from the dog health hub
Can Dogs Eat Figs? A Little Fresh Fig Is Fine for Most Dogs
It depends. A small amount of fresh fig is fine for most dogs as an occasional treat. But figs contain natural enzymes that irritate some dogs' mouths and skin, the fig plant itself (leaves and sap) is a recognised irritant, and dried figs and fig rolls concentrate the sugar. Start tiny and watch how your dog reacts.
Why the caveats matter
Fresh fig flesh is not toxic to dogs, and in small amounts the fibre is gentle enough. The complication is ficin, an enzyme in figs and especially in the plant's milky sap, which can irritate the mouth, lips and skin of sensitive dogs. Most dogs eat a bit of fig without any reaction; a minority get drooling, lip-licking or a rash, which is your cue to cross figs off the list.
The plant is a bigger issue than the fruit. Fig trees and their houseplant relatives (the ficus family, including the weeping fig) have sap that irritates skin and stomachs, so a dog who chews the leaves is more likely to have a bad time than one who eats the fruit. And once figs are dried, the sugar concentrates roughly threefold, so dried figs and fig rolls are sweet treats to ration hard or skip.
What to do if your dog has eaten figs
- If your dog has chewed fig leaves or a ficus houseplant, wipe the mouth area, offer water, and ring your vet if drooling, vomiting or skin redness develops.
- For a large stolen quantity of dried figs, expect digestive upset and ring your vet if a small dog was involved. Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 can advise out of hours.
How to serve it safely
- Start with a small piece of fresh fig, roughly a quarter for a small dog or half for a large one, and watch for any reaction before offering it again.
- Keep it occasional: one fig, at most, once or twice a week for a large dog, and less for small breeds.
- Wash the fruit and remove the stem. No leaves, and keep dogs away from fig trees and ficus houseplants.
- Dried figs and fig rolls are sugar-dense; a small piece now and then at most, and none for overweight or diabetic dogs.
When to ring the vet
ring your vet if
Drooling, lip-licking or pawing at the mouth after eating fig · Redness or itching around the mouth or on skin that touched the sap · Vomiting or diarrhoea, particularly after leaves or a large amount · Loose stools after dried figs, which are rich in both sugar and fibre
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fig trees poisonous to dogs?
The leaves and milky sap of fig and ficus plants are irritants rather than deadly poisons, but they can cause drooling, vomiting and skin irritation. Discourage chewing on the garden fig, and keep weeping figs and rubber plants out of reach indoors.
Can dogs eat fig rolls?
One stolen fig roll is not an emergency for a healthy dog, but they are a sugary biscuit with nothing to offer. Check the ingredients for anything else worrying and skip them as a deliberate treat.
My dog ate a fig and is now drooling and licking its lips. What do I do?
That is the classic mild reaction to ficin. Offer water, wipe around the mouth, and skip figs in future. If the drooling continues for more than an hour, or vomiting, swelling or a rash appears, ring your vet.
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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.