Can Boston Terriers Eat Oranges? What You Need To Know


Have you been in a situation where your Boston Terrier had nabbed something off the ground before you had a chance to pick it up? Bella, my Boston, loves hovering around my two-year-old daughter just in case she drops some food so Bella can then sweep in like an eagle.

Emily and I have been in this situation several times, wondering, “Is that ok for Bella to eat?

Boston Terrier Eating Oranges. Is it safe for Boston Terriers to eat oranges.
Bella next to a bag of oranges in our kitchen.

Other times you might have noticed your Boston begging you for a piece of food, and you were unsure if it was safe.

Indeed, some fruits are not suitable for Boston Terriers. Fruits like grapes, cherries, and avocados contain compounds that are safe for human consumption, but toxic for your dog. 

Is it Ok for Boston Terriers to Eat Oranges?

Yes, in small amounts, oranges are safe for your Boston to eat. Oranges can provide health benefits to Bostons when eaten in moderation.

Keep reading to learn more…

STOP

Always consult your veterinarian for health-related questions. If you feel your dog has eaten something they shouldn’t have, here is the number to Animal Poison Control.

(888) 426 – 4435

If you want to visit the Animal Poison Control website here is their link, Animal Poison Control. This service is run by the American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals.

How Many Oranges Should You Feed Your Dog?

According to Stephanie Liff, DVM with the Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Hospital, smaller dogs should have between 1/4 to 1/3 of a whole moderate-sized orange. Larger dogs can eat an entire one.

According to Anna Burke, with the American Kennel Club, a dog should eat no more than 10% of its daily calorie intake from oranges. So how many oranges is this? 

Pet Nutrition Alliance says Bella my Boston needs about 568 calories per day based on her weight. This would essentially mean, according to Anna, that Bella can eat no more than one small orange at 45 calories.

Want To Know How Many Calories Your Boston Needs In A Day?

Here is a nifty calorie calculator for dogs from Pet Nutrition Alliance, Dog Calorie Calculator.

Health Benefits Of Boston Terriers Eating Oranges

As you may know, vitamin C (a vitamin found in high amounts in oranges), is essential to human health. Your Boston could benefit from vitamin C as well. 

According to Dr. Ken Tudor Vitamin C can help protect against damage from free radicals, which can cause cancer in the body. Also, he mentions vitamin C can help with dementia, heart disease, and asthma.

Also, according to the Whole Dog Journal, holistic veterinarians prescribe vitamin C routinely for kennel cough and other respiratory infections, abscesses, and other bacterial infections.  

Does Your Boston Terrier Need Vitamin C?

Your Boston naturally makes vitamin C in her liver. Unlike humans who must consume vitamin C to prevent scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C in one’s diet.  Boston Terrier, like all dogs, does not need to consume vitamin C.

However, a lot of stress or exercise can slow there vitamin C process down. A few bites of an orange could provide some extra vitamin C.

How Much Vitamin C Is In An Orange?

According to WebMD, one medium-sized orange amounts to about 70 milligrams of vitamin C. To put this in perspective. Your dog naturally makes about 18 milligrams per pound of body weight per day.

There are better sources of vitamin C than in oranges. If you are giving your Boston Terrier oranges to provide them with a vitamin C boost, be sure to consult with your veterinarian. Your vet will be able to consult you with what you need to do to add vitamin C to your Boston’s diet.

Boston Terrier Vitamin C Production

WeightVitamin C Produced Per Day
10180 milligrams
12216 milligrams
14252 milligrams
16288 milligrams
18324 milligrams
20360 milligrams
22396 milligrams
24432 milligrams
26468 milligrams

Other nutrients Oranges Supply

  • Vitamin B1 — Important nutrient for nerve health and metabolism.
  • Folate — Needed for growth and cell regeneration.
  • Potassium — Potassium is needed for good heart health and digestion, as well as proper muscle and kidney function.
  • Fiber — Just like in humans, fiber helps your Boston’s digestive tract.
Boston Terrier Society Oranges

Health Hazards of Eating Oranges for Boston Terriers

Unlike fruits such as grapes, oranges do not contain substances that are inherently toxic to Boston Terriers. However, oranges can cause Bostons some health problems if you aren’t mindful.

