Can Dogs Eat Plums?
In moderation. Plum flesh, pitted and in small pieces, is safe in small amounts. The pit, never: it can get stuck in the intestine and its seed releases cyanide if chewed.
What it gives your dog
Plums have about 45 kcal per 100 g, water, fiber, vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants. They also contain sorbitol, a natural sugar with a laxative effect: that is why, as soon as the amount goes too far, many dogs get soft stools or diarrhea.
The danger is the pit. It is hard, oval and pointed, just the right size to get stuck in the intestine of a small or medium dog. Its seed contains amygdalin, which releases cyanide if the pit breaks when chewed; the leaves and stems of the plum tree also contain it, and the ASPCA lists the plum tree among plants toxic to dogs. Under the trees in summer, fallen fruit ferments and gets eaten pit and all. Prunes (dried plums) are a different matter: lots of concentrated sugar and sorbitol, and some still have the pit. Do not confuse them with raisins, which are toxic.
How to serve it
- Ripe, washed, pitted and in small pieces
- With or without the skin, whichever your dog tolerates better
- Fresh, or frozen in cubes in summer
- Pick up fallen fruit if you have plum trees in the yard
- Never in syrup, as jam, or prunes as a treat
How much can they eat?
Now and then: small dog (under 10 kg / 22 lb), 1-2 small pieces (10-15 g); medium dog (10-25 kg / 22-55 lb), half a plum (25-30 g); large dog (over 25 kg / 55 lb), one pitted plum (50-60 g). Within the 10 % of calories for extras.
Risks
- Pit: intestinal blockage and injuries
- Seed, leaves and stems with amygdalin (cyanide)
- Diarrhea from the sorbitol and fiber
- Fallen, fermented fruit in the yard
- Prunes, plums in syrup or jam: lots of sugar
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my dog swallows a plum pit?
It may pass without trouble in a large dog, but it can also get stuck in the stomach or intestine, especially in small and medium dogs. If they chewed it, the seed releases some amygdalin. Call the vet even if your dog seems fine and watch for vomiting, not eating or not pooping. Do not make them vomit on your own.
Can dogs eat prunes?
Not as a treat. Prunes concentrate sugar, fiber and sorbitol, so they cause diarrhea easily, and some still have the pit. One that falls on the floor and gets eaten without the pit is not dangerous. Do not confuse them with raisins, which are toxic to a dog's kidneys even in small numbers.
General information reviewed against veterinary sources. If your dog has eaten something that worries you, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet right away, without waiting for symptoms.