Most dogs don’t enjoy hot days, and therefore responsible dog owners are always searching for ways to comfort their four-legged friends on those hot summer days. Fortunately, this world is full of fun and tasty ways to help dog owners take care of their dogs and keep them cool and calm. You can feed your pooch a variety of fruits and vegetables to protect him from overheating ad any case of dehydration. These fruits and veggies include watermelons, Pineapples, and even Pumpkin. But probably the most effective veggie in your fight against Dehydration is Cucumber. This wonder veggie is full of health benefits and is excellent for our canine friends.
Despite all the advantages of feeding cucumbers to dogs, most owners try to keep their dogs away from cucumbers. We have composed the following article to answer all our readers’ questions regarding cucumbers, such as “Can dogs eat Cucumbers?”. By reading the following blog post, you will be able to understand all the health benefits that cucumbers have to offer for our dogs. This article will also answer queries like “Can dogs eat Cucumber seeds?” and “Can dogs eat cucumber skin?”
Health benefits of cucumber
As mentioned above, cucumber is full of health benefits for our dogs, and therefore we should feed cucumbers to our canines. But don’t take our words for that as we have provided a detailed account of all the health benefits of Cucumbers below.
Cucumbers include a variety of components that are beneficial for our four-legged best friends. These components are as follows
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B5
- Vitamin B6
- Molybdenum
- Potassium
- Manganese
- Copper
- Biotin
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble protein that is present in three primary forms. Vitamin K1 is the most commonly found form of Vitamin K as it is present in plants. Vitamin K1 is also referred to as Phylloquinone. Vitamin K2 is another form in which Vitamin K can be found and is called Menaquinone; this vitamin is manufactured by gut bacteria present in the gut on animals, including dogs. There is also an artificially synthesized version of Vitamin K, which is termed Vitamin K3 or Menadione.
Functions of Vitamin K
Vitamin K is responsible for performing and regulating a lot of functions in your dog’s body. Some of them are mentioned below to give our valued readers a better understanding of the importance of Vitamin K for dogs.
- Help boost the health of Heart muscles
- Vitamin K also helps in removing excess calcium ions from arteries
- Vitamin K plays an integral role in the blood clotting process
Of all the functions mentioned above of Vitamin K, its role in the blood clotting process is the most noteworthy, and therefore we have described it in great detail below.
The role of Vitamin K in clotting
Dogs are pretty active animals, and therefore they are always eager to play around, chew stuff, and jump all over the house. These might look like extremely adorable habits, and no doubt they are. Still, this overactivity also makes our canines more susceptible to getting injured, and these injuries can often result in bleeding. This bleeding can be extremely dangerous for our pooches as too much bleeding can drastically reduce the oxygen and nourishment level of the body, and all this can cause our dogs to collapse completely. Fortunately, all mammals, including dogs, have a natural way to prevent too much blood loss. The blood has a remarkable capability of clotting itself to prevent further blood loss. This attribute of blood prevents dogs from losing too much blood and, therefore, saves countless lives every year.
The reason for mammalian blood having this characteristic is the presence of several proteins responsible for clotting the blood. These clotting proteins are better known as Coagulation Factors. These coagulation proteins work with the platelets already present in the blood to complete the blood’s clotting process.
Now you must be thinking, where does Vitamin K lie in all this process. If you were thinking about the same thing, then we are here to tell you that a total of thirteen coagulation factors are present in the bloodstream, and four out of those thirteen factors require Vitamin K for their production and activation. In other words, one-third of the entire mechanism responsible for clotting the blood depends upon the presence of Vitamin K in the body; This shows the importance of ensuring that your pooch is getting the required amounts of Vitamin K from his diet. And one of the best sources of Vitamin K is Cucumbers, and therefore, Owners must feed cucumbers to their canine best friends without having any doubts regarding them.
The above statements about the importance of Vitamin K also answer, ” Can dogs eat cucumbers? “.
Role of Vitamin C in dogs and why it’s essential for our pooches.
Vitamin C is a vitamin that is found abundantly in nature in the form of Watermelon, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and even Cucumbers. In Humans, Vitamin C is referred to as an essential vitamin as we humans cannot produce Vitamin C on our own. Therefore, we require supplements to fulfill our Vitamin C needs. But our four-legged best friends don’t face a similar situation as their bodies can produce this critical vitamin independently. Therefore, Vitamin C is not referred to as an essential vitamin when it comes to dogs.
But all of this doesn’t mean that we should start assuming that dogs don’t need vitamin C supplements at all. Dogs used to strenuous exercise and dogs used for herding or tracking can often find themselves low on Vitamin C due to their hard work. In such a case, dog owners have to supply their canines with Vitamin C supplements. Otherwise, all the essential functions performed by Vitamin C in your dog’s body may come to a halt, and this can cause several medical problems.
