Can dogs eat strawberries?
Yes, strawberries are safe for dogs to eat. To welcome the spring season strawberry is the best fruit. It is sweet, healthy, and mouth-watering fruit. If you are feeding your dog strawberries, you may not have to worry unless feeding too many in quantity. However, if your dog is adult or a puppy, strawberry is a healthy fruit.
“But do you know the leaves on strawberries plant can upset your dog’s stomach? To save your dog from such situation, first do not treat your dog with strawberry leaves and provide strawberries in moderation” – says Dr. Jennifer Power, DVM Sr. Veteran at Small Door Vet.
In the below article, you can read about whether strawberries are good for dog’s health or not and in how much quantity you can feed it to them (?)
Let’s begin,
Why are strawberries good for dogs health?
Pet owners speculate about are strawberries safe for dogs to eat or not. Let’s find out:
Vitamin C ( 97.6gms) ,Vitamin B-1,B-6,K, Magnesium( 21.6gms), Folic acid , Fiber (3.32gms), Iodine, Potassium (21.6 gms), and Omega3 are the healthy gains your dog can add, if you feed your dog strawberry as a treat with adequate portion.
Why are strawberries considered bad for dogs?
Well, excess of anything is harmful and dog’s metabolism is different. It like other berries or any fruit, the strawberry contains high sugar content. If your dog is a diabetic, then feeding any sugary sweet fruit can be harmful. Continuous feeding of sweet treats can cause:
- Dental issues
- Obesity
- Diabetes etc.
However, by giving small portions only you can keep a balance of your dog’s health.
How to feed strawberries of different breeds?
If you are a new pet parent, then this is for you:
- Feeding your dog with portion of 10 % treat and 90% of a good healthy diet makes up a good, healthy, and balance dog food cycle.
- Dog’ with 2-20 lbs = 1-2 slices of strawberries. Like, Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Pugs, Pomeranians. Small dogs with 20-30 Ibs can have 2-3 slices. Like, Miniature Australian Shepherds, Beagles, Basenjis.
- Medium size dogs with 31-50 Ibs can have many strawberry slices approx. 5-6. Includes Border Collies, Australian Cattle dogs, and Beast Hounds.
- Large dogs with 51-90 Ibs can have strawberries in decent amount. Like, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherd, Pit bulls, and German shepherds.
- Lastly, big dogs with 91+ Ibs can eat strawberries in good amount because of their huge size. Like Bernese Mountain Dogs, St. Bernard, Great Pyrenees, and Newfoundland dogs.
Check symptoms, if your you have feed your dog too many strawberry treats:
- Fatigue
- Looking distress
- Depressed Expression
- Continuously licking lips
Is strawberry yogurt safe for dogs?
If you give your dog strawberry yogurt on regular basis can affect your dog’ health. The yogurt contains xylitol, which is toxic for your dog’s healthy living.
If you really want to feed your dog a healthy yogurt, then you can pick a plain, sugar free or xylitol free yogurt. You can check from the pack’s ingredients.
What about strawberry ice cream?
Giving your dogs strawberry ice cream can also be unhealthy. Ice cream carries more sugar ingredient than a yogurt, and it may also contain xylitol and other harmful ingredients for dogs.
Can dogs eat frozen strawberries or strawberry leaves?
Talking about the strawberry leaves may not be toxic for your furry love but it may cause stomach problems. If your dog is eat strawberries in desired amount then try to not to feed with its leaves to avoid intestinal blockages.
On the other hand, frozen strawberries are yummy, crunchy, and refreshing treat for your dog. You can chop the frozen strawberries into small pieces so that your can chew it properly. To stay safe, you can cut them into ¼ inch slices to avoid choking or intestinal blockages.
Let’s summarise, how to feed strawberries to your dog safely?
You can feed your dog frozen strawberries or cut them in adequate pieces. You can also make smoothie from the frozen ones and blend them with mangoes , bananas or berries of other types. Also, do not fool yourself with canned strawberries they have articial sweetner xylitol, which can be again harmful. Feeding your dogs with less sugary treats will also prevent dogs with hair fall and constant itchyness. Therefore, whether you have dog, cat or any animal species with you, being a petparent you must consult the vet about your pet’s (dogs) food habits that will save your dog from unhealthy food lifecycle.
