Can Golden Retrievers Eat Oranges? Yes, But Be Careful!

You must have heard the old saying: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But what about an orange a day?

Maybe it’s a more recent one. Oranges are popular among humans for good reason—they’re low-cost, tasty, and filled with essential nutrients like vitamins A, B, and C. Many golden retriever owners are often tempted to feed oranges to their pet because of these benefits.

But can you feed oranges to your golden retrievers?

The short answer is “yes,” you can feed oranges to your golden retrievers. But there are lots of caveats to it. Will answer every question regarding this topic in this guide.

Let’s start with the following question:

Are oranges safe for golden retrievers?

Are oranges safe for golden retrievers? Yes! Golden retrievers are safe to eat oranges. Oranges are one of the healthiest dog treats you can give to your golden retriever. However, it’s important to introduce orange to your golden retriever slowly.

It is best not to feed your golden retriever too much orange at once. Giving a small amount initially is ideal when introducing the orange to your golden retriever.

If you notice that your golden retriever has a food intolerance or allergic reaction to orange, stop feeding them and talk to your vet immediately. If you’re still uncertain about whether your golden retriever should eat oranges, we recommend consulting with a veterinarian before making any dietary changes.

What types of oranges can a golden retriever eat?

If you’re going to share your oranges with your golden retriever, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

First, if you’re going to be giving your orange-loving pet pieces of fruit, make sure you stick with the seedless varieties. Otherwise, you need to be sure to remove the seeds inside the fruit along with the pulp and membrane before offering it to them (because those things can choke and sicken your dog).

The most common seedless variety of orange is the navel orange. When choosing the best oranges for your furry friend, pick ones that are firm and plump and have a smooth skin. Make sure they don’t have bruises and aren’t shriveled or soft.

Once you have your oranges selected, peel them carefully (you’ll want to remove all the white pith from the fruit because it’s bitter and hard for dogs to digest), then slice them into small sections and remove any seeds or membranes.

You don’t want to give your dog too many slices of oranges as they contain sugar, which may cause digestive problems in large amounts. As long as you’re cautious about how many slices your dog gets each day (only 1-2 slices per day), they should be fine.

Benefits of orange in golden retrievers

The benefits of feeding orange to your dog

Many people know oranges are packed with nutrients, but did you also know they can be great for your dog?

Oranges offer several benefits when fed to your furry friend, including:

Fiber: Oranges are a good source of fiber, which helps keep the digestive system healthy and running smoothly. Fiber not only improves overall digestion, it can also help ease constipation and diarrhea. Also, fiber may even help prevent certain types of colon cancer.

Potassium: Oranges are a good source of potassium which helps support heart health by regulating blood pressure and heart rate. Potassium also helps muscles contract properly and controls the pH balance in your golden retriever’s body.

Vitamin C: Oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, which supports the immune system in dogs and humans. While dogs produce vitamin C naturally, this nutrient does not remain in the body for very long. Feeding your dog oranges can help them maintain their natural levels of vitamin C.

Moisture: Oranges contain about 86 percent moisture, making them an excellent snack for golden retrievers who need extra fluids in their diet for any reason (i.e., illness or hot weather).

Do all golden retrievers like oranges?

Unfortunately, no, your golden retrievers may not like oranges. Just as people have different food preferences, so do dogs—and your golden retriever may prefer to stick with the foods they already enjoy. However, if you want to try introducing a new food, such as an orange, be sure to talk to your veterinarian first before giving it a go.

Golden retrievers have different food preferences just like humans do—and one of those preferences is whether they like the taste of oranges. If your dog does not like oranges, this is completely normal and nothing to be concerned about.

You can try feeding them other fruits that are safe for dogs such as bananas and apples; however, it’s always best practice before introducing any new foods (even fruits) into your furry friend’s diet to consult with a vet first. This way you can ensure there won’t be any adverse reactions from anything unusual being eaten on their behalf.

Can my golden retrievers have oranges every day?

There’s no rule on how often golden retrievers can eat orange. If they like it, it’s fine to give them the recommended amount every day. But we recommend you to vary the treats because your golden retrievers can get bored with orange.

