Can Dogs Eat Dates? Feeding Dates to Dogs
When feeding our furry companions we must take extra care in what we are putting in their diet. Soffvari et al. (2010) reveal that, as pet owners, one will always be interested, wondering whether dogs can consume a certain food. One of the questions that pet lovers may often ask is, can dogs eat dates? Dates are a sweet snack, which is favored by many individuals. Nevertheless, not all of them are always safe to feed your pets and the bottom-line is to know the possible advantages and disadvantages of feeding them to your dog.
This guide will look at the subject in depth, discussing all the details, starting with whether dogs eat dates and concluding with the advantages and dangers and substitutes. We would also show you the opinions of experts who are very much famous pet experts so that you can make a right decision regarding the diet of your dog. Pet Fresh Supplies gives a detailed insight to the readers about their pet care.
What are Dates?
Dates are a fruit of the palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera). They are famed to be sweet, chewy and nutritious in nature. You may find dates as a natural alternative to sugar and consumed as dessert dishes, snacks and even in smoothies. They resemble a reservoir of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which make them healthy to human beings. Dates contain a wholesome amount of fiber, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins, besides the fact that they are rich in natural sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose.
People are interested in knowing their dog’s good guidelines about different foods. There is no doubt that dates are a healthy snack for people, one will ask, can dogs eat dates?
Can Dogs Eat Dates?
The simple response is yes, technically, dogs can consume small quantities of dates. Dates have no poisonous ingredients; they do not have such dangerous ingredients as grapes that can put pets in danger. Nevertheless, there are various issues to remember before feeding the dog dates.
Dates are rich in unsaturated sugars that may lead to stomach discomfort in dogs when taken in huge proportions. Excessive dating results in diarrhea, upset stomach and even weight gain. This especially matters in case the dog is already overweight or has diabetes.
Dogs Nutritional Value of Dates
Dates contain a lot of nutrients which can be healthy to dogs in small portions. And this is what the nutritional breakdown goes like:
Sugar: Dates are naturally sweet since they are high in sugar. Though this gives man energy, dogs could develop health issues when given plenty of this.
Fiber: They contain fiber, this can help the bowel movements and support dogs’ digestion. Dates could help relieve constipation in dogs however you should not overfeed your dog with a lot of dates.
Vitamins Minerals: Dates are also rich in potassium bowel movement, cramps, and muscle control, magnesium, and vitamin B6, which is beneficial to the heart, muscle, and body.
When used occasionally, dates can be healthy treats to the dogs that are not chronically ill. Nevertheless, veterinary experts such as Dr. Karen Becker, a famous vet, advises to provide dates in small quantities because of the rich sugar content in the fruit. Some people wonder if dog breeds being different causes food selection to be different, but that is not true.
Can Dogs Eat Dates Fruit?
Although dates are not poisonous to dogs, it is seen that there are a number of dangers of feeding this fruit to your pet:
Natural Sugars: Dates are high in natural sugars contents. Although this may be suitable to humans, the digestive system of dogs is not created to digest a lot of sugar. Consuming more than the required amount of sugar might cause obesity, dental deformities and even diabetes in the long-run.
Choking Hazard: Dates contain big pits or seeds, and this makes it a possible choking hazard and more so in the smaller breeds of dogs. When feeding dates to your dog, it is also vital to ensure removal of the pit where there may be choking incidences.
Digestive Problems: The dates are also high in fibers which may be beneficial but only in limited amounts. Nevertheless, its excess may cause diarrhea, bloating, or some other digestive problems. Your dog has a sensitive stomach and it is advisable not to feed him or her with dates.
What Happens If a Dog Eats Too Many Dates?
In case you give your dog excess dates, there are some of the possible side effects that you need to look up:
Upset Stomach: Dates have some gastrointestinal effects, like diarrhea or even bloating, when an excess of them is consumed.
Weight Gain: dates are very rich in terms of sugar and are thus considered high in calories. Eating them on a regular basis or in excess may cause weight gain, and this is the last thing that dogs with predisposition to obesity need.
