Can Dogs Eat Cuties Oranges and Mandarins? When it is or isn’t an Emergency

Citrus fruits like Cuties oranges, mandarins, tangerines, and clementine aren’t considered toxic to dogs but that doesn’t mean they are entirely safe for them either. There are a couple of health hazards these fruits could introduce to dogs, although the risk only tends to be high if a dog was to eat too many pieces of the oranges.

Why clementine and mandarin oranges are bad for dogs

Clementine, mandarin oranges, and tangerines could make dogs sick in a number of ways. First, these citrus fruits contain a high amount of natural sugar. Dogs that consume an excessive amount of sugar on a regular basis may suffer from a number of health issues like teeth decay and gastrointestinal upsets. Eating too many fruits like Cuties oranges also puts dogs at risk of developing long-term health problems like obesity.

The skin peels can also be hazardous to dogs, especially if they weren’t chewed into smaller pieces before getting swallowed. The mandarin and clementine peels can get lodged in the dog’s gastrointestinal tract and cause problems via obstruction.

Why these oranges are also good for dogs

The above, however, doesn’t mean these citrus fruits (along with others like nectarines) are entirely bad for dogs. It’s safe for most dogs to be given a small piece of mandarin orange or clementine every once in a while as long as it’s in moderation. These fruits are packed with nutrients like vitamin C, which plays an essential antioxidant role in the dog’s body.

As we stated before, make sure you only allow the dog to eat the flesh of the clementine or mandarin orange. Don’t let them eat the seeds and the skin peels.

What to do if your dog eats too many oranges

Did your silly dog eat some cuties oranges or clementine when you weren’t looking? An immediate trip to the emergency vet isn’t necessarily needed unless you think your dog ate a lot of mandarin or clementine oranges, or if your dog ate the skin peels that haven’t been cut into smaller pieces.

If your dog only took a small bite of the orange then we would suggest watching over him carefully for the next day or two in case of any adverse reaction. It’s possible for some dogs to show mild gastrointestinal symptoms like stomach upsets and watery stools. Other dogs may end up just fine without displaying any symptoms.

Want to learn more about what food and vegetables are safe or unsafe for dogs to eat? Our human food database has it covered with a list of 100+ human foods that dogs can and cannot eat.