Can Dogs Eat Plums? Yes, but with extra precaution! Plums are an excellent source of nutrition for dogs as they are low in calories but contain high levels of fiber, vitamins A, C, K, and potassium. As well as this, they also contain antioxidants, which can help improve a dogs’ health and well-being later in life. Antioxidants have proven to help reduce inflammation around the muscles and joints, which decreases the risk of arthritis.
Busy? Get Your Hands Paws On The Answers Quickly…
- Can Dogs Have Plums?
- What Are The Different Types Of Plums?
- What Fruit Is Good For Dogs?
- Fruit Games For Dogs
- FAQs
As mentioned above, dogs can have plums as they provide a good amount of nutrients while being low in calories. As well as being low in calories, plums also provide your dog with fiber, vitamins A, C, K, potassium, and antioxidants.
It is important to note that plums are ok for dogs to eat, but the pits are not! The pit, also known as the stone, is the hard piece inside the plum and can be toxic for dogs, as well as causing potential choking hazards.
Below we have explained the health benefits as well as the health concerns regarding cyanide poisoning and potential choking hazards with the pit of the plum.
As with the introduction of all new foods in a dog’s diet, it is highly recommended that you contact your local veterinarian to seek advice on plum serving suggestions for dogs.
Health Benefits
Fiber
Monitoring your dogs’ fiber intake isn’t a necessity. However, moderate levels of fiber have shown to help with a dog’s digestive system.
Vitamin A
Plums help provide your dog with vitamin A. Vitamin A is vital for your dog as it helps to improve and maintain their optimal health. Vitamin A also helps to keep your dogs skin, coat muscles, and nerves in working order; without this vital vitamin, dogs will become lethargic and seriously ill. Other foods high in vitamin A include; carrots, spinach, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin C
This vitamin is of high importance. The antioxidants help reduce inflammation inside the dogs’ body as well as helping with cognitive aging. Dogs’ can produce vitamin C in their liver, but that does not mean you should factor it out of their diet as it offers other health benefits. Other foods high in vitamin C include; broccoli, sprouts, lychees, and lemons.
Potassium
High levels of potassium can be provided from plums. Potassium is an excellent nutrient for your dogs as it helps to control their nerve impulses, functions the brain, muscle activity, and function of the heart. If your dogs’ potassium levels become too low, it can cause hypokalaemia. Hypokalaemia can affect some dogs a lot, while others won’t show any symptoms. The lack of potassium can affect a dog’s neurological, skeletal, and cardiac muscles, and if left untreated, it could be fatal.
Health Concerns
Remove The Pits!
As we mentioned earlier, the seeds or pit of the apricot is highly toxic for dogs. It contains a toxin called cyanide. Cyanide reduces the oxygen levels in a dog’s red blood cells. If left untreated, it can cause your dog severe harm or even be fatal!
There have been occasions where owners have been growing apricots in their garden and without realizing that their dog has eaten them once they fell off the tree. If you’re growing apricots, ensure you keep a close eye day by day to ensure there are no loose apricots on the floor.
Cyanide Symptoms:
> Weakness in the muscles
> Nausea
> Confusion
> Difficulty Breathing
> Dilated Pupils
> Swollen Lips
If you notice these symptoms in your dog, you should seek immediate, professional help and advice from your local veterinarian.
Look Out For An Allergic Reaction
When feeding your dog a ‘human’ food for the first time, you should closely monitor their behavior that follows. If they’re allergic to the food they have eaten, they may begin to show several symptoms.
Below is a list of possible symptoms;
> Vomiting
> Swollen & Red Lips
> Diarrhea
> Loss of Appetite
> Lethargic When Moving
> Seizures
As with cyanide poisoning, if your dog is showing any of these symptoms. Call your veterinarian straight away to find out the procedures that follow.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLUMS?
Below are a list and descriptions of the most popular plums across the world. They are all suitable for dogs, of course, without the highly toxic pit.
One medium-sized plum provides plenty of nutrients; these include; Fiber (1g), Vitamin A (5%), Vitamin C (10%), Vitamin K (5%), and potassium (3%).
Blackamber
A prevalent American commercial variety of plum that is made up of black skin and light-yellow flesh. Once bitten into, it will provide a sweet taste, full of life, and juices.
Damson
More of a ‘tart’ variety, the Damson plum is purple-skinned and is mainly used as a cooking ingredient for foods such as jam and stewed fruit.
Elephant Heart
This heart-shaped plum with a brownish-gold skin. This red-fleshed fruit is super juicy; when squeezed, it can almost be drinkable! The tropical flavor has a hint of vanilla, making it a perfect, refreshing snack.
Friar
Also very popular in American supermarkets. The Friar plum has an inky looking skin and light yellow flesh. When they are fully ripe and picked, they make a super refreshing snack on a hot summer’s day.
Greengage
This light-green looking plum is a rarity across Europe. This plum is small with a greeny-yellow speckled skin and super-rich, honey tasting flesh. The taste is that great; they are somewhat hard to find!
Myrobalan
The myrobalan plum, also known as the cherry plum, is roughly the size of a cherry tomato. They can come in a variety of colors; red, yellow, and purple. Easy to eat and digest – making it the perfect mini snack.
Bananas
Bananas are high in potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. Some highly qualified veterinarians recommend this fruit as a natural replacement for shop-bought treats that can be high in fat and calories. However, like with all ‘human’ foods, it should be given to your dog in moderation and ensure they’re not allergic to it.
Bananas are best peeled and sliced for your furry friend; however, if they do eat the skin, you do not need to worry as it is not toxic. Finely slicing the banana into small chunks will help avoid any potential choking.
