Can Dogs Eat Prunes: Reasons to Avoid Giving Your Dog Prunes

Prunes are dried plums. Like most dried fruits, prunes have a high sugar content that can cause digestive issues, bloating, and excessive weight gain in dogs. The high fiber content of prunes acts as a laxative, which can be good for human digestive systems. However, the risks associated with feeding your dog prunes make them an unwise treatment for your dog’s constipation. Instead, consider feeding your dog mashed pumpkin to improve their bowel movements.

Feeding prunes to your dog is not recommended. Though prunes are not toxic to dogs, they present several notable health risks to your pooch. Here are some factors to consider before feeding your dog a prune:

• Prunes can be a choking hazard. Small dogs can easily choke on a single prune. The sugar content in prunes can cause them to stick together and form a large glob that could easily get lodged in the windpipe of small and big dogs alike.
• Prunes can cause gastrointestinal blockage. Eating prunes that contain pits is especially risky, one reason being that the small pits can easily become lodged in your dog’s digestive tract. Side effects could include loss of appetite, upset stomach, bloating, and cramping.
• Prunes have a high amount of sugar. Prunes contain lots of natural sugars. Like most fruit juices, prune juice often contains even more added sugars. For that reason, it’s especially smart to avoid giving your dog prune juice.
• Plum pits contain small amounts of cyanide. In most cases, the plum pits are removed before they’re dried into prunes. However, not all dried prune varieties are pitted. If consumed in large amounts, prune pits could cause cyanide poisoning. Dog owners should err on the side of safety and only keep pitted prunes in the house—especially if your dog is a counter-surfer.

Prunes offer numerous health benefits to humans. They are high in antioxidants, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamin K. Though they make for a good human food, they offer negligible benefits to your dog’s diet. A single prune here and there is unlikely to cause significant harm to your pooch, but large amounts put your dog’s health in jeopardy. They can cause stomach upset and excessive weight gain. The potential health problems associated with feeding prunes to your dog outweigh any potential health benefits.

Certain human foods can cause adverse reactions in canines, so always consult your veterinarian to determine whether it is safe to add these foods to your pet’s diet. This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

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