Following is a brief account of all the important functions performed by Vitamin C in your dog’s body
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are vital chemical compounds and are needed for the safety of your dog. These chemical agents work against the harmful capabilities of Radical oxygen present in your dog’s system. Radical oxygen is just a by-product of respiration, but it can be dangerous for our dogs. Oxygen radicals are oxygen atoms that are deficient in one electron, and therefore they are quick to react with other compounds to fill their need for a free electron. These antioxidants fill their electronic configuration by reacting with various organs of the body, and in turn, they cause disintegration of the organ at a cellular level. All this drastically reduces the lifespan of the organ in question, leading to organ damage in the future.
That’s why antioxidants are so vital for the well-being of your dog, as these chemical agents react with oxidants in place of an organ. In this way, they protect organs from all the harmful effects of oxidants such as oxygen radicals.
Scurvy and other such diseases
If you ever decided to become a pirate by getting impressed by series such as Pirates of The Caribbean and One Piece, then you must know what we are talking about. Scurvy is a disease that was pretty common amongst the pirates due to the lack of any Citrus in their diet. This caused severe Vitamin C deficiency in pirates and made them susceptible to diseases such as Scurvy, which is characterized by loss of any connectedness between various body parts. This disease can also be caused in dogs. Therefore, owners must feed their dogs rich sources of Vitamin C such as cucumbers to supplement the Vitamin C that is naturally being produced in their bodies.
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B is another essential vitamin that our four-legged best friends are unable to produce on their own, and that’s why they rely on their meals to meet their Vitamin B needs. Vitamin B performs a wide range of functions in dogs, and they can range anywhere from Tooth care to providing our dogs with energy and strengthening their immune systems. Following is a detailed description of all variants of vitamin B present in cucumbers so that owners can know about all the health benefits of feeding cucumbers to their canines. It will also help in answering the age-old question of “Can dogs eat cucumbers?”
Functions of Vitamin B1 in dogs
Like all the other members of the Vitamin B family, Vitamin B1 is also a water-soluble vitamin involved in various chemical reactions that take part in animal bodies, including dogs. Vitamin B1 is chemically referred to as Thiamine. Thiamine is also termed as “Moral Vitamin” due to its integral role in promoting excellent cardiac health and boosting the functioning of the Central Nervous System.
Also known as the Anti-stress hormone, Vitamin B1 or Thiamine is also characterized by having a stress-reducing effect. This way, it enables your dog to be able to bear high amounts of stress with ease. Vitamin B1 also helps canines to feel and to express their emotions in a better manner. Vitamin B1 is also known to have positive and boosting effects on the learning process of your pooch. Vitamin B1 strengthens the connection between the nerve cells, and through this, Thiamine helps our dogs learn new things easily and quickly.
Vitamin B1 also plays a role in ensuring good Heart condition. Various research have established a direct link between consuming food rich in Thiamine and having a healthy and well-functioning heart. Consumption of Vitamin B1 can also protect your dog from various heart conditions as it’s reported to reduce the risk of cardiac diseases like Heart block, heart stroke, and even heart attacks.
Vitamin B1 is also quite essential in the breakdown of complex organic compounds like Carbohydrates and fats. These organic compounds are used as instant sources of energy by animal bodies, and therefore the role of Vitamin B1 in the production of energy is quite important.
Above are all the critical reasons why dog owners must make sure that their canine’s diet is full of Vitamin B1, and what better way to ensure that than feeding cucumbers to your dogs.
Role of Biotin in Dogs
Another essential nutrient that cucumbers are full of is Biotin. Biotin is essentially a variant of the water-soluble Vitamin B and is also known as Vitamin B7. This makes Biotin a part of the Vitamin B complex.
Show quality Fur
This essential vitamin is sometimes called Vitamin H and is vital for ensuring excellent coat and hair quality in dogs. Vitamin is characterized by having the capability to boost keratin production in animals. Keratin is a protein that acts as the building block of hairs and nails. Therefore, if you want your pooch to show quality fur and hairs, then it’s better to supply your dog with Biotin supplements. This will boost the production of new hair follicles and heal any damage in already present hair follicles.
Role in Blood sugar regulation
Biotin or Vitamin B7 is crucial in regulating blood glucose levels as this protein is required to break down complex organic compounds such as fats and carbohydrates. Without the presence of Biotin in the required amounts, the process of breaking down carbohydrates and fats into simpler sugars such as Glucose can’t take place. This can result in low levels of blood sugar or hypoglycemia, which can lead to organs failing to work due to the reduced amounts of energy they receive. Low blood sugar levels can contribute to causing complete organ damage in dogs, and therefore we recommend dog owners maintain their biotin levels by feeding them Cucumbers daily. Following are some common symptoms of Hypoglycemia in dogs
- Extreme Lethargy
- Muscle twitching
- Loss of Appetite
- Blindness
- Trembling
- Loss of coordination between body parts
- Unusual behavior
- Unconsciousness
Role of Potassium in the well-being of Dogs
Another thing to keep in a note while wondering about the question “Can dogs eat Cucumbers” is that cucumbers are loaded with Potassium. Potassium plays a significant role in a long list of essential functions taking place in dogs’ bodies. And therefore, deficiency of Potassium can have adverse effects on the well-being of your dog. Therefore, we urge dog owners to supplement their dog’s meal with Potassium to avoid any unwanted outcomes. Following are the critical areas where Potassium plays a key role.
