Can dogs eat plums?

What happens if a dog eats plums? Are they dangerous for our dogs? Ripe plums shouldn’t be a problem as the pulp is usually non-toxic.. Even so, there are other parts of the plant, such as the roots, the stem or the flowers that contain toxic.

Among them are:

• The amygdalin that gives bitter taste.
• The prunasin contained in the green parts.
• He cyanideespecially contained in plum pits, can cause problems even with minimal consumption.

For this reason, despite the fact that dogs can eat fruits and vegetables due to their omnivorous eating habits, you must be careful and inform yourself well before offering any of these foods, since the ideal is to feed our dogs with the complete food designed for their species that We can find them in stores specializing in animal feed.

Prunes will not be toxic for our canine companions, but they do have poor digestibility and can cause gastrointestinal problems, among which are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite, as well as containing much higher levels of sugar, which are not recommended for dogs, especially dogs. who are overweight or tend to be overweight.

Leaving aside these toxic compounds in plums, these fruits contain numerous health benefits for our canine friends, as they are a source of vitamin A Important for eye health and mucous membranes and appendages.

They are also rich in vitamin K levelsimportant in blood coagulation, and of vitamin Cwith antioxidant potential to prevent premature aging and the formation of free radicals and stimulant of the immune system.

plums too contain fiber, important for good digestion and promotion of intestinal transit, which prevents constipation. It is also moisturizing due to its high moisture content and is rich in minerals, such as copper for skin and bones. It is also worth mentioning the potassium contentimportant in fluid balance, good nerve, muscle and enzymatic function.

Depending on how the dog eats plums, it will endanger its health or not. If you are offered the pulp of the ripe plum, there should be no problem. Now, what happens if my dog ​​has eaten a plum stone? Whether it contains the bone or the green parts or the stem or roots, your health will be in danger, as they contain the previously mentioned dangerous toxins called cyanogenic glycosides.

The cyanide they contain binds to the iron ion (Fe3 +), contained in the mitochondrial enzyme called cytochrome oxidase, which forms a stable compound that prevents the oxidative phosphorylation reaction or cellular respiration of cellular mitochondria, thus cells cannot use oxygen not being able to fix it to perform the breathing reaction.

This leads to histotoxic anoxia. which can produce symptoms such as the following:

When giving your dog plums you should offer him the part of the ripe pulp without bones or seeds to avoid cyanogenic glycosides that can cause problems of lack of oxygen in the tissues as well as suffocation or choking problems.

It would also be convenient remove the skin and always wash them before peeling and cutting them to avoid dirt and toxic compounds such as pesticides. The dose of fruits and other snacks or treats for dogs should not exceed 10% of the dog’s daily nutritional intake, which will depend on its size and lifestyle.

Are dog treats good? Discover the answer in the following AnimalWised article.

We have already commented on the dangers of giving plums to dogs in an inexperienced way, thinking that they will only benefit them, since the seeds, bones, green parts and roots contain dangerous glycosides that will jeopardize their correct cellular respiration, producing side effects in your body, among which are:

• dyspnea
• red gums
• hypersalivation
• The tremors
• sphincter relaxation
• He shock
• Death

In addition, the sugar they contain, especially the drier or dehydrated ones, endangers cardiovascular health and the glycemic balance of dogs, promoting:

In addition, excessive consumption of plums can have laxative effects due to the fiber content they contain, which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, among other annoying gastrointestinal signs.

The main contraindications for the consumption of cherries in dogs is to offer them with bones, seeds, skin or other parts of the plant due to the cyanogenic glycoside content, the consumption of dehydrated plums due to their high sugar content that can endanger their metabolic health and the maintenance of its weight in normal conditions.

The consumption of this fruit should not be offered to more sensitive dogs of the gastrointestinal system or who suffer from a disease that is causing a speeding up of intestinal transit or diarrhoea.

If you want to read more articles similar to Can dogs eat plums?we recommend that you enter our Home Diets section.