The plum is a medium-sized stone fruit that has purple, red and yellow varieties.
You can find them in the northern hemisphere from around August to September when they are in season for harvesting.
Plums are a healthy fruit that can be given to your dog in moderation. They’re high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. But they do contain sugar, so you should only give them to your dog occasionally as a treat.
Can Dogs Eat Plums: What You Need To Know
It is safe for a dog to consume a small amount of plum per day, but it should be noted that there are certain precautions you need to take beforehand.
As with any food changes you should consult your vet if you have any concerns or need professional advice.
Some breeds may have sensitivities so ensure that the type and amount of fruit you give them doesn’t cause stomach upset.
Be sure to remove all seeds from plum flesh before feeding it to dogs due to their potential toxicity if swallowed whole. Seeds can also pose a choking hazard.
Make sure that you only feed the flesh of the plum. You should remove the skin, pips and any stems or foliage from the fruit.
Are plums good for dogs?
Plums are an unexpected source of nutrition for your pup.
Even though they’re a little lower in protein than other fruits, plums still offer some health benefits that can’t be found as easily elsewhere.
They are high in vitamin A, C and potassium all of which can help your dog to stay fit and healthy.
Plums also contain high levels of water and can be useful on a hot day to help to re-hydrate a hot and thirsty pooch.
A slice of plum in his water dish can be a pleasant treat.
How do you feed plums to a dog?
A few small slices of plum will make a great snack for your pup.
You can also add them to their meal, just be sure not to feed the skin along with the fruit flesh and make certain that you remove the pip as this can be a health hazard to dogs.
Make sure that the plum is fresh and ripe and that is does not have any mould or other discolouration.
Wash the plum thoroughly to make sure that any pesticides and dirt have been removed and that the fruit is clean.
Should you feed plums to a dog?
Although plums are safe for dogs one question is whether it is right to feed this fruit?
Well, the reality is that there are far better fruits and other foods that your dog can have.
Things such as apples, berries and bananas are much better, they contain less sugar and are a much healthier option for dogs.
Plums contain high amounts of sugar which could lead to the development of diabetes in your dog or weight gain so if you do choose to feed plums the don’t overdo it.
Can dogs eat canned plums?
You should never feed canned fruit of any type to your dog and this includes plums.
Canned fruits contain high amounts of sugar and often other ingredients such as artificial sweeteners, preservatives and flavourings, all of which can pose health risks to your pet.
Final Words
So, you can feed plums to dogs.
Whether or not you should is up to you but plums are probably not the best source of fruit for canines.
My dogs won’t touch plums or similar fruits so you may be literally ‘barking up the wrong tree’ when thinking about offering plums to your dog.
But, if your dog likes the taste and texture then, as in most things, a small amount given on an occasional basis, will make a nice treat for him.
