Can my dog eat strawberries?
Providing a daily diet that is balanced, healthy and meets the dog's needs is sometimes a challenge that must be met and passed.
The dog's diet should consist of animal proteins, but a supply of vegetables and fruit is also important. However, many foods can be beneficial and others not, or even toxic, for the dog.
What about strawberries, can you give them to your dog? What are the benefits of strawberries for dogs? How much strawberries should we give our favourite pet?
The point in this article.
While you’re cooking, suddenly, your dog looks at you. You want to give them a little treat but wonder if they can eat the food you are holding in your hand.
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The benefits and dangers of strawberries in dogs
Strawberries are good and safe for your dog. They are made up of nutrients that can be beneficial to your pet's health. These include:
- Water: Thanks to their high water content, strawberries can be ideal for hydrating your dog, especially in hot weather.
- Vitamins: Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C (antioxidant) and vitamin K (bone strengthening). They also contain vitamins B6 (for energy production) and B12 (for red blood cell production).
- Fibre: excellent for strengthening your pet's immune and digestive systems.
- Minerals: magnesium and copper.
In summary, strawberries can be an excellent source of essential nutrients that are beneficial to your dog's health. However, due to their high sugar content, strawberries should not be a large part of your pet's meal and should only be offered as an occasional treat. It is therefore important to know how much strawberries to give your dog.
In addition, experts believe that it's best to vary the fruits you give your dog, so it's not advisable to give your dog strawberries every day. Watermelon, apples or bananas can be the fruits of choice.
How do I prepare them and give them to my dog?
To get the most out of the strawberry's flavour and benefits, it is advisable to remove the leaves and tail as they can cause some digestive problems in your dog.
Then, cut them into small pieces, as a whole strawberry can get stuck and cause choking.
On the other hand, it is advisable to give strawberries from organic cultivation to avoid any contamination with pesticides. Industrial strawberry products (canned, syrups, jam, drinks) should be avoided as they may contain additives that are harmful to your dog and contain even higher amounts of sugar.
How much to give my dog strawberries?
If you're considering giving your dog strawberries for the first time, it's important to use them sparingly. Introducing a new food into your dog's diet quickly and abruptly can cause some digestive upset and discomfort.
For example, it is estimated that the ideal amount would be 20 grams of strawberries in small pieces for small dogs and puppies; and up to 100 grams of strawberries cut in half for adult dogs. It is advisable to clean the fruit well before serving and to check that your dog does not choke on it.
As a veterinary, I am passionate about animals, their health and their daily life. My second passion is writing, so what better way to talk to you about the health of animals and especially dogs?
