Can dogs or cats eat papaya?
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Can dogs eat papaya?
Can your dog be a papaya connoisseur (a pup-aya, if you will)? Yep, it's safe for your four-legged friend to eat papaya in moderation.
Papayas are high in fibre and contain important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium, and folate. They also contain an enzyme called papain, which aids digestion by breaking down protein molecules. These benefits make Papaya a healthy addition to any dog's diet.
While Papaya isn't generally harmful to dogs in moderation, in large quantities it can cause gastrointestinal upset due to its high sugar content. In these cases, symptoms might include diarrhoea, vomiting, or stomach pain. You should only feed your dog papaya in small amounts, as an occasional treat.
As always, before introducing a new food item into your pet's diet, consult with your veterinarian first. If your dog eats papaya (or any food) and is showing signs of illness such as lethargy, diarrhoea, or vomiting, reach out to your veterinarian immediately. If they require veterinary care related to eating any unsafe foods, dog insurance can help cover the cost of treatment.
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Can cats eat papaya?
Papaya is a delectable tropical fruit loaded with tons of health benefits for humans and cats alike. So yes, papaya is safe for cats to eat – but only in moderate amounts.
Papayas are low in calories and high in vitamins A, C, and E, making them a healthy treat that can supplement your cat's diet. Papayas also contain an enzyme called papain, which helps digest protein quickly and efficiently. This makes it easier for cats to absorb nutrients from their food. In fact, some digestive enzymes found in cat foods come from papaya extracts.
Again, you should only feed your cat papaya in moderate amounts. Eating too much papaya can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhoea or vomiting; the fruit has high sugar content and fibre-like properties that may upset your cat's stomach in large quantities. But feeding your furry companion small amounts of ripe (fresh or dried) papaya once or twice a week can add nutritional value to their diet and keep them happy and purring.
Finally, just keep in mind that papaya should never be fed to your cat as a staple of their diet, or as a replacement for their regular cat food. As obligate carnivores, cats need to get most of their nutrients from meat-based foods.
As always, before introducing a new food item into your pet's diet, consult with your veterinarian first. If your cat eats papaya (or any food) and is showing signs of illness such as lethargy, diarrhoea, or vomiting, reach out to your veterinarian immediately. If they require veterinary care related to eating any unsafe foods, cat insurance can help cover the cost of treatment.
Can cats eat...
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Information purposes only
The suggestions offered here are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for pet-specific advice from your veterinarian. Never disregard your vet’s recommendations, or delay in acting on them, based on something you have read on this site. Regardless of how a food is rated here, any food that you give your pet can pose potential health risks, including allergic reactions, choking, or other health conditions such as bloat. Always monitor your pet while they’re eating, and never introduce a new food into your pet’s diet without first consulting your veterinarian.
Pet poison emergency protocol
If your pet is acting sick, call your regular veterinarian immediately. If your regular veterinarian is closed, call a nearby on-call veterinarian, animal urgent care, or veterinary emergency hospital. If your pet is not acting sick but you think they may have been exposed to a poison, call the Animal Poison Line (01202 50 9000).
Food safety statuses
Could be given almost daily without harm
Not toxic, but should not be given regularly
Toxic or simply too risky to give to your pet