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Jackfruit is one of the ubiquitous fruits growing in the bountiful landscapes of Asia. It is extensively recognized as “vegetable meat” due to its meaty texture and delicious taste.
When jackfruit grows, it develops immensely into a large, thick-trunk tree, whose unripe fruits are covered in hard lumpy bumps of prickly thorns.
Moreover, jackfruit is indeed a “jack of all trades” since its varieties can be put into multiple-use, such that it can be eaten raw, cooked, canned, candied, and dried.
However, one question remains unanswered: does this jack of all fruits form part of a dog’s diet?
Oh, you have a quick guess now. But we suggest keeping it first as this article reveals whether or not jackfruit is best for a dog’s diet and how you can best prepare this fruit for dog feeding.
What is Jackfruit?
A famous fruit in South Asia, Jackfruit has become very popular in Western countries like the United States and Canada.
While it is not as common as apples or oranges, jackfruit has a unique taste that makes it a great healthy substitute for other fruits like bananas and mangos.
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Jackfruits are thick, large, and spiky and are often called the “king of fruits.” It has a lump of yellow meat inside and a hard outer shell.
Jackfruit has a strong smell and taste, with some describing it as being comparable to juicy fruit gum.
Jackfruits are rich in vitamin A, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. In addition, they have no saturated fats or cholesterol making them great for dogs who need to lose weight while still wanting to eat something delicious.
Food family of jackfruit
Jackfruit belongs to the family food of the “Mulberry” — a food group that includes mulberries, breadfruits, and figs.
This particular group provides a high nutritional value and is considered an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, amino acids, and other healthy substances.
However, it should be noted that jackfruit belongs to the “soft” group in this family — a type of food with lower sugar content than those from the “hard” or acidic groups such as lemons and bananas.
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This can be beneficial in terms of preventing dental diseases — Jackfruit has been shown to help prevent cavities and reduce tartar build-up on the teeth.
Can dogs eat jackfruit?
Dogs can eat jackfruit. Yes, you can safely feed this fruit to them, especially when it comes to the variety that is canned or frozen.
However, some precautions should be taken when giving this fruit.
First, when digested and consumed by your dog, the jackfruit seeds can contribute to intestinal blockages and several cases of obstructions.
Second, not all dogs are suitable for this fruit since it has been considered a “laxative” for human consumption.
Lastly, it is best to feed a small amount of this fruit gradually.
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Nevertheless, the next section will suggest ways to achieve the best preparations in feeding your dogs with jackfruit.
Best Ways to Feed your Dogs with Jackfruit
Remove the seeds before feeding.
First and foremost, we highly recommend removing the seeds from the jackfruit before feeding it to your dogs.
This is because, as mentioned earlier, they can contribute to intestinal blockages and obstructions, which could be life-threatening for your dog.
We recommend using a sharp knife to cut through the fruit’s skin, then prying open carefully. Be careful when removing the large leaves that are attached to the core of this fruit.
You can then cut off the seeds by slicing them.
Create a Jackfruit shake
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You may prepare a jackfruit shake by combining it with your dog’s food. Then, mix the fruit with your dog’s regular meals, adding it gradually to avoid stomach upset.
If your dogs are not picky eaters, you can easily blend this fruit into their usual food using a hand mixer or blender.
Ensure that there is no added sugar when preparing this shake since these fruits have their sweetness.
Best Ways to Store Jackfruit
Jackfruits can be stored at room temperature for days, but keep them away from direct sunlight.
You better place this fruit in the refrigerator or freezer if you plan on keeping them for longer than a week.
This is because they may lose their freshness once exposed to warm temperatures and humidity.
Reasons Why Dogs Can Eat Jackfruit
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We stand for the reason that dogs can eat jackfruit. And to further support this cause, we list down several key factors:
Jackfruit has teeth-building properties.
As mentioned earlier, jackfruit contains dietary fiber, which can help promote healthy teeth.
This fruit also has vitamin A that is essential in promoting strong tooth enamel. At the same time, potassium prevents dental cavities, and magnesium makes sure tartar build-up doesn’t occur on a dog’s teeth.
Jackfruits are low-calorie
This fruit is one of the fruits that are low in calories. It also has a high amount of water content, making your dog feel complete even with small portions, thus making it an excellent food for dogs with weight problems such as obesity and overweight issues.
Jackfruit contains only 50 kcal per 100 grams, while some fruits contain 200 kcal/100 g serving.
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Jackfruit is low in sugar.
This fruit has a sweet taste, but it doesn’t have a high amount of sugars. Therefore, it can be said that jackfruit belongs to the “soft” group in this family — a type of food with lower sugar content than those from the “hard” or acidic groups such as lemons and bananas.
Jackfruit contains only about 12 grams of sugar per 100 g serving.
Possible Concerns When Eating Jackfruit
Yes, jackfruit may support your dog’s health. But in the long run, you also have to consider the possible concerns after your dog has eaten jackfruit.
Intestinal blockages
When you accidentally feed your dogs a lump of jackfruit meat with seed in it, it may result in intestinal blockages and obstructions.
So to avoid this, we recommend cutting the fruit first before feeding it to your dogs — by removing its seeds beforehand.
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Laxative effect
Jackfruit is considered a laxative for human consumption; thus, there are some cases where people experience diarrhea after eating this fruit.
