Is dried fruit safe for dogs?

Any dried grape product is dangerous: raisins, sultanas, currants and golden raisins. Dried cherries and apricots often still have stone fragments or come in mixes with raisins. Candied peel and glacé fruit are mostly sugar.

Always check a mixed bag of dried fruit before assuming it is safe.

Dried cranberries, blueberries and cherries are frequently infused with sugar syrup before drying, and the packet may say sweetened only in small print on the back.

When fruit dries, the water leaves and the sugar stays. 100 g of fresh apple has around 52 calories, while 100 g of dried apple rings has around 240. A dog eating dried fruit takes in far more sugar than it would from the same volume of fresh fruit, which can lead to diarrhea and, over time, weight gain.

Look for dried fruit that lists only the fruit as its ingredient. Many products add sugar, syrup, sunflower oil or sulfur dioxide (E220) to preserve color. Banana chips are usually fried in coconut or palm oil and sweetened.

Dried fruit made especially for dogs is usually unsweetened, but the calorie density is still high.

For a chewy treat, one small piece of unsweetened dried apple or mango, cut into three or four bits, goes a long way for a medium dog. Home-dehydrated apple or sweet potato slices, made without sugar, are another option.