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Can a 5 kg Maltese develop gas and loose stools from eating tangerine peel, or is that only a problem for larger dogs?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

Tangerine peel contains essential oils that can irritate a dog's stomach, and a 5 kg Maltese is small enough to react to even a small piece. Gas, loose stools, and mild vomiting are the most common signs of citrus peel intolerance. The peel is harder to digest than the flesh, so the longer it stays in the gut, the more likely discomfort becomes. Offer fresh water and monitor her stool for the next 24 hours. If she stops eating or the diarrhoea persists, call your vet. For future reference, a few segments of peeled tangerine flesh are generally safe for most dogs.

Tangerine — Food safety facts

Feed with care · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Same as other citrus — the essential oils in the peel cause stomach upset.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Feed with care), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Tangerine is not poisonous to dogs, but it is easy to over-feed. Rich fat, salt or seasoning can bring on vomiting or diarrhoea within a day, and repeated large portions are a recognised trigger for pancreatitis.

If it ate some before you noticed, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or a painful, swollen abdomen over the next 24 hours. A one-off small amount in a healthy adult usually passes with water and rest; repeated exposure, a puppy or kitten, a senior, or a pet with an ongoing illness is a reason to call your vet the same day.

Tangerine can turn up now and then, but not as a daily habit: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Tangerine food facts page.

Open the full food page: Tangerine food facts →