Every dog owner has gone through the instance of googling “is mango safe for my dog?”, or what we can and can’t feed our dogs when it comes to “human” food. And to the surprise of many, the list is much longer than we thought, and why wouldn’t it? Should only humans get to eat delicious and nutritious food? At LOONAWELL, we clearly know that the answer to that is NO! Our doggies also deserve tasty and healthy food.
So, since it’s a new year, what about learning some of the benefits of different fruits and vegetables we can give our dogs as healthy snacks? We know there’s lots of information out there which can sometimes be overwhelming, so we’ll help you out! We’ve screened the most meaningful scientific and business-related sources out there and provided a digest of all the most important facts to keep in mind.
Today we’ll start with Mango!
This fresh, flavorful and sometimes (for some) even exotic fruit is loaded with nutritional benefits for both humans and pups. Just like apples, blueberries and bananas, mango is another great fruit to share with your dog at any place and time!
Now, What do we know about Mangos?
We know that it's as simple as going to the local market and buying some fresh sweet mangos, however this fruit is produced by the tropical tree Mangifera Indica that has been cultivated in South and Southeast Asia since ancient times. In 2019 alone, over 55 million tonnes of mangos were produced in different cultivars across the globe.
Now, the answer we’ve all been waiting for; Is Mango safe for my dog?
YES! Not only safe, but mango fruit can provide a variety of health benefits due to its significantly high nutritional content. What is this nutritional content specifically?
-Vitamins: Mangos contain high levels of Vitamin C (acts as an antioxidant, essential for vascular and eye health), Vitamin B6 (relevant for the body’s production of glucose and the correct functioning of the nervous system and red blood cells. B6 is also good for hormone regulation and immune system response) and Vitamin E (a natural antioxidant that helps to maintain the stability of cell membranes).
-Amino Acids: the major amino acids contained in mangos include lysine, cysteine valine, arginine, phenylalanine and methionine, 5 of which are also called essential amino acids as dogs can’t produce them and therefore need to obtain them from a food source.
-Minerals: Mangos are also a great source of important minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc, Copper and Manganese, altogether involved in key processes of the body such as bone development and healthy nervous and immune systems.
Should I take any precautions when feeding mango to my dog?
Yes! There are 4 important aspects you should always take into account:
-Be careful with sugar! Like any other fruit, it should be given to dogs in moderation, as you would a treat. Fruits are healthy, but also contain lots of sugar, which in excess can prove harmful to your dog.
-Never feed your dog the peel (hard to digest) or the pit (a serious choking hazard and can also be toxic if ingested) of the mango.
-Avoid commercial dried mango as well as mango yogurt as these will probably have a high amount of sugar, preservatives and other ingredients that might be toxic for your pup.
-Cut the mango into small pieces as treats to avoid choking.
On my dog's food and treat labels it says that it contains mango pomace (or fruit pomace). Are mango and mango pomace the same?
You should beware because mango and mango pomace are two very different things. When you find “mango” on the list of ingredients of a dog’s food or treat label, it refers to the entire mango which means that fresh pulp (where you find all the vitamins, minerals and amino acids) has been used to make that food or treat.
However, if you find the word “pomace” on that ingredient list, then no fresh pulp has been used. Pomace (from mango, apple or any other fruit) is a word used to describe what is left of those fruits after processing them for human nutrition products (such as juices, frozen fruits, etc).
Pomace is usually made of peels, pits, and all the remains of the fruit. It is generally high in fiber, but the main nutritional components of the fruits are gone or have been degraded during the manufacturing process of the pomace itself.
How does LOONAWELL incorporate Mango in their treats?
AT LOONAWELL, we only use fresh, whole fruits and vegetables to make our organic dog biscuits. Our fridges and freezers are pretty much like the ones at home, only bigger!
In our Salmon Delight newly launched treats we use mango for 2 main reasons: 1- For its nutritional contribution to the final product, but also 2- for its freshness and flavor profile that we believe combines well with Salmon and its other ingredients.
What is the best way to give mango to my dog ?
FRESH! Nowadays, since mangos are produced in different continents, we can find fresh mangos in the supermarket almost all year long. Peel the mango, just like you would prepare it for yourself, cut it in small pieces and share some with your doggie.
Sharing healthy food with your dog can be a special moment of bonding.
Now it’s your turn!
So, now that you know it's fairly easy to give your dog a healthy treat, there’s really no excuse! Let’s set a goal this week to give our pups one healthy treat a day, what do you say?
But a mango or other fruit is not the only way of sharing, if you also want to add other nutritional components, LOONAWELL’s new natural dog treats Salmon Delight is the way to go!
Our pup’s health is our main priority, and at LOONAWELL we strive to make your life a little bit easier by taking good care of your beloved pet with human-grade quality treats!
Salmon Delight Organic Baked Dog Treats
CHF. 16.20
These easily digestible dog treats contain omega-3 fatty acids, from the organic salmon, to support your dog’s healthy immune system. The mango, lemon and capers, together with the remaining ingredients, bring a variety of vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids, essential for… Read More
