Lychee is a common Asian fruit with a high fiber and protein content, low calorie count. It can be a nutritious snack for humans, but can dogs eat lychee? We'll take a look at the pros and cons of letting your dog eat lychee.

In short, dogs can eat lychee as long as they stay away from the fruit's skin and seed. Lychee is not toxic to dogs, however, because of the high sugar content of lychee, it is advisable only give your dog lychee as a treat every once in a while.

Since it became recognized as a superfruit in health circles, there have been many questions about this exotic fruit. We'll explain where lychees come from, what they contain, and if they're beneficial or dangerous for dogs. 

What Is Lychee?

Lychee is a tropical fruit belonging to the soapberry family. Lychees are mostly grown in China and India. However, tropical and subtropical places around the world, including Vietnam, South Africa, Pakistan, Mexico, and parts of the United States, cultivate these fruits.

Many people enjoy this tiny fruit because of its sweet taste. Lychee has a distinct scent and tastes like a cross between a strawberry and a watermelon. Ripe lychees have a leathery pink or reddish-brown skin and are spherical in shape, resembling a rough strawberry.

Is Lychee Healthy For Dogs?

Note: Only give your dog ripe lychee. Unripe Lychee is toxic to both humans and animals.

The lychee fruit is high in fiber, low in calories, and a good source of vitamins. It also has a high protein content and acts as a natural diuretic. Are lychees, however, safe for dogs to eat?

Dogs can be given a tiny quantity of lychee fruit as a reward if it is ripe. However, before giving it to your dog, you must remove the skin and seed.

Although the ripe fruit of the lychee is safe for dogs to consume as a treat on occasion, each fruit has a huge brown seed that should be removed before eating or feeding to your dog. It is a choking hazard and can also be damaging to the digestive system.

Potential Concerns - Unripe Lychee & Your Dog

If eaten before ripe, lychee can be harmful to people and animals. The fruit from the soapberry family contains an unique amino acid. It occurs primarily when the fruit is not fully ripe, and it has a significant impact on blood glucose levels.

Stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, which may contain blood, are the key signs to watch for. Other indicators include:

• Muscle spasms
• Dark urine
• Drooling
• Head-shaking
• Seizures

It's critical to respond swiftly if your dog has eaten an unripe lychee or a lychee seed. Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

How To Prepare Lychee For Your Dog

If you do decide feed your dog lychee, only give him the meaty component and only in little amounts. Make sure that the fleshy part is ripe as well. Green lychees should never be fed to a dog.

Because lychee is about the size of a golf ball, it can choke your dog or cause a blockage in his intestines.

Remove the huge seed from inside the flesh after removing the outer covering from the lychee, as this can be a choking hazard and is particularly dangerous for dogs.

Cut the lychee into small pieces before giving it to your dog. Lychee should not be given to your dog on a regular basis, but it is ok to spoil your furry friend every once in a while.

Review: Can Dogs Eat Lychee

If you do decide to offer lychee to your dog, make sure the lychee is fully ripe before removing the outer shell and seed. Give your dog only little portions of the fleshy section on occasion, as eating too much might be detrimental, owing to the high sugar content. 

Always note that the lychee fruit's peel and seed are poisonous and can cause choking. If your dog has eaten an unripe lychee or a lychee seed, call your veterinarian right away.