Can My Dog Eat Blueberries
Health Benefits of Blueberries For Dogs
Yes, by all means share this powerhouse antioxidant with your dog.
Blueberries are great for your dog’s antioxidant support. Antioxidants help fight cancer. Blueberry is considered a superfood. They are also known to be cooling food according to Chinese Medicine, and we often include them as part of a diet designed to help balance the hot-headed, aggressive, restless dog — or dog that we have identified as “HOT” dogs.
Benefits of Feeding Blueberries
Rich in Vitamins and Minerals: A, C, E, K and calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc that bring these amazing benefits to life:
Antioxidant-rich blueberries deliver a spectrum of health benefits that can significantly enhance your dog's well-being.
Enhancing cognitive health: Numerous studies have found that blueberries help maintain mental acuity in older dogs, preventing brain aging.
Encouraging a balanced inflammatory response: Blueberries can support your dog's immune system, and help fight against cancer.
Promoting heart health: By supporting a balanced inflammatory response, blueberries can reduce the risk of heart disease in your dogs.
Support gut health: Anthocyanins, the pigments that give blueberries their distinctive blue hue, work alongside vitamins A, C, and E to neutralize harmful free radicals and support immune response.
A better treat than “treats”: The low sugar content in blueberries makes them an ideal snack for dogs struggling with weight issues. Blueberries hinder the growth of fat cells, thus aiding in weight management.
Support urinary tract health: Blueberries can prevent harmful bacteria within the bladder, thus helping manage urinary tract infections in dogs.
Support eye health: The high levels of vitamins A and C in blueberries support the upkeep of your dog's visual abilities.
Facilitating exercise recovery: Antioxidants play a crucial role in reducing oxidative stress post-exercise. A few blueberries can serve as the perfect treat after a walk or rigorous activity.
This means blueberries are a highly nutritious treat!
If your dog doesn’t take to them immediately, try smashing them before you offer. The sweet juicy inside may be more appealing to get them to try them
But remember while your dog may love them, feed fruits in moderation as treats!
How Many Blueberries should you Feed Your Dog?
A small dog would need only 4-5 on a given day to boost their antioxidant support. A larger dog could tolerate a few more. Think of the blueberry as a snack or treat. Not to make up volume in their meal. Treats should generally not exceed more than 10% of your dog’s total volume of food on a daily basis.
Please know that dark-colored urine can be a sign of serious medical concerns. So if you haven’t been feeding lots of blueberries or have not recently added them to your dog’s diet — please seek medical advice.
For more information on feeding your dog healthy foods, ask me about my Free Wellness Guide for Download.
See how the blueberry offers antioxidant support to high-performance sled dogs: PubMed Article