One of them most common fruits in the American household is the blueberry. Dogs are likely to get into them since they are small, round, plentiful, and roll away from the table easily. But, can dogs actually eat blueberries?
They’ll try almost anything. Dogs really love blueberries, but they’ll try almost anything, even pickles. They love them for the same reason that people do. They taste great!
Yes, blueberries are safe for dogs
Blueberries are a safe dog treat (in moderation see below for more on that. They do not cause any stomach discomfort in our four legged friends.
Frozen blueberries are also completely fine for dogs to eat. Just keep a few things in mind. It is a good idea to let the blueberries sit out for a few minutes. Letting them sit out makes them little easier to chew. A good rule of thumb is to let the frozen blueberries warm enough to be slightly pinched by the finger.
Frozen blueberries are also notorious for leaking juice everywhere. So if you have a dog that likes to play with their food it may be wise to avoid giving them the frozen berries.
Nutritional benefits of blueberries for a dog
There are tons of nutritional benefits that the blueberry provides for a dog. People traditionally think of the perfect dog treat being something like a bone or antler, but berries may be better in terms of health. There are many health benefits to blueberries. These include:
- Vitamins- Blueberries are a great source of Vitamin C, which is great for both humans and dogs.
- Healthy fiber- Fiber is great for a dog. It keeps them consistent.
- Antioxidant rich- Antioxidants in fruit such as blueberries have been proven to help the overall health of a dog.
- Minerals
- Strengthen the immune system of the dog- Blueberries fight something called free radicals, which are responsible for molecular decay in both humans and dogs. So, while you grab some for spike, go ahead and get some for yourself.
Dogs instinctively know when food like a blueberry is good for them. They are attracted by the sweet and tart taste of blueberries. They will not hesitate to eat them right off of the bush when given a chance.
Giving blueberries as a treat
It is completely safe to give your dog blueberries. But make sure that you limit the amount that you give them. While blueberries do not cause stomach problems in dogs, it is still important to start slow. There is no breed of dogs which has a problem digesting blueberries.
We suggest giving your dog a very limited amount at first. One or two should do. Observe the dogs behavior. If nothing seems different after a few hours, go ahead and give them a few more.
At no point, no matter how harmless, should you give your dog a meal of blueberries. It is incredibly important to keep your dog on a consistent nutritional plan. Any sudden and major change has the potential to really mess with a dogs bowel composition.
What if your dog ate a lot of blueberries?
If your dog ended up eating a lot of blueberries, try not to hit the panic button. They will be just fine. Just observe them and make sure they aren’t getting sick with an upset stomach. If they do seem like they are getting lethargic or have any other red flag symptoms, go ahead and call your vet. They odds of this happening though are minimal at best.
Blueberries, along with strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are all just fine for dogs to eat. I have found that of all the fruit mentioned above, dogs prefer blueberries the most.
Wrapping up, can dogs eat blueberries
Blueberries are a great food for your dog to eat. They are a lot cheaper than a lot of dog treats. Just make sure that they are given in moderation, and never as a main part of a dogs diet. So, can you give a dog blueberries? Absolutely.