Okay, so your dog ate a Medjool date.

Does your dog have a bit of a sweet tooth? Here at Joolies, we know that we do! From time to time we all love to treat our pups to a tasty surprise but sometimes it can be confusing to know what’s safe for them to eat. Medjool dates are paw-sitively delicious but are dates good for your dog’s diet? The simple answer is yes! Curious to learn more? Follow along as we go through everything you need to know before opening up a pack of dates!

Dates Make a Healthy Dog Treat

Do you think dates look like giant raisins? If you do, you’re not the only one! While they might look similar, unlike raisins, dates are perfectly safe for dogs to enjoy. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, dates are a great snack with health benefits not only for us humans but also for our furry companions (Nasir et al. 2015, 18-20). However, just like with most things, a healthy, balanced diet is all about finding a balance. Which, by the way, experts say avoid giving your dogs raisins and grapes!

We’ve all heard the saying, moderation is key. The same idea goes for sharing Medjool dates with your pets. Naturally sweet and high in fiber, too many can overload your pup’s blood sugar levels and upset their digestive system. They're a natural source of fiber and natural complex carbs, i.e. energy, so don't be surprised if your dog acts a liiiittle hyper after eating a date. But that's typical for ol' pupper, right? Dates make a healthy dog treat but like with many human foods, make sure you don’t overdo it! If you’re wondering what else can my dog have, take a peek here for a comprehensible list of foods your dog can eat (Painter, 2020).

Time for a Snack?

Now that we know that dates make a healthy yet delicious snack, it's time for a treat! However, before you run off to the kitchen to feed your dog some dates, remember to keep an eye out for the pits! While some we do sell Medjool dates with the pits removed, that's not always and oftentimes they are left whole. Check the packaging first and if you find a pit, all you need to do is slice it in half to remove it.

Off to the Kitchen!

Has all this talk about dates left you feeling a little snackish yourself? If you said yes, head on over to our blog for some organic medjool date recipes that will leave your mouth watering and buy Joolies dates now to stock up at home! Sweet or savory, we have them all. So what are you waiting for? Click here to discover your new favorite dish!

Sources

Nasir, Muhammad Umar, Sarfraz Hussain, Saqib Jabbar, Farhat Rashid, Nazia Khalid, and Arshad Mehmood. "A review on the nutritional content, functional properties and medicinal potential of dates." Sci. Lett 3, no. 1 (2015): 17-22. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1047.7558&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Painter, Stacy. “Human Foods Dogs Can and Can Not Eat (Comprehensive List).” Healthy Paws, 2020. https://blog.healthypawspetinsurance.com/human-foods-dogs-can-and-can-not-eat-comprehensive-list