Can my dog eat prunes? Is it safe?
There have been a lot of speculations when it comes to whether or not dogs can eat prunes or not. To be honest, it is a hit or miss. Experts often suggest that prunes are amazing if you are struggling with poor bowel movements. If that is something that your dog has been struggling with as well and you have been trying to find some good alternatives for your dog, prunes could be the answer.
But, can dogs eat prunes?
There is no standard saying whether or not dogs can eat prunes but to be fair, no vet would recommend that you give prunes to your dogs. They are extremely acidic, sour, and come with very high sugar and fiber content.
While one or two prunes might not affect your dog, overdoing that can end up causing a problem.
Why are prunes not good for dogs?
As we said earlier, prunes are the dried and dehydrated plums. They are high in sugar and fiber, which are not good for your health at all. Much like humans, dogs don’t have a very similar digestion process.
While we can break down the sugar and fiber easily, it can be a lot more tedious for your dog. It is believed that a single prune can contain up to 3.8 gms of sugar, which is a lot.
Is prune juice safe for dogs?
Again, no, much like prunes, even prune juice is not safe for your dog. It will end up causing discomfort and strain on your dog’s stomach which is one of the main reasons why you need to avoid it.
What if my dog ate prunes by accident?
Since dogs have a snooping nature, it is likely for them to find some prunes and eat them. Since it is not the best food for them, supervision is extremely important to ensure that they don’t experience any adverse impacts on their health.
In case you notice something off with their body functions like lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and inactivity, you must consult your vet and get the necessary help that your pup needs.
What are the risks of giving prunes to dogs?
Aside from the high sugar content that can spike the blood glucose and the high fiber that is harder to digest, another factor that makes prunes risky for your dogs is the pit.
It can obstruct their body and end up causing drastic impacts in the long run.
In case your dog has swallowed a pit of the prune, try and induce vomiting so it comes out with it.
How should I give prunes to my dog?
In case you are wondering how you can feed prunes to your dog, the answer is that you shouldn’t.
If at all you are giving prunes to your dog, it is important that you always rehydrate the prune first and get rid of all the added sugar and additives and wash them away. Once you get that done, it does become a lot easier for you to feed your dog the prune.
But, even then, you need to be careful with the amount. Just cut out a small piece of the rehydrated prune and then feed that to your dog. You must avoid giving them the whole piece. It can either make it hard for your dog to chew or can have a lot of sugar that is not good for your dog.
Boiling the prune is not the best option, contrary to popular belief, so make sure that you avoid doing that. It is always best that you keep an eye out on your dog to ensure that they are not eating the prunes by accident.
FAQs
1. Can dogs eat plums instead of prunes?
Both the forms of plum, be it the raw or the dehydrated form, both of them are not suitable for your dog. This is why you must avoid it for good.
2. What to do if my dog swallows the pit of the prune?
In case your dog accidentally swallows the out of the prune, you must induce vomiting by using a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. In case this process fails, rush them to a vet without thinking twice.
3. Is prune juice safe?
No, prune juice is not safe for dogs at all. It is always better that you avoid giving it to your dog.
4. What kind of symptoms to look out for in case the dogs eat prunes?
Look out for the signs of discomfort, vomiting, and possible tiredness in your dog. If your dog becomes inactive suddenly, take them to a vet.
If you have been wondering whether or not prunes are safe for your dog, think again. It is always best that you stick to the standard foods for your dog and not experiment much.
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