Can Dogs Eat Plums?

Yes, dogs can eat plums as long as they are pitted and given in very small amounts. The flesh of ripe plums is totally safe for dogs and can make a healthy snack when fed in the right way. They contain vitamin A and C as well as fiber, which contributes to the good health of dogs.

Since they are loaded with natural sugar, plums can be a good source of energy for dogs. This will help fuel your furry friend’s activities and playtime. Vitamin A is essential for promoting healthy vision, skin, and coat of dogs. Vitamin C is important for boosting the immune health of dogs. The fiber content in these fruits can aid digestion, regulate bowel movements, and control blood sugar levels. Plums have a high water content that can help provide extra hydration to dogs on hot days.

However, there are a couple of things you should know before feeding these fruits to your dog. Plums are very high in natural sugars, which can cause obesity, diabetes, and digestive upsets if consumed in large amounts. 

Plum pits and the rest of the plum plant including the stem, roots, and flowers contain toxins like cyanide, amygdalin, and cyanogen. Feeding these to dogs can lead to serious plum poisoning that can be life-threatening if not properly handled. Besides being a choking hazard, the plum pit can get lodged in the digestive tract of dogs, leading to a fatal obstruction.

The high fiber amounts of fiber in these fruits can make your dog’s belly hurt if moderation is not observed.

Candied Plums 

Candies and other candied products are packed with sugars that are unhealthy for dogs. Too much sugar can lead to unhealthy weight gain, diabetes, dental issues, and other health issues. It’s best to avoid feeding candied plums to dogs as they may contain seeds, artificial sweeteners, and spices that can be harmful to dogs.

Can dogs eat candied plums?

Absolutely not. Dogs can’t and should not eat candied plums. While plums themselves are not toxic, candied plums contain added sugars and artificial sweeteners, making them highly sugary. 

The digestive systems of dogs are not capable of handling excessive amounts of sugar. Besides causing belly aches, consuming large amounts of sugary foods, candied plums included, can lead to obesity, diabetes, tooth decay, and other related health issues. 

Dried Plums 

Dried plums, also referred to as prunes, are plums that have been dehydrated. They thus have a higher nutrient concentration compared to their fresh counterparts. 

Can dogs eat dried plums safely?

No, dogs can’t eat dried plums safely. This is because dried plums have a high sugar concentration due to the dehydration process. This also means that they are also packed with calories. High sugar and calorie amounts can lead to weight gain, which consequently puts your dog at a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease.

If your dog steals one or two plums, you need not panic, as they are likely to be fine as long as the pit is removed. However, it’s best to keep dried plums out of your dog’s reach for its safety.

Raw Plums 

Raw plums are packed with vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and K. These play important roles in boosting the immunity of dogs, improving vision, enhancing healthy blood clotting, and supporting strong and healthy bones. They are also rich in fiber and minerals such as potassium.

Can dogs eat raw plums safely?

Yes, raw plums are not only safe but also highly nutritious for dogs. Giving raw plums is the best way to offer these fruits to your dog. This is because, unlike cooked plums, raw plums have all their nutrients intact as none is lost in the process of preparation.

However, raw plums are only safe for dogs if they are pitted and given in moderation. Feeding too many raw plums to dogs can give them a belly ache. Raw plums are also high in sugar, which can cause health problems like weight gain and diabetes if consumed in large amounts.

Plum Jam

Plum jam is undoubtedly delicious for humans, but not so much for dogs. While this is not toxic, it’s packed with sugar, which is unhealthy for dogs in high amounts. Plum jam may also contain artificial sweetener, xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs.

Can dogs eat plum jam safely?

No, dogs can’t eat plum jam safely as it’s jam-packed with sugar, which is unhealthy for dogs. Feeding high sugar foods in large amounts to dogs will lead to a digestive upset in the short run and obesity, diabetes, and heart problems in the long term. Plum jam is simply pure sugar boasting of too many calories which are not good for dogs.

While plum jam is non-toxic and may not harm dogs if fed occasionally as very special treats, it’s best to stay off this food, especially if your dog is struggling with diabetes or obesity. Too much sugar can also interfere with a dog’s mood, making them irritable.

Plum Skin 

Plum skin is safe and healthy for dogs. It’s high in fiber which aids digestion, improves bowel movement, and helps in the control of blood sugar levels. It also contains vitamin C and A which boost immunity and improve eye health in dogs.

Can dogs eat plum skin safely?

Yes, dogs can eat plum skin without any problem provided it’s fed in moderation. Plum skin is loaded with fiber, which is great for digestion but can cause digestive issues including diarrhea if fed in large amounts.

You should also introduce plum skin in small amounts while watching out for any possible adverse reactions in your dog. Stop feeding this immediately if you notice signs like vomiting, diarrhea, itchy skin, paw licking, and red spots.

What Else Can Dogs Eat Together with Plums? 

The following are other fruits that can go well with plums for dogs:

Apples: These fruits make a fantastic addition to a dog’s diet, as they are full of nutrients that are beneficial to your dog. They are low in calories but high in fiber, making them excellent for dogs with digestive issues. Fiber aids digestion and regularizes bowel movement.

Apples are also loaded with antioxidants that can help dogs fight oxidative damage resulting from free radicals, combat diseases like cancer, and strengthen their immune systems. Chewing apples can also freshen your dog’s breath and improve oral health. They are also good sources of vitamin A and C as well as calcium, which contribute a great deal to a dog’s wellbeing.

