Tamarind, the sour-sweet fruit pod, has recently become popular due to its therapeutic properties. It is used worldwide to cook all types of foods and even eat raw! The many health benefits provided make tamarind extremely useful and in-demand among people.
Now you may have been wondering whether this applies to your dog too. Is tamarind safe for your pup to consume, and are the benefits and risks involved?
To find the answers, scroll down and start reading!
Is Tamarind safe for your dog?
Yes! It is safe to feed your dog tamarind when done moderately.
Tamarind has the potential to improve your dog’s health when given in small amounts.
Too many tamarinds can give your dog health problems like renal failure and gallstones. So, moderation is crucial.
How to serve tamarind to your dog
The first time your canine is consuming tamarind, you should take extra care. Always choose fresh and mature tamarinds (they should be brown).
Peel off the brown shell and remove the seeds. Make sure you remove the veins and feed your pup only the pulp.
You could also add the juice to your dog’s food or mix it with your dog’s water.
How many tamarinds are too many? What is the correct quantity?
As tamarind is not nutritionally dense, it is better to give your dog around 20-40g of tamarind pulp in their food. Don’t give your pup any more than that, as it could result in digestive problems like diarrhea and give them stomach pains.
What will your pup gain from tamarind?
Tamarind has many benefits that improve your dog’s health. Here are some listed out.
- Tamarind is rich in micro-nutrients. It contains vitamin B, vitamin C, Thiamine, and minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, etc.
- It boosts your canine’s immunity. The high number of antioxidants boost your dog’s immune system and fight infections that are fungal and microbial.
- Lupeol, present in tamarind, has anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing inflammation, joint pain, arthritis, etc. Tamarind also has anti-cancer properties that alleviate these threats.
- Factors like hormonal diseases, anxiety, etc., can cause canine constipation. Tamarind provides relief for this. The presence of malic and tartaric acid makes it a natural laxative.
- Tamarind helps in regulating your pup’s weight. The fruit increases good cholesterol and reduces the harmful cholesterol content in plasma.
- The potential to lower atherosclerosis is present in tamarind, which means that it prevents the hardening and reduces the blockage of arteries in dogs.
- A study discovered that tamarind lowered the blood sugar in rats having diabetes. Tamarind seeds increase the reproduction of pancreatic beta cells.
Therefore, giving your dog tamarind may help manage diabetes and restore the ability to produce healthy amounts of insulin.
Author’s Note: Another benefit of tamarind is that it will help detoxify fluorides. Consuming tamarind paste increases fluoride excretion in urine by 40%.
Providing your dog with the pulp could help in detoxifying fluoride. Prevention of loss of essential minerals also takes place.
Adverse effects of feeding your dog tamarind
The levels of tannins that could be harmful to your dog are high in tamarind. High tannin levels could result in fever, a rise in heart rate, and abdominal pain.
Tamarinds have a higher calorie count and could result in weight gain. If your dog has a sore throat, tamarind could make it worse.
Lastly, tamarind seeds sometimes act as a choking hazard. So, it is vital to remain careful while giving your dog.
Situations in which you should avoid giving your dog tamarind
As tamarind is a natural laxative, if dogs who have diarrhea consume it, their condition could become worse. As a result, more health problems happen due to loss in electrolyte and water content, dehydration, irritation of intestinal lining, etc.
Overeating tamarind can cause gum sensitivity and toothaches in dogs. Since tamarind is acidic, it could result in your dog’s tooth enamel eroding.
In addition to this, tamarind can irritate dogs who have a sore throat, upper respiratory tract infection, or a cough.
What foods can you give your dog instead of tamarind?
Sometimes your dog can be allergic to tamarind, or maybe they just dislike it. In those cases, you could feed your dog other healthy fruits like apples, bananas, mango, and pineapple. Giving them in small amounts is crucial as too much could harm them.
Can your pup be allergic to tamarind?
Yes, your dog can be allergic to tamarind. That is precisely why you should be cautious. Always feed your dog a little first and see your dog’s reaction.
Observe your pup for signs of distress while feeding them tamarind for the first time. Look out for any allergic symptoms. In case of any, consult your vet immediately.
Does tamarind have any side effects?
Do not give your dogs tamarind if they are on any heart medication or blood pressure medication. The action of Warfarin, which affects blood clots and blood thinners, is influenced by tamarind.
Tamarind interacts with antiplatelet drugs.
Consuming tamarind could lead to the formation of gallstones, and this poses a danger for dogs that have liver diseases. Due to this, always consult your vet for advice before giving it to your dog.
Avoid giving your dogs tamarind if they’re on any antibiotics. Tamarind is also responsible for decreasing bile motility and impairing digestion. It could also cause cramps and jaundice.
FAQs
Q.Can I give my dogs tamarind candy?
No, you must not. Tamarind candy contains a large amount of sugar harmful to your dog. Moreover, it consists of brown sugar, tamarind juice, pulp, sugar, and chili powder, which could upset their stomachs.
Q. Is it possible for tamarind to be poisonous to dogs?
Yes. The seed coats of the seeds and the fruit’s shell are poisonous. Avoid giving your dog tamarind seeds or the shell under any circumstances.
Q. Are tamarind seeds safe for dogs?
No, do not let your dog eat tamarind seeds as the shells are poisonous. Only feed them the pulp of tamarind.
Q. Is it safe to give your dog sour food?
Yes, however, dogs do not generally prefer sour food. Poisonous foods taste bitter to dogs, and due to this, they tend to avoid sour foods.
Conclusion
It is safe to feed your dog tamarind. However, it is essential to serve it in small amounts as too much tamarind could be harmful. It could lead to digestive issues and stomach pains.
Tamarind is rich in amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It prevents chronic inflammation and reduces weight along with other health benefits.
Well, Moderation is crucial as too many tamarinds can cause weight gain, gallstones, and renal failure. Also, don’t miss to note other harmful effects of it.
We hope this article led you to the answers you were seeking! Please interact with us, and leave your questions and thoughts down below.
Dr. Aram Baker has been with Santa Clarita Animal Hospital since 1995 and his special interests include behaviour medicine and dermatology. He graduated from the Cleveland Humanities Magnet Program in Reseda, CA and attended California State University at Northridge where he received a Bachelor’s degree in biology. He went on to pursue his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the University of California at Davis. He also spent time in the zoological medicine department at U.C. Davis during his Junior and Senior years. He is dedicated to caring for all pets big or small, young or old with compassion, patience, kindness, and love.