Can Dogs Eat Dates? Are Dates Good or Bad For Pooches? How to Feed and Side Effects

Are you fond of dates? If you’re a dog owner who loves snacking dates nearly every day, you might wonder if your favorite fruit snack is good for your pooch as well. However, you’re not alone. I know some pet owners who are constantly investigating these things: can their dogs eat the fruits or vegetables they eat? Are they good or bad to them? What fruits and vegetables should dog avoid eating?

If you love dates and have a dog, I bet you’ve always been bothered by your furry friend when they see you eat it. Don’t be too surprised if they tail you wherever you eat; most dogs eat anything that their dog owners eat–so get used to it, you can’t escape them.

Well, back to the topic, if you love dates, then you might be thinking of sharing your favorite fruit snack with your furry buddy. If you are worried that you may kill them, then don’t. You do not have to be scared of letting them eat it…in moderation. I repeat, in moderation.

Where do dates come from?

Where does your favorite snack come from? Well, according to the reports, dates are the fruit of the date palm tree, which is said to have come from Iraq. It is an ancient fruit that has been consumed since prehistoric Egypt. So, meaning, even before it became well known to everyone, our ancestors were eating this fruit long ago. Interesting, right?

Can dogs eat dates?

OK, now we are here to clarify the myths around dates and whether or not they are harmful to dogs. 

Can your furry buddy eat dates? Absolutely yes, but feed them in moderation, like what I said. Not only for humans, but also for dogs, dates are healthy. But it doesn’t mean you’re going to let your doggo eat it freely and regularly … that would be a very bad choice!

Before relaxing on your sofa while scrolling Netflix, keep in mind that there are several things you need to remember before you let your dog eat dates. 

You cannot let your dog eat dates whenever they want to. This snack can be too high in sugar and fiber, so it is really not advisable to let them dig in and snack on it all the time. It can be harmful to their digestive system, meaning, it is highly possible that if they have too much, they will end up having diarrhea

What are the health benefits of eating dates?

There’s nothing toxic to your furry buddy in dates. There are no major toxins that are harmful to your dog. It is actually packed with nutrition and is a fruit snack that is low-fat and free of cholesterol. Therefore, having it in your diet is fine for your pooch.

Dates have vitamins A, B, and C in it, and they also have dietary fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, riboflavin, zinc, copper, manganese, and protein. Adding on, it also has high levels of polyphenols. 

This snack is a good source of minerals as well as carbohydrates, meaning, dates can lift your dog’s energy. 

What else? 

Dates are safe, unlike raisins that are harmful to dogs. With almost everything, dates are thought to help – it’s good for the heart and eyes, bone strength, immune system, and digestion.

Notes: Dates are usually sold and consumed dry, which only means it has a high amount of sugar in them. All its calories come from the snack’s sugar content. 

Things to consider when feeding dates to your dog

Despite having an impressive list of health benefits, you still have to remember that before feeding them this human food, there are things you need to consider first. Since doggos process sugar in their bodies, the same way we humans process sugar, giving too much is too bad – not a good idea at all!

Feeding them too much sugary food can lead to having an unhealthy body – they could have diabetes, dental issues and worst, it can even lead to obesity. So, what should you do first? 

How to feed dates to your dogs?

If you still want to share your tasty dates snack to your furry friend, then just start by feeding them small pieces first. 

Remove the pits, don’t forget. If you allow your dog to eat it, they may end up being shocked. While this part of the dates is not toxic, it may create a blockage in your dog’s small intestine.

Observe. Once you give him the first dates, keep a close eye on the reaction of your dog. See if his behavior has changed. If all goes smoothly and you noticed he’s okay, you can give him more.

Do not get too excited about it and give them a spoonful of dates because, again, that is a big no-no, OK?

Side effects of dates to your dogs: Signs that your dog had eaten too many dates

Some dogs might be OK with consuming dates while others are not, which means observing your furry friend once you let them eat dates is necessary. There are several signs you can see if your furry friend has eaten too many dates.

  1. Digestive distress
  2. Have strange bowel habits
  3. Vomiting
  4. Nausea
  5. Spike in blood pressure
  6. Changes in behavior (hyperactive, have bloodshot eyes, have no appetite, extra thirsty, etc.)
  7. Pacing
  8. Lack of concentration
  9. Stiff tail
  10. Pupils dilated
  11. Low tail carriage
  12. Averting eyes 

So be careful, some dogs may be allergic to dates. Aside from the above list, due to its sugar content, dates may also cause choking, diabetes, and obesity.

What you should do if your dog had eaten too many dates?

Don’t be in a panic! That’s the first rule. If you noticed that after feeding him, your dog behaved strangely, you need to react calmly so that you’d be in the right mind when deciding what to do first.

The following are the things you could do when you noticed that your dog is reacting strangely:

  1. Call your veterinarian. 
  2. If necessary, bring your pooch to your vet or to the nearest pet clinic in your area. 
  3. Take the outside to burn off the extra energy that they got from eating a sugary snack. 
  4. Take your dog on a regular trip to the bathroom. Dates may upset their stomach, so your dog may need to poop to ease the pain they feel.
  5. Always be there. Comfort your pooch if you noticed that they have an upset stomach.
  6. Try to encourage your dog to lie down and relax.

Recipe: Can dogs eat dates? 

If you’re still tempted to feed your dog dates, or if you’d like to add it to the diet, you might want to consider the following recipe from Peta.

The recipe that I will introduce to you is called Carrot, Date, Oatmeal Treats. 

What do you need for this recipe? Pretty simple:

  • 1 ½ cup of gluten-free all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons of baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons of finely sliced dates (do not forget to remove the pit, please)
  • ½ cup of instant plain oatmeal
  • 1 cup of finely cut raw carrots
  • ½ cup of water
  • ½ cup of natural unsalted peanut butter

How to make Carrot, Date, Oatmeal Treats?

  1. Heat up your oven to 325 ° Fahrenheit.
  2. Mix the baking powder, oatmeal, and flour in a bowl.
  3. After combining the baking powder, oatmeal and flour, create a well in the middle.
  4. Put the dates and carrots in a different basin and mix it with the water and peanut butter.
  5. Mix it in the mixing bowl after nix bg of water, peanut butter, carrots and dates, where you combined baking powder, oatmeal, and flour. Mix it with the well you’ve made some time ago and stir it until it’s well combined.
  6. Flatten the dough until it is approximately ¼ – inch thick.
  7. Use a cookie cutter to cut the treats that you made.
  8. Put the sliced dough on a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  9. Bake it for 14 to 16 minutes.
  10. Let it cool for half an hour before giving it to your dog. 

Note: If there are leftovers, you can store it in your refrigerator. Just a reminder, you can only store it up to two weeks. 

Final thoughts 

Dog owners are often so frustrated when they see their dogs digging for food, especially if they eat the food they don’t like… the harmful ones. Dogs eat something that looks edible even if it looks so weird and gross that’s why it’s important to keep a close eye every time you see your doggo chewing something.

When you give them human food, you need to pay close attention to the reaction of your dog. It should be your number one priority to monitor and observe them later when you first feed them with human food.

On the other hand, keep in mind that the most important thing about feeding your furry buddies is moderation – repeat after me, moderation is the key to keeping your dog safe and healthy. 

0 0 vote
Article Rating
Spread the love
  •  
  •  
  • 1
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
    1
    Share
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments