes and a splash of cold water

Directions

• Preheat your oven to 350 F. Prepare four muffin liners or use silicone muffin liners.
• Blend the unsweetened applesauce and oats in a food processor. You will have a slightly sticky dough.
• Using an ice cream scoop or spoon; scoop equal amounts of dough into 4 muffin liners. Then use the back of the ice cream scoop to create an indent in the center. This will creat a pie-shell that your filling can sit in. See the photo below as an example. (I formed the sides with my fingers so that the dough was evenly distributed.)
• Bake your crusts for 15 minutes until they are golden brown. You will want to let them cool completely before removing them from their liners and adding the filling.
• Make the filling: Blend your frozen-peeled banana and frozen blueberries on high until you achieve a smooth-creamy purée. Add a few ice cubes and a splash of cold water to achieve a smooth consistency if needed. Spoon a tablespoon of blueberry banana purée into a pie-shell and serve immediately. Refrigerate left over purée separately for two days if any is leftover.

Notes

1. This is a treat and not meant to be fed on a regular basis. Please consult your vet before introducing any homemade treats into your dogs diet.
2. I recommend breaking the pies up into bite size pieces in your dogs food bowl.
3. These treats do not store well. I tested the pie recipe by using only half of the ingredients and it created four perfect pie crusts. So this recipe can easily be cut in half. You can store the empty pie crusts in the fridge for up to one week in the fridge. Fill the stored pie crusts with fresh filling when you’re ready to feed your dog another pie treat.

10. Fruity Oat Balls

INGREDIENTS

• 100 gr banana
• 40 gr blueberries
• 35 gr apple sauce
• 100 gr oats
• 50 gr plain flour use gluten free if necessary

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 170deg C
2. Blend the fruit in a blender or food processor until it is puree consistency
3. In a large bowl, mix the fruit puree into the oats
4. Add half the flour to the mix. Depending on how fine the oats are, you might not need to add all the flour. Very fine oatmeal will soak up more of the puree and so less flour will be needed. I use medium size oat flakes, so I needed to use all the flour. If your pooch has a gluten allergy, just use gluten free flour here. You want to end up with a dough-like consistency.
5. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and break it up into little pieces, rolling them between your hands to make small balls approx. 2ch in diameter. If you find the dough sticks to your hands, roll the pieces in flour to coat them. 
6. Place all the balls on a baking tray. You shouldn’t need to grease it first. Bake in the oven at 170deg C for 25-30 minutes, giving the tray a shake halfway through the cooking time.
7. Once cooked and cooled, try them out on your test subjects.

Conclusion 

In conclusion,  note that some dogs may be allergic to pomegranate and this fruit isn’t toxic to canines. In fact, your pet can actually benefit from eating pomegranates. However, moderation is key

Pomegranates can make dogs sick if you are not careful with how much the dog is eating.