Feeding creates a memorable impression on your dog.
It is in feeding that allows your dogs to get to know you more and how you value them.
But when you’re running out of treats and looking for some alternatives, feeding fruits to your dogs is your way to go.
Some fruits are deemed safe for our health and also detrimental. For instance, apples are known for being beneficial, while grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs.
And here is where prunes give into balance — a good fruit for our health and add delectable taste to our meal.
You may add prunes to salad, yogurt, cereal, or other dishes.
Interestingly, we came across the following questions: can you feed prunes to your dogs? Can this food sustain their health?
Intriguing yet informative — so, we will find the answers for you, as this article will identify the characteristics of prunes, their health factors, and risks when you feed this to your dogs.
Don’t worry; we will prepare the safe, best ways to feed prunes to your dogs!
What is Prunes?
Prunes are a fruit with a high amount of sorbitol, a natural sugar substitute that ensures sweetness.
The fruit comes from dried plums or “drupe.” You may also see this in alternative names such as prune plums, damson plums, and even sloe plums.
For centuries, people have been using prunes to cure constipation.
It is because of the high amount of sorbitol, which acts as a laxative for our digestive tract.
Prunes also effectively fight against nausea and vomiting while relieving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms.
Today, this food includes infamous dishes, like the French “confit de pruneaux” and the Moroccan sweet dish, Baklava.
The dried fruit is also used as an ingredient for alcoholic beverages such as vodka or port wine.
It can be a substitute for dry red wines with a high amount of tannins, contributing to its taste more than an alcoholic beverage.
Food family of Prunes
Prunes belong to the food family of stone fruits — which is a family that contains peaches, cherries, and apricots.
This fruit has been around for centuries, but recent studies have shown that prunes may be beneficial in preventing chronic diseases such as osteoporosis or cancer — thanks to the antioxidants it brings.
In terms of nutrition profile, prunes are rich in dietary fiber — the soluble fibers absorb water from inside the small intestine and swell, facilitating bowel movement.
It also contributes to reduced blood cholesterol levels and thus decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
To give you an idea of how much fiber is found in prunes, 100 grams provide up to 30% of your daily recommended intake.
This amount provides a good source of iron — which benefits red blood cells that bring oxygen throughout our body.
Can dogs eat Prunes?
The answer is yes. Dogs can eat prunes, and it is suggested that this fruit is safe for dogs.
Prunes are part of the stone fruits family, which contains peaches, cherries, and apricots — all of these foods deemed safe for human health.
Prunes possess a similar nutritional profile to that in humans: rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants.
It also has minerals such as iron to provide oxygen to the blood, thus preventing anemia. In addition, prunes are rich in vitamin A and C — which help boost the immune system against infections.
However, there is a risk that your dog may have allergies to fruit products containing sorbitol as other ingredients.
Symptoms of this allergy include stomach pain or diarrhea, but these should not cause worry.
Just discontinue feeding your dog with prunes if these symptoms persist for more than two days.
Best Ways to Feed your Dogs with Prunes
We want to sway your worries away. Hence, below are the best ways on how to feed your dogs with prunes:
Mix with meat and vegetable food
If you plan to feed prunes as a meal topping, consider mixing it with other healthy foods for dogs such as vegetables or lean meats — preferably those with high nutritional value like fish and chicken breast.
You can also mix these ingredients easily in a blender, so you can have the same taste when served.
Mix with dog food
You may also consider mixing prunes to your dog’s regular meal for added benefit.
But remember that it is essential not to mix anything into their usual meals without any considerations — especially if they are finicky eaters or have specific allergies that may cause adverse effects.
Make prunes dog snacks.
Prunes also make a wonderful treat for dogs, since it has fiber that contributes to digestive health and vitamin A which helps boost the immune system against infections.
Because of these benefits, you may consider feeding your dogs with grapes now and then — but never in large amounts since they are rich in sugar that can cause obesity and dental problems.
Reasons Why Dogs Can Eat Prunes
Prunes may be small in size, but it has more significant health characteristics that provide health improvements to your dogs.
So, we list down practical reasons why your dogs can eat prunes:
Prevents kidney stones
Prunes are rich in antioxidants which help prevent the development of kidney stones.
This fruit has a diuretic effect, meaning it can cause urination — which expels excess calcium from kidneys to avoid its accumulation and reduce the risk for stone formation.
However, prunes should not be used as a replacement for medications that treat kidney stones.
Prevents constipation
Prunes also prevent constipation since this fruit contains high amounts of fiber, promoting bowel movement and maintaining digestive system functions.
Fiber absorbs water from inside the small intestine and swells — facilitating the passage of stool through the colon to promote regular bowel movements.
Just remember not to feed your dog too many prunes since it can cause diarrhea.
Treats arthritis
This fruit also treats joint pain, especially in dogs suffering from inflammation or injury to joints — a common problem caused by aging and degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis.
Prunes are high in vitamin C, which reduces swelling of the joints, while its antioxidants help fight free radicals that damage tissues and lead to pain.
Prevents cancer
Prunes have an antioxidant effect that prevents the development of cancerous cells in dogs and humans — since antioxidants prevent cellular oxidation or deterioration, thus protecting healthy cells from becoming malignant tumors.
In addition, prunes are rich in vitamin A which boosts the immune system and prevents infections.
Possible Concerns When Eating Prunes
Becoming aware of the possible concerns can prevent your dog from suffering from a more extensive illness.
