You wonder whether berries are tolerable for dogs as an additive in the food? After all, berries contain many vitamins and minerals, for humans they are considered very healthy. Is this also true for dogs? Some berries your dog may actually eat, but others are poisonous for dogs. There are contradictory opinions about currants. Find out here which berries dogs are allowed to eat and which are not. We also tell you what you should look out for if your dog has eaten wild berries in the forest.

Berries As A Food Source For The Dog

You don’t have to make berries palatable to a dog, because he will eat them all by himself during a walk in the forest or in the garden. Our dogs love sweet fruits, even if they may not have so much of them. But compared to other types of fruit, berries contain comparatively little sugar. This is especially true for the sour varieties like raspberries, blueberries or blackberries. Strawberries have a little more sugar, but still much less than most fruits. Blueberries are particularly tasty for the dog and also tolerable.

Berries are considered very healthy, they contain many vitamins and minerals, as well as so-called antioxidants. These are substances that protect our cells and keep the body healthy. What is true for humans is also true for dogs to a certain extent. However, dogs have a different metabolism. So some things that are healthy for us humans can be dangerous for them.

Most berries that we humans like, dogs may get in small quantities. For example, blueberries are well tolerated by the dog.
There is nothing against compatible berries as a snack. The dog likes them and you can even use them as a healthy reward. If you buy the dog food ready-made, you can enrich it with a few berries to provide the dog with fresh vitamins.

Which Berries Are Tolerable For Dogs?

There are dog-friendly berries that you can give to your dog without any problems. But there are also those that you should only feed in small quantities or preferably not at all. Last but not least, there are also berry varieties that are poisonous for the dog. It is therefore important that you first inform yourself comprehensively about the different types of berries. In the following, you will learn which berries are edible and which you must not give to your dog under any circumstances.

These Berries Are Tolerated By Dogs

• Strawberries.
• Raspberries.
• Cranberries.
• Blueberries/blueberries.
• Blackberries.
• Aronia berries.

These Berries Are Poisonous For Dogs

• Grapes.
• Elderberries.
• Currants.
• Rowan berries (mountain ash).

Poisonous Berries And Fruits In Forests And Meadows

When you are out with your dog, it can happen that he eats wild berries. Therefore, you should also be familiar with wild berries and fruits that look like berries. Because in the forest, in the gardens and along meadows grow partly poisonous plants, which can be dangerous for your dog.

The following plants have fruits that are not botanically berries, but look the same. They are definitely poisonous and if your dog accidentally eats them, you should definitely try to make him vomit and see a vet as soon as possible.

• Ivy.
• Yew.
• Dewberry.
• Privet.
• Peacock.
• Red honeysuckle.
• Snowberry.
• Daphne.
• Holly.
• Belladonna.
• Dwarf elderberry (Attich).
• Dwarf medlar.
• Whiteroot (danger of confusion with blueberries).
• Snowball.
• Fence beet.

Poisonous Berries For Dogs

Grapes and the raisins made from grapes are actually poisonous to dogs. Although there are dogs that can eat a grape without showing immediate signs of poisoning, grapes are still a great danger to dogs.

It is currently unknown which ingredient in grapes is dangerous to dogs. However, there have been many deaths from grapes in a dog. The death rate after eating grapes or raisins is estimated to be 50% in dogs.
After eating grapes, the dog may exhibit the following symptoms:

• Stomach cramps and vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Kidney failure.

Please note: Raisins are even more dangerous to dogs than grapes because they contain the toxic substances in higher concentrations. Raisins can also be found in cereals, fruit bars, pastries and trail mixes.

If you suspect grape consumption, you should always consult a veterinarian. If your dog has just eaten the grapes, you should try to make him vomit.
Berries for dogs: feeding tips

Giving Berries To Your Dog – This Is What You Have To Consider

Berries are considered healthy, some berries are also compatible for dogs, others are not. But for each type of berries is true: they are not dog food, but rather a snack or a small addition to wet food or dry food.
Some dogs like berries, others do not. Especially the sour varieties, such as blackberries, do not go down well with every dog. Here are the most important tips and advice for feeding berries to dogs:

Berries are not a staple food for dogs. You should therefore only feed them in small quantities. This is because all berries contain sugar, although usually somewhat less than other types of fruit. Too much berries can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain in your dog.

When your dog eats berries for the first time, you should take it easy. Give him one or two berries at first and see if he tolerates them well.

Never force your dog to eat berries. If he doesn’t like them, he doesn’t have to eat them. Because even though berries contain important vitamins, they are basically not necessary for dog nutrition.
Tip: Blueberries are usually the most popular with dogs.

Pay attention to the quality of berries for dogs. Commercially available fruits are almost always contaminated with pesticides. You should wash them thoroughly with hot water before feeding.

Frozen berries can contain salmonella, noro viruses and other pathogens . Therefore, you should not buy frozen berries for your dog.

Berries For Dogs: FAQ

Can My Dog Eat Strawberries?

Yes, your dog can eat strawberries. Strawberries are well tolerated by your dog. They contain a lot of vitamin C, other vitamins and minerals. However, you should not feed your dog strawberries in too large quantities, because they naturally contain sugar. You can give a dog strawberries as a reward or snack in between meals or spice up BARF food with them.

Are Wild Blueberries Tolerable For The Dog?

Wild blueberries are very well tolerated by the dog. Blueberries are also eaten by the dog in nature with pleasure. The dark berries contain minerals and vitamins as well as antioxidants. You can supplement a meal with them or give the blueberries to the dog as a snack.

Are Blueberries Good For The Dog?

Blueberries are also very good for the dog. You can give the usually slightly larger, cultivated blueberries to the dog as a snack or addition to the food. Just like wild blueberries, blueberries contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. However, the large, farmed blueberries contain slightly less of these than the wild forest blueberries. If you buy blueberries for the dog, you should pay attention to the fact that they are usually sprayed with pesticides. So you need to wash them thoroughly before feeding them.

Can Dogs Eat Currants?

On some websites you can read that dogs are allowed to eat currants. However, the Animal Welfare Society warns against eating them because currants contain benzoic acid. Benzoic acid is toxic to dogs

Normally, the concentration in currants is too low to cause symptoms of poisoning. Nevertheless, you should not offer your dog currants. This is because the poison has a long-term harmful effect when ingested regularly. It can lead to epileptic convulsions and vomiting.
If your dog has accidentally eaten some currants, you don’t have to worry. However, you should not intentionally feed your dog currants.

Can Dogs Eat Blackberries And Raspberries?

No matter if it is the wild berries in the forest or bought blackberries or raspberries – your dog is allowed to eat them. They are non-toxic and contain many health-promoting ingredients such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Both types of berries contain comparatively little sugar, so you can feed them regularly, for example as an ingredient in food or as a snack between meals.

Can Dogs Eat Elderberries?

Elderberries grow wild in the forest and along roadsides in Germany. Elderberries are basically very healthy, they are even considered a mild natural remedy for colds for humans. However, raw elderberries are poisonous to humans and animals. They contain the poison Sambunigrin, which causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Even we humans suffer from these symptoms when we consume elderberries raw. This is even more true for your four-legged friend, he has a lower body weight and therefore the symptoms of poisoning are stronger in him. By cooking the poison is destroyed, cooked elderberries you may theoretically feed.