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Can Dogs Eat Dates? How Many Can They Eat?

Dogs put everything in their mouth, so dog owners need to stay on their toes.

Dates are small, unassuming fruit that your pup can quickly eat a lot of while you aren’t looking.

Luckily, they fall under the category of human food that your dog can safely eat- under some conditions.

If your dog accidentally got into your date supply, or if you want to give your dog the sweet fruit as a treat, we’ve got you covered. 

Keep reading if you want to know if dogs can eat dates, the number of dates a dog can eat, when dates are bad for your dogs, and everything else you need to know.

Can Dogs Eat Dates? 

You can feed your dogs dates, but only in small amounts.

Feeding your large dog many dates may lead to your dog gaining excessive weight, which can lead to obesity.

Obesity is the most prevalent preventable disease in dogs in North America.

If a dog is 10% overweight, its lifespan is reduced by 10 percent, and unfortunately, 25 – 50% of the dog population is obese.

The dried fruit can also rot your dog’s teeth. 

Keeping your dog healthy is an essential part of pet ownership, and a part of that is optimizing your dog’s diet. 

Can All Dogs Eat Dates?

Not all dogs can eat dates. If your dog has certain health conditions, feeding them dates can worsen the situation. Here are the types of dogs that you shouldn’t be feeding dates. 

Not Obese Dogs

Dates are calorific and high in sugar.

As aforementioned, they can cause obesity, so if your dog already has weight issues, it will worsen the situation. 

Not Diabetic Dogs

Dates have high sugar content.

They are used to manage diabetes in humans, but it’s not the same for dogs.

If your dog has diabetes, feeding them sweet fruits like dates could cause a potentially fatal blood sugar spike. 

Are Dates Good for Dogs?

There can be some health benefits to feeding your furry friend dates.

Dates have nutrients like vitamins A, B, and D.

These vitamins boost the health of your dog’s bones and immune system.

They’re also great for adding dietary fiber to your dog’s diet, which can improve the health of your dog’s digestive system.

While the high sugar content that dates have means that dogs should eat them in moderation, they can also be a good energy source. 

 As long as you feed your dogs dates in moderation and they don’t have any preexisting conditions, then dates can be beneficial for your dogs.

When Are Dates Bad for Dogs?

While dates can benefit your dog, you must be careful.

If your dog reacts negatively to sugar, avoid feeding them the fruit.

With Pits

Always remove all your date pits before you feed them to your dog.

They don’t contain any toxic compounds, but they are a choking hazard due to their hardness. 

Their hardness also means that they could cause a potential abdominal blockage for your dog, which causes constipation.

All fruits with pits pose a danger to your pets because of this.

Aside from the choking risk, biting a date pit may damage your dog’s teeth.

With Allergies  

If you notice that your dog starts acting strangely after eating dates, the strange behavior could be an allergy symptom.

Some signs that your dog is experiencing an allergic reaction are a runny nose, frequent sneezing, an itchy nose, a strained expression, blue-colored swelling under their eyes, and difficulty sleeping.

You should take your dog to the vet immediately if you notice that the allergic reaction is triggering an asthma attack for your dog.

With Stomach Issues

Too many dates can lead to your dog experiencing an upset stomach, which can lead to your dog experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.

The stomach ache happens because dates have high sugar content. 

Humans can experience the same thing if they eat too many dates.

If your dog experiences vomiting or diarrhea that lasts longer than two days, you must take them to the vet immediately.

With Weight Issues

Dogs who suffer from issues with their weight or conditions that could cause weight issues should not be fed dates.

How Many Dates Can a Dog Eat?

You can only feed your dog a few dates, no more than two in one sitting.

You can feed large dogs dates twice a week, but for smaller dogs, you should only treat them to dates once a week.

How to Feed Your Dog Dates

Feeding your dog dates is easy.

So grab a bag of Deglet Noor dates and get ready to give your dog a fantastic treat.

Remove the Pit First

The first step is getting the data ready for your dog.

Next, you must remove the pit. Cut the date lengthwise, then gently and carefully remove its pit.

Start Small

Your first feeding your dog dates is a test for how your dog’s digestive system handles the fruit, so you should start with a small amount to avoid causing your dog digestive upset.

Observe

Observe your dog to see if they start showing any signs of reacting badly to the dates.

You’re clear if your dog doesn’t react badly and likes the fruit.

How to Train Your Dog to Eat Dates in Moderation

The first thing you should do is store the dates outside your dog’s reach.

If your dog starts thinking of dates as dog treats, they will try to break into your stash, which can be dangerous for them if they succeed.

The next step is being firm.

If your dog starts refusing their regular dog food, don’t cave and give them dates.

Instead, put out their meals at the regularly scheduled time, and we promise they’ll eat when they get hungry.

You should ensure that your dog responds to simple commands like “drop it” or “stop” in case you need to get a date out of their mouth.

How to React if Your Dog Eats Too Many Dates

Every dog owner knows that accidents happen.

So if your dog eats too many dates for whatever reason, don’t panic. 

Consult Your Vet

Contact your vet if you notice that your dog starts showing visible signs of discomfort or any of the other symptoms mentioned earlier.

They will need medical attention if they have an upset stomach or an allergic reaction.

If the symptoms aren’t severe, you should call your vet to see if you can handle them at home or if you’ll need to bring them in for a check-up.

Regular Bathroom Trips

You want to avoid your dog becoming constipated, so you should carry them to the bathroom as much as possible.

Monitor each bowel movement for signs of diarrhea or dry, hard stool.

If you notice either of the two symptoms, you may need to schedule an appointment with your vet. 

Encourage Relaxation

Try your best to keep your dog as relaxed as possible.

Offer your furry friend comfort through pets and head pats so they don’t feel scared and alone.

You don’t want your dog to be emotionally distressed when they’re already feeling sick.

Wrapping Up

If you’re going to feed your dog dates, ensure that you follow the proper safety procedures.

As long as you don’t overfeed dog dates and they’re healthy, they’ll be ok. 

However, it would be best to speak with your vet before making significant changes to your dog’s diet to avoid possible side effects.

They’ll tell you the best practices for ensuring your dog stays healthy.

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