If you and your dog are looking for a new treat—strawberries might be your new favorite. But wait—can dogs eat strawberries? If you asked that, too, you are at the right place!
In short—YES! Dogs can eat strawberries, and well, strawberries love dogs back as well. In this article, we have covered everything you need to know about strawberries and dogs.
Is Strawberry Good For Dogs?
Strawberries are one of the human foods that is not just safe but healthy and tasty for dogs. Here are the health benefits of strawberries for dogs:
1. Vitamins and minerals
Strawberries are rich in not just juices but also nutrients to keep your dog at their best well-being. Here are the vitamins and minerals in strawberries:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin A
- Potassium
- Manganese
2. Fibrous
If your dog often struggles with constipation and long poop hours—they might be lacking fiber in their diet. Strawberries being high in fiber makes them a super healthy treat and far more nutritious than unhealthy human foods like pickles.
3. Yummy treats
Last but not least, dogs love strawberries! Especially when it comes to evening or reward treats, juicy, sweet fruits make a great alternative to unhealthy cookies. Strawberries are palatable; even if your dog is super picky, this luscious fruit will not disappoint them.
Things to Keep in Mind When Feeding Your Dog Strawberries
Now that we know all the benefits of strawberries to dogs, here are some things you should keep in mind when feeding your dog strawberries:
1. Prepare them well
First, you should remember to prepare the strawberries well for your dog. How? Here is your answer:
- Pick up fresh strawberries
- Wash them thoroughly under running water
- Remove the stem and the leaves
- Chop or smash the strawberries
2. Moderation
Even though strawberries are safe, you should not feed your dog too many strawberries every day. It is essential that you maintain a nutritious diet and balance between all the dietary needs, and not just vitamins. As a responsible pet owner, you should also add other nutritious human foods to your dog’s diet, such as chicken, fish, crabs, celery, beets, etc. Strawberries should only be eaten as treats or rewards for your dog.
3. Don’t!!
One of the BIGGEST NO-NO for strawberries and dogs is to feed your dog commercial strawberry products. These include feeding your dog canned strawberries, strawberry jams, ice creams, strawberry chocolate spreads, or candies. You must know chocolate is deadly to dogs, and other sweet treats may include xylitol. Xylitol is a toxic compound for dogs, which is a sweetener, but it can actually be a nightmare for your dog as it is poisonous (study).
4. Allergies
Moreover, if your dog is allergic to certain food ingredients, you should also be cautious while feeding them berries. Always start with feeding your dog small amounts of strawberries, monitor for any allergic reactions, and if they behave just okay- you can gradually increase the tosses.
Other Fruits That Dogs Can Eat
If your dog is bored of strawberries, you can also feed them these safe fruits that are not just juicy but filled with the goodness of nutrients:
Conclusion
Our final thoughts on “can dogs eat strawberries?” is a big yes! You can feed your dog strawberries and no longer have to hide them! These juicy little berries bring a lot of nutrients to your dog, making strawberries a healthy treat. So the next time your dog makes puppy eyes and asks you for strawberries—don’t hesitate to toss them some!
Frequently Asked Questions
YES! Dogs can eat strawberries and raspberries safely. The only catch is to keep the consumption minimal and in moderation. Both of these fruits are rich in antioxidants, and you can make a super nutritious salad.
Not much evidence proves that strawberries are toxic to dogs. Most fruits, excluding grapes and raisins, are considered safe for dogs in moderation. However, please confirm with your veterinarian before introducing your dog to any new food.
We do not recommend feeding your dog strawberry ice cream. There are several reasons why ice creams are unhealthy for dogs. The grounds include high sugar levels, fat, and lactose. These can cause health problems in dogs.
You should always start with small amounts of it. If you have a small dog, you can give them about 2-3 strawberries; if you have a medium to large dog, you can feed them around 4-6 strawberries. Please consult your veterinarian; every dog has different nutritional needs and tolerance.
Although strawberry leaves are not considered toxic to dogs, they can cause choking hazards. You should not separately or deliberately feed your dog strawberry stems or leaves. If your dog gobbled a few by mistake, they’ll probably be fine. Please monitor your dog for signs of choking.
