Can Dogs Eat Blueberries? Did you ask yourself during the last walk through the woods if your dog is allowed to eat blueberries? The blueberries season usually begins at the end of June, every year. Small blueberries not only taste delicious, they are also very healthy. Because of their blue color, the blueberries are also called berries. Small berries belong to the heather plants and are very popular in the kitchen.
Are dogs allowed to eat blueberries? Blueberries are ideal for our dogs and are a great supplement to the daily menu.
How Are Blueberries Good For Dogs?
Blueberries are fruits with a special antioxidant effect. Their flavonoids and phenolic acids should have a particularly positive effect on the cardiovascular system and also reduce the risk of cancer. Minerals like iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium are abundant in the blueberries. High fiber content is of great importance for digestion. In addition, blueberries contain a lot of vitamin C, A, B, E and beta-carotene. Also, berries have an antibacterial effect.
Immune-strengthening Blueberries
They have a positive effect on cancer. Blueberries and their tannins have a hemostatic and calming effect. Also, wild blueberries have significantly more healthy ingredients than blueberries from farms. You should be careful with wild blueberries because they could have Fox tapeworm.
Gently Increase the Amount
You can use both fresh and frozen. It is ideal if you crush or puree the berries so the dog can eat them better. As with any other fruit, the dog may initially respond with diarrhea because of them. Start with very few blueberries first and then increase the amount if you find that your dog tolerates and eagerly eats them. Small dogs should receive no more than about eight to ten berries daily. Big dogs can eat more than that.
Related: Can Dogs Eat Bananas, Can Dogs Eat Lamb Bones.
Wash Wild Blueberries Thoroughly
If you want to pamper your dog with fresh blueberries, you could get them:
- Blueberries from farm are available almost everywhere in summer.
- Wild blueberries can be bought in markets or you could go for a walk in a forest and pick them by yourself.
Always wash blueberries before any meal!
Why Are Blueberries Bad For Dogs?
The fox tapeworm can be very dangerous for humans. Once you become infected with this tapeworm, a lifelong treatment is necessary. Your dog can be the transmitter. You can avoid an infection by completely abandoning wild blueberries. However, the danger decreases if blueberries are not collected close to the ground and are washed well before being eaten. In any case, you should have the droppings of your dog examined.
Blueberries are Good for Diarrhea
Blueberries are not only healthy and taste delicious, they are also extremely popular in natural and folk medicine. Blueberries are a wonderful remedy for diarrhea. They contain tannins that can kill bacteria and viruses and protect damaged mucous membranes. If your dog suffers from diarrhea, just give him about ten dried blueberries.
Photo Credit: DORIS META F/Flickr; arsheffield/Flickr; josh bis/Flickr
