Can dogs eat Kiwano melon?

Overview

Caution. Store bought Kiwano melon, also known as Horned melon, Jelly melon, or Spiked melon, is not known to be toxic to dogs. However, some bitter tasting varieties may contain compounds that could be harmful. This fruit also has many seeds, which can pose a choking hazard and are difficult to remove, making it a risky option for dogs.

Benefits

Kiwano melon contains essential vitamins and minerals that promote good health, including vitamin C, vitamin B, zinc, lutein, and folic acid. It also has high fiber content, which is beneficial to dogs’ digestive systems.
Kiwano is rich in antioxidants that help protect against cell damage.
Kiwano melon is not high in sugar. It has a low glycemic index, which means it will not cause a spike in blood sugar in diabetic dogs.

Risks

Some varieties of kiwano melons have a bitter taste, which can be toxic to dogs and other mammals.
Kiwano melons have many seeds, and it is very challenging to deseed the fruit.
The rind and seeds of kiwano melons are not known to be toxic to dogs; however, they can be a choking hazard.
Kiwano melon tastes similar to cantaloupe when ripe. Although some dogs love to eat cantaloupe, they may not like the bitter taste of kiwano.

Servings

Most store-bought kiwano melons are not known to be toxic to dogs; however, considering all the potential risks, it is better to be on the safe side and not feed horned melon to your dog.