Are Strawberries Safe for Dogs?
Can dogs eat strawberries? Yes, It is safe for dogs to consume fresh or frozen strawberries as an occasional treat. There are many different benefits strawberries have such as Vitamin C, B1 and K along with fiber, potassium sources. With all benefits, they are naturally risks associated, such as allergic reactions, overdosing and canned strawberries which are all hazardous for your dog.
Although many people think that strawberries are good for dogs, they do have a negative drawback, as they contain quite a fair bit of sugar to be eaten regularly. Similar to bananas, strawberries should be treated more as a reward or treat as opposed to a meal substitute. Fayie also has compiled a list of fruits that are safe for dogs.
Benefits of Strawberries for Dogs
Consuming strawberries can provide numerous health benefits for your dog. Strawberries are high in numerous vitamins such as B1 and 6, C and K. They also are rich in fiber, potassium, and enriches your dog with omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, iodine, and folic acid.
Everyone of these vitamins and minerals in one way or another assist in immune system function and cell repair. As Fiber aids in digestion, while omega-3s improve your pooch’s skin. Not to mention strawberries have a very low-calorie content while being high in water content, which is especially helpful for weight control. Strawberries the perfect occasional substitute for your dog’s treats.
Strawberries are best served as a great snack for dogs, this minimalizes majority of all the risk associated to this fruit. As with all food, you don’t feed your dog strawberries without thinking it through and when in doubt you consult with your vet, as there are a few risks associated with feeding strawberries to dogs.
Risk of Strawberries for Dogs
Strawberries Overdose
Just like mangos and most fruits, strawberries are high in sugar content. This means, you would need to be careful on the daily intake as too many strawberries at once is dangerous for your dog, which will be resulting in making them very sick. Depending on your dog size and breed, your dog may only be able to eat a few strawberries at a time.
Canned Strawberries
Never give your dog canned strawberries, and only give him fresh ones in moderation. Fresh fruit is good for dogs but canned, sugared, and packed in syrup far from safe and healthy. Canned food usually have added preservatives or sweeteners that are toxic to dogs and pets.
Strawberries in Sweets
When buying sweets for your dog, always inspect what is contained, as treats that includes strawberries are usually made with canned strawberries as opposed to fresh strawberries. However, even with fresh strawberries as the base fruit ingredient, treats often have added sweeteners or additional sugar which also is dangerous for your dog.
As a rule of thumb, you should never feed your dog, dog sweets or baked pastries with or without fruits. Treats like these are dangerous to them.
Choking Hazard
Strawberries are super soft and easy to chew, however, this still may present a choking hazard. When you have a dog who enjoys swallowing food as a whole as opposed to chewing, this risk magnifies intensity. Instead to minimize any risk, you should always cut fresh strawberries into smaller portions or turn it into a puree or mash up before feed them to your dog in that form. Frozen strawberries are perfectly fine for your dog if it is not too many at once. Frozen strawberries are still best served as sliced and in smaller pieces.
Allergic Reactions
Just as with any kind of food, it’s possible for your dog to be allergic to strawberries. Allergic reactions aren’t common, but they can happen. If you notice any kind of adverse reaction after giving your dog strawberries, give your veterinarian a call immediately.
How to Safely Feed Strawberries to Your Dog
Strawberries are one of nature’s candy, so it’s important to take precautions when you’re preparing them for dog. The best way is always fresh, but make sure to prepare them properly by washing the strawberries thoroughly before cutting into small pieces to prevent choking or digestive issues. If you have a small dog, you may want to consider mashing or pureeing the berries and adding to your pet’s diet.
When introducing new foods to your dog, be sure to check with your vet. If you do begin to give your dog some strawberries, always start out with small portions to monitor for any behavioral changes or digestive issues. If you notice anything unusual, cease giving the strawberries and consult with your vet.