Another great snack food we find our pooches sniffing around is fig. Well, they actually sniff around every single food they can get access to; that’s how they are, cute and always hungry. Anyways, can dogs really have figs?
Yes, dogs can have figs, and there are three great reasons why they should. Figs give them a natural energy boost, long-term cardiovascular health, and the regulation of bowel movements if your pooch has been facing constipation for so long. However, strict moderation is the key; otherwise, these dogs will suffer from diarrhea, among many other health issues.
This article will get to know more about those health concerns, allergies, whether your pooch can eat dried figs, and further details about specific parts that are really toxic to little Fidos. But before jumping into all that, let’s find out the details of the reasons mentioned above and whether these figs are completely safe for our pooches to consume.
Are Figs Toxic For Dogs?
No, figs are not toxic for dogs if offered in strict moderation. Figs can actually offer your pooch a few great health benefits that are worth considering.
Cardiovascular Health
Figs can be good for your pooch’s overall heart health if they are being offered occasionally. This is because these fig fruits are rich in potassium.
Potassium is a nutrient that is associated with the function of nerves and regulates muscle movements and heart pumping. It keeps the blood pressure of your Fido down.
It also plays an essential role in facilitating the movement of nutrients and waste products in and out of the cells. Hence, occasionally offering your pooch a few figs can bring about long-term cardiovascular health.
Regular Bowel Movements
If your Fido has a weak colon, or has been facing constipation for so long, or tends to face it every now and then, offering its a few fig pieces as occasional snacks can be found to be really beneficial.
We all know fiber is really good for one’s digestive system as it helps to regulate the bowel moments and tends to ease the situation if someone is suffering from constipation. Figs are one of the fruits that contain a high amount of fiber and so are really good for constipation!
A Source Of Energy
Figs can be regarded as a great way of boosting your furry friend’s energy if it is too lazy and looks a bit tired since figs come up with natural sugar. Sounds strange? Let me tell you.
The natural sugar found in fruits can be a source of energy since it is a carbohydrate form that a pooch’s body breaks down to get energy.
Refined sugar, on the other hand, offers a quick energy boost only, whereas a few little pieces of figs can boost the energy of your Fido for a longer period of time.
Figs also satisfy sweet cravings, so it’s a great snack food to offer if your furry friend is craving a sweet snack and you are avoiding the processed treats because of their harmful effects on your buddy.
Fig fruits also make pooches feel full, so your furry buddy will not be sniffing around for more and more tiny food particles in your kitchen anymore. It can also be a good option if you are managing to keep your furry friend stuck to a strict diet plan and want to help them lose their excess weight.
Do note that everything that is being offered more than enough can bring a large number of health issues, and the same is with figs. The rule of thumb to three of the aforementioned health benefits is–strict moderation. If your pooch consumes figs in large quantities, it will not receive any health benefit and will rather suffer from negative results.
What Are The Side Effects Of Eating Figs?
The side effects of eating figs your dog can face can include hypertension, diarrhea, stomach pain, weight issues, vomiting, and inflammation.
No doubt, figs can resolve a few of your pooch’s health problems like constipation and high blood pressure because of their richness in fiber and potassium. However, at the same time, figs are not a part of a dog’s diet and so come up with health risks that you need to pay attention to.
Here I’m going to discuss major health risks associated with fig-consumption that your dog can face most commonly.
Diarrhea And Upset Stomach
Giving figs in large amounts can lead to things like upset stomach and diarrhea since figs are not a part of canines’ diet, and so their stomach cannot process a whole large amount of small pieces.
One of the main reasons here is that figs come up with a high amount of fiber. This fiber tends to become a healthy nutrient only when served in small amounts occasionally; otherwise, a high amount of fiber is most likely to cause diarrhea in your Fido.
Not only this, even the natural sugar the figs come up with tends to become unhealthy if figs are being provided in a large amount. It can cause stomach pain and diarrhea in your Fido and can also make it a diabetic patient if provided regularly for a long period of time.
A high amount of sugar provided more than often can also be a cause of rapid weight gain and ensuing obesity in your pooch.
Other than diarrhea and stomach pain, you can also notice signs like rashes, inflammation, and vomiting in your Fido if it has been consuming a lot of figs.
Well, it’s not just the large quantity; the reason behind this can also be some allergies. If your pooch is found to be allergic to figs, symptoms such as coughing, vomiting, eye itchiness, drooling, and rashes on different body parts can be observed.
Do have a quick consult from your vet if you notice any of the mentioned signs!