What are the things you have to consider before your dog eats prunes? Here are the following:
Sugar Content
Prunes are rich in sugar, so it is important to avoid feeding your dogs with too much of this fruit.
If you want them to become healthier and prevent future illnesses, remember that the best quantity is the minimum amount that can still provide health benefits without causing harm or side effects in their body system.
Possible Allergies
Since prunes are rich in fiber, some dogs may develop allergies to them. Thus, if your dog shows discomfort like vomiting or diarrhea after eating this fruit — stop feeding them with grapes immediately and consult a veterinarian for assistance.
Dog’s Dental Health
While these fruits have benefits that promote dental health via their ability to reduce plaque and tartar build-up — it is important not to overfeed them with grapes since their small size can easily cause dental problems such as tooth decay.
Signs your dog is sick from Eating Prunes
Before more extensive health illnesses occur, signs of sickness may manifest first. For example, your dog may act unusual and bothered. Hence, below are signs of sickness from eating prunes:
Loss of appetite
If your dog is not eating, it may suffer from sickness caused by something they ate — like prunes.
In this case, you have to remove all foods and wait for a day or two before reintroducing them with their regular diet again.
If the problem persists even after regular food, bringing your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic is essential.
Vomiting
Suppose they have already eaten prunes but developed vomiting. In that case, you should stop feeding them with grapes immediately and wait for a day or two before resuming their regular food again — especially those who are sick from overeating this fruit can easily experience diarrhea.
Diarrhea
If your dog is suffering from too much fiber in their diet, then they may develop diarrhea up to three days after eating prunes — if this happens, stop feeding them with grapes and wait for at least 24 hours before resuming their regular food again.
If the problem persists even after day one, bringing your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic.
What to do if your dog is sick from eating Prunes?
Stay calm and composed; getting panicked will worsen the situation and could lead to shock.
If your dog is suffering from diarrhea or vomiting, you should wait for a day before feeding them again with their regular food — try not to let them eat and drink at the same time since they can quickly get dehydrated.
If signs or symptoms persist and bother your dog’s mental state, then it’s best to bring them to the nearest veterinary clinic for a more comprehensive examination.
Your vet will perform tests, such as blood tests, X-rays, and ultrasound to determine the cause of sickness.
The most common treatment for vomiting or diarrhea caused by prunes is dietary modification — this means avoiding feeding them with grapes for a couple of days until their stomach is feeling better again.
On the other hand, if your dog has lost its appetite due to being sick from eating prunes, you should wait for them to feel hungry before feeding them with their regular diet again.
If they are not feeling better after two days of fasting, it is essential to bring your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic immediately and call ahead so that staff can prepare an empty room.
Avoid similar foods from this family.
Grapes
Grapes are detrimental to your dog’s health since they can cause renal failure and death — this is because grapes contain glucose that cannot be processed by dogs, which may lead to kidney problems if consumed in excess.
Peaches
Peaches should not be fed to your dog since they also have toxic substances such as cyanide which can affect their digestive system when eaten in large amounts.
Nectarines
Just like peaches, nectarines also contain toxins such as cyanide that may damage your dog’s health.
In addition, their high levels of sugar can cause dental problems if consumed excessively.
Berries
Like grapes and peaches, berries should not be fed to dogs since they contain glucose that dogs cannot process.
Stone fruits (plums, apricots, and cherries) should also not be fed to your dog since they are closely related to peaches, nectarines, and berries — hence, their toxicity may affect the digestive system of your pet if eaten in excess.
How to Make Prunes Safe To Eat
The sustainability of feeding prunes to your dogs lies in your hand. In other words, you have to raise caution and awareness as part of your feeding.
Ascertaining what to prevent and what to follow can further advance your dog’s health.
So, here are ways you can prepare prunes safe to eat for your dogs:
Remove the pit
First, remove the pit of prunes, then cut them into small pieces. You can also puree or mash it up and mix it with your dog’s regular food if they’re suffering from constipation, diarrhea, dental problems such as bad breath, and tooth decay.
This is because chewing on prunes may help clean their teeth while regulating bowel movement in dogs.
Add some water to prunes.
To make it easy for your dog to digest, you should add a bit of warm water before feeding them the puree or mash.
If your dog is not feeling better after two days of fasting, then you need to bring your pet to the nearest veterinary clinic immediately and call ahead so that an empty room may be prepared for them.
Feed moderately
Feeding moderately is the ultimate key to preparing prunes safe for your dogs.
This means that you should not feed them excessively since it can cause gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and other digestion problems.
Key Takeaways
Indeed, feeding creates a unique impression for your dog. And in building a moment, fruits are your food alternatives.
You have to remember that some fruits are deemed safe, and some are also detrimental. However, if you’re selecting the right fruit, prune is a suitable treat!
Answering our intriguing questions, you can feed prunes to your dogs. This fruit is suggested for providing as this is deemed safe.
To dig deeper, prunes are rich in antioxidants, which help prevent the development of kidney stones.
This fruit has high amounts of fiber which maintains digestive system function. Also, prunes are high in vitamin C and antioxidants to prevent cancer cells and treat arthritis.
On the contrary, you have to be aware that this food also poses possible concerns that your dog may suffer from.
For instance, this food has high sugar content, which may develop allergies and tooth decay. In worst cases, your dog may get loss of appetite, vomiting, and suffer diarrhea.
So, don’t overlook these symptoms and bring your dog immediately to your vet.
Remember that sustainability on feeding prunes lies in your hands. For a safe feeding, you have to remove the pit of this fruit, add some water, and feed moderately.