If you have mentally stimulating dog toys, for example, a kong, you can mush the banana up and put it inside the kong, this works great and keeps your dog occupied for an extended period of time.
Apple
Apples contain high levels of vitamins A and C. These are delicious and refreshing snacks for your dogs. When frozen, apples are excellent for a dog’s teeth.
Rather than chewing away at a bone or stick, a frozen apple works as well, if not better. As well as this, it also helps to remove any residue of a dog’s teeth, resulting in a better smelling breath!
Blueberries
Blueberries are an excellent choice of snack for your dog. They are super low in calories yet have high amounts of vitamin C & K, fiber, and antioxidants. Vitamin C and fiber are important components of a canine’s diet, as well as the antioxidants that help fight off diseases, illnesses and decrease the risk of arthritis in older dogs.
Blueberries also make an excellent choice of snack due to their size—no need for slicing and dicing, straight out of the packet into your dog’s bowl. Ensure you don’t leave the blueberries alone with your pup; otherwise, there’ll be some mighty clean up operation to come!
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a very versatile fruit as it can be used in desserts, soups, or just as a savory snack. Pumpkin seeds are edible when cooked.
One cup (approximately 115g) of pumpkin provides your dog with;
> Calories – 30
> Fat – 0g
> Protein – 1g
> Carbs – 8g
> Fiber – 1g
As well as these nutrients, pumpkin also has high levels of antioxidants that act as an anti-inflammatory for your dog. This fruit also provides excellent levels of potassium and vitamin C.
Kiwis
Kiwi’s make an excellent snack for your dog. If feeding kiwi to your dog, it is best to remove the skin before doing so as it can be difficult to digest. Kiwis provide your dog with high levels of vitamin C and potassium which are important nutrients within their diet. Kiwi’s may seem a small fruit for us humans, but a whole kiwi could be too much for a dog. Prepare the kiwi by slicing it into small chunks and feeding around ¼ or ⅓ of the kiwi at a time.
As with all ‘human’ foods, when introducing it into your dog’s diet for the first time, it is recommended that you contact your local vet for serving suggestions.
FRUIT GAMES FOR DOGS
It can be quite easy to chop up the fruit and chuck it into your dog’s bowl to eat. Why not make them work for it? Struggling for ideas on how to? Below we have described and linked some ways that will challenge your dogs and make them work for their fruit. There are plenty of benefits of enrichment games for not just your dog, but also you as the owner too.
Benefits Of Canine Enrichment Games:
> Tires your dog out -A tired dog tends to be easier to train and better behaved.
> Increase brain capacity -Playing brain games keeps your dogs brain sharp
> Rewarding for your dog -Being rewarded with treats or toys is great for dogs, it keeps them happy and mentally healthy
> Lowers stress and anxiety -Increasing physical and mental exercise is excellent for improving mental stress for your dog
> Increases the bond between you and your dog -Introducing new and fun games is exciting and your dog, by helping and playing these games with your dog, you will improve and build your relationship
We love finding games our dogs enjoy, and they’re perfect when you can only do a short walk or as an additional enrichment activity.
This is a great one for dogs who have never done enrichment before.
It’s the cheapest and easiest of our enrichment activities. You can use any vegetables suitable for dogs. Our favorites are cucumber, bananas, apples, carrots, and zucchini.
Read below for some excellent enrichment games for you and your dog!
Kong Stuffing
Kong stuffing is pretty simple. If you’ve not heard of a kong before, have a look at one here. They are designed with a soft outside with a hollow inside. The inside can be stuffed with different types of food; the aim is for your dog to lick or nibble the food from the inside of the kong.
If you would like to read more about the kong and kong recipes, read our article “Kong Stuffing Recipes.”
Fruit String Game
The vegetable string game is brilliant for your dog. It is very cheap, basic and I can almost guarantee you’ve got the equipment already at home.
In short, the string game consists of a piece of string approximately 1 meter long with various fruit and vegetables threaded on to it (a bit like a string kebab). Either end of the string is then tied around something. Your dog is to try and nibble the fruit or vegetables of the string. Quick, easy, and cheap.
Read our article “String Vegetable Game For Dogs” to find out more and a step-by-step guide on what to do.
Fruit Water Bobbing
Another simple yet enriching game for your dog. All you will need is a tub or bucket of water, sliced fruit, and your dog. The aim is for your dog to fetch out the fruit from the water using their teeth, sounds simple, but it can be a little tricky for your dog.
You can read more about this activity as well as six others in our article “7 Easy, Cheap And Homemade Enrichment Games And Activities For Dogs“, enjoy!
FAQS
Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers?
Cucumbers make an excellent snack for dogs. The crunchiness and refreshing taste is a great replacement for any shop-bought treats. As with any treats that your dog has, it should only make up around 10% of their overall diet.
What Fruits Are Bad For Dogs?
Cherries, grapes, and raisins are highly toxic to dogs. Citrus fruits such as; lemons, limes, and grapefruit can cause your dog to have an upset stomach.
What Can Dogs Drink Besides Water?
Milk is another option that dogs can drink. As well as milk, there are a variety of other drinks that are widely available to pet owners across the world, drinks such as; non-alcoholic beer and wine for dogs, as well as herbal teas and coffees minus the caffeine.
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Disclaimer: Each dog is different, and every circumstance is different. All efforts have been made to provide accurate information. However, it is not provided by a qualified Veterinarian, Veterinarian Surgeon, or Behaviorist. The information provided is purely educational. The information should not be used as an alternative or substitute for medical care. If you have any health or medical concerns, contact a qualified Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinarian immediately.
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