Prunes are high in sugar and fiber, which can be difficult
for your dog's digestive system. Find out more about giving prunes to your dog.
Prunes are plums that have been dried. Prunes, like most
dried fruits, are high in sugar, which can cause digestive issues, bloating,
and excessive weight gain in dogs. Prunes' high fiber content acts as a
laxative, which can be beneficial to human digestive systems. However, the
risks of feeding prunes to your dog make them an unwise treatment for
constipation. Instead, try feeding your dog mashed pumpkin to help them with
their bowel movements.
Are Prunes Bad for Dogs?
It is not advisable to feed prunes to your dog. Though
prunes are not toxic to dogs, they do pose a number of serious health risks.
Before giving your dog a prune, consider the following:
Prunes can cause choking. A single prune can easily choke a
small dog. Prunes' sugar content can cause them to stick together and form a
large glob that can easily become lodged in the windpipes of both small and
large dogs.
Prunes have the potential to cause gastrointestinal
blockage. Eating prunes with pits is especially dangerous, because the small
pits can easily become lodged in your dog's digestive tract. Loss of appetite,
upset stomach, bloating, and cramping are all possible side effects.
Prunes contain a lot of sugar. Prunes are high in natural
sugars. Prunus juice, like most fruit juices, frequently contains additional
sugars. As a result, it's especially important to avoid giving your dog prune
juice.
Plum pits have trace amounts of cyanide. Most plum pits are
removed before they are dried into prunes. Not all dried prune varieties,
however, are pitted. Pruning pits can cause cyanide poisoning if consumed in
large quantities. If your dog is a counter-surfer, dog owners should err on the
side of caution and only keep pitted prunes in the house.
Benefits of Prunes to Dogs
Prunes have many health benefits for humans. They contain a
lot of antioxidants, potassium, fiber, and vitamin K. Though they make
excellent human food, they provide no nutritional value to your dog's diet. A
single prune here and there is unlikely to harm your dog, but in large
quantities, your dog's health is jeopardized. They have the potential to cause
stomach upset and excessive weight gain. The potential health risks of feeding
prunes to your dog outweigh the potential health benefits.
