What If My Dog Ate Some Dried Red Dates?

Oh god, okay, deep breath. So, you found out your furry little vacuum cleaner, aka your dog, decided to sample some dried red dates, right? My heart totally sinks just thinking about it because, let’s be real, the moment our dogs ingest something they shouldn’t, our brains immediately jump to DEFCON 1. We envision vet bills, emergency rooms, all that jazz. And honestly, with dried red dates (you might know them as jujubes too), it’s not quite a simple “oh, that’s fine” situation, but it’s also probably not “panic-call-the-vet-immediately-he’s-going-to-die” territory unless he ate a whole bunch or is showing worrying signs.

First things first, answer the burning question: Is it okay? Generally, no, it’s not ideal or recommended, and there are definitely things to watch out for. The biggest, most immediate concern with dried dates, or any date really, is the pit. Those things are hard, they’re a classic choking hazard, especially for smaller dogs or if they try to swallow one whole. Imagine that rough, pointy seed getting stuck in their throat or, worse, their digestive tract. Blockages? Yeah, nobody wants that. Surgery for an intestinal blockage? Definitely nobody wants that. So, if you know they gulped down a pit, that is a bigger deal and absolutely warrants a call to your vet. Better safe than sorry, always.

Beyond the physical obstruction risk of the pits, what else is lurking in those chewy little fruits? Well, a whole lot of sugar, for starters. Dried dates are basically concentrated sugar bombs compared to fresh ones because all the water’s gone, leaving behind intense sweetness. Dogs, bless their simple, wonderful digestive systems, aren’t built to handle large amounts of sugar. It can wreak havoc on their tummies. We’re talking digestive upset, folks. Vomiting, diarrhea, the whole messy nightmare. If your dog just ate one tiny bit, they might get away with just a slightly loose stool, maybe nothing at all. But if they scarfed down a handful? Yeah, you might be cleaning up some unpleasantness later. And while a one-off sugar binge isn’t likely to cause long-term damage, repeated exposure to high sugar can contribute to weight gain, dental issues, and even potentially put a strain on their pancreas over time, increasing the risk of pancreatitis (a seriously painful and dangerous condition, though usually linked to high fat alongside other factors, sugar can exacerbate it). It’s not like xylitol, which is acutely toxic and terrifying in tiny amounts, but it’s still not good for them.

Think about it from their perspective. Their natural diet isn’t packed with concentrated sweets. Their bodies don’t process sugars the way ours do. Giving them sugary treats messes with their gut microbiome and can lead to those nasty symptoms. So, the high sugar content in dried red dates is definitely a con.

Another point to consider, though maybe less common knowledge, is that date pits contain tiny amounts of amygdalin, which is a compound that the body can convert to cyanide. Okay, whoa, deep breaths again. Before you spiral into a full-blown panic attack, a dog would likely have to ingest and chew up and process a significant number of pits to get a toxic dose of cyanide. The choking/blockage risk is far, far, far more likely and immediate than cyanide poisoning from a few date pits. But it’s something you might stumble across if you’re frantically Googling at 2 AM, and it adds another layer of “nope, best avoid.”

So, okay, my dog ate some. What does “some” mean? One date? Half a bag? The quantity matters hugely. One small dried red date, pit included (if it passed without issue), might just mean you need to keep an eye on their stool for a day or two. Half a bag? That’s a lot of sugar, a higher chance of having ingested multiple pits, and a much higher likelihood of significant digestive upset.

This happened to a friend of mine’s Jack Russell terrier mix. Little Jasper is a counter surfer extraordinaire. One afternoon, my friend left a bowl of these chewy dried red dates on the coffee table. Turned her back for five minutes. FIVE. Came back, bowl was empty, Jasper was licking his lips looking innocent as sin. She totally freaked out. Called me, voice shaking. “He ate the dates! All of them! Like, fifteen dates!”

We went through the checklist: Did he eat the pits? She wasn’t sure. He probably swallowed them whole, knowing Jasper. How many? Maybe 15-20. He’s a small dog, maybe 18 pounds. Okay, 15-20 pits for an 18lb dog? That ups the blockage risk considerably. And 15-20 dried dates? That’s a TON of sugar for a little guy. We decided a call to the vet was necessary.

The vet was helpful, as they usually are, calming her down but also taking it seriously. They advised her to monitor him intensely. Look for signs of choking (coughing, difficulty breathing, pawing at mouth), signs of blockage (vomiting after eating or drinking, lethargy, abdominal pain, not pooping), and signs of general tummy upset (vomiting, diarrhea, not wanting to eat). They said the cyanide risk from swallowed pits was minimal, focus on the physical obstruction and the high sugar.

Jasper ended up having a rough night. Lots of gurgling stomach noises, some major diarrhea incidents (oh, the joys of pet ownership!), but thankfully, no vomiting and no signs of blockage. He was a bit lethargic the next day, probably feeling hungover from the sugar rush and subsequent crash, but he bounced back. My friend learned her lesson the hard way – no human snacks left within Jasper’s reach, ever.

So, if your dog ate some, what should you do?

1. Assess the quantity: How many did they eat? One? A few? A whole bag?

2. Did they eat the pits? If yes, how many? This is key.

3. Consider your dog’s size: A tiny chihuahua eating one date is different from a Great Dane eating one date. A tiny dog eating multiple dates with pits is a much higher risk scenario.

4. Call your vet. Seriously. Even if it was just one, a quick call can give you peace of mind and specific advice tailored to your dog’s size, breed, and general health. They might tell you to just watch and wait, or they might recommend bringing them in if the quantity or pit ingestion is concerning. Don’t skip this step. It’s what they’re there for.

5. Monitor intensely. Watch for any unusual symptoms: vomiting (especially repeated), severe diarrhea, straining to poop without success, lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain (they might guard their belly or look uncomfortable), signs of choking (coughing, gagging, difficulty breathing).

6. Remove access. Make absolutely sure no more dried red dates (or any other potentially problematic human food) are within your dog’s reach. Prevention is everything, right?

It’s the monitoring part that’s the hardest, isn’t it? Every little cough makes you jump. Every time they don’t immediately eat their dinner, you worry. Is it the date? Is it something else? The life of a pet parent is just a constant cycle of love and low-grade anxiety.

For future reference, and because let’s face it, our dogs will try to eat things they shouldn’t, it’s helpful to know what’s a strict NO (like grapes/raisins, chocolate, onions, garlic, xylitol) and what’s a “maybe a tiny bit is okay but really avoid it” category (like dates, most sugary or fatty human food, fruit pits in general). Dates, specifically dried red dates, definitely fall into that latter category, leaning towards “just don’t give them any.” The risks (blockage from pits, digestive upset from sugar) outweigh any potential, negligible nutritional benefit they might get.

So, while a single accidental ingestion of a small piece might just lead to a mild tummy ache, it’s not something you want to happen, and any ingestion, especially involving the pits, warrants careful observation and ideally, a quick chat with your vet. Our dogs depend on us to keep them safe from their own indiscriminate appetites! It’s a tough job, full of unexpected moments like finding a chewed-up dried red date on the rug, but man, it’s worth it. Just remember to stash those snacks high up!