Can Dogs Eat Fig Newtons? (We Find Out)

By: Andrew
Time to read: 6 min.

This post contains affiliate links.

Do you enjoy snacking on fig Newtons? If your dog snatches them when you’re not looking, you might be worried about how they’ll react. Is it possible for dogs to safely eat Fig Newtons?

Dogs can eat Fig Newtons. If your pet happens to snatch a few, they should be fine. However, that doesn’t mean you should feed your dog fig Newtons as a treat. The snack contains a lot of sugar and other ingredients your dog has trouble digesting.

Since fig Newtons aren’t toxic, you don’t have to panic if your dog ate one. However, you will want to be prepared in case your dog gets an upset stomach. I will be discussing everything about dogs and Newtons in this article.

Table of Contents

Can My Dog Safely Eat a Fig Newton?

Your dog can safely eat a fig Newton, but that doesn’t mean you should be giving them to your pet. Even though the snack isn’t toxic to your dog, it doesn’t mean that it’s healthy. They contain whole wheat flour, grains, corn syrup, salt, and sugar, which are all ingredients your dog isn’t used to eating.

Additionally, these snacks are high in calories, which could lead to obesity in your pup.

While giving them one or two Newtons won’t hurt them, you don’t want to make it into a habit. Your dog will expect a cookie every time you’re eating one, which can get hard for you to say no.

Vets say that there are no toxic ingredients in fig Newtons, as it doesn’t contain anything that can poison your dog. Dogs can safely eat small amounts of figs normally, but vets warn against feeding this dessert to your pet.

What Happens When a Dog Eats a Fig Newton?

When your dog eats a fig Newton, they might get an upset stomach.

There are no toxic ingredients in the snack, but your pet won’t have a tolerance to eating them. When a dog eats a lot of food it isn’t used to, it can quickly become sick.

The side effects can include loose stools, diarrhea, or vomiting. However, these symptoms shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. Plus, you are unlikely to notice these symptoms if your dog only eats one or two of the fig Newtons.

Your dog’s life isn’t in danger if this happens. If you are concerned, it would be a good idea to call your vet, mainly if your dog ate many fig Newtons. However, they will likely be fine.

It’s also a good idea to offer your pet additional water if it eats one.

Are Fig Newtons Healthy for Dogs To Eat?

There are many ingredients in Fig Newtons that are unhealthy for your dog to eat in large amounts. However, they may get small amounts of nutrition from the fig, as it is very high in fiber, which is excellent for your dog’s digestive system.

Still, there are many other ways for you to add fiber into your dog’s diet.

But if the fig Newton makes your dog vomit, they will not get any of the fiber benefits from it anyway. Instead, you might try offering your dog canned pumpkin. Many dogs love canned pumpkin, which has a large amount of the nutrient.

Fig Newtons and Calories

Your dog has a lower calorie intake recommendation than you do, in most cases.

A single serving (about two cookies) of the fig Newton cookie made by Nabisco has 100 calories total. So, if you give your dog one fig Newton, they’re eating 50 calories.

While 50 calories aren’t much to a person, it can be a lot to a dog. Vets recommend that treats don’t make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie consumption. When you give them a Newton, you might be going over that amount, depending on your dog’s calorie recommendations.

For instance, a dog that weighs about 20 pounds only requires 325 to 400 calories per day, according to the Pet Obesity Prevention Organization. Fifty is 12.5% of 400, which means that your dog would eat slightly over the recommended amount of treats with a single fig Newton.

With smaller dogs, it’s worse.

What if My Dog Ate a Whole Sleeve?

If your dog stole several Newtons while you weren’t looking, they should still be alright. They may feel sick, but their life shouldn’t be in danger. You should make sure to leave your snacks up high, so you don’t have to worry about your dog eating foods they aren’t supposed to.

If your pup eats a whole sleeve of fig Newtons, they’ll probably throw up or get diarrhea. However, if your dog is diabetic, you will need to call your vet.

These snacks contain a lot of sugar, which could cause your dog to go into diabetic shock.

Finally, you want to ensure your pup didn’t consume any of the plastic packaging. The sleeve could cause blockages in your dog’s system, which would require a trip to your vet.

Bowel Obstruction in Dogs

Since most dogs aren’t picky eaters, you want to be careful that your pet never eats any plastic or food packaging. Contact your vet if you suspect your dog has eaten something that could block their GI tract.

According to the American Kennel Club, bowel obstruction is a complete or partial blockage in your dog’s digestive tract. It can cause decreased blood flow and even damage to your dog’s bowels.

The condition is painful for dogs and can require surgery.

It’s best to avoid this situation at all costs by keeping everything that your dog can eat up high. Blockages can be severe and even fatal, so you never want to risk them in your pet.

These are some of the symptoms of bowel obstruction:

Repeated vomiting
Weakness or lethargy
Diarrhea
Not eating
Dehydration
Whining or whimpering
Stomach pains

How To Stop Dog From Eating Fig Newtons

You will want to teach your dog the “leave it” command, so if you happen to drop one of your snacks, your dog won’t immediately snatch it up. This command is helpful for any dropped food, including fig Newtons.

You can watch this video if you want to teach your dog to “leave it” quickly:

Once your dog knows the command, you can use it to stop them from stealing your snacks. It also is good to know on walks, so your pet doesn’t get into garbage or other messes.

Prevention Is the Best Method

When it comes to stopping your dog from eating fig Newtons, prevention is your best bet, which means you never want to offer your dog this food.

They will never develop a taste for them and will likely leave you alone while you eat them.

Finally, never leave your cookies alone. Always put them up high when you leave the room, even if you are still snacking on them. You also want to make sure that your family knows not to leave food out.

What Are Some Alternative Snacks?

There are plenty of other treats that you can offer your dog.

I recommend that you try giving them the HILL’S Dog Treats Crunchy Fruity Snacks from Amazon.com. The treat comes with natural fruits that are safe for your dog to eat and it uses oatmeal, so your pup can get some more fiber in their diet.

Additionally, you might be interested in trying the Yitto Paws Dog Treats found on Amazon.com. They also use real fruit and are organic. This option includes peanut butter, which is excellent for getting your dog more protein.

Final Thoughts

Dogs shouldn’t eat fig Newtons, but it shouldn’t be an emergency if your dog steals one or two from you while you aren’t paying attention. I recommend that you keep your cookies up high where they can’t reach and never leave them unattended.

Fig Newtons don’t contain any ingredients that are toxic to your dog.

However, you don’t want them to make a habit of eating them. Teaching your pet the “leave it” command will help a lot if you have kids who happen to be messy eaters.

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Sources

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