Can dogs eat strawberries? Strawberries are my all-time favorite food! In the spring and summer, I love to grow as many strawberry plants as I possibly can in planters on our porch and around our yard. Growing them in planters inside, or very close to, the house is the only way I’ve found I can grow them without all the various critters in our yard getting to the berries before I do! Apparently, a lot of different animals enjoy strawberries just as much as I do. What about dogs?
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Strawberries are Nontoxic to dogs!
Luckily for me, strawberries are safe for dogs to eat. I say luckily because, as I’ve shared here before, I often enjoy sharing snacks with my two dogs, Kitsune the papillon and Fenrir the Alaskan Klee Kai. Not to mention the fact that I can be quite messy in the kitchen. No worries, Kit and Fen are amazing kitchen assistants and love to help me clean up any little food tidbits that I drop. What do people without dogs even do when they drop food? Pick it up themselves? Weird.
Are There Any Benefits to Feeding Strawberries to Dogs?
Despite often tasting sweet and delicious, strawberries are actually quite healthy. Like many other fruits and vegetables that dogs can safely snack on, strawberries are low in calories. They can, in moderation, make great low-calorie snacks for dogs. I’ve been trying to help my senior dog, Kitsune, lose a bit of excess weight lately. Feeding him fruits and veggies that are low in calories but high in fiber helps him to feel full without adding a lot of excess calories to his diet.
Strawberries are a great source of a host of healthy nutrients, like vitamin C, manganese, folate, potassium, and antioxidants. In humans, nutrients in strawberries have been linked to all kinds of health benefits. Everything from heart health to cancer prevention!
If either my dogs or myself end up living an unusually long time, I’m going to tell everyone that our secret is strawberries.
Are There Any Drawbacks to Feeding Dogs Strawberries?
Strawberries, as their taste implies, are high in natural sugars. Like other fruits that are dog-safe, they should be fed in moderation. Too much sugar consumed at once can commonly cause GI upset in dogs.
Also, like in humans, some dogs can actually be allergic to strawberries. If your pup experiences any adverse effects after trying strawberries for the first time, such as hives, itchy skin, swelling, or trouble breathing, contact your veterinarian.
How to Feed Strawberries to Your Dog
Things like strawberry jam and pie filling are delicious, but should be kept away from your dog. These types of products have a lot of added ingredients, usually sugars and other things that may not be safe for your dog. When it comes to offering my own dogs strawberries, my motto is that fresh is best. Fresh, plain strawberries don’t contain any added ingredients that I have to worry about.
When I’m cutting strawberries, I’ll often offer my dogs a small slice or two. Just to note, strawberry plants (the stems and leaves) are not toxic to dogs. So if you grow your own berries, like I do, and your dog decides to raid your garden, you don’t have to worry too much about them getting into your strawberry patch. The leaves and stems likely won’t be easy for your dog to digest, though, and may cause GI upset if eaten. Plus if your dog eats your plants you won’t get as many delicious berries, so it’s best to keep Fluffy out of your garden.
Comment below! Have you ever shared strawberries with your dog? Do they enjoy them?
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