Also, different treats contain different amounts of calories and other nutrients. As a result, over-feeding on treats is also a concern. The safest way to feed your dog is by following the feeding instructions on the treat packaging or by asking your vet for advice.

Can golden retrievers’ puppies eat oranges?

Golden retrievers’ puppies can eat oranges, but they shouldn’t.

Oranges have a high sugar content and puppies have a delicate digestive system so we recommend you follow a strict diet during the first few months. A puppy should be on a specialized puppy diet for the first weeks till months 5-6 or until their adult teeth come in.

This is because their digestive system is still developing and sudden changes that could lead to diarrhea or other stomach ailments can harm it.

Oranges are also high in vitamin C which helps strengthen your immune system, but an excess of vitamin C can lead to kidney stones and even kidney disease. It has also been linked to arthritis which is common in large breeds such as golden retrievers.

If you want to give your Goldie pup some citrus flavor, you can add orange slices to their water to make it more enticing for them to drink.

You could also give them orange essential oil (diluted) on their food, or get pet-safe orange extract from a health food store (make sure not to get any with artificial flavors).

How many oranges can golden retrievers eat?

It is a common question among dog owners and even veterinarian. There is no simple answer for this question. A lot of factors can determine how many oranges your golden retrievers can eat safely.

Let’s discuss below some factors that will determine how many oranges your golden retrievers can eat:

Factors that will determine how many oranges golden retrievers can eat

Size of the dog

A small golden retrievers will eat a less orange than a large-sized dog. A small golden retrievers can have 2 sections of an orange while a large-sized dog can have 4 sections.

Healthy or not

A healthy golden retriever will eat more oranges than not so healthy golden retriever. If your golden retriever has any condition, it is best to consult with your vet first before feeding it any orange.

Weight of the Golden Retriever

If your golden retriever is overweight, monitor its diet closely including the number of oranges it eats daily. You should weigh it weekly and make sure that it does not gain or lose weight too fast. If you have questions regarding its weight, consult with your vet immediately.

Whatever amount is appropriate for your pooch, always follow‌ the rule. Your golden retrievers need a complete balanced diet. All treats combinedly should not be over 10% of the total diet.

How should I introduce oranges to my golden retrievers?

If you’re thinking about trying to serve oranges to your golden retrievers, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, you should always take things slow. “Try feeding a single section to see his reaction,” recommends Dr. Ravi Uppal, DVM. And remember: Just because you—and most other humans—like citrus fruits doesn’t mean that your golden retriever will like them, too.

“Some golden retrievers don’t like citrus as these fruits have a bitter flavor,” says Dr. Uppal. “Also, citrus fruit has a lot of acid in it, and this can cause diarrhea or vomiting in golden retrievers.”

If you decide to try serving oranges to your golden retriever, start with one orange section a day and wait to see how he reacts. If you don’t see any signs of side effects (diarrhea or vomiting), then it’s fine to continue feeding him an orange section each day.

How to serve oranges to your golden retrievers?

Oranges are a great source of vitamin C, and they’re so sweet and delicious that many dogs love them. However, before you go tossing oranges to your pup, there are several things you’ll want to consider.

1. First, talk to your vet about if it’s okay for your dog to eat oranges. They might have specific dietary requirements for your dog’s health.

2. If your vet says yes, make sure the oranges you buy are organic and grown without pesticides or other chemicals that could harm your pet.

3. Clean the oranges thoroughly with water before handling them so you don’t introduce bacteria into your home by touching the orange then handling food.

4. You can feed peeled, seeded sections by hand to golden retrievers as a sweet treat.

5. We suggest stuffing a peeled, seeded section into a Kong toy (remember to wash well before and after), or chop peeled, seeded sections and use in homemade dog treats.

When are oranges bad for golden retrievers?

Oranges, in a small amount, can be good for your golden retriever. However, there are some circumstances where you should avoid feeding oranges to your golden retriever.

There are some health conditions that will make it unsafe for your golden retriever to eat oranges. If your golden retriever has allergy problems, eating oranges can cause him or her to have serious allergic reactions. This can even lead to anaphylaxis in the worst cases.