Strengthening the Nervous System
The nervous system uses nerve impulses to carry our orders from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body, and one crucial mineral required to produce these nerve impulses is Potassium. Nerve impulses are currents of electricity, and potassium ions act as the carrier of these nerve impulses from one neuron to another. Without the presence of Potassium ions in the system in the required amounts, the transfer of nerve impulses throughout the body will slow down and can even come to a complete halt.
Muscle growth
Potassium also serves to boost muscle growth. Muscles grow in size when their muscle fibers are torn and replaced with stronger and thicker muscle fibers. The contraction and relaxation of muscles bring this wear and tear to muscle fibers. This contraction and relaxation are made possible by the free flow of nerve impulses throughout the body. And in this way, by promoting the free flow of nerve impulses, Potassium ions also contribute to boosting muscle growth in dogs.
Can dogs eat Cucumber skin?
Probably the most common question regarding feeding cucumbers to dogs is “Can dogs eat Cucumber skin?”. We are here to help our readers and answer this query once and for all. Our worthy readers must be aware that cucumber skin on its own is not dangerous for our four-legged best friends as cucumber skin is toxic less in nature, and they are also not hard as to cause difficulty in digestion.
There are various benefits of feeding cucumber skin to your pooch, as Cucumber skin is rich in fibers, which can help your dog digest his food. Fibers are vital for the normal functioning of the digestive system as they aid the process of digestion. Therefore, we recommend dog owners supplement their dog’s meal with fibers by feeding them cucumbers along with their skin. Another major reason for feeding cucumber skin to your pooch is the abundance of nutrients present in the cucumber skin. These extra nutrients can be highly beneficial for your canine best friend, and therefore you should not waste cucumber skins. All this must be enough information for our valued readers to answer the question of “Can dogs eat Cucumber skin?” on their own.
Harmful effects of feeding Cucumber skin to your dogs
We just told you about the benefits of the feeding of feeding cucumber skin to your dog, but the answer to the question of “Can dogs eat Cucumber skin?” can’t be complete without discussing all the harmful effects that cucumber skin can have on your dog.
Nowadays, a large selection of artificially produced chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are applied to crops to boost crop yield. This sounds perfect for farmers but consuming all these chemicals can’t be healthy in any world. Unfortunately, the outer skin of vegetables and fruits is the ones subjected to these chemicals the most, and therefore, they often absorb some of these toxic substances. The same can be said about cucumbers, as these chemicals cover cucumber skins. You might think that a thorough wash will be enough to get rid of these toxins, but you would be wrong as these toxins get absorbed by the cucumber skins. That’s why it’s also recommended to avoid feeding cucumber skins to your pooch, as feeding cucumber skins will be equivalent to feeding harmful chemicals to your dogs.
Now that our valued readers are fully equipped with all the information on cucumber skins, they will be able to analyze the situation and find their answer to the question of “Can dog eat Cucumber skin?”
Can dogs eat cucumber seeds?
So, you have read all we had to say about the benefits of feeding cucumber to dogs and are now pumped to try new and delicious ways to feed cucumber to your pooch, but suddenly a thought hits you. “What to do with cucumber seeds and Can dogs eat cucumber seeds? If this sounds like your present situation, then worry no more and fasten your seat belts as we are about to take you on an informative ride that will be able to answer serious questions like “Can dogs eat cucumber seeds?”
Unlike some other fruits and vegetables like Watermelons, Cucumber seeds are not toxic whatsoever. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about your dog developing any toxicity from eating cucumber seeds. Another common concern related to cucumber seeds is that they might be hard to digest and, therefore, might cause some blockage in the digestive tract. But fortunately, dog owners don’t have to worry about that either, as cucumber seeds are soft and easy to digest, and therefore there is no way that they might cause a blockage in the digestive tract.
Therefore, in our view, the answer to the question “Can dogs eat cucumber seeds?” is a resounding Yes.
In conclusion As an ending statement, we would like to tell our valued readers that it’s completely safe to feed their dogs cucumbers. Cucumbers are full of healthy nutrients that can be highly beneficial to their canine best friends. But this doesn’t mean that owners should not keep an eye on their dog’s cucumber consumption as overconsumption of anything can be bad for a canine’s health. Owners should also be especially focused on cucumber skins as these can cause digestion related problems.