Can dogs eat strawberries?

With the first warm days of June coming up, you know that strawberry season is fast approaching. If you and your family love strawberry picking (or just strawberry snacking), it’s only natural to ask yourself if you can share your favourite fruity treat with your pooch. So, the short answer is YES, dogs can eat strawberries, which is great news for you and your four-legged buddy. 

With the main question out of the way, let’s dive in and find out all the details from how healthy strawberries are for dogs to how much strawberries you can feed your dog and how to serve them safely. 

Are strawberries good for dogs?

We all know that not everything we can and like to eat is actually good for us and the same applies to dogs. However, when it comes to strawberries, there’s very little for you to worry about. In fact, strawberries are good for your dog’s health in many ways. 

Due to the high water content in them, strawberries make for a wonderful summer dog treat, as they help your pet stay hydrated in the hot weather. Plus, biting into that juicy fruit offers an instant burst of freshness that your furry friends are sure to enjoy. 

It’s not just the refreshingly sweet taste your dog will love, strawberries are also a source of fibre and are packed with vitamin C, which means that over time, fresh fruits can help build up your pup’s immune system and give them an extra boost of energy. Strawberries even contain enzymes that can help keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy!  

The only thing you have to keep in mind when feeding your dog strawberries is the sugar levels. The downside of strawberries is that their delicious sweet taste means a high sugar content. Eating too many strawberries can throw your four-legged freind’s diet off balance and potentially contribute to some unwanted weight gain. 

How many strawberries can I feed my dog? 

Following from the point above, it’s just as important for dogs to keep a balanced diet as it is for humans. This is why too many treats are never a good thing, no matter how healthy they may be. There are no fast and hard rules on how many strawberries you can feed your dog but you should always refer to the 90/10 rule as rough guidance - treats can only make up to 10% of your dog’s diet, while proper dog food accounts for the other 90%. So, it’s safe to say that you can give your dog several strawberries at the same time but don’t go over a handful to be on the safe side.

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Do dogs like strawberries?

Most often than not, dogs love strawberries. As we mentioned earlier, their sweetness and freshness are utterly irresistible. However, it’s important to remember that every doggo is different and your furry friend’s unique pallet may mean that they don’t actually like strawberries. The only way to find out is to introduce your dog to strawberries and see how they react. Cut off a small piece of a clean strawberry, feed it to your pooch and you’ll instantly know if you have a strawberry lover on your hands. 

Gradually introducing strawberries in your dog’s diet also allows you to spot any issues, on the off chance that your dog is particularly sensitive to strawberries. If you do notice any signs of upset stomach or discomfort in your dog, you should call your veterinarian for advice. 

How to prepare strawberries for your dog 

Strawberries on their own shouldn’t have a negative impact on your dog’s health. However, much like when dogs eat grass, the plant itself is not the problem; the chemicals that are used to help it grow, on the other hand, can be a real danger. This is why you should always wash the fruits very well before you offer them to your pup. 

Also, dogs do tend to get over-excited when they get a treat, so even strawberries can be a choking hazard. This is why you should always remove the stems before serving. If you have a tiny dog, it’s best to chop up the strawberries in small bits. If you have a big dog, halves are fine although you can even get away with giving them the fruits whole.  

In terms of how to serve them, you can give fresh strawberries on their own as a treat, or you can sprinkle tiny bits of strawberry over your dog’s normal food on a special occasion. In the heat of summer, serving frozen strawberries to your pup is the perfect way to make your furry friend happy. 

The one thing to avoid is canned strawberries because as delicious as they may be, they don’t have the same nutritional benefits as fresh strawberries, and they are soaked in sugar syrup which makes them very unhealthy for your dog.

Now that we’ve explained that dogs can eat strawberries safely, did you know that strawberries are not the only fruity treat you could try out? Check out our list of fruits that dogs can eat to find out your pup’s next favourite flavour!  

Also, don’t miss out on the chance to introduce your canine friend to the delicious and nutritious cold-pressed food from Bug Bakes. Take our quiz to find out what the best plan for your dog is!