can dogs eat blueberries? The low calorie and high in nutrient fruit blueberry are widely popular in humans. Blueberries are considered the king of anti-oxidants. These small, juicy blue fruits reduce DNA damage, which helps against cancer and aging. Blueberries protect the cholesterol damage in the blood and also lowers the blood pressure.
Most dog owners feed the fruit to their pooch without even wondering about “is it safe for dogs to eat blueberries?”. A dog’s anatomy differs from humans. So, the dog’s owner should consult a veterinarian or nutritionist or should take precautionary measures before feeding it to their dogs.
Dogs chew everything that comes in front of them, but it is the duty of the owner to analyze what it is eating, what it should eat and what to avoid.
Although the answer to “Can dogs eat blueberries?” is a yes but, some precautions are required. To get to its depth, we will explain all the nutritional benefits and even hazardous a dog gets on eating blueberries.
And your questions like, “Are dogs allergic to blueberries?”, “how many blueberries can dogs eat?”, “can my dog eat blueberries?” And everything that relates dogs and blueberries, will be answered here.
Table of Contents
What benefits do dogs get on eating blueberries?
Even though a dog’s anatomy differs from a human, dogs still get the same benefits and the same detriments from blueberries as we humans, get. The difference is the size of the amount we feed to our pups. The quantity and texture of berries can also differ.
Blueberries give a pack of vitamins A, B6, C and K1. These vitamins enrich your dog’s coat, develop healthy skin, give a boost of energy and also strengthens the teeth and bones.
Vitamin K1 helps in blood clot formation.
Vitamin A helps in proper cell functioning, immune functioning, fetal development and growth.
Vitamin B6 is responsible for hormone regulation, gene activation, red blood cell formation, and glucose generation. It is also responsible for the functioning of the nervous system.
Vitamin C is very helpful in offering wondrous health benefits. It can reduce the cognitive aging factor and helps in reducing inflammation.
Blueberries also serve the minerals; manganese and magnesium. Far too much mineral can trigger toxicity and other health complications. Too little of the same mineral may lead to deficiencies.
Manganese is not naturally developed in dogs and must, therefore, be acquired by safe diets and pet supplements. Magnesium is a wonderful nutrient for dogs dealing with muscle pain, disorders or aches.
Fiber helps with the management of the digestive tract in dogs. It helps in recovery processes in dogs and also prevents the overgrowth of bad bacteria in their bodies. Most of the dog’s weight control foods contain fiber because fiber allows them to feel full while consuming low calories.
Blueberry flavonoids help in reducing metabolic syndrome-related risk factors such as obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, diabetes, insulin resistance, etc.
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What textured blueberries can a dog eat? can dogs eat blueberries?
can dog eat fresh blueberries? yes.
Can dogs have frozen blueberries? yes.
Can dogs eat dried blueberries? yes.
Both, frozen and fresh blueberries are considered a healthy treat for pups but, make sure your dog or puppy chews it. Don’t let it swallow the berries. This can cause him to choke. This particular precaution should be made special in the case of frozen blueberries. If swallowed by a puppy, a frozen blueberry can block his veins causing it to choke or to vomit. Dried berries would also go fine with your doggie’s stomach.
If you’re afraid of your dog to swallow the berries, you can offer it a blueberry juice. Blueberry juice is just blueberries in liquid form, so the berries will benefit your dog in the same way as blueberries do. Do not give your pooch artificial juice as they are loaded with artificial sugar, artificial colors, preservatives; all are toxic for a pooch.
Dog foods containing blueberries
While, to some level, blueberries are present in certain dog food, it can be complicated to get them directly into eating it. The dog foods usually provide the blue berry’s flavor and not their nutritional values. You would get a benefit if you’re feeding blueberry flavored food to your dog.
Although your little friend is not getting the actual values out of the berries, it would get used to the taste. It would be easier for you to switch to the real fruit by feeding it the flavored food in the first place. It can cause a nice friendship between your dog and blueberries.
Blueberries for dogs in different ways
As described, a moderate number of blueberries are safe for your dogs. We will now discuss some safe foods for dogs with berries in them. You can make or get blueberry yogurt for your little pooch.
But can dogs eat yogurt blueberries? yogurt is not toxic to doggies. As it contains lactose, (Make sure your dog is lactose tolerant) it can be hard for dogs in digesting it so low-fat or plain yogurt should be used.
Yogurt is high in protein as well as calcium which helps in building muscles, body tissues, strengthens teeth and bones and helps in building muscle tissues. Keep in mind, yogurt should not contain any artificial or natural sugar; it is not healthy for dogs and even humans.
Blueberries pancakes or muffins can also be fed to your pup if they are not very high in sugar. High sugar intake can cause weight gain problems, cavities or even diabetes. It should be kept in mind that what humans find good for them may result to be toxic for their pups.
Oatmeal serves as an excellent alternative carbohydrate for dogs who don’t prefer eating grains or are sensitive to other grains. Oatmeal is high in nutritional values, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Again, it should also be fed in moderation. Its overdose can cause unhealthy ways too.
Homemade recipe for dogs
To make blueberry oatmeal treat for your dog, follow the recipe given below. Recipe:
Instructions
- Mix ¼ cup of mashed blueberries with a cup of gluten-free flour, ¼ cup of rolled oats, 1 tablespoon of dried blueberries and one tablespoon honey.
- Mix the ingredients with a spatula and then knead a dough out of it.
- Roll a ¼ to 1/2 inch of thickness of the dough and cut out different shaped cookies for your doggie. You can use a cookie cutter or even a knife to cut out shapes.
- Place the cutouts on a parchment paper. Lightly brush them with a beaten egg.
Note* Bake the treats in a pre-heated oven for about 25 to 30 minutes. Cooldown the treats for 10 minutes and then give them to your dog.
How many blueberries can dogs eat?
We recommend consulting your dog’s veterinarian or nutritionist before feeding any human food to your dog. Only a veterinarian or nutritionist will be able to tell the exact serving size for your dog. But, with a minor analysis, it can be said that ten percent of your dog’s diet should be comprised of treats; this can include fruits.
Moderation should be taken in both cases, puppies and adult dogs. If you wonder about “can I feed my dog blueberries?”, start by giving it a little portion of the berries. Every dog reacts differently to different foods, depending on its habits.
Keep a keen eye on your dog’s behavior after eating the berries. Monitor your dog for any signs of allergies or distress. You can mash some berries into its food, give it berries as a treat, make blueberry foods for it. The options are unlimited.
Some precautions to take
- The first and foremost point to keep in mind is that the berries are thoroughly washed. Even the packed berries can contain germs or dirt to some extent, so they must be washed.
- If you’re growing berries in your garden, make sure your pooch isn’t eating it directly from there. They can be packed with germs and dirt, which can result in various problems.
- Remove if there are seeds in the berries.
- Make sure your dog is chewing the berries. Don’t let it gulp the berries in, this can cause it to choke.
- Ask your pooch’s veterinarian or nutritionist first.
- Introduce the new fruit to your pup by gradually including them in its food.
- Don’t let your pooch eat too many berries. This can cause its stomach to an upset. It can cause stomach ache.
- Don’t feed too many berries to your dog. Blueberries have sugar in them, this can cause cavities in pups and puppies too.
- A very large amount of berry intake can also cause your dog’s stomach to upset. The fiber present in blueberries can cause gastrointestinal problems and even diarrhea (if taken in a large quantity).
Summary, Can Dog eat blueberries?
So, the all-points conclude to a single point that dogs can eat blueberries. If you’re having berries, you can offer some berries to your friend too. Moderation and precautions should be made, and this fruit is safe for your little friend.
