Can Dogs Eat Strawberries? The short answer is Yes! Dogs can most certainly eat strawberries without coming to any harm. Your dog is omnivorous – that means they can eat fruit and vegetables as well as meat and meat products.
Just take care not to feed your dog too many strawberries at a time as it might cause them to have an upset stomach.
Mostly we don’t think of fruit as a natural food for dogs. Some canned dog foods do contain vegetables like carrots, but not usually any fruit. Not all fruits can be safely fed to dogs, but strawberries in moderation are fine. In fact a few strawberries given as a treat can be beneficial for your pet.
What are the benefits of feeding strawberries to my dog?
Few of us would think of strawberries when deciding to give our dog a treat.
There are lots of commercially-available dog treats on the market and we might give them a piece of meat or even some pastry or cake. But strawberries – no – they are way down the list of dog treats for most of us.
There are some benefits, however, in giving your dog a few strawberries.
1. Vitamin C.
Strawberries are high in Vitamin C, which is an essential vitamin for good health – in both dogs and humans!
2. Manganese and Potassium.
Both these elements are vital to good health in all animals. Strawberries are high in both. Potassium promotes good muscle and nerve functioning. In its natural form it is considered to be of greater value than the artificially created potassium which is used in proprietary dog foods.
Manganese plays an important role in how your dog obtains the energy they need from the carbohydrates and proteins in the rest of their diet.
3. Enzymes.
Good tooth health is important in dogs. Strawberries contain a specific enzyme that helps keep your dog’s teeth nice and white.
4. Fiber
Strawberries are high in fiber which aids digestion.
5. Omega-3.
Omega-3 boosts skin health as well as being good for a dog’s coat.
What quantity of strawberries should I give my dog?
All fruit, including soft fruit like strawberries, contain sugar. It is important to limit the amount of sugar your dog consumes so as to avoid it developing canine diabetes. Canine diabetes is fairly common and can easily be avoided by taking care over your dog’s diet.
It is recommended that high-sugar snacks, including fruit, should be limited to about 10% of the total calories your dog consumes each day. This therefore depends on:
- The size of your dog
- The other items that form part of their diet
- How much exercise they get
Some dog owners suggest that just one or two strawberries a day is about right. The larger your dog the more strawberries they can have but beware of giving too many as they can get diarrhea.
Also, avoid giving your dog processed or canned strawberries. These are not good for dogs, if only because they are very high in sugar. Artificial strawberry flavorings should also be avoided. The products usually contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol.
Xylitol is poisonous to dogs. Look out for the name in the list of ingredients on the can – it also is sometimes referred to as birch sugar or meso-xylitol. It’s �E’ number is E967.
How should I feed my dog strawberries?
First of all, make sure you are feeding your dog fresh strawberries that have not been sprayed with herbicides or pesticides. Also avoid any strawberries that have been treated with preservatives. Best of all, feed them fresh organic strawberries as you can be sure they are the safest.
Whichever you choose to feed to your dog wash them thoroughly first! Then remove the stem.
1. Whole.
Strawberries tend to be small and can be fed whole to most dogs. The risk of choking is slight but always keep a watchful eye when giving strawberries whole.
2. Chopped.
Smaller dogs might prefer to have a strawberry chopped up. It will be easier for them to eat.
3. Mashed.
Smaller dogs may appreciate having their strawberries mashed for them. It is also possible to add other mashed fruit to make a little smoothie that your dog will love.
4. Frozen.
Some frozen strawberries – or frozen mashed strawberries – can be a lovely treat for your pet on a hot summer’s day.
Conclusion
Many dogs enjoy strawberries as a treat. If you exercise caution when feeding strawberries then everything will be fine. Stick to fresh clean strawberries and keep well away from canned or processed ones.
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