Key Takeaways
- Dates contain many nutritious vitamins and minerals.
- Dogs should mostly eat a sugar-free diet to prevent diabetes and obesity.
- Dates can be choking hazards due to the pits.
- Chop dates up into tiny pieces before serving them to a dog.
The quick answer: Yes, dogs can eat dates, but only sparingly due to the high sugar content.
The sweet, edible date fruit grows in clusters on a date palm tree and is native to the Middle East. Dates contain high amounts of sugar and are often used as a natural sweetener in smoothies and baked goods. They can be eaten fresh, but are usually eaten partially dry and resemble a giant raisin (but unlike raisins, dates are not toxic to dogs).
Benefits
Dates are nature’s candy and contain many beneficial vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, and many B vitamins. They also contain calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and dietary fiber.
Though humans enjoy dates as a sweet treat with added nutrients, dogs don’t necessarily enjoy (and digest) sweet treats the same way. Dogs should eat a mostly sugar-free diet, and because dates are high in natural sugar, dates should only be shared sparingly.
Hazards
Dogs that eat high amounts of sugar face a greater risk of diabetes and obesity. The fiber content is another reason to moderate your dog’s intake of dates. Consuming too many dates at once means eating high amounts of sugar and fiber, which can give your dog an upset tummy or diarrhea.
Often times, you can purchase dates with the pits already removed. However, if your dates still contain pits, it’s a good idea to remove them before sharing with your dog. To remove the pit, slice a date lengthwise and pop it out. The good news is that unlike many other fruits, the pit of a date doesn’t contain cyanide. But the bad news is that swallowing a date pit can pose a choking hazard or cause an internal blockage for small dog breeds.
Finally, whole dates might be difficult for some dogs to chew. Make it easier for your pup to sample this unique fruit by chopping it into tiny pieces.
Curious about what is okay and not okay for your dog to eat? Check out our comprehensive guide on what human foods are safe and not safe for dogs.
Want to make sure your pets are covered from those unexpected illnesses or injuries with no limits on payouts? Get a quote and make sure you’re covered for those dog and puppy mishaps and unpleasant surprises.
