Can Dogs Eat Longan?

When it comes to unique fruits, longans (A.K.A. dragon eyes!) are one of my favorites! They have translucent and jellylike flesh, with a texture similar to a grape. They are juicy and sweet, with musky undertones that make them taste delicious. I find their flavor to be less floral than lychees, making them a perfect choice if you want something a little different.

Dogs are always so happy when they see you with food, and it’s tempting to share your food with them. You should be careful about giving your dog just any old treat because some foods can be harmful to dogs. You absolutely must be sure that the food you’re about to feed to your good boy is safe for canines!

So, what about longan? Can dogs eat longan? The quick and easy answer is: Yes, dogs can eat longan. However, don’t allow your dog to eat the shell or the pit of the longan. And, as with most treats, only allow your four-legged friend to have longan in moderation.  

Is Longan Good For Dogs?

Longan isn’t sought after as one of the so-called superfoods, but it is known to be an overall healthy fruit to snack on. And, though unverified by research, many people claim that longan helps them with depression, memory, and even fatigue.

One of the health benefits of longan is that it is low in calories and contains no fat. This makes it a good choice for those who are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

Longan is also a good source of vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system. Moreover, longan is high in antioxidants, which can help protect the body against disease.

Longan is also a good source of fiber, which can help keep the digestive system functioning properly.

Luckily for your pooch, nearly all of these traits of longan are very beneficial to dogs as well. Just be sure longan is only one part of an overall well-balanced diet.

How Much Longan Can I Feed My Dog?

Dogs can enjoy longan as a special treat but should not have it as the main part of their diet. As I mentioned, longan is very high in vitamin C. Too much vitamin C can be harmful to dogs, this is just one reason it’s important to only give them longan in moderation.

Longan is high in sugar, which is another reason to moderate your dog’s longan treats. Dogs with a high sugar diet face health problems including weight gain and tooth decay.  

Can Dogs Eat Longan Seeds And Longan Shells?

Consuming longan seeds and shells can pose some health risks to your dog so your best friend shouldn’t eat them. 

The health risks to dogs from eating longan shells and seeds include choking and intestinal problems. This is because the shells of longan are hard, and your dog won’t be able to completely break them down with their teeth or fully digest them. Each of these issues can cause serious health problems for your pet. 

Also, the seeds of the longan fruit contain a toxin, saponin, that can be harmful to dogs. While there isn’t likely enough saponin in a longan seed to do long-term harm to a dog, your sweet buddy might end up vomiting or with diarrhea. 

Though the seeds of longan are likely to taste and smell bitter to dogs, so they probably won’t eat them if offered anyway. Ultimately, the decision of whether to remove longan seeds from any longan you give to your dog is up to you, but it’s important to understand the risks involved.  

Can Dogs Eat Canned Or Dehydrated Longan?

Many canned and dehydrated fruits and vegetables contain preservatives and additives. It’s important to double-check that the additives or preservatives in whatever you are about to treat your dog to are okay. As some additives can be harmful to dogs, it’s very important to look into them before feeding your dog canned produce.

When longan is canned it is almost always in a sugary syrup mixture. Longan is already a very sweet fruit, so when it’s canned in syrup, it contains even more sugar. As we discussed above, too much sugar in a dog’s diet can be very detrimental to it. That’s why you should always avoid giving your dog longan that has been canned in syrup. 

Dehydrated longan won’t always contain extra sugar, so may need to only pay attention to what preservatives were used. If sugar was added during dehydration to the dried longan you have you should not give it to your dog.

Even in small doses the extra sugar from canned and (sometimes) dehydrated longan can spell big trouble.

Summary: Can Dogs Have Longan?

Can dogs have longan? In a word: Yes! Dogs can have longan. You’ll need to moderate your dog’s intake of longan due to the sugar content and don’t give them the longan pit or shell. You don’t want any short-term or long-term medical complications to arise. 

Longan is low in calories and a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants, which are all good for dogs. But because it is so high in sugar, dogs can only sparingly eat small amounts of longan as a treat. 

While it is okay for dogs to eat longan fruit, they should not eat the shells or pits. The shells could become lodged in the dog’s throat or elsewhere causing medical problems.

Additionally, the longan seeds contain saponin which could cause your dog to vomit or have diarrhea. So, make sure you remove both the shell and pit before giving your pup a piece of this delicious fruit!

It’s important to be aware that some additives and preservatives found in dehydrated food can be harmful to dogs. If you’re giving your dog dehydrated longan, make sure that the product doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients.

Finally, the syrup most canned longan is found in has way too much sugar for dogs, so it’s best to not give your dog any canned longan. 

Overall, longan is generally safe for dogs when consumed in moderation and used as a special treat, but it’s always best to be cautious and consult with your vet if you have any questions or concerns.