Blueberries are packed with antioxidants and are considered healthy. But does this also apply to your dog? And if so, what should you consider when feeding blueberries?
In a nutshell: Can my dog eat blueberries?
Yes, you are allowed to feed your dog some blueberries. Blueberries offer your dog a high number of nutrients and are particularly healthy for him. They contain a lot of vitamins and important essential minerals. Many dogs love the blue berry, also known as the bilberry. As a result, you can add them to your four-legged friend’s usual dog food.
How healthy are blueberries for your four-legged friend?
The blueberry is absolutely healthy due to its powerful antioxidant effect. It is rich in vitamins and minerals.
Blueberries contain a lot of fiber. These are particularly good for good digestion.
Blueberries are good for the immune system
Blueberries can strengthen the immune system due to their antibacterial properties.
This is especially true for wild blueberries, as they contain far more healthy ingredients.
They are full of vitamins C, A, B and E. They contain a high proportion of minerals. Especially calcium, potassium and phosphorus.
In addition to a good immune system, they can support memory and help
to keep the blood vessels clean. They should also be able to protect against arteriosclerosis.
Healthy for the cardiovascular system
Blueberries contain a particularly large number of flavonoids and phenolic acids. These can have a positive effect on your four-legged friend’s entire cardiovascular system.
Blueberries are also said to help with high blood pressure, as they can regulate blood pressure.
Eating blueberries can prevent cancer
Unfortunately, more and more dogs are suffering from cancer these days. In order to be able to prevent this, blueberries can help.
This is because blueberries can protect against free radicals and inflammation. These two points promote the development of cancer. Regular feeding can reduce the risk of cancer.
But keep in mind that in general a varied and balanced diet is essential.
Dried blueberries for gastrointestinal problems and diarrhea
Blueberries are very healthy for your dog and taste incredibly good for most four-legged friends. This has a great advantage for you, because blueberries can be particularly suitable as a natural remedy for diarrhea.
Note that these must be dried blueberries. These can protect the attacked gastrointestinal mucosa and at the same time eliminate the bacteria and viruses that led to the diarrhea.
If your dog has diarrhea, depending on its size and weight, you can add some dried blueberries to its food.
Reading tip: You want to know if dogs can eat raspberries? Find out everything you need to know about this topic in our article on «Can Dogs Eat Raspberries». Click here to learn more about it!
How many blueberries your dog can eat
An exact amount cannot be said as every dog reacts differently when eating blueberries.
Especially with sensitive dogs, you should start feeding them early and only feed a few. If you find that your darling tolerates them well (no diarrhea)he can eat several accordingly.
However, with a thumbs up, small dogs can eat up to ten berries a day. If you have a big dog, he may get more of it.
To increase nutrient absorption, you can puree the blueberries before feeding.
Reading tip: You can eat blackberries, but can dogs eat blackberries? If you would like to find out more about the tolerance of blackberries for our beloved four-legged friends, then read our article on the topic «Can dogs eat blackberries».
You should consider this when feeding (danger)
You have different ways to get blueberries. Either you buy them fresh or frozen (preferably wild collection or organic). Or you go, pick wild blueberries fresh in the forest or on footpaths.
Wild blueberries have more vitamins and are never sprayed. This means that they are free from pesticides and other fertilizers.
But there is a danger of fox tapeworm here.
For this reason, you should always wash wild-collected blueberries well before you feed them to your dog.
Another piece of advice is to only collect berries that grow above and not near the forest or ground floor.
A fox tapeworm infestation is rare and the risk of contracting it here in Germany is low. However, you should know that if dogs have fox tapeworm, it can spread to humans.
Conclusion: That’s why your dog can eat blueberries
Blueberries contain a large amount of valuable antioxidants that your dog can benefit from in terms of health. Some manufacturers even offer dog food in which they add blueberries or sell the dried fruit in the shop.
However, you should not feed too many fresh berries at once, as too much can lead to diarrhea, especially in sensitive dogs.