Can dogs eat umeboshi?

In this article, we will answer the query, “Can dogs eat umeboshi?” along with some other questions like is umeboshi safe for your dog? What happens if your dog ate umeboshi? What would you do if your dog ate umeboshi? And what can your vet do in this regard?

Can dogs eat umeboshi?

No, dogs cannot eat umeboshi. It is not safe for your dog to eat umeboshi because its leaves and seeds are toxic to your dog. Umeboshi is a Japanese plum fruit much like that apricot. You shouldn’t give your dog umeboshi at all.

Is umeboshi safe for your dog?

No, umeboshi is not safe for your dog. There are various types of toxins present in umeboshi. cyanogen, hydrogen cyanide, amygdalin, and prunasin are the toxins that are present in umeboshi. 

These toxins dissolve the upper layer of the intestine and gain entry into the bloodstream of your dog. When it enters the bloodstream it flows to the whole body organs causing toxicity in the whole body.

The next problem associated with eating umeboshi is umeboshi pits. Umeboshi pits are sharp and they can damage the gastrointestinal tract of the body. It can damage the esophagus, stomach, and intestine and can cause lesions in it.

Besides the internal damage, umeboshi pits can also block the gastrointestinal tract. It can block the esophagus and the intestine and is a painful condition for your dog. Following are the clinical signs of umeboshi toxicity in dogs:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea with blood
  • Abdominal pain
  • Weakness
  • Dehydration
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lethargy

If you observe blood in feces after giving umeboshi to your dog, you should quickly visit your nearest vet as continuous blood loss can cause anemia in dogs.

What happens if your dog ate umeboshi?

When your dog consumes umeboshi, the cyanogenic glycosides present in the seeds enter the bloodstream. It releases the hydrogen cyanide trapped in seeds which causes toxicity in the body. When the hydrogen cyanide enters the blood it binds with hemoglobin and impairs its function. 

Hemoglobin is a protein that is responsible for carrying oxygen in the whole body. If there is impaired function of hemoglobin, the red blood cells are unable to carry oxygen to the whole body. This results in red blood cell destruction and tissue damage. If this situation continues it causes organ failure and ultimately the death of your dog.

Following are the clinical signs you will observe in this case:

  • Anemia
  • Increased breathing
  • Increased heart rate
  • Lethargy
  • Weakness

If you observe these signs in your dog, you should realize that the oxygen supply in the body is impaired and your dog immediately needs veterinary help for his better health.

So far we have discussed the harmful effects of umeboshi on your dog’s health. Now let’s dive into the details of what you can do if your dog ate umeboshi?

What would you do if your dog ate umeboshi?

The first thing you can do is not to panic in this situation. You should first check which parts of the fruit your dog has consumed. If the pit part is intact then there is less chance of damage to the gastrointestinal tract of the body.

If you observe that your dog has eaten the pit part, you need to visit your nearest vet as quickly as possible because there is a higher chance that the pit has damaged your dog’s digestive system. You should also rule out the choking part of the umeboshi. 

You should keenly observe your dog to see for any kind of breathing problem. If your dog is coughing or is feeling difficulty breathing after eating umeboshi then there are higher chances that the umeboshi or some of its parts are stuck in the esophagus.

When you arrive at the vet, you should give brief information about the incident and leave no information hidden from the vet. It is important because it gives a clear picture to your vet and he can treat your dog in a better way.

What can your vet do to save your dog?

Your vet will go for a diagnosis of the problem. Your vet will perform a complete physical exam of your dog to have a general idea of your dog’s health status. Then to further diagnose the condition he will perform some tests like BUN and CBC. These tests are vital to check for any kind of toxicity in dogs.

After test reports, he will go for the treatment. Your vet will use methylene blue or sodium nitrite to detoxify the toxins in the blood. 

Conclusion

In this article, we will answer the query, “Can dogs eat umeboshi?’‘ We also discussed other questions like is umeboshi safe for your dog? What happens if your dog ate umeboshi? What would you do if your dog ate umeboshi? And what can your vet do to save your dog?

References

https://www.finchleydogwalker.co.uk/toxic-foods-for-dogs.html

https://wagwalking.com/condition/plum-poisoning

https://be.chewy.com/nutrition-pet-diet-tips-can-dogs-eat-plums/

https://www.candogseatit.com/fruit-veg/japanese-plums

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blood-urea-nitrogen/about/pac-20384821

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