You might have wondered can dogs eat blueberries while enjoying juicy and delicious blueberries on a hot summer day. Yes, dogs can eat blueberries. Blueberries are low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins, and nutrients. They increase your dog’s vision, strengthen your dog’s immune system, prevent brain aging, and fight cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Read this detailed guide to learn about the benefits of blueberries, ways to serve blueberries to your dog, and recommended serving sizes.
Can Dogs Eat Blueberries?
Yes, blueberries are safe for dogs in moderation. Blueberries are considered a superfood for both humans and dogs. Blueberries are rich in beneficial vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. All these things are greatly beneficial for a happy and healthy dog.
However, you should be careful about the serving size of blueberries. Excess of any fruit or vegetable, including blueberries, is unsafe for dogs. Remember the golden rule of 90/10, which means 90% well-balanced dog food and 10% treats while offering blueberries to your dog.
Also, introduce the blueberries slowly to rule out any allergies and check whether your dog likes blueberries or not. Some dogs don’t like the taste and texture of blueberries, while others love them. Some dogs will only sniff the blueberries and turn their nose away, while some will spit them out.
Lee&Pol has researched recipe to make nutritious blueberries enjoyable for dogs. As a result, through freeze drying, we provide a crunchy texture that dogs can enjoy without any resistance!
Are Blueberries Good for Dogs?
Yes, blueberries are super healthy low-calorie treats for dogs. Blueberries are filled with vitamins A, C, and K, fiber, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. They are also rich in minerals like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. These things highly benefit the vision, immune system, digestive system, and brain. Let’s have a detailed look at the benefits of blueberries for dogs.
Benefits of Blueberries for Dogs
The benefits of giving blueberries to dogs include:
Vision
Vitamin A in blueberries, like in carrots,is responsible for improving your dog’s eyesight, especially night vision. Other foods that contain vitamin A and improve your dog’s vision include carrots and bell peppers.
Immune System
Vitamin A and C present in blueberries contribute to a strong immune system in dogs. A healthy and strong immune system is a must for your dog’s well-being. The immune system is your dog’s built-in defense system against infections and diseases.
Digestive System
Blueberries are rich in fiber. A good amount of fiber content in blueberries can keep your dog’s digestive system healthy. It also makes your dog’s stool regular.
However, feeding blueberries in moderation is the key. If you feed a higher concertation of blueberries to your dog, it may become harmful instead of beneficial. The reason lies in the high sugar content present in the blueberries. Although the fiber content of blueberries is beneficial for your dog’s digestive system, the high sugar content is not suitable for your dog’s health. High sugar consumption can cause an upset stomach in your furry friend and may lead to obesity in the long term.
Remember that if you feed blueberries in the recommended amounts, your dog will not be affected by their sugar content. The sugar content of blueberries becomes harmful only when you feed them excessively and more than the recommended daily dosage.
Brain and Cardiac Health
Blueberries are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants in blueberries like flavonoids and anthocyanins help fight free radicals in the dog’s body. Free radicals are compounds responsible for cell damage. Studies show that dietary antioxidants can reduce the effects of brain aging, which is especially good if you have an old dog.
Blueberries are also rich in phytonutrients (naturally occurring chemical compounds in plants). Studies show that the phytochemical profile of blueberries can prevent dog’s heart diseases.
Cancer Fighting Properties
Phytochemicals are the unique chemical compounds naturally present in blueberries. Studies show that phytochemicals have cancer-fighting properties for canines. So, offering blueberries to your furry friend can prevent cancer.
Lee&Pol includes dried pollock to complement the animal & plant-based nutrients for your dog’s health. We also remove salt over 24 hours and carefully remove bones, so you can feed it with confidence!
How to Feed Blueberries to Dogs
Now you have the answer to your question can dogs eat blueberries. Let’s have a look at ways to serve blueberries to dogs. Here are some ways to offer blueberries to your furry friend:
Fresh Blueberries
You can offer your dog fresh blueberries, and they’ll love them as a special treat. Always make sure that you buy organic blueberries. Before offering blueberries to your dog, wash them to remove any pesticides or dirt. Cut the blueberries if you have an extra small dog to avoid choking.
You can offer fresh blueberries one by one as a special treat to your dog in between meals, or you can mash and sprinkle them over their regular food.
Frozen Blueberries
During hot summer days, you can freeze the blueberries for your dog. Frozen blueberries for dogs add variety to your dog’s diet because they have a crunchy texture. Your dog will love frozen blueberries during hot summer days.
But make sure to cut the blueberries before freezing them into small bite-sized pieces if you have a small dog to avoid choking.
Pureed Blueberries
If you have a senior dog, then you can puree the blueberries with your dog’s favorite fruit. You can puree them with bananas or strawberries that are entirely safe for dogs.
You can also mix this puree with homemade sugar-free and xylitol-free yogurt or peanut butter and freeze it for a special icy treat for your dog.
Homemade Blueberry Dog Treats
You can also make a homemade blueberry dog treat to avoid the risk of xylitol, chocolate, and nutmeg that are present in store-bought blueberry muffins or blueberry yogurt. You can make baked blueberry muffins that are free from these harmful ingredients for a safe and healthy blueberry dog treat.
Dried Blueberries
Homemade dried blueberries are extremely healthy for dogs. You can use a dehydrator to make your own dried blueberries. However, you should avoid store-bought dried blueberries for your dog because of their preservatives and high sugar content.
