Pet owners can’t ignore blueberries, even if they want to. They’re everywhere: in the garden, a salad, or a muffin. Sooner or later, your dog will get curious about the little blue deliciousness.
So, when life gives you blueberries, can you give them to your dog? Can dogs eat blueberries, or are they toxic? Let’s learn all that and more:
- Nutritional Value of Blueberries
- Are Blueberries Safe for Dogs?
- How Much to Give
- Serving Ideas
- Possible Side Effects
- Other Berries That Are Safe for Dogs
- Healthy Dog Recipe With Blueberries
Blueberries — The Super Food With Super Powers
Who can resist the sweet and sour taste of blueberries? They’re among the most popular fruits, and a fruit salad without them would be boring. Blueberries contain so many antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that we can call them the ultimate superfood.
But can dogs eat blueberries? Without a doubt, they can. Vitamins are an essential part of dogs’ diet, and this fruit is an excellent way to boost your pet’s vitamin intake. But if you have a picky eater, using supplement vitamins for your dog’s well-being is always a good alternative.
Nutritional Value of Blueberries
Besides being tasty and aesthetic detail to any food, there are many benefits of blueberries for dogs, especially those with digestion problems.
- Vitamins
Blueberries are high in vitamin C, A, and K. These vitamins work hard to decrease inflammation and strengthen your dog’s immune system. They also keep your pet’s skin, coat, and muscles in good shape.
- Minerals
Minerals like calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium contribute to the blueberries’ health benefits. The fruit also helps the body utilize vitamins and minerals more effectively and supports bone growth in dogs.
- Antioxidants
Blueberries are well-known for their antioxidant capabilities, essential in dogs’ diets. They’re good for slowing the aging process and strengthening the immune system.
- Anthocyanins
The rich purple color of blueberries comes from anthocyanins. They help reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases in dogs.
- Fiber
We cannot stress enough the benefits of dog food rich in fiber. That’s why dogs and blueberries go hand in hand.
Fiber is essential for treating diarrhea and constipation. Plus, it’s good for maintaining a healthy weight in dogs.
- Potassium
Potassium is an essential component of any healthy dog diet because it improves metabolism, bone density, and cognitive abilities.
Don’t underestimate the power of a blueberry. It’s a healthy addition to your dog’s diet that will strengthen its immune system.
Are Blueberries Good For My Dog?
We’ve heard many rumors about blueberries being toxic for dogs, but how can anyone believe that after listing so many nutritional benefits?
Many manufacturers include the fruit in their dog food recipes without having a single doubt about safety. And because of the low calorie and sugar content, blueberries can be good for dogs that suffer from diabetes and obesity.
Blueberries Will Strengthen Your Dog’s Immune System
The nutrients in blueberries work together to help your dog be healthy and happy. Their strong antioxidant properties are the key to a sound immune system.
These small delicious treats will keep your dog hydrated and full of energy. Also, they’re cholesterol-free, low in protein and fat, and easy to digest.
How Much Is Enough?
Although blueberries are fine for your fur buddy, we must clear things up about the serving portions. So, how many blueberries can dogs eat without getting sick?
Giving blueberries as a treat should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s diet. When it comes to puppies, a portion of this fruit should be up to 10 blueberries, but larger dogs can safely eat more.
The best way to introduce blueberries into your dog’s diet is to start slowly with just a few a day. That way, you’ll detect an early allergic reaction in your dog and have the time to react fast.
Adding Blueberries to Your Dog’s Diet
There are many ways to add blueberries to your dog’s diet, and your job is to choose the healthiest.
- Can dogs have frozen blueberries?
Frozen blueberries can be a choking hazard, especially for puppies. It’s better to defrost them and serve them mashed. If you have no choice, give your dog one or two frozen blueberries at a time and keep an eye on it while eating.
- Can dogs eat fresh blueberries?
Absolutely. Just don’t forget to rinse them with water and check for mold before giving them to your pooch. That’s the best way to serve blueberries to your dog — fresh and straight from the garden.
- Can dogs eat dried blueberries?
Dried blueberries have a high percentage of sugar, so we generally don’t recommend feeding your dog dried fruits.
The bottom line is that you should always prefer fresh blueberries over frozen or dried ones for your dog. That’s how your pet will get all the healthy nutrients.
Serving Ideas
If you run out of ideas, here are a few serving options for your dog’s next blueberry treat:
- Mashed
Mashed or pureed blueberries are an excellent solution for small puppies or picky eaters. You can add the puree to any dog food or mix it with plain yogurt for a refreshing and healthy snack.
- Fruit Salad
Making a fruit salad out of strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and apples is always a good idea. It’s a refreshing treat for hot summer days that you and your dog can share.
Side Effects of Giving Blueberries to Your Dog
We’ve already answered, “Are blueberries good for dogs?’’ But let’s see if there are any side effects you should consider.
Choking Hazard
Although small, blueberries can be a dangerous choking hazard when consumed frozen or dried. The only way to prevent any danger is to ensure they’re soft and defrosted.
Are Blueberries Bad for Dogs With Allergies?
Like people, dogs can also be allergic to blueberries. If your dog eats the fruit for the first time, carefully observe its reaction to it, and be aware of symptoms like diarrhea, itching, breathing difficulties, inflammation, or vomiting.
Are Blueberries Safe for Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs?
Because of their high dietary fiber level, blueberries can cause aches in dogs with sensitive stomachs and gastrointestinal issues.
Blueberry Flavored Products
You should avoid giving your dogs artificial blueberry-flavored products because they contain chemicals, preservatives, and sugar.
Cakes or blueberry muffins are made for human consumption and aren’t a good option for your dog. They may contain substances that cause stomach distress and food intolerances, even if they’re homemade.
So, can dogs eat blueberry muffins? They can if you allow them, but they shouldn’t consume store-bought blueberry pie and pancakes.
Other Berries That Are Safe For Dogs
What’s safe for us can be safe for dogs. But, what fruits can dogs eat? There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to berries and dogs.
- Strawberries
Have you thought about giving strawberries to your dog? Generally, they have a similar nutritional value as blueberries. You can serve them as an occasional healthy treat, but fructose in strawberries may cause high blood sugar in dogs. So, be careful with this fruit and the amount you give to your doggo.
- Raspberries and Blackberries
Both are high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to your dog’s health. Blackberries also contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which nurture your dog’s coat and skin.
- Cranberries
Dogs can eat blueberries, and you can give them cranberries, too, but there’s a great chance that they won’t like the sour taste.
Avoid sour and canned berries, raisins, avocado, cherry, and grapes. These fruits can be toxic to pets and require vet consultation before giving them to your dog.
DIY Blueberry Recipe for Your Dog
For our blueberry-themed recipe, we suggest peanut butter treats that are easy to make. Plus, you can eat them, too.
If you want to make these dog treats, you’ll only need fresh blueberries and peanut butter.
The process is very simple:
- Mix the ingredients and make cookie-like shapes or small balls.
- Put the cookies on a baking tray with paper underneath.
- Put the tray in a preheated oven.
- Bake until you get golden brown cookies.
So, once again — are blueberries good for dogs? They are, especially in the form of delicious peanut butter dog treats.
Summary
When choosing an ideal food for large breeds or puppies, pet owners can be really picky, especially with fruit. We hope we’ve made things clear about blueberries.
After going through the nutritional chart of blueberries, we can easily conclude that they’re beneficial for dogs, especially for their immunity, digestion, and weight. Also, they’re essential in preventing heart disease, cancer, and inflammatory diseases.
So, can dogs eat blueberries? They can, so you can look for an easy cake recipe for your dog with this fruit.
