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My 1-year-old Shih Tzu just chewed a few pomegranate seeds with some of the white membrane stuck to them — what should I do right now?

Dogs · Food safety

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

Short answer

Remove any remaining fruit pieces from your dog's mouth right away, then watch closely over the next few hours for signs of vomiting or an upset stomach. The white membrane contains tannins that can irritate a small dog's digestive tract, so even this small amount might cause nausea in a 1-year-old Shih Tzu. Offer some plain water to drink and keep your dog calm while you monitor. If vomiting starts, call your own vet for advice — a single small bite does not usually require emergency care.

Pomegranate — Food safety facts

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

A few arils are fine, but the rind and inner membrane are high in tannins and can cause vomiting.

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

Pomegranate 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.

Pomegranate 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 Pomegranate food facts page.

Open the full food page: Pomegranate food facts →