Although it is not yet established if this fruit has the same effect on dogs, it is still best to avoid feeding too much of it.
Jackfruit may contain toxins and pesticides.
There are some cases where jackfruit seeds have been found with a compound called hypoglycin A which can be toxic for humans.
It’s also vital that you thoroughly wash or peel the fruit before feeding it to your dogs.
Jackfruit is not safe for puppies or seniors.
You shouldn’t feed jackfruits to young and senior dogs who are more susceptible to food poisoning.
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It also contains roughage which can cause digestive problems if fed too much, thus avoiding feeding this fruit (especially in large amounts) to dogs who already have existing digestive issues.
Signs your dog is sick from eating jackfruit
When your dog acts unusually from before, your dog may experience signs of sickness you don’t have to ignore.
So, we list down some signs for you to check from eating jackfruit:
Frequent vomiting
Most dogs who have eaten jackfruit may experience vomiting. If this happens, you better contact your vet as soon as possible to avoid any complications from occurring, such as dehydration or electrolyte imbalance — which can be fatal for dogs if not treated immediately on time.
Foul-smelling stool and diarrhea
If the first sign of sickness is frequent vomiting, you might also see your dog’s stool becoming watery and smelly.
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This is normal if the food has not yet been fully digested. However, this could be a serious health problem if accompanied by other signs such as losing appetite or dehydration, leading to further complications after consuming jackfruit.
Loss of appetite
Your dog may not eat his usual portion or even skip a meal, which can be very concerning for you — especially if this happens out of the blue.
If your dog refuses to eat and has other symptoms such as vomiting and loss of appetite, then best to call your vet immediately after consumption.
Drowsiness
If your dog is acting unusual and is drowsy, then you better take your dog to the vet immediately.
Sometimes it can be due to anemia if your pet has overeaten jackfruit with high calcium levels, which may not benefit his health in any way.
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What to do if your dog is sick from eating jackfruit?
Don’t have double thoughts when your dog is acting unusual. Your dog needs your help immediately.
So to make it easier for you, here are some steps on what to do if your dog is sick after eating jackfruit:
(1) Contact a veterinarian ASAP! If your pet just consumed jackfruit and has not yet shown signs of sickness — then don’t panic, as he can still recover from these episodes with proper treatments by veterinarians.
(2) Monitor your dog. If, by any chance, you see signs of sickness after consumption — monitor him and observe what he’s doing closely while waiting for the vet.
Make sure to note your dog’s behavior and bodily functions such as bowel movements, urination, and perspiration (panting).
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This will help vets in diagnosing the cause of the problem.
(3) Administer necessary treatments. For example, after the veterinarian has diagnosed your pet, he may give him medications to help ease vomiting and diarrhea so that he can recover fast.
He might also recommend some other treatment depending on what’s causing it, such as an allergy or poisoning from different substances such as jackfruit.
Avoid these similar foods from this family.
Blueberry
Blueberry provides antioxidants benefits to your dog, but only in moderation. You shouldn’t feed them this fruit too often or make it part of their daily food intake because blueberries also contain fructose which can be harmful to dogs if consumed excessively.
Avocado
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Although avocado has its health benefits, feeding this to your dog is not advised as it might trigger some digestive issues due to the high levels of the person.
Persin is a toxic substance found in avocados, so make sure that your pet will not eat this fruit even if you give him just one bite.
Macadamia Nut
This nut has its health benefits but only for human consumption — so keep your dog away from it.
Macadamia nuts can cause neurological problems for your pet, which is why it’s best not to feed them this fruit at all.
How to Make Jackfruit Safe To Eat
At this part, we are grateful that you’re taking a step towards a healthier diet plan. So now, we provide you efficient steps in preparing a safe jackfruit diet for your dog:
Serve jackfruit only as a treat.
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Remember that moderation is the key to a healthier diet plan. So instead of making it part of your dog’s daily food intake, you can serve jackfruit as a treat from time to time.
Avoid the seeds and skin.
Since parts of jackfruits are way thinner than the flesh itself — take extra care not to feed them this fruit in any form.
The seed is considered toxic due to high levels of cyanide, which can lead to poisoning. Plus, the seeds also contain phytates that may cause digestive problems.
Consult feeding with your vet
Before you start feeding jackfruit to your dog, you should consult with your vet for proper guidance.
This can help him give the right advice on what amount is safe and appropriate for consumption.
Key Takeaways
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Did you ever wonder where jackfruit got its name? No, it has no relation with Jack Sparrow, Jack from Titanic, or Jack that partners with Jill — it is the fruit extensively recognized as “vegetable meat” due to its meaty texture and delicious taste.
To recap, jackfruits have thick, large builds covered in hard lumpy bumps. Although this fruit is seen as rough from the outside, it lumps soft, gum-like meat inside.
Yes, dogs can eat jackfruit. However, to achieve a safe, serene feeding of jackfruit, you have to avoid the skin and seeds, serve only as a treat, and consult a table diet with your vet.
At times, your dog may manifest an allergic reaction after eating jackfruits, such as frequent vomiting, drowsiness, or loss of appetite.
And when signs of sickness show, you have to bring your dog to the nearest vet immediately.
In the end, jackfruit can look like a jack of all fruits. With proper food management, it can be called a jack of all fruits.