Can Dogs Eat Plums?

Plums are a very tasty and nutritious snack for people, but can dogs eat plums, too? While your dog may give you those big, brown, pleading eyes while you’re biting into the juicy fruit, should you really share your plum with your pup?

This blog post will share everything you need to know about feeding your dog plums. Let’s dive in…

Can Dogs Have Plums?

Yes, you can safely feed your dog plums as long as you only feed them small pieces of the fleshy part of the fruit. This part of the plum contains beneficial nutrients and fiber. 

What we want to caution pup parents against is giving your dog an entire plum as a treat. The pit inside the plum can become a choking hazard for many pups or even cause an intestinal blockage requiring costly emergency surgery. Even if they crunch down on the pit and don’t ingest it whole, they can potentially crack a tooth on it or damage the lining of their GI tract with the sharp, jagged edges.

The pit also contains a chemical called amygdalin, which converts to cyanide when digested. There’s a bit of controversy around this. Of course when you hear the word cyanide you panic. However, there have been studies that do suggest amygdalin offers a range of benefits including treating certain cancers. Having said that eating too much, while not deadly, can cause toxicity, leading to stomach upset and other symptoms. So allowing your pup to chomp on these pits is just not a good idea.

How to Safely Feed Your Dog Plums

The first rule of feeding your dog plums is to make certain you are only giving them the fleshy part. Cut the flesh off the pit and toss that pit away. Be sure your dog can’t get into the trash and eat the pit.

The next rule for safely feeding your dogs plums is to only feed a little bit as a treat once in a while. While plums do offer some beneficial fiber and nutrients, they also have a good deal of sugar. And sugar is no bueno for our pups.

Sugar can cause weight gain, increase the risk of developing diabetes, and negatively impact oral health. So it’s best to serve this fruit in moderation. What does that look like exactly?

That really depends on the size of your dog and their health history. And for these reasons it’s really best to give your vet’s office a call and ask them how much plum is safe to feed your fur baby.

Generally speaking, if a dog has not been diagnosed with diabetes, then feeding a thin slice or two a day (cut into smaller pieces) should cause no harm.

Other Fruits to Safely Feed Your Dog

If you are interested in feeding your pup other fruit treats once in a while, here are some that are on the SAFE list:

• Pineapple (Minus the skin and leaves)
• Blackberries
• Apples, without the core, seeds, and stem
• Bananas, peeled
• Blueberries
• Mango, pit and skin removed
• Oranges, without the peel
• Tangerines, peeled
• Watermelon, minus the rind and seeds
• Cantaloupe, without the rind and seeds
• Cranberries

Fruits That Are Toxic to Dogs

While fruits can make a terrific and healthy snack for our dogs, there are some that are simply not good for them – and some that are deadly.

Avocado

The pit, skin and leaves of avocado contain a chemical called persin, which is very toxic for dogs. While the fleshy part contains only small amounts of persin, it’s still unwise to feed to your pup, as some dogs simply can’t tolerate any amount of persin.

Tomatoes

Ripe, red tomatoes are fine to feed your dog in small amounts. Having said this, many dogs have trouble with the acidity levels in tomatoes, and this could cause an upset stomach. But pup parents should never feed their dog unripe green tomatoes, stems or leaves. These all contain a chemical called solanine that is toxic to dogs.

Citrus Fruits

While not toxic, fruits like oranges, grapefruits and lemons are acidic and can give many dogs an upset stomach.

Other Pitted Fruits

Plums, nectarines, peaches… any fruit that has a pit, only feed the fleshy part, not the whole fruit to avoid a choking hazard.

Grapes/Raisins

Grapes and their dried version – raisins – are extremely toxic to dogs and can lead to acute kidney failure and death. Not even small amounts should ever be fed to a dog!

Final Thoughts

Can dogs eat plums? Technically, yes they can. But there are a couple of rules when feeding dogs plums: never feed the whole fruit as a dog can easily choke on the pit. And only feed very little bits as a special treat as plums contain a lot of sugar.

What’s Good for Your Dog and Has No Pits or Sugar?

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References:

Kitic D, Miladinovic B, Randjelovic M, Szopa A, Sharifi-Rad J, Calina D, Seidel V. Anticancer Potential and Other Pharmacological Properties of Prunus armeniaca L.: An Updated Overview. Plants (Basel). 2022 Jul 20;11(14):1885. doi: 10.3390/plants11141885. PMID: 35890519; PMCID: PMC9325146.

https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-plums

https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-nutrition/what-can-dogs-eat/can-dogs-eat-plums

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fruits-vegetables-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/

The information contained on this blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. Always consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your pet's health care or treatment plan.

The authors of this blog are not veterinarians and do not claim to be experts in pet health. The information provided here is based on our own experiences and research, as well as information from reputable sources. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information.

We encourage you to do your own research and consult with your veterinarian before making any decisions about your pet's health.