Aside from being a tasty snack, people have used prunes to grant relief from constipation- but can dogs eat prunes?
Dogs can eat pitted, dried or even fresh prunes. It’s not healthy for the dog, just not toxic if it eats one or two. The elevated levels of sugar and fiber content could end in stomach issues and later diarrhea if high amounts are consumed.
Can Dogs Eat Prunes to Relieve Constipation?
It’s a strange thing, considering giving your dog some prunes. There are one thousand other things that you could feed your dog for a snack. Personally, prunes wouldn’t even cross my mind as far as a doggie snack food.
However, I would think that it makes sense if an owner has noticed a constipation issue with their dog, and is looking for a quick and well-known remedy. Well, a human remedy.
Constipation can take a pet from discomfort to illness, to death. It isn’t a surprise at all that concerned owners would consider using something that they think will do the trick.
Though it might seem like something you could try out, it isn’t a good idea. If a dog eats enough to begin being affected by the prunes, it will make the dog worse before it gets better (if it gets better).
Not only will they be suffering from the effects of constipation, but they’ll also have a sour stomach to have to deal with from the prunes. There is a better way to handle this problem without making them sick in order to get well.
Alternatives to Ease Dog Constipation
There are a few other common things that you can use to help your dog, without the risk and dangers of using prunes. Here are some safe alternatives to prunes.
Aloe Vera Juice
Preferably straight from the plant if you have one, or if you can go and purchase an amount of 100% aloe vera juice with no additives. Adding small amounts of the juice to the dog’s water or sprinkled over food can help with constipation as well as soothe the digestive system with the anti-inflammatory nature of the aloe.
Apple Cider Vinegar
A small amount of apple cider vinegar mixed into your dog’s water will help it with all kinds of digestion issues and has been known to be effective to aid in the elimination of constipation.
Canned Pumpkin
Being chock full of fiber, canned pumpkin can have a similar effect for a dog as you would expect from prunes with a human. Though canned pumpkin is safe for your dog to consume, caution should be taken because pumpkin is a two-edged sword.
If you give your dog 1-4 tablespoons per meal, it will work toward eliminating constipation. But, if you give it double or triple that amount, it will produce a binding effect, that often works as a remedy for dogs with diarrhea.
No matter what it is, too much fiber can be harmful to your dog and gets in the way of absorbing nutrients in other food its consuming. Also, too much vitamin A can be harmful as well, so as a rule- less is more when using canned pumpkin for dogs.
Should I Give My Dog Prune Juice?
No, it would be best if you weren’t giving your dog any fluids to drink aside from water. It’s one thing to put a tablespoon or two of an additive into a dog’s water, such as aloe or apple cider vinegar. It’s something completely different to replace the water.
Everything that makes prunes a misguided idea to give to dogs is present in prune juice. Dogs are built to make the most out of the water it consumes, and to give it other things to drink can disrupt things.
Hydration is crucial for a dog, particularly if it is constipated. It is often the case that dehydration is the cause of a dog’s constipation.
When you give it a drink of something that causes stress to the body and the digestive system or even cause it to vomit from a sour stomach, you’ve succeeded in making the problem worse.
Water is best for a dog, no matter how you slice it. Prune juice (or any other juice) should be kept away from your dog.
What If My Dog Ate Prunes?
Sometimes dogs can’t help themselves. They see something as a food item, perceive it as something that they can reach, and gulp it down without a thought. If it fits in the mouth, it must be food, right?
If you’ve found that your dog has gotten into some prunes, chances are it’ll be okay. That said, you may want to try and figure out how many the dog consumed.
If you can’t get a good idea at how many, or, if you think it ate more than one or two, keep your eye on the dog, paying attention to its behavior. If it winds up with diarrhea, make sure it has access to plenty of water to rehydrate itself.
If it begins to vomit, get food out of reach for a little while until it appears that its stomach has settled down some. Still, remain vigilant for around 24 hours to make sure that the vomiting or runs have gone for good. If the dog persists in behaving ill, consult your veterinarian.
Conclusion
One thing that people need to understand as it relates to dogs and people food is that we are two different types of beings, with two completely different types of digestive systems. If it’s good for us, it might not necessarily be good for them.
Good intentions mingled with panic and ignorance can have disastrous results. The same is true as it relates to giving human remedies to dogs, whether its food, drink, or medications.
Yes, dogs can eat small amounts of prunes and get away with it most of the time, but why test those waters in the first place if you can help it?
There are much better options out there for doggie snacks and far better options for health remedies.
You’ll find Dog Nutrition Questions in the links below:
