This is another common food related question that dog owners have : Can my dog eat strawberries?
dog eating strawberry – @icreatelife via Twenty20
Answer
Yes, your dog can eat strawberries
Strawberries have a decent nutrient profile and therefore are good for dogs but they are best enjoyed in moderation. Strawberries are not toxic or poisonous to dogs, but they do contain a fairly high amount of sugar (which is why they are so sweet and popular to humans), so they can cause an upset stomach if an excessive amount are consumed by your dog. The sugar can cause a dog who eats too much an upset stomach and suffer from some gastrointestinal upset.
Excessive sugar can also lead to obesity in a dog but as part of a balanced diet you should be OK feeding your dog a little strawberry now and again.
Nutritional Info
One serving of strawberries contains about 33 kilocalories and they are an excellent source of vitamin C, a source of manganese, and provides several other vitamins and dietary minerals in smaller quantities.
Here is the nutritional profile for 100 grams
Energy 136 kJ (33 kcal)
Carbohydrates – 7.68 grams
Sugars – 4.89 grams
Dietary fiber – 2 grams
Fat – 0.3 grams
Protein – 0.67 grams
Vitamins – Daily value%
Thiamine (B1) – 2%
Riboflavin (B2) – 2%
Niacin (B3) – 3%
Pantothenic acid (B5) – 3%
Vitamin B6 – 4%
Folate (B9) – 6%
Choline – 1%
Vitamin C – 71%
Vitamin E – 2%
Vitamin K – 2%
Minerals – Daily value%
Calcium – 2%
Iron – 3%
Magnesium – 4%
Manganese – 18%
Phosphorus – 3%
Potassium – 3%
Zinc – 1%
Other contents
Water – 90.95 grams
Fluoride – 4.4 µg
Advice
As with any human food you should always consult your vet before sharing human foods like strawberries with your dogs
Avoid canned strawberries as they may contain added sugar, sugary syrup, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and other nasty chemicals. In some cases xylitol may be added which is toxic to dogs.
Dried strawberries fall into the same category as canned strawberries – they tend to have a variety of non-benefitial things like sugar, preservatives and other chemicals added. Again its best to avoid these
There is a small risk of an allergic reaction, this is the same as any food. Look for things like vomiting, diarrhea, etc. You should also look out for any sign of pain or discomfort. Some of the signs of discomfort can include restlessness, whining, yelping, dilated pupils, and panting.
You should buy organic if possible to avoid the risk of any pesticides and herbicides that may have been used in the growing process. Always wash the strawberries thoroughly before feeding to your dog for this very reason.
Strawberries tend to be small but you may want to cut them into smaller pieces or even mash them up prior to feeding them to your dog.
In the next section we have a few recipes which include strawberries that you can make for your dog to integrate them safely into your dogs diet.
Recipes
Fruity Yoghurt Treat
Yep, your dog can have a nice tasty dessert as well, this simple and tasty treat will keep them happy. What's more with all the goodness from the fruit and the protein from the yoghurt it has benefits for your furry friend
Makes: 6
Preparation Time: 45 mins.
Ingredients :
½ cup of non-fat organic Yogurt
½ cup of Applesauce
½ cup of diced Strawberries
½ cup of diced Blueberries
Instructions:
1. Mix together all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.
2. Ensure that the fruit is blended and the yogurt is smooth.
Note:
This dessert can only be stored in the fridge for up to seven days.
You should only give your dogs small portions of this treat
Strawberry and Banana Frozen Dog Treats
A simple little 2 ingredient treat which you make. Very good for cooling down you dog on a hot day
Ingredients
Three peeled bananas
Three-quarters cup of strawberries
Instructions
Step 1: Freeze the strawberries and bananas for two to three hours.
Step 2: Put the frozen strawberries and bananas into a blender and puree until the mixture becomes smooth.
Step 3: Scoop the mixture into a bowl using a large spoon.
Step 4: Allow the mixture to rest for about 40 minutes so that the mixture starts to go firm.
Step 5: Serve your dog some of the treat in a small bowl and save the rest for later.
Step 6: You can store the mixture in containers and freeze.
Fruity Yoghurt Treat
Your dog can have a tasty dessert as well, this simple treat will keep them very happy. What's more with all the nutritional benefits from the fruit and the protein from the yoghurt it has several benefits for your furry friend
Preparation Time: 45 mins.
Ingredients :
½ cup of non-fat organic Yogurt
½ cup of Applesauce (½ cup)
½ cup of diced Strawberries
½ cup of diced Blueberries
Instructions:
Step 1: Mix together all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.
Step 2: Ensure that the fruit is blended and the yogurt is smooth.
Step 3: This dessert can only be stored in the fridge for up to seven days.
You should only give your dogs small portions of this treat
Fruity Doggy Ice Cubes
When the it gets hot,which in the country I live is not that often your dogs may need an easy way to cool themselves down.
Why not treat your dog to a homemade ice cubes and remember you can eat these as well
Yield: 8 cups
Ingredients:
1 cup chopped strawberries
1 cup blueberries
1 peeled and chopped banana
2 cups whole milk yogurt
Instructions:
1. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and puree until they are smooth.
2. Pour the mix into an ice cube tray and freeze until hard.
3. Serve to your dog cold.
4. You can also store them in the freezer until they are ready to eat
Although unlikely, if you have a smaller dog keep a close eye on them with the ice cubes just in case they try and eat them whole and cannot manage it.