The presence of two enzymes, namely ficin and ficusin, inside figs is another significant reason why your Fido shouldn’t consume figs more than enough. These enzymes can cause drooling, diarrhea, and irritation in your pooch if the fruit is being provided regularly.
I have discussed more on these enzymes and their effects a little down below in this article!
Hypertension
As mentioned previously, figs are rich in potassium and fiber. We all are now aware of how badly a high amount of fiber and sugar can affect our pooches’ overall health. The same is with potassium!
Potassium provided in moderate quantities is good for Fidos’ cardiovascular health and also helps to lower their blood pressure. However, the case will become totally opposite if you serve your pooch fig fruits more than often.
If your furry friend gets the same potassium in a really high amount, it can suffer from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
Hence, figs serve as a beneficial fruit only when offered in moderation! It’s also far better than those processed treats you get from a nearby store. However, if you are serving it to your Fido more than often, it’s no longer a healthy snack food!
Can Dogs Eat Dried Figs?
No, dried figs are not good for our little furry friends. This is because the concentration of sugar in dried figs is more than that of the water, and this makes them a harmful piece of snack for our little ones.
Although figs are not a part of pooches’ diet, they are good for them if offered occasionally. However, this is true only when the figs you are offering are completely natural and fresh!
Dried figs, one of our favorite snack foods, on the other hand, are found to be harmful to our little ones since they are completely dried.
Because of that, figs lack water concentration and tend to be highly sugar-concentrated, making them a no-no for our little furry animals.
Although dried figs will not be poisonous to little canines, it’s best to avoid snacks that contain a high amount of sugar and can ultimately lead to health issues like diarrhea, weight gain, and, most importantly, diabetes.
The same is with the snack food “Fig Newton” that we all are aware of and commonly tend to have at our snack times. Fig Newton isn’t either toxic to our Fidos, but it’s best to avoid them due to the same issue, i.e., high sugar concentration!
Well, you don’t need to worry about it. You can surely offer fresh pieces of this fruit to your four-legged friend without worrying about any other thing, except for the right amount.
Generally, you can offer only 2 to 3 pieces of figs to your pooch every week. Also, do remember to cut the fig fruit into multiple small pieces before offering in order to avoid choking hazards.
Are Fig Plants Poisonous To Dogs?
Yes, almost every single part of a fig plant or a Ficus tree is poisonous to our little furry animals.
The fig plant, Ficus tree, or rubber tree, basically contains two toxic chemical compounds, namely ficin and ficusin, and is one of those plants that are toxic to little dogs.
Ficin
Ficin, or ficain, is an enzyme that is found in the sap-like substance that secretes from all around the fig plant. You can say ficin can be found in stems, branches, and even leaves of the Ficus tree.
This ficin makes the sap or the milky substance irritating to little Fidos. Your pooch cannot even touch the leaves or the stems of this plant, as if they do, they will suffer from rashes, inflammation, and other skin itching issues.
Moreover, the fig plant itself is toxic and shouldn’t be ever consumed by little canines. If your pooch accidentally consumes any part of this toxic plant, it will struggle with fig poisoning or a severe fatal condition. Your Fido is also likely to show symptoms like diarrhea, drooling, and stomach pain.
Ficin is also present in the fig fruit; however, the concentration of this enzyme is not that high there as that of the fig plant parts. Anyways, still, do not go beyond offering 2 to 3 pieces of figs to your Fido once a week.
Ficusin
Fig plant also contains ficusin, which is psoralen and is known for treating skin problems when combined with UV light. The presence of ficusin makes the fig plant and all of its other parts super toxic to our little furry animals.
Also, since the plant causes skin irritation due to the presence of ficin in their sap, you strictly need to keep an eye on your Fido, especially to protect its sensitive parts like eyes and mouth, when you both are around fig plants or Ficus trees.
Moreover, if you have one in your backyard, do fence it off completely to make it out of reach of your Fido.
If in case your little furry friend consumes and chews fig branches, stems, or leaves, hurry up to the vet leaving all your urgent errands aside. Here are some signs that will tell you that your pooch has mistakenly consumed a part of the fig plant.
- Diarrhea
- Excessive drooling
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Skin irritation and inflammation
Your vet will allow your Fido to vomit, take its blood test, give it a bath and other necessary medication, and will provide it with activated charcoal as it prevents the body from absorbing the ingested toxic substances.
Visit the vet even if the situation seems to be normal. Note every tiny detail to tell your vet and take a part of the consumed piece of plant with you, if possible. This will help your vet diagnose and resolve the situation in a shorter period of time!