Hyperactivity: Eating a lot of dates may cause excess energy due to its high levels of sugar, which may increase the hyperactivity of your dog or make him over excited.
In case you feel signs of discomfort, (i.e. your pet is vomiting, diarrhea) or is lethargic, and your veterinarian may advise you accordingly.
At What Age Should Dogs not Eat Date?
At some points, you ought to avoid giving dates to your dog. These include:
Diabetes: Dogs that have diabetes are not supposed to be given sugar foods such as dates because it would increase blood glucose levels in the body.
Obesity: Foods with a high composition of calories like dates should be avoided by the overweight dogs because they risk increasing weight.
Tender stomachs: Dogs with sensitive stomachs or those likely to get upset stomachs might not be able to digest dates easily and this might cause a bout of diarrhea or vomiting.
Small Breeds: The dog breeds that are smaller are more prone to choking on the date pits and that is the reason why care should be given when feeding them dates.
How to Feed Dog Dates Safely?
You do not have to overfeed your dog with dates, but it is important to do it moderately. The following are some of the useful date feeding tips to your dog:
Pit removal: You should never give dates with pit to your canine. The hole is the potential choking point and may lead to damages to the digestive system of your dog.
Cut Them Into Small Pieces: You can cut down dates into small pieces to give them a chance of choking in case of a small sized dog.
Limit Quantity: sell dates in small quantities. Most dogs can be satisfied with one date particularly those that are small.
Monitor them: Do not forget to watch out for any side effects after feeding dates to your dog, some of which include diarrhea, and/or excessive thirst. In case you observe some negative effects, stop giving dates and visit your vet.
Substitutes of Dates to Dogs
Although dogs can be fed with dates occasionally, there are some healthier alternatives of fruits that can be used. These include:
Apples: Apples are an excellent source of low calorie snacks and can be good to your dog as far as they have the seeds and core removed.
Blueberries: These berries are high in antioxidants and have low sugar content hence they are a healthy and safe snack to most dogs.
Bananas: They are another good choice provided in moderation. They contain potassium and fiber. They have a lot of sugar as well, so do not eat much.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1:Do dogs die of dates?
Dates are not poisonous to dogs. They must however be taken in moderation because they contain a lot of sugar. An excessive amount of dates may cause digestive disorders and be overweight.
Q2: Is date pits edible by dogs?
No, the pits need to be removed by the owners before they feed the dates to their dogs. The pits may act as a choking hazard, and it may lead to digestive problems.
Q3: Do dates give dogs diarrhea?
Dates contain a lot of fibre which may result in diarrhea when consumed abundantly. As much as possible, feed dates sparingly and keep an eye out (monitor) your dog to ensure that it does not have any negative effects to that.
Q4: What are the number of dates that I can give my dog?
A small dog can take advantage of one date and a large dog can take two or three dates. Dates should also be cut into small segments since this reduces the chances of choking and these should be taken in limits to avoid any digestive complications.
Q5: Is a diabetic dog able to eat dates?
Diabetes- No, dogs are not supposed to have dates. Its contents of sugars might lead to spikes in blood sugar levels, which are not healthy in dogs with diabetes.
Conclusion
In short, are dates safe to consume by dogs? Yes, but with a limitation, dates can be fed to dogs; a few factors should be kept in mind. Dates are only recommended to be fed to dogs sparingly and in limited amounts since they have high levels of sugar and can cause stomach pain. Never forget to take out the pit and monitor the side effects when your dog is fed with dates. Pets that have pre-existing illness conditions such as diabetes or obesity should not be given dates but rather use other fruit that is healthier. If you are interested, you might visit the American Kennel Club for more knowledge about this query.
Ask your veterinarian in case you do not know whether dates can form a part of your dog diet. Having these precautions in mind and restricting the use of dates, you will be sure about the occasional sweet experience of your dog which will be able to obtain a nutritious and really tasty treat!
