Loquats—also known as Japanese plums—are the fruits of Eriobotrya japonica trees. These sweet orange fruits offer a host of health benefits for humans, but are they safe for dogs? The ASPCA does not list loquats in its toxic plant roundup, but loquats do not offer dogs any significant nutritional value.
Furthermore, the leaves, pit, and seeds of loquats present a danger to dogs. If you’re considering feeding loquats to your dog, we’d recommend not doing so simply because the risks involved seem to outweigh any nutritional benefits your dog would reap. Read on to find out more.
Are Loquats Toxic to Dogs?
The leaves, pit, and seeds of loquats contain chemical compounds called cyanogenic glycosides, which are toxic to dogs if they eat enough of them. So, while a dog could probably safely eat a bit of the fleshy loquat fruit, you would have to be very careful to make sure they don’t also eat the pit, leaves, and seeds. The pit and seeds also present a choking hazard.
If your dog has eaten a whole loquat, pit, seeds, and all, it would be a good idea to check in with your vet just to be on the safe side.
Can Dogs Eat Fruit at All?
Dogs are omnivorous animals. In their regular diet, dogs need food containing protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in addition to clean water. A high-quality formula tailored to your dog’s age group is the best and simplest way to offer your dog all the nutrients they need, especially since homemade dog food is pretty hard to get right.
Dogs don’t need all types of fruit and vegetables in their diet, but they can eat certain fruits and vegetables as an occasional snack if they’ve developed a liking for them. These are best served plain—avoid canned fruits and salted vegetables or vegetables in sauce because they’ll be too sugary or salty.
Here are some safe fruits and vegetables dogs can eat in small amounts now and again.
Fruits
Vegetables
Which Fruits and Vegetables Are Bad for Dogs?
Though dogs can eat certain fruits and vegetables as an occasional snack, there are some they should stay away from altogether due to the presence of chemical compounds that are toxic to dogs. These include:
Fruits
Vegetables
What Should I Do If My Dog Ate a Toxic Fruit or Vegetable?
If you suspect that your dog has eaten a toxic fruit, vegetable, or plant, we’d recommend giving your vet a call even if your dog seems fine. This way, your vet can advise you on symptoms to watch out for over the next few hours or days and can let you know whether or not you should bring your dog in for a checkup.
If your dog suffers from toxicity, they may display symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, pale gums, irritation in the mouth, constipation, hunching over, lethargy, drooling, unsteadiness, agitation, seizures, tremors, and/or twitching.
There are various treatments for toxin ingestion including activated charcoal, surgery, induced vomiting (never attempt this yourself unless your vet instructs you to do so—it can be dangerous if done at home), and medication.
Final Thoughts
To recap, loquat fruit isn’t officially deemed dangerous for dogs, but the pit, seeds, and leaves are toxic to dogs and can make them sick if ingested. Moreover, loquats are not very nutritionally beneficial for dogs, so overall, it seems like giving loquat to dogs just isn’t worth it.
If you feed any “safe” fruit with pits, seeds, rinds, or leaves to your dog, be sure to always remove these and only offer the fleshy part. Certain fruits, including lemons, limes, and grapes should be avoided altogether.
Featured Image Credit: Veliavik, Shutterstock
