Blueberries, Raspberries, Cranberries!! Who doesn’t like them? Not sure about you but I always buy all of them when going to the grocery stores and enjoying them while watching my favorite Netflix drama while on the crouch. Suddenly George came and shove his head into the big bowl of blueberries and I am wondering if it is okay for them to eat blueberries or other berries.
Blueberries are safe for dogs as the rich content of antioxidants prevents cell damages for both dogs and humans. They are also packed with fiber and phytochemicals and you can use them as treat replacements to play fetch.
The answer to feeding your pup blueberries or other berries is not so simple but after some research. I will try to break it down for you further.
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Can Dogs Have Blueberries
Blueberries are safe for dogs to eat but in moderation. If given too much, their stomachs cannot handle the rich content of antioxidants found in them as humans can.
It is also good to keep in mind that these berries will stick around longer than others and may put your dog at risk for an upset stomach or diarrhea if you feed them too many over a short period due to their high fiber content which leads to gas buildup when ingested by our furry friends.
How Many Blueberries Should I Give My Dog?
Treats including fruits should only be 10% of your overall dog’s diet. For most small dogs, 8-9 blueberries would be an appropriate amount while for bigger dogs it can be up to a dozen.
You can feed your dogs both fresh and frozen blueberries but always feed them in moderation.
Which Berries Are Safe For Dogs?
As you can see from the table above, besides blueberries, other berries like blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries, are safe for your canine.
Similar to Blueberries, raspberries also contain antioxidants, fiber, and other vitamins that are especially good for senior dogs.
Cranberries are safe for your pup. Both cranberries and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities and in moderation.
Strawberries are loaded with nutrients, from fiber to Vitamin C, that can be very good for your dog.
Blackberries are also safe for dogs to eat as they are low in calories and sugar. Do feed in moderation to prevent upset stomach or diarrhea. You can feed 2-3 blackberries a day for a small dog, 4 – 5 for a medium dog and 6 – 9 for large dogs.
First off when feeding all these berries to dogs, do note that the dog’s stomach has different enzymes than ours, which can upset stomachs when they ingest certain foods that are safe for us.
What Berries Can Dogs Not Eat?
Berries that dogs should not eat include decorative berries such as mistletoe and holly berries. Mistletoe and holly berries are quite common in homes, especially during the festive seasons.
Just ensure that your flower arrangement that contains these 2 berries are out of reach for your dog. Another type of berries that can be found in the wild and should be avoided is pokeberries which look like grapes, juniper berries, and baneberries.[Source]
Although these berries are not fatally toxic after ingestion, it would help if you kept an eye out for symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or lack of bowel movement altogether, which could indicate potential problems associated with poisoning in general.
Another fruit to avoid will be cherries. Even though the fleshy part around the seed is edible, cherry plants contain cyanide which is toxic to dogs. Cyanide poisoning can disrupt the oxygen transport within your pup which cause dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, and red gums.
Grapes and raisins(dry grapes) should also be avoided. Grapes can cause renal failure, which is not something that many people know about since the symptoms are similar to other illnesses. Raisins may also pose a risk as they contain even more sugar than grapes, and dogs cannot process them well.
Avoid feeding Gooseberries, salmonberries, baneberries, juniper berries, or dogwood berries which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, seizures, or trouble in breathing.
[Related Article: Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes? Can You Feed Them Raw?]
What Tree Berries Are Poisonous To Dogs?
In the list of poisonous berries for dogs, we have black walnut, chinaberry, horse chestnut, fruit trees such asplum, apricot, and yew tree red berry. It is important to note that these fruits must be avoided as they can lead to many health problems or death including but not limited to gastrointestinal problems and intestinal blockage, convulsions, and coma, vomiting, and diarrhea, dilated pupils, tremors, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and seizures.
Always consult your vet as soon as possible if your dog has ingested any of these berries to save your dog’s life.
What Happens If Your Dog Eats A Poisonous Berry?
If your dog eats a poisonous berry, then you should take them to the veterinarian immediately. You may also want to bring in any remaining berries or related items (such as a bag of grapes) so that they can be tested for confirmation.
Rouble with kidneys is an extremely serious condition. It cannot be treated at home since there are very effective medications that need to be used under supervision by qualified professionals who will also make sure that no further complications arise along the way.
What Happens If A Dog Eats A Red Berry?
The red berry called arils can be easily seen from the yew trees. The fleshy-red aril is the only part of the yew plant that is edible.
It will not cause much damage to your dog if it only ate the fruit. However, if the toxic seed is also ingested, you should take them straight to the vet as soon as possible, especially if there’s been any change in behavior regarding eating habits such as lack of appetite along with other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
It will be extremely difficult for a home remedy involving activated charcoal (which may help remove some toxins from their body) to save them in this kind of situation.
How Toxic Are Yew Berries To Dogs
Even though the berries on yew are harmless, the seed is very toxic and dangerous when ingested by Dogs. It can cause death within a few hours of ingesting it if no proper treatment is given in time.
Signs of drooling, vomiting, weakness, difficulty breathing, life-threatening changes in heart rate and blood pressure, dilated pupils, tremors, seizures, coma may be seen within a short period of ingesting the fruit.[Source]
Conclusion
Our pooch might try his best to convince you that he loves eating berries and other types of fruit, but it’s important to remember that as omnivores, they are not supposed to be part of their diet.
Small amounts of blueberries and other berries, in general, are safe and beneficial to your dog. Still, large quantities may pose a risk to your dog’s health. Too much weight gain can increase the potential risks associated with diabetes, arthritis, and even cancer, among many others.
It is important to remember that when your dog eats a berry that you are not sure of, the best course of action would be to take them straight to a vet without much thought.
There’s no way for you to know how poisonous they might be and whether or not their body can handle exposure.
