Can Dogs Eat Prunes? Prunes for dogs revealed

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Dried plums, better known as prunes are commonly used as a natural remedy to relieve constipation in people, they’re also a tasty snack that many of us like to indulge in. If you find your dog dribbling on your knee while you’re eating, I’m sure you’ve wondered, can dogs eat prunes?

In this article, we reveal if dogs can eat prunes, how much, and what it means for our furry little friends.

Can Dogs Eat Prunes?

Yes, but only one or two!

The good thing is that prunes are non-toxic for your dog! Meaning they don’t contain any harmful ingredients. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you can start feeding truckloads of prunes to your dog.

The reason we don’t recommend feeding your dog lots of prunes is that they’re very high in sugar and fiber.

Too many prunes may result in abdominal distress resulting in diarrhea or stomach aches. We’ll explain more about this later.

Are Prunes Good for Dogs?

Not really.

Basically, giving your dog a prune once in a while should be handled by their digestive system without any drama. Too much or too frequent amounts and things start to get a bit messy, and could be unsafe!

It’s probably safer for your dog to just avoid prunes altogether.

However, if your hairy munch monster just can’t stop themselves from raiding the prunes cupboard, it might become an issue for their health.

The high sugar and fiber content in prunes can shock a dog’s digestive system. What’s more, the pit of the prunes contains traces of cyanide, which is a well-known irritant.

Even though many brands remove the pits before dehydrating, it’s best to avoid this rich snack, as the high sugar attributes of the fruit remains intact.

Instead of giving prune treats to your dogs, consider well-cooked, mashed pumpkin, which is much more nutritious, and safer!

Prune Nutritional Value

Featuring an impressive nutritional profile, prunes are high in a variety of vitamins and minerals. If it weren’t for their high fiber and sugar content, they’d be an incredible addition to your dog’s diet!

Here’s a complete breakdown of Prune nutrition facts:

Are Prunes Bad for Dogs? Risks of Prunes for Dogs

Yes. On the whole, prunes are bad for your dog.

If your dog snacks on a prune or two without your knowledge, there’s nothing to worry about. However, if your dog eats a bag full of them, then, “Houston, we have a problem!”:

Digestive issues

Are prunes toxic to dogs? No, they’re not toxic, but prunes are unsafe because of the ridiculously high sugar content and fiber crammed into such a compact fruit. This will play havoc with your furry friend’s digestive tract and metabolism.

It’s highly probable that eating lots of prunes will give your dog an upset stomach, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea.

Nobody wants diarrhea!

Weight gain and diabetes

A single prune contains 3.9 grams of sugar.

It’s very likely that this high amount of sugar, taken regularly, over a period of time, will result in diabetes and weight gain for your dog.

Pitted Prunes – Are Prunes Safe for Dogs?

As we mentioned earlier, the pits in prunes contain trace amounts cyanide. It’s also worth mentioning that they also pose a choking hazard for your dog.

So, pitted prunes should be safe, right?

Wrong! Even though the pitted prunes have had their pits removed, they’re still packed with an absurdly high amount of sugar and fiber, pits or no pits.

Can Dogs Drink Prune Juice?

As we’ve established, prunes are bad for dogs, but what about prune juice? Can dogs drink prune Juice?

In this case, no!

Removing the flesh of the prune and being left with just the juice, unfortunately, doesn’t remove the key issue with prunes, sugar.

Just like the fruit itself, prune juice contains too much of the concentrated sugars and fibers that just aren’t healthy for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Pureed Prunes?

Unless you want your pets to suffer various health complications, no!

Stewed prunes, prune juice, or pureed prunes, all forms of prunes will have the same effect on your dog.

Just avoid giving it to them.

Prunes vs Dates – What’s the Difference?

Although fairly similar in the looks department, prunes and dates are, in fact, entirely dissimilar fruits that come from completely different plants. Prunes and dates have distinctive nutritional profiles and flavors.

Dates are separate fruit species that grow on trees. They’re usually consumed dehydrated and have a pretty similar texture to prunes. However, unlike prunes, they’re rarely served in a non-dried way.

Unlike prunes, your dogs can safely eat dates, although in moderation and strictly occasionally.

Can Dogs Eat Prunes for Constipation?

We know prunes and prune juice for their usefulness in relieving constipation, as they contain high amounts of sorbitol and fiber.

On top of that, prunes are rich in polyphenol antioxidants, which may reduce stomach inflammation and lower the risk of various abdominal problems.

However, none of that applies to dogs!

Prunes only have this effect on humans! Dogs metabolize foods differently than we do. Instead of being relieved of constipation, they’ll develop a much worse condition…diarrhea.

My Dog Ate Prunes – What to Do If Your Dog Eats Prunes

If your dog has managed foil your prune-hiding skills and has gobbled down a single prune, don’t worry! Your dog is fine, nothing to see here.

However, if your dog ate a bag full of prunes, the gargantuan amounts of sugar and fiber will agitate your dog’s digestive system and cause abdominal distress.

If your dog does manage to munch through a large number of prunes, and you notice your dog making worrying noises, having loose stools, or a bloated stomach, immediately contact your vet and follow their advice!

So, Are Prunes Safe for Dogs?

A single prune? Yes.

Multiple prunes? No!

Here are the quick answers to all the questions regarding prunes for dogs:

• Are prunes good for dogs?
  Yes, but only one or two prunes every once in a while.

• Are prunes good for dogs?
  No. Feeding prunes to your pet has more cons than pros.

• Are prunes bad for dogs?
  Yes.

• Can dogs eat pitted prunes?
  Yes, but only one or two prunes every once in a while.

• Can dogs drink prune juice?
  Yes, but only one or two prunes every once in a while

• Can dogs drink prune juice?
  No. 

• Can dogs eat pureed prunes?
  No.

• Are prunes and dates the same?
  No.

• Can dogs eat prunes for constipation?
  No.

• Would you recommend feeding prunes to my dog?
  No.

Although feeding a prune to your dogs every week or so should be safe, although it has no benefits. While accidentally giving too many prunes to your dog has several downsides.

It’s a much better and safer option for your furry friend to avoid giving them prunes altogether.

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Disclaimer

All information in the article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to replace your veterinarian’s advice.