Can dogs eat berries

Mulberry is a tree of the rose family. Berries are rich in fiber, vitamin C, and other antioxidant compounds and can be eaten by dogs, but it should be noted that berries contain a substance called xylitol which is toxic to dogs if eaten in large quantities. Therefore, it should be included in the dog's diet as a reward and not as a staple food.

Are berries good for dogs?

In fact, dogs can eat berries and benefit from their nutritional value, because berries are characterized as low-calorie fruits, and are also characterized by their content of fiber, vitamin C, and other antioxidant compounds, however, despite its many nutritional benefits for dogs, it is considered a berry Of the fruits that contain the highest levels of xylitol, a compound that is toxic to dogs if served in large quantities so it is important to include berries in a dog's diet and this is done as a reward sometimes.

Benefits of berries for dogs

Berries are considered low-calorie foods due to their moderate carbohydrate content and low protein and fat content. For this reason, they are fruits that can be offered as low-calorie treats for dogs suffering from obesity or overweight problems that require low-energy diets.

Berries are fruits distinguished by their fiber content. Even though the digestive system of dogs is unable to digest fiber, it is an essential nutrient in a dog’s diet. Specifically, fiber adds a lot to the diet, and fiber creates a feeling of satiety. It regulates the speed of digestion and contributes to maintaining the intestinal bacteria responsible for the digestion process, and for this reason, the fiber must be present in dog food with a ratio of 2-5% of the dry matter.

Berries also contain large amounts of vitamin C which help dogs reduce stress, berries help dogs produce collagen and participate in the formation of teeth and skeleton, and berries contain (vitamin B3) and folic acid (vitamin B9). Vitamin E and berries contain large amounts of minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and phosphorous, and it should be noted that their high content of vitamins C and E work with great antioxidant capacity in particular, and these substances help reduce fats.

 How to serve berries to a dog         

Berries should be presented, like other fruits that dogs love, by presenting them intermittently, meaning throughout the day and not all at once because, as we mentioned, they are among the fruits that contain the highest levels of xylitol, so the way they are presented to dogs must be controlled to avoid effects Toxic to dogs, and the amount of berries that can be given to a dog depends mainly on its size, and therefore dogs with small breeds can be served 2 or 3 grains of berries, while in dogs with large breeds 6 or 7 grains of berries, and must be taken into account Before serving berries to your dog, you should wash them with plenty of water to remove any contaminants or pesticides that may be present on their surface. 

Will berries hurt my dog ? 

Although berries are a suitable fruit for dogs, there are some instances when offering berries to dogs may be contraindicated.

Food Allergies Dogs suffering from food allergies must follow a strict diet based on protein nutrition, so they should avoid eating any food outside their usual diet, for dogs that suffer from food intolerance or chronic digestive diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, dogs with disease Diabetes and Liver Diseases Toxic doses of xylitol cause hypoglycemia and acute liver failure, so care must be taken in the number of berries given to dogs with diabetes or liver disease. 

What happens if a dog eats a lot of berries?

We have already explained that berries are one of the fruits with the highest levels of xylitol, and xylitol is a compound commonly used as a sweetener in chewing gums but is also found naturally in some fruits such as blueberries, and although it is harmless to most mammals, it can cause Poisoning in dogs.  

Hence it should be noted that the toxic dose of xylitol in dogs is 75-100 mg/kg of the dog’s weight and that berries contain only 400 micrograms of xylitol per gram, meaning that a dog weighing 10 kg should consume about 800 grams of berries. Until he shows symptoms of poisoning. So you don't have to worry about adding berries to your dog's diet as a reward only and not as a regular food because these doses of xylitol will not be harmful to him.