Can Dogs Eat Strawberries?

Yes, dogs can eat strawberries… if you can spare any! Strawberries provide a rich source of fiber, antioxidants, and Vitamin C: in moderation, they’re great for dogs. Remember they also contain natural sugars, so you should be careful not to feed your dog too many – our guidelines are below. 

Are Strawberries Safe for Dogs?

Strawberries do not contain any toxins and have not proven to be dangerous for dogs. If your dog has finished off a whole box, the worst they’ll experience is abdominal pain. 

However, there are two things to consider before feeding strawberries to your dog.

1. Strawberries contain natural sugars, but perhaps not as much as you’d think – at around 5% sugar, they contain less than watermelon. However, natural sugars are bad for teeth and shouldn’t be fed to diabetic dogs. 
2. The other cause for concern is the fiber content. While it’s beneficial in reasonable amounts, a large amount of fiber can cause gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, and diarrhea. 

Are Strawberries Good For Dogs?

• Fiber - which helps your dog to digest their food
• Vitamin C - fights aging, increases immunity, and reduces inflammation
• Malic acid - an enzyme which can brighten and whiten teeth
• Polyphenols - which help to regulate blood sugar and may even fight cancer cells

Dogs usually love the sweet taste of strawberries. In fact, did you know that dogs are predisposed towards sweet things? That’s because their ancestors would have foraged for wild fruit in addition to hunting prey. And, because dogs don’t need a lot of salt in their diet, they’re genetically programmed to prefer sweet things to savory snacks.

Introducing Your Dog To Strawberries

So give your dog one fresh strawberry, and don’t give them any other new-to-them food that day. Once you have determined whether your dog tolerates strawberries, you can feed them occasionally – but bearing in mind the sugar content – as a treat.

As guidance, here are safe amounts for different sizes of dogs:

• Small dogs (Terriers, Chihuahuas, and Dachshunds): One strawberry. Tip: Cut it up quite finely to prevent choking.
• Medium-sized dogs (Spaniels, Beagles, Wheaten Terriers, and Bulldogs): Maximum 3-4 strawberries, cut in half.
• Large dogs (Collies, Shepherds, Labradors and Retrievers): 5 strawberries, cut in half. 

You could even mush them up and pop them in their kong if you want to make them last a little longer. 

P.S. Looking for Extra Vitamins For Your Dog?

We made The One/products/the-one to provide our dogs with all those extra benefits that you read about in the press. So there’s antioxidant Green Tea, joint-oiling Glucosamine, heart-strengthening Taurine, and brain-sharpening Krill. It’s carefully prepared to preserve the precious nutrients, then dried and ground into our super-delicious dog supplement. Sprinkle it over your dog’s dinner and watch them wolf it down!