Dogs, as humans’ best friends, are constantly drawn to what we consume. When they see you eating something, they want to try it too. However, it is your responsibility as a dog owner to select meals that are appropriate for your dog. Some meals may be harmful to your dog’s health.
“Can dogs eat figs?” is a frequently asked question among dog owners. Simply put, dogs can consume figs.
Figs are beneficial for dogs since they include several key nutrients that canines require to stay healthy. Aside from its health benefits, it also tastes great on your dogs.
However, while figs are safe for your dog to eat, several factors must be addressed before feeding figs to your dog.
Some meals may be harmful to your dog’s health. However, while figs are safe for your dog’s consumption, some considerations must be addressed before giving figs to your dog to avoid it being harmed by their dangerous side effects.
Continue reading as we go through them.
What are figs?
Figs are a sort of fruit that grows in clusters on the fig tree and has a strawberry-like form. Fig trees yield a single crop each year, which is typically picked between November and January. The fig season lasts around six months, with the peak season falling around Christmas.
Because figs are abundant in fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and copper, they make a wonderful snack before bed or after eating heavier foods like meat dishes or pasta.
This can help avoid heartburn by supporting normal digestion and relieving constipation induced by eating too much pasta or fatty meats (chicken). Furthermore, figs contain iron, which aids in the regulation of red blood cells, avoiding anemia.
Because figs are almost completely water, they are a great thirst quencher that is also high in potassium and magnesium. Because of the high quantities of nutrients contained in figs, they may be consumed raw or cooked with honey to help fulfill a sweet tooth while offering an energy boost.
Benefits of eating figs
Figs are a high-fiber, low-calorie meal.
Figs are excellent for dogs that have digestive issues because they supply the essential bacteria needed to enhance digestive health and aid in normal digestion.
Figs can also be used to stimulate hunger. Feeding your dog figs may encourage their urge to eat, ensuring that there are no undernourished dogs in the house.
A healthy digestive system. Figs are also high in fiber, which aids digestion and can help calm or prevent diarrhea in your dog.
Figs include soluble fiber, which is necessary for digestive health; figs work as prebiotic agents, promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestines; and figs are beneficial to dogs suffering from chronic bowel difficulties such as diarrhea.
Fig leaves may help relieve gastrointestinal pain caused by colic gas (flatulence).
When applied topically to the belly, many people think fig leaves help relieve symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort such as vomiting and constipation. They also make a fantastic natural cold compress if you’re ever stranded without one.
Side-effects of eating figs
Figs may be eaten by dogs. The fig is a fruit that offers numerous benefits for humans but has potential concerns for dogs. Fig includes a lot of natural sugars, which can be harmful to their health if consumed in excess, especially if the dog’s stomach isn’t adapted to them yet.
Dogs cannot digest figs, so they may have gastrointestinal upset if they consume them. When feeding your pup fig, the best thing you can do is introduce little portions progressively over time until the food gets more habitual, then increase portion sizes proportionately.”
It is not recommended to feed figs to dogs. The fig plant has numerous seeds, and the leaves contain an irritant called oxalic acid, which can induce gastrointestinal discomfort in some animals, including humans (though most people are unaffected).
There are over 2000 species of fig trees, so there may be others that produce figs without these adverse effects; if you have observed your dog consume figs without any bad effects, they may just tolerate them better than other breeds or people.
It is always better to consult your veterinarian before providing fig products to your pet because each animal reacts differently from person to person and breed to breed.
Are figs bad for dogs?
While a few figs here and there may be a nice and nutritious treat for your dog, there are some problems with giving figs to dogs.
Figs have a high sugar content and are not a low calorie dessert. As a result, it is crucial not to overfeed figs, since they can cause caloric excess and imbalance your pet’s diet if eaten on a regular basis.
Treats or meals offered on a regular basis in addition to professionally prepared, complete and balanced dog food should not account for more than 10% of your dog’s diet. A tiny fresh fig has around 30 calories.
A 60-pound Labrador could eat up to two tiny figs per day if they were the sole snack added to his diet. An 8-pound Chihuahua, on the other hand, should not be given more than half a fig every day.
As a result, if your dog wants to lose weight, lower calorie foods like green beans or carrots are a better choice.
Dogs with diabetes should avoid eating figs on a regular basis owing to their high sugar content, which can make maintaining a stable blood sugar and managing their disease more difficult.
Some dogs, like humans, may be sensitive to or allergic to figs. When feeding figs to your dog for the first time, start with a quarter-sized piece and wait a day or so to see whether your dog exhibits any indications of stomach or intestinal trouble before feeding him more of this fruit.
Because of the fiber content, giving your dog too many figs may cause diarrhea. Dogs should not be permitted to chew on fig leaves or branches, nor should they come into touch with fig tree sap.
While the fig tree is not harmful to dogs, it does contain skin and digestive irritants that can cause rashes, vomiting, and diarrhea.
One reason to avoid giving dried figs to dogs is that they may constitute a choking hazard because of their thick and chewy texture.
Can dogs eat fig tree parts?
The Ficus tree, which produces figs, should not be placed within your dog’s reach. The Ficus tree is toxic to dogs. Your dog should not be exposed to any part of the Ficus tree. If your dog ingests any portion of the Ficus tree by accident, it might cause serious and life-threatening reactions.
If your dog comes into contact with the leaves of a Ficus tree on a frequent basis, he or she may get skin irritation because the fig plant produces sap that irritates dogs.
If your dog swallows any portion of the fig tree, you will most likely experience persistent diarrhea, wet eyes, gastrointestinal discomfort, and vomiting.
The average quantity of figs your dog can have
Even if they’re okay for dogs, don’t go crazy and throw a barrel of figs in front of your pup. While the high fiber content and natural sugars are beneficial in moderation, you don’t want to overdo them because these are quick ways to upset your dog’s digestive system.
The easiest way to prevent difficulties while feeding figs to your dog is to do it in moderation. Introducing new foods to your dog’s diet might cause stomach distress, so start with feeding your dog only one fig.
This strategy will let its digestive system adjust to figs before introducing them into its normal diet. Depending on your dog’s size, you should feed him figs around twice a month.
Smaller breeds can only devour half their size, while larger breeds can consume one or two at a time. Always keep an eye out for allergic symptoms to see if your dog can tolerate figs in its diet.
A pleasant, healthy medium would be one fig per week for a medium-sized dog, two for bigger canines, and a fraction of one for tiny dogs.
Feeding Figs To Dogs In A Nutshell
- Always give your dog fresh figs.
- Limit yourself to 2-3 figs each week and
- Only serve one at a time.
- Figs should always be chopped into smaller pieces.
- Don’t feed dried figs to your dog
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are figs poisonous to dogs?
While the fruit is harmless for dogs, the ficus plant is hazardous owing to the presence of ficin. Ficin is a sap-like material that, when consumed or in contact with a dog’s skin, can induce allergic reactions, diarrhea, and vomiting.
2. Can dogs consume fig jam?
Because of its high sugar content, fig jam is not suitable for dogs. Human-grade jam typically contains artificial sweeteners such as maltodextrin, xylitol, and others that can be hazardous to dogs.
3. Can dogs eat figs straight from the tree?
Yes, dogs can eat figs straight off the tree. However, avoid exposing your dog to the Ficus tree’s leaves, branches, or bark, as they might be harmful. Except for the fruit, never let them consume any part of the fig plant.
4. Can dogs consume dried figs?
Feeding dried figs to your dog is not recommended since they are normally preserved by adding even more sugar, making them higher in calories and generally excessively sweet for a dog.