Many of us have pets in our lives, whether it’s cats, birds, or fishes. However, we can argue that most of us have dogs, also known as ‘man’s best friend’. For dog owners, we tend to include them heavily in what we do, whether it’s a walk, drives, or even meals. The question is, how do dogs fare when durian is involved? Can they join in on the sweet treat, or do they have to stay away from it?

Dog Behavioral Patterns To Durians

When looking to see the effects of durians on dogs, it is first important to understand their behavioural patterns. Dogs can express their feelings and intent via their behaviour, so it’s important to take note on their reactions when being near the king of fruits.

Odor

Durian is well known for its extremely strong and pungent smell, often described to smell like a combination of sulfur, sewage, honey, and a mixture of roasted and rotting onions. An interesting combination indeed, but with the heightened smell senses our furry friends possess, the smell could be extremely off-putting for them.

Showings of Curiosity

On the flip side however, the smell could genuinely make our dogs curious, even more so when being in close proximity to their owners. They may try to sniff it out of curiosity, or in some cases, even try to take a bite out of it.

Why Dogs Can Eat Durian

Now that we've broken down how dogs tend to behave around durians, we can start to look into why dogs can eat durian, and why dogs can't eat durian. Let’s first start with the reasons why dogs can eat durian.

High In Nutrients

The first point of contention is the fact that the fruit is high in vitamins, which includes the likes of Vitamins A, B and C, along with folic acid and protein. On top of all of that, the fruit also provides the little pup with essential vitamins and minerals. These minerals are calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus, and they help your dog with building muscle and supporting immunity.

Potential To Help With Weight Gain

Especially for dogs that need to gain some weight, durian could help them gain a little weight. Due to its high fat and calorie contents, it can make a good addition towards their diet for a little more weight gain.

Why Dogs Can't Eat Durian

However, for the exact same points argued above, they are also the very same reasons why dogs can’t, or at least, shouldn’t be allowed to consume durian.

Digestive Issues

To dog owners, it is already very clear that our digestive systems work very differently, and so are our nutritional needs. While us humans can digest durian just fine, dogs are a very different story. Excess consumption of durian may lead to the dog’s digestive system not being able to process and digest the fat from the durian like we do, which can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Toxicity Concerns

Aside from the concern of the fats contained in durian, there is also a concern of the actual parts of the durian itself. While the fleshy parts of the durian are not considered to be ‘toxic’ to our furry friends, there is a concern of the dog accidentally ingesting either the skin, leaves, or seeds of the durian. The skin of the durian is spiky, which already by itself, shows it isn’t safe for consumption. Meanwhile, the leaves of the durian contain cyanide, and if consumed, can lead to cyanide poisoning. The seeds, on the other hand, contain cyclopropene fatty acids, which can lead to intestinal blockages.

Potential Allergies

Dogs too, can have allergies, just like us. If we are unaware and feed the dog even a small amount of durian, it could be very dangerous. Triggering an allergic reaction could result in itching, swelling, or even difficulty breathing.

Weight Afflictions

As we have mentioned before, durian is a fruit that is high in both fat and calories. While just a small amount won’t do anything harmful to your dog, regular consumption definitely is a problem, which can result in excess unwanted weight gain, as well as problems concerning the dog’s health.

Final Verdict

From all the points mentioned, it sounds like your dog should not be eating durian, right? That is true, for the most part. However, there is no problem with feeding your dog just a tiny amount of the durian’s flesh. However, it is important to monitor your dog, and ensure they are not consuming too much, nor should you feed them durian on the regular.