Everybody loves watermelon, even dogs. But is it safe for them to eat?

The answer is yes, with a couple of precautions. Seeds could cause an intestinal blockage, so make sure you remove them. It’s also probably not a good idea to allow a dog to chew on the rind, because it can cause gastrointestinal upset. 

The fruit itself is a health-food powerhouse, low in calories and packed with nutrients—vitamins A, B6, and C, and potassium.

According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, the fruit has only about 50 calories a cup and 92 percent water, so it’s great for hydration on a hot day. It also has no fat or cholesterol, so it’s pretty much guilt-free.
Here are some fun facts from the NWPB:

• An average 15-to 20-pound watermelon will yield 90 six-ounce wedges and 11 cups of cubes.

• Ever notice that some watermelons have internal cracks in the flesh? It’s a condition known as Hollow Heart and is caused by fluctuations in temperature during the growing season. Hollow Heart melons are safe to eat, and they are actually sweeter in spots, because sugars tend to concentrate along the cracks.

• From planting to harvest, it takes a watermelon three months to grow.

• Seedless melons were developed 50 years ago. They contain no black, mature seeds. But you may see white seed coats, where the seed did no mature.

• Citrullus Lanatus is the scientific name for watermelon.

• It comes from the botanical family Cucurbitaceae and is related to cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash.

• You can carve watermelon rinds in the same manner as pumpkins. There are many patterns, from dinosaurs and sharks to Spiderman, and designs are limited only by your imagination.

Other fruits and veggies, such as carrots and apples, can be a healthy treat for dogs.

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Text Source: AKC