Mangos are a popular human snack but are they safe for dogs to eat as a low-carb treat?
While mangos are generally safe for dogs to eat, you should never feed your dog a mango that hasn’t been peeled and pitted.
Mango skin can be difficult to digest and mango pits can be a serious choking hazard or get stuck in your dog’s digestive track.
The American Kennel Club write on their website that mangos are nutritious for dogs as well as being a sweet snack most dogs will enjoy.
The organization add that while the flesh is soft for your dog, you should still cut it into small pieces to make it easy for your pup to chew and digest.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as veterinary, medical or professional advice. The content of our articles does not constitute veterinary advice. It’s always best to speak with your vet or a certified pet nutritionist before making any changes to your pet's diet or feeding routine.
We spoke to six experts to learn more about whether dogs can eat mangos, what are the potential benefits as well as the possible dangers of your dog eating mango.
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Can Dogs Eat Mangos?
A plate of Mango chunks (Photo: helloBARK!)
The AKC write on their website that mangos are a healthy treat for dogs. We asked our experts to give their verdict on whether dogs can eat this sweet fruit.
Dr. Michelle Burch, Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine at Safe Hounds Pet Insurance
The flesh of mangos is safe for dogs to eat for treats.
Daniel Shaw, Dog and Cat Behaviourist at Animal Behaviour Kent
Dogs evolved as scavengers, living on the outskirts of human settlements, so have a natural preference for lots of variety and novelty. A 2014 study suggested their ancestors had a diet composed of a wide variety of cereals, fruits, plants and prey animals, so feeding dogs an entirely meat based diet based diet is actually quite unnatural for them; an occasional inclusion of fruits such as mango is a great way to provide them with some sensory enrichment and better replicate their natural environment.
Dr Nicole Kelleher, DVM, CVA of Carrollton Animal Hospital
Mangos are non-toxic for dogs to eat.
Johnna Devereaux, Certified Clinical Pet Nutritionist at bowwowlabs.com
Mangos can be extremely beneficial to dogs when fed in moderation
Dr Jennifer Coates, DVM and Advisory Board Member at Cat Life Today
Pieces of peeled, sliced mango make a delicious and healthy treat for dogs.
Never Feed The Mango Pit Or Skin
Klee Kai next to plate of Mango chunks (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
You should never, ever feed your dog a whole mango that hasn’t been peeled or pitted. This is important to remember if you’re considering mango as a treat for your pup.
The AKC provide clear guidelines on their website on the issue of mango pits and mango skin.
Before feeding your dog mango, peel it and remove the pit. While dogs can technically eat the skin, it can be difficult to digest, so it’s best to remove it beforehand. Mango pits, on the other hand, can be a serious choking hazard and get stuck in your pup’s digestive tract. The pit of a mango also contains small amounts of cyanide. If your dog happens to swallow a mango pit, there is a chance that it could pass through his body without difficulty. But if you notice a change in his eating habits, call your veterinarian right away.
The experts in this article all stressed that dog owners should peel and pit mangos.
Dr. Michelle Burch, Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine at Safe Hounds Pet Insurance
Although the flesh of mangos is safe for dogs to eat, the pit is dangerous for ingestion. Ingestion of the pit can result in a blockage in the stomach or intestines. Almost all obstructions need to be correct with abdominal surgery or endoscope removal. I recommend ensuring the pit is out of reach of your dog to prevent any health problems.
Dr Nicole Kelleher, DVM, CVA of Carrollton Animal Hospital
It is very important not to let your pet eat the pit of the mango. Mango pits often get stuck in the GI tract and require a surgery to have them removed. Even if the mango pit does not get stuck, it does contain cyanide precursors – if the pet digests the pit, it can make the pet feel ill and cause a lot of irritation as it works its way through the GI tract. Please do not let your pet eat the pit of the mango.
Dr Jennifer Coates, DVM and Advisory Board Member at Cat Life Today
Always remove the pit before feeding a dog mango. Mango pits can damage and even block the gastrointestinal tract when ingested.
Dr Sara Ochoa, Veterinary Consultant for Doglab.com
They should be pealed and the pit removed as these can cause blockage’s in dogs.
Johnna Devereaux, Certified Clinical Pet Nutritionist at bowwowlabs.com
Never feed your dog a full mango–always remove the seed, and unless you can buy an organic mango, also remove the skin. If you are able to buy organic mangoes–leave the peel on for extra fiber and antioxidants.
Mango Flesh Rich In Vitamins
Dr Sara Ochoa, Veterinary Consultant for Doglab.com
Mangos are high in vitamin A, B12 C, and E. They also are high in fiber, which can help your dog have regular bowel movements.
Johnna Devereaux, Certified Clinical Pet Nutritionist at bowwowlabs.com
Besides being a rich source of polyphenols, mangoes are high in both vitamins A and C and are also a good source of B9 (folate).
Powerful Antioxidant
Dr Jennifer Coates, DVM and Advisory Board Member at Cat Life Today
Mangos are a great source of polyphenols. One in particular, mangiferin, is known to be a very powerful antioxidant. Mangiferin is thought to promote immune system function and may help prevent some types of cancer. The mango’s orange color comes from large amounts of many different types of carotenoids. Carotenoids are antioxidants, and some are needed to produce vitamin A, which plays an important role in vision, immune function, and other cellular functions.
Feed In Moderation
Klee Kai next to plate of Mango chunks (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Dr Sara Ochoa, Veterinary Consultant for Doglab.com
They also contain sugar and water and should only be feed to your dog in moderation as they can cause diarrhea if your dog eats too much.
Johnna Devereaux, Certified Clinical Pet Nutritionist at bowwowlabs.com
Caution should be taken when feeding mangoes to dogs with sensitivities to yeast as this fruit has a high natural sugar content.
Dr Nicole Kelleher, DVM, CVA of Carrollton Animal Hospital
It should be mentioned that mangos do contain a rather high amount of sugar; please keep that in mind when feeding a mango to a diabetic animal. Lastly, try to keep your pet from over-indulging on any treat as a sudden change in diet can make cause a pet to feel ill.
Anything Else To Consider?
If you have any concerns or questions about feeding your dog mangos, we urge pet owners to speak to their veterinarian to learn more about the potential benefits and potential risk associated with this fruit.
It’s not a good idea to make drastic or sudden changes to your dog’s diet. Your vet can offer you advice on how to introduce mangos to your pooch’s diet without upsetting their stomach.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as veterinary, medical or professional advice. The content of our articles does not constitute veterinary advice. It’s always best to speak with your vet or a certified pet nutritionist before making any changes to your pet's diet or feeding routine.
Wrapping Up – Our Final Thoughts
So, mangos are a safe treat to feed your dog provided their peeled and pitted.
If you’ve read this article carefully and thoroughly, it should be clear that mango flesh can be a healthy snack for well-behaved dogs.
However, there are some things to consider before you give your dog mangos to eat. They should be peeled because mango skin can be difficult to digest as well as pitted because mango pits could be a choking hazard or cause a blockage in the digestive tract.