If you feed too much of orange to your golden retrievers, it can also cause vomiting and diarrhea. Oranges are high in sugar–so if golden retrievers that are overweight need to avoid oranges. The same goes for diabetic golden retrievers–they should absolutely not eat oranges. The sugar can cause spikes in golden retrievers’ insulin levels.

The seeds of oranges can cause choking hazard, and the rinds of oranges can cause intestinal blockage. That’s why it’s important that you remove the seeds and rinds before offering them as a treat for your dog.

Orange and other citrus foods are too acidic, so overfeeding can cause gastric irritation or stomach ulcers.

What happens when your golden retrievers eat too many oranges?

If your golden retriever loves oranges, you’re probably already aware of the fact that they can’t get enough of the stuff. Some owners even say that their dogs love it more than they do—which is saying a lot, since orange sales are up 8% this year.

But what happens if your dog eats too much orange? Here’s what we know:

Elevated blood sugar levels: Your dog will experience a sugar rush, which may lead to hyperactivity and trouble focusing

Foul breath: It’s not just sugar that can make your pup’s breath smell bad—it’s all those citric acid crystals, too.

Stomach issues: Oranges have lots of fiber, which is great for humans who need help to stay regular—but it can cause some gastrointestinal distress in your dog.

Vitamin C overdose: Too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration in dogs.

What to do if your golden retrievers eat too many oranges?

We all know that oranges are very healthy and a good source of vitamins. However, too much of anything is not good. We would like to share a few tips on what you can do to help your golden retrievers if they ate too many oranges.

Get any remains of orange away from your golden retrievers

Once you notice that your golden retrievers have eaten too many oranges, quickly get all the remains of the orange away from them. This will prevent them from accidentally eating more and more oranges in case you are not around.

Don’t panic

Your golden retriever is most likely going to be fine. Try not to panic as this will only make the situation worse for you and also for your golden retrievers themselves as they can sense your emotion and will be confused by your actions. Instead, take deep breaths and relax yourself before taking any necessary actions.

Monitor if your golden retrievers showing any abnormal sign

Keep an eye out if your golden retrievers show any abnormal signs after they have eaten too many oranges such as vomiting or having difficulty breathing or walking. If so, contact your vet immediately for further advice.

Can my golden retriever eat orange peels?

Though oranges are safe for your dog to eat, the peel, pith and seeds are not.

The white film on the inside of the orange’s flesh is also toxic to dogs. It contains a substance called psoralen. This can cause skin irritation and melanoma in dogs.

When feeding your golden retriever oranges, only give them the fleshy fruit, minus any seeds and pith. This is because the seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can be toxic to dogs, and even fatal in large quantities.

The same goes for orange peels, as they also contain this toxin besides being high in fiber, meaning they can cause blockages in dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Can golden retrievers drink orange juice?

No. In fact, we don’t recommend that you give your golden retriever any citrus fruit or juices. Golden retrievers have a much higher acid content than humans, so the acidity of orange juice can be extremely harmful to them.

If you love to drink orange juice, it may tempt to share with your golden retrievers, but they really just don’t need it. Water is the best way to keep your pups hydrated and healthy.

Is the Vitamin C in oranges necessary for golden retriever?

Golden retrievers can produce ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) naturally within their bodies. They don’t need a dietary source of Vitamin C, so feeding them oranges may not be necessary particularly for obtaining Vitamin C. However, a little extra Vitamin C won’t harm your golden retriever.

While dogs can produce their own vitamin C through internal processes, certain conditions may warrant additional supplementation. These include liver disease, chronic inflammation, or old age—when it may be more difficult for dogs to produce vitamin C efficiently within their bodies.

Find out if your golden retrievers can eat other treats

So, can golden retrievers eat oranges?

Yes, golden retrievers can eat oranges. Oranges are rich in fiber and vitamin C, making it an excellent treat for golden retrievers. However, it is important to make sure that the orange is seedless, peel-free and pulp-free. If your golden retriever eats a whole orange with the peel or seeds, it might cause a stomach upset. Also, as with most fruits, feed oranges to dogs in moderation.