Fig
CautionThe fig plant is on the ASPCA toxic list for dogs: ficin and the psoralen ficusin in its milky sap irritate the mouth, gut, and skin. Ripe fig fruit is a different question, but it is heavy in fiber and sugar.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Skin inflammation
- Mouth irritation
- Abdominal pain
More about this food
Split the fig into two things: the plant and the fruit. The ASPCA's toxic plant database lists Ficus species -- weeping fig, common fig, Indian rubber plant -- as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The toxic principles are the proteolytic enzyme ficin and the psoralen ficusin, and the listed clinical signs are gastrointestinal and dermal irritation. Pet Poison Helpline covers the same genus, attributing the problem to irritating sap and listing decreased appetite, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation.
The sap is what causes trouble: the milky latex that bleeds from leaves, stems, and unripe fruit. A dog that chews a fiddle-leaf fig or rubber plant in the living room, gnaws branches off a backyard fig tree, or gets latex smeared on its muzzle while you pick fruit will drool, paw at its face, and often vomit. Because ficusin is a psoralen, sap on skin plus sunlight can produce a phototoxic dermatitis -- redness and peeling a day or two later, not immediately.
Ripe fig flesh is not a reported poison, and a bite of one will not cause acute toxicosis. It is simply a bad fit as a regular treat: figs are dense in fiber and sugar, so a small excess turns into diarrhea and cramping. Dried figs concentrate that sugar further, and Fig Newtons and fig jam are confections. Skip them.
If your dog has chewed fig leaves, stems, or sap, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Rinse the mouth with cool running water, wash sap off the coat with warm water and a dog shampoo, and keep the dog out of direct sun afterward. Persistent drooling, repeated vomiting, face-rubbing, or refusing food warrants an exam rather than a wait. Do not induce vomiting at home.
Frequently asked questions
- Can my dog have a piece of ripe fig?
- A small piece of ripe fruit is not a reported toxicity, but figs are heavy in fiber and sugar and cause diarrhea easily. Give a thumbnail-sized piece to a small dog, no more than one fig to a large one, and skip the stem and skin.
- My dog chewed my fiddle-leaf fig houseplant.
- That plant is on the ASPCA toxic list for dogs. The sap contains ficin and ficusin, which irritate the mouth and gut. Rinse the mouth, then call your vet or the APCC at (888) 426-4435. Watch for drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and appetite loss.
- Are dried figs or Fig Newtons okay?
- No. Drying concentrates the sugar and fiber, which makes GI upset more likely, and fig cookies are mostly sugar and wheat. If you want to share the fruit, use a small amount of fresh ripe flesh instead.