Can Dogs Eat Dates? Yes, Pitted and Rarely

Why dates are safe but should stay rare

Dates contain nothing known to be toxic to dogs. They carry fiber, potassium and some vitamins, and the AKC notes the fiber can be gentle help with occasional constipation. That does not make them a health food for dogs: a complete dog food already covers what they need.

The issue is sugar. A single Medjool date carries around 65 calories, mostly sugar, which is a lot for a small dog. The AKC warns that regular sweet treats like dates can lead to weight gain, dental problems and, over time, a higher risk of diabetes. Rare and small is the rule.

The warning: pits, and dates versus raisins

The pit is the main hazard. The AKC notes it is not toxic but is hard enough to chip a tooth, the right size to choke a small dog, and able to cause an intestinal blockage. Buy pitted dates or cut the date open and remove the pit, and throw pits in a closed trash can.

Dates are often sold beside raisins, sultanas and other dried fruit, and some trail mixes and baked goods contain both. Raisins are toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure. If your dog ate a dried fruit mix that may have included raisins, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.

How to serve dates to your dog

Choose plain, pitted dates with no coating. Check the middle anyway, since pitted dates occasionally miss one. Cut the flesh into small pieces, blueberry-sized for a dog around 10 lb and thumbnail-sized for larger dogs, because dates are sticky and can be gulped in a clump.

Skip date bars, date-sweetened baked goods, date syrup, chocolate-dipped or nut-stuffed dates and dates wrapped in bacon. These add sugar, fat, chocolate or nuts such as macadamias, which are toxic to dogs. A plain piece of fruit is the only way to share dates safely.

If you like to share small snacks, a lick mat or a treat ball makes a little go further and slows a fast eater down.

How many dates by dog weight

The AKC suggests half a date to two dates once or twice a week, depending on the dog's size. In practice, for a dog under 20 lb that means no more than half a date, cut up. For a dog of 20 to 50 lb, one date at a time is enough.

For a dog over 50 lb, up to two dates in a sitting is the top end. Keep all treats under about 10 percent of daily calories, and remember that dates are calorie-dense, so they take up more of that allowance than a few blueberries or green beans would.

Puppies and dogs that should skip dates

Puppies can try a tiny piece of pitted date once they are on solid food, but their stomachs react quickly to sugar and fiber, and loose stool is a common result. There is no benefit to giving dates to a growing puppy, so it is easiest to wait until adulthood.

Dogs with diabetes should not have dates, since the sugar affects blood glucose. Overweight dogs, dogs with dental disease and dogs with kidney disease, because of the potassium, should also skip them unless their vet agrees. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, start with a sliver.

Signs it disagreed with them, and what to give instead

Too many dates usually cause diarrhea, gas or vomiting within a day. Call your vet the same day for repeated vomiting, a painful belly, straining without passing stool or a dog that stops eating, which can point to a swallowed pit. Coughing or gagging after eating a date needs a vet straight away.

For a sweet fruit treat with less sugar, a few blueberries, a slice of banana or a small piece of apple with the core and seeds removed are good options. Each still counts toward the daily treat allowance.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.