Dogs, big and small, really do love cucumbers; they are nuts about them.

And let me tell you, I knew a white German shepherd who absolutely loved cucumbers. This dog was crazy about this elongated fruit.

The German shepherd belonged to my parents, and I’m the one who introduced him to the juicy, refreshing fruit.

The dog would eat a whole cucumber in just a few minutes.

This fruit seemed very safe for the dog to consume, as he never suffered any adverse effects from all the many cucumbers he had devoured.

And by the way, the cucumber IS a fruit, not a vegetable. It has seeds — making it a fruit.

This plant food is largely water, and the skin is loaded with phytonutrients (plant nutrients). It also has antioxidants.

Just because it’s not a protein food doesn’t mean a dog shouldn’t eat a cucumber. The cucumber, which is 90 percent or more water, contains no compounds that are toxic to canines.

In fact, according to 2.aspca.org/aspcablog, there isn’t even any data out on whether or not this fruit contains anything harmful to the canine species.

The ASPCA site does not encourage giving your pet “table food.”

However, cucumber should not be considered a “table food.”

It grows on a vine, not a table, and it’s not made in a factory.

Start by giving your dog small amounts of cucumber.

This will make a far healthier “treat” than giving your pet so-called doggie cookies that contain artificial flavors, chemical colorings and other additives.

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Cucumber is also loaded with enzymes and is extremely low in calories — even a whole one.

Canines are omnivores, and there’s no reason a dog should not get some raw vegetables and fruit in its diet.

In fact, many dog foods contain vegetables, except they are not in raw form. Raw vegetation is the healthiest way to go.

Speak to your veterinarian about giving your dog cucumbers — which again, contain significant amounts of water — which is always good for your pet.

Cucumbers can also be sliced up and mixed in with dog food.

Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.