from the dog health hub
Can Dogs Eat Dates? A Small Piece Is Fine, but Sugar Adds Up Fast
It depends. Dates are not toxic to dogs, and it is worth saying clearly that they are nothing to do with raisins, which are dried grapes. But dates are among the most sugar-dense fruits there are, the pits can choke or block smaller dogs, and for overweight or diabetic dogs they are a treat to skip entirely.
Why the caveats matter
First, the reassurance: dates come from the date palm and are unrelated to grapes, so the kidney toxicity that makes raisins dangerous does not apply. A dog who steals a pitted date has eaten sugar, not poison.
The catch is just how much sugar. Dates are roughly two-thirds sugar by weight, which is why they sweeten so many flapjacks and energy balls. For a small dog, one date is a substantial sugary hit, and regular sweet extras push weight up and do no favours for teeth or, in diabetic dogs, blood sugar control. The hard pit is a separate issue: it is a choking hazard and can lodge in the gut of small breeds.
What to do if your dog has eaten dates
- If a small dog has swallowed a whole date pit, ring your vet for advice. In a large dog it will usually pass, but note the date and keep an eye out.
- If the dates were in a cake, bar or mix, check the other ingredients. Chocolate, raisins or xylitol in the recipe turn a shrug into a vet call.
How to serve it safely
- Always remove the pit first, and chop the date into small pieces.
- Keep it rare and small: a piece or two of one date for a medium or large dog, a fingernail-sized piece for a small one.
- Skip dates altogether for overweight dogs, diabetic dogs, and dogs on a weight-loss plan.
- Watch baked goods: date-based flapjacks and energy balls often also contain chocolate, raisins or xylitol, any of which matters far more than the dates.
When to ring the vet
ring your vet if
Retching, drooling or pawing at the mouth straight after, which suggests a stuck pit · Vomiting, poor appetite or no poo over the following day or two · Loose stools after a sugary binge · Increased thirst in a diabetic dog after sweet foods
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dates as dangerous as raisins for dogs?
No, and this trips a lot of people up. Raisins are dried grapes and can injure a dog's kidneys. Dates are a completely different fruit and carry no such toxicity. The date problems are sugar and the pit, which are manageable, not an emergency.
My dog ate a few Medjool dates. What should I do?
If they were pitted, expect nothing worse than a possible loose stool and skip treats for the rest of the day. If pits went in too and your dog is small, ring your vet. Sticky sweet foods are also worth a tooth-friendly chew afterwards.
Can dogs have sticky toffee pudding?
Best not. The dates are the innocent part; the sugar, butter and cream make it a rich, fatty dessert that can upset stomachs, and some recipes include alcohol. Save your dog a bit of plain fruit instead.
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See the multipack →This article is for information, not diagnosis. If your dog has eaten something worrying, ring your vet or, out of hours, an emergency vet. Every dog is different, and your vet knows yours.