Ensure you remove the seeds and the cores of apples before feeding, as these can harm dogs. The seeds contain cyanide, a toxic substance that can cause poisoning if ingested in large amounts. The core, on the other hand, is hard to digest and poses a choking risk, especially to small dogs.

Bananas: Aside from being yummy, bananas are nutritious and constitute a healthy snack for dogs when given in moderation. They contain nutrients like copper, magnesium, folate, potassium, biotin, and vitamins B6 and C, plus a healthy dose of fiber and antioxidants. These play critical roles in maintaining a dog’s general health.

Feeding bananas can help improve digestive health due to their high fiber content. This keeps moving smoothly in the intestinal tract. It’s also helpful in alleviating diarrhea and constipation in dogs. Vitamin C is crucial for immune health and can help dogs fight off diseases, while vitamin B6 ensures appropriate body and brain functioning, ideal body fluid balance, and proper hormone regulation.

However, like other fruits, bananas should be fed in moderation as they are very high in sugar which can cause obesity, diabetes, and other health problems.

Blueberries: Blueberries are among the safe fruits for dogs. They are high in vitamins C and K, as well as antioxidants. This makes them healthy snacks for dogs. Antioxidants can help dogs fight free radicals that cause cellular damage. They also assist in slowing down the aging process in older dogs.

Vitamin C is necessary for maintaining a healthy immune system, while vitamin K and calcium work together to maintain strong and healthy bones. Vitamin K is also good for blood clotting in dogs. What’s more, blueberries are low in calories, making them great for dogs who need to watch their weight.

However, blueberries are very high in sugar, which can cause tummy upsets and tooth cavities in dogs. They also contain lots of fiber, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea, if fed in high amounts. 

Oranges: Dogs can safely eat oranges as long as they are peeled, pitted, and the seeds removed. However, just like the majority of other fruits, oranges are filled with sugar, which can cause health issues in dogs if consumed in large amounts. Moderation is thus key while feeding oranges to dogs.

These fruits are chock-full of nutrients including thiamine, potassium, vitamin C, and folate as well as fiber and antioxidants. Some of the benefits that oranges offer to dogs include:

• Stronger immune system
• Healthy body fluid balance 
• Better kidney and heart health
• Healthy nervous system functions

Additionally, oranges have a high water content, making them great hydrating snacks. Their low-calorie content makes them great for dogs struggling with weight issues.

What are the health advantages of feeding Plums to your dog? 

While plums are not as nutrient-rich as other fruits like melons, bananas, or berries, they also contain some nutrients that are beneficial to dogs. These are some of the health benefits of feeding plums to your dog:

• They are high in vitamin A: Plums are good sources of vitamin A which is essential in supporting healthy eyesight as well as maintaining healthy skin and coat in dogs.
• Rich in vitamin C: Plums are loaded with vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant that can help oxidative damage caused by free radicals, ward off diseases like cancer, and slow down the aging process in old dogs. Vitamin C plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin and boosting immune health.
• High in fiber: These fruits make a good source of fiber which aids digestion, improves bowel and colon health, and regulates blood sugar levels. Fiber is also useful in weight management, ideal for dogs that are struggling with obesity.
• High water content: Plums are packed with water, which provides extra hydration for dogs. This makes them great for dogs that don’t like drinking water on their own.
• Contains potassium: Plums also contain potassium, which is essential for a healthy nervous system, heart, and kidney. Potassium also aids in muscle growth and development, as well as maintaining healthy body fluid balances.

What are the disadvantages of feeding Plums to your dog? 

While plums are safe and offer some health benefits, there are also some disadvantages to feeding the same to your dog.

• Obstruction risk: Besides being a choking risk, especially to small dogs, plum pits can get lodged in the digestive tract of dogs, causing a potentially life-threatening obstruction. This is a serious condition that may require emergency surgery to correct.
• Too much sugar: Plums are very high in sugar, which can cause health problems in dogs. Too much sugar can lead to obesity, diabetes, tooth cavities, and other related health issues.
• Cyanide poisoning: The pit of plums as well as the entire plum plant contains a toxic substance called cyanide. This toxin can cause plum poisoning in dogs if ingested in large amounts.

What are the best dog foods with Plums?

Plums contain nutrients like vitamins A, C, and K, as well as potassium, manganese, fiber, and antioxidants which offer health benefits to dogs. 

When fed in the right amounts and in the proper manner, plums can help boost the immune health of dogs, improve vision, promote healthy blood clotting, enhance proper nerve, heart, muscle, and kidney functioning, and help in fighting free radicals that cause oxidative stress to body cells.

In recognition of these benefits, some dog food brands incorporate plums in their recipes. Some of the best foods containing plums include:

• Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Duck Recipe With Plum Jerky Dog Treats
• Wysong Dream Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Treat

Is there a limit to how much plum is harmful to dogs?

Despite being a healthy treat for dogs, plums should only be fed in moderation as large amounts can cause health problems. Plums are very rich in fiber and sugar, which can cause gastrointestinal upset if consumed in large amounts. The high amount of sugar in these fruits can lead to tooth cavities, diabetes, obesity, and a host of other health issues.

Plums should thus be given only as occasional treats and not as part of their staple diet. The general rule is that fruits, plums included, should never make more than 10% of a dog’s daily calorie count. However, the specific amount of plums that you can feed your dog depends on their weight and size. Stick to feeding these fruits only a couple of times per week and not more than this.