Can Dogs Eat Figs?
It must have been a dream! My dog cannot eat figs! But hold on. What if this was not a dream? Can your dog eat figs?
Figs are pretty popular fruits, thanks to their multiple health benefits. These fruits are rich in fiber, calcium, potassium, and iron. Yet, you can eat them raw, cooked, or prepared.
Generally, figs are considered safe and healthy for your dog. However, it could be a nightmare for some dogs, particularly those with allergies. The following information will help you understand this element better.
Can Dogs Eat Figs?
You can feed figs to your dogs since they are safe and healthy. Yet, you must remain cautious during this process. Most fruits contain sugars that might affect your dog, meaning moderation should be a priority.
Various health benefits are associated with eating figs, as these fruits are rich in nutrients, amino acids, and minerals that boost muscle and immunity development. However, your dog can only enjoy these benefits if it is not sensitive to the fruit.
Suitable Fig Dosage
You most likely want to understand how many figs to feed your dog. There is no particular dosage to consider. However, starting with small amounts of this fruit would be best, gradually increasing the dosage with time. A dosage increase is possible if you do not notice adverse reactions from the dog. Alternatively, consult your vet to find the best amount to give your puppy.
Health Benefits of Figs
Feeding figs to your dog assures you of enhanced health and nutritional value. The following is a breakdown of the health benefits and the nutritional value figs provide to dogs.
Excellent Gut Health
Figs are associated with improved gut health. You can attribute this to the high amount of fiber in the fruit.
Fiber helps prevent various digestive issues, including constipation, and cushions the gastrointestinal tract against multiple health complications and injuries. In addition, this element regulates bowel movements, reducing instances of gas and flatulence.
Enough Potassium
Potassium supports digestive health. A decrease in this nutrient exposes your pet to constant vomiting and diarrhea.
Since figs are an excellent source of potassium, you can rely on them to replenish the nutrient within a short period. However, that does not mean you should feed figs to your dog daily.
Natural Sugars
Suppose you want your pet to enjoy natural sugars. In that case, figs will be our ultimate source. Natural sugars help release energy into the body gradually so. This element implies that your dog will have sufficient energy for prolonged periods. Natural sugars cushion your dog against a rapid sugar crash. What’s more, this could help contain hunger instances.
Calcium
Calcium is central to excellent bone and dental health. This nutrient is handy in repairing muscle tears and injuries, guaranteeing excellent nerve transmission. In addition, this mineral helps older dogs develop stronger muscles while repairing damaged ones. It also facilitates nerve transmission.
Increases The Magnesium In the Body
Magnesium is a prime element for energy and energy production in dogs. It facilitates the transfer of energy to trigger various muscle movements, heartbeats, and cognitive functions. This mineral is also used in muscle growth and ensures calcium flows into the muscles.
Are Figs Safe for Dogs?
While figs are considered a healthy treat for dogs, they are not the safest option. For this reason, you must be cautious when feeding figs to your dog to avoid costly vet expenses.
Figs contain two dangerous enzymes that could harm your dog: ficusin and ficin. These enzymes will expose your dog to severe stomach pain and upset.
Considerable stomach upsets contribute to diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Your dog could also develop sores and rashes, forcing the dog to scratch itself to soothe the pain. In addition, expect considerable inflammation in its mouth and tongue. If such symptoms occur, do not feed figs to the dog anymore.
Symptoms might get worse, particularly for dogs that are new to figs. For this reason, monitor your pet for any changes. A substantial change in their physiological health requires you to indulge a vet in finding the best solution. At the same time, you should watch out for any allergic reactions, including rashes, sores, and severe stomach pains.
Fig Poisoning
Various side effects are associated with figs. Yet, your dog could suffer more adverse issues, including fig poisoning. Ingesting figs can contribute to extensive toxicity in dogs. This fruit could prove life-threatening to some pets, meaning you might need to avoid it altogether.
The leaves of this plant contain a considerable level of toxins. These leaves contain a sap that irritates the dog’s stomach and skin. In extreme cases, this sap can put the dog in mortal danger.
A skilled veterinarian can easily identify fig poisoning. If you notice consistent vomiting and diarrhea after your pet ingests figs, reach out for professional help.
The vet will need a sample of the fig leaves to determine their toxicity level and establish a proper treatment for your dog.
Vets often induce vomiting to ensure the dog gets the fig leaves and sap out of its body. Eliminating the toxins from the system provides significant relief to the dog.
Further, the vet will consider a bath for the dog to help remove toxins from its skin. Its goal is to reduce soreness and itching. After these processes, the professionals administer intravenous fluids to encourage urination.
Final Thoughts
Getting a balanced diet for your dog can be challenging. While adding fig fruits to this diet could be helpful, you must ensure that the amount offered does not expose the dog to fig poisoning and other adverse side effects. With the insights above, you should understand better how to handle your pet.
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