The orange’s high sugar content could cause several issues. If you feed your Boston too much orange at once, she may experience an upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting. In the long term, excessive consumption of sugar can cause teeth issues and possibly make her overweight.

If your Boston has diabetes, you may want to avoid oranges entirely due to the high sugar levels.

If you do feed her oranges, stick with the fruit portion. Her digestive system cannot easily break down the rinds and seeds; her consumption of these parts of the orange can cause gastrointestinal problems.

Oranges And Kidney Stones

The normal metabolic breakdown of vitamin C produces urinary oxalate. Oxalate is a natural occurrence in the body and is flushed out through urine.

However, a build-up of oxalate can combine with calcium to form kidney stones. 

This breakdown is normally not an issue for most dog breeds but it does affect Miniature Schnauzers. If you are feeding your Boston anything other than its normal food on a regular basis, be sure to consult your veterinarian.

Tips for Getting Your Boston to Eat Oranges

Despite your best efforts to feed your Boston some of this nutritious fruit, she might not take a liking to it. Try some of these tips to get her to love oranges.

  1. If she loves other fruits that are ok for canine consumption, make her a small fruit salad! Mix in apples, bananas, blueberries, and other healthy fruits.
  2. When it’s hot outside, slice up an orange and stick the slices in the freezer. Feed your Boston a slice for a delicious, refreshing treat.
  3. Bake homemade dog treats using orange juice and/or orange zest as some of the ingredients.

Here Is A Dog Treat Recipe With Oranges In It

This great recipe is from The Honest Kitchen; it is called Orange Pro Bloom Dog Treats. Here are the ingredients for the dog treat. If you think your Boston would enjoy it, check out the directions here, The Honest Kitchen Dog Treat Recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 Orange
  • Goat’s Milk
  • Spelt Flour
  • Pumpkin Seeds
  • Out Flour
  • 1 Egg
  • Honey
  • Vanilla Extract

What Other Fruits Can Boston Terriers Eat?

Your Boston can eat many fruits besides oranges. Many of these fruits provide her with various health benefits but be sure to prepare them properly.

  • Apples — Provides vitamins A and C, as well as fiber. Remove the core and seeds first. Try serving them as slices!
  • Bananas — Provides potassium, biotin, fiber, and vitamins C and B6. High in sugar, so use in moderation.
  • Blueberries — Contain a ton of antioxidants and some vitamins, as well as fiber. 
  • Cantaloupe — Several vitamins, as well as beta-carotene. Feed in moderation.
  • Mangos — Mangos contain both alpha- and beta- carotene, as well as vitamins A, B6, C, and E. Remove the pit first and only feed these to your Boston occasionally, as they are high in sugar.
  • Peaches — Contain vitamin A and fiber, and can aid in fighting infections. As always, remove the pit first! Also, avoid canned peaches.
  • Pears — These have vitamins A and C, as well as copper and fiber. Remove the pit and seeds and cut into bite-size chunks. Avoid canned pears.
  • Pineapple — Has the enzyme bromelain (aids dogs in digesting proteins) as well as several vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Remove the peel and crown, of course.
  • Raspberries — Lots of antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber, and manganese. Raspberries can help reduce inflammation. Limit your Boston’s raspberry consumption to less than a cup at a time, though, as raspberries contain small amounts of xylitol.
  • Strawberries — Contain fiber and vitamin C. They’re also delicious. Feed in moderation to prevent high sugar consumption.
  • Watermelon — Plenty of vitamins and potassium can be found in watermelon. Feeding your Boston watermelon can also keep her hydrated when it’s hot out. Just don’t let her eat the rinds or seeds.

Final thoughts…

Yes, Boston Terriers can eat oranges. If you are feeding your Boston oranges to try to supplement vitamin C, be sure to consult your veterinarian. If you think your Boston would benefit from vitamin C supplements, this would be an excellent opportunity for your vet to point you in the right direction.

Thank you for checking out this article on the Boston Terrier Society. If you would like to learn more about Boston’s as well as join the community to participate in surveys and contests, be sure to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, The Boston Terrier Society Newsletter.

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References

Donnie Gardner

Donnie Gardner is the owner of the Boston Terrier Society. He has been raising Bella the Boston since 2010. He resides in Kansas with his wife, daughter, and Bella. His favorite activities are hanging out with family, traveling, running (but has bad knees), and reading non-fiction books.

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