Lee&Pol freeze dries only pure blueberries without adding any preservatives or sugars. It preserves the original taste of blueberries and is safe to your dog!
How Many Blueberries Can a Dog Eat?
Blueberries are a healthy food for dogs, but only in moderation. Blueberry intake mainly depends on the size of the dog and its gastrointestinal tolerance. Some dogs can even digest 8-10 blueberries safely, while others may not be able to digest even 1-2 blueberries.
Usually, 2-3 blueberries are safe for small dogs, and 5-6 blueberries are safe for large dogs. Feeding dogs blueberries more than these recommended guidelines can cause an upset stomach. Signs of stomach upset include:
- Lethargy
- Dullness and Depression
- Loss of Appetite
- Licking lips or other objects
Can Dogs Eat Blueberries Every Day?
It depends on your dog’s gastrointestinal tolerance as well as any other treats that you may be offering. Remember that all treats should make up only 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. If your dog doesn’t show any symptoms of digestive upset like vomiting or diarrhea and really likes eating blueberries daily, then you should be good to go.
However, always recommend feeding every treat in moderation because blueberries have a high sugar content, which can lead to obesity and diabetes if they are fed daily for the long term.
When Are Blueberries Bad for Dogs?
We know that blueberries are filled with beneficial vitamins and nutrients that are super healthy for our furry friends. However, blueberries can become harmful if given in excess quantities. Blueberries have a good amount of sugar. So, if we feed blueberries to our dogs in excess, they can cause digestive upset as a short-term consequence and obesity as a long-term consequence.
Blueberries are also not suitable for diabetic dogs because of their high sugar content.
Also, blueberries pose a choking risk, especially for small dogs. Blueberries are tiny, but they can cause choking in extra-small dogs. Always cut or mash the blueberries if you have a small dog. Also, if you have a large dog with a habit of gobbling its food, then cutting or mashing the blueberries is necessary to avoid the choking hazard.
Can Diabetic Dogs Eat Blueberries?
Blueberries are not recommended for diabetic dogs owing to their high sugar content. The high sugar content of blueberries is not suitable for most of the dogs. However, always consult with your veterinarian to get personalized advice if you have a diabetic pet and want to add any new treat to your dog’s daily routine. Your vet will give you the best advice based on your pet’s age, size, and any special health conditions.
Can Dogs Be Allergic to Blueberries?
Dogs can be allergic to blueberries very rarely. However, only buy fresh and organic blueberries because synthetic chemicals are applied while growing blueberries at some farms. So, your dog may be allergic to these chemicals instead of blueberries. If you see any signs of allergy like panting, drooling, skin irritation, coughing, sneezing, or swelling of the eyes, nose, or face, then immediately stop offering blueberries to your dog.
What Other Fruits Can Dogs Eat?
Here are some other nutritious and safe fruits to offer to your canine:
- Strawberries
- Cranberries
- Raspberries
- Apple
- Watermelon
- Oranges
- Mangoes
- Cherries
- Peaches
- Pears
- Pineapple
Conclusion
Blueberries are a super healthy and nutritious treat for dogs, filled with various vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. Blueberries are highly beneficial for dog’s vision, immune system, digestive system, brain, and cardiac health. Research shows that blueberries prevent brain aging and cardiovascular diseases. They also help fight cancer. Keep in mind that blueberries are only healthy in moderation. If given in excess quantities, they can disturb your dog’s stomach and can make your dog obese.
Although blueberries are healthy low-calorie treats, you should always consult your veterinarian for personalized advice before adding any new vegetable, fruit, or treat to your dog’s diet. Your vet can give you the best advice based on your dog’s age, weight, and health status.
FAQ
Yes, dogs can eat dried blueberries but only homemade dried blueberries that are dried using dehydrator. Store-bought dried blueberries are not recommended for your dog because they have preservatives and high sugar content, which is not good for your dog.
Yes, dogs can eat frozen blueberries. However, be careful with small dogs, as frozen blueberries pose a choking risk for small dogs. If you have a small dog, cut the blueberries into small bite-sized pieces before freezing them.
Yes, blueberries are entirely safe and healthy for small dogs. However, blueberries can cause choking in small dogs due to their small size. Always cut the blueberries into small bite-sized pieces before offering them to your small dog, especially if you’re offering frozen blueberries.
Although blueberries are safe alone as a treat, blueberry muffins are not suitable for dogs. Blueberry muffins contain a high amount of sugar and fats, which is unhealthy for dogs. Also, blueberry muffins may contain some toxic ingredients like xylitol, chocolate, or nutmeg.
If your dog accidentally ate a small piece of blueberry muffins, then make sure that blueberry muffins are without toxic ingredients like xylitol, chocolate, or nutmeg. Your dog can be okay if blueberry muffins don’t contain any of these ingredients. But, if you find out that the blueberry muffin eaten by your dog does include some of these ingredients, then take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Timely therapy of your dog can prevent it from the deadly consequences of these toxic substances.
Blueberry yogurt is not recommended for dogs because of its high sugar content. Store-bought blueberry yogurt is high in sugar. The high sugar content of blueberry yogurt can upset your dog’s stomach and may lead to obesity and diabetes if given in the long term. Also, store-bought blueberry yogurt may contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
If you want to offer blueberry yogurt to your dog, you can try homemade blueberry yogurt. Mix mashed blueberries with homemade sugar-free and xylitol-free yogurt and offer it to your dog as a special treat.
