Can Dogs Eat Strawberries? Serving Tips

Strawberries offer fiber and vitamin C and are lower in sugar than many fruits, though they still contain natural sugar. Most dogs find them tasty. They are an occasional treat, not a core part of the diet.

Wash them to remove dirt and residues, remove the green leafy top, and cut them into small pieces that match your dog's size. For a toy breed, mash or slice thinly to avoid choking.

• Wash fresh strawberries.
• Remove the stem and leaves.
• Slice into pieces suited to your dog.
• Offer one or two and watch for stomach upset.

A few small pieces for a medium or large dog and one or two for a small dog, a couple of times a week. Too much fruit can cause loose stools. Extras like this should stay a small part of the day's food. A common vet guideline is that treats and extras make up no more than about 10 percent of daily calories.

Avoid canned strawberries in syrup, jam, dried fruit with added sugar, strawberry shortcake and ice cream. These contain sugar, fat and sometimes xylitol or chocolate. Frozen strawberries are fine for some dogs, but give small pieces and watch dogs that gulp.

Note: This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Dogs differ by size, age and health, so ask your veterinarian if your dog has a medical condition, is a puppy, or is on a special diet.

Strawberries are soft, so they break into tiny pieces easily. Cut one into several pea-sized bits for a training session. They are best used when your dog really loves them, since the sugar and moisture make them a short-lived reward. Keep them in the fridge, and use small amounts.

If your dog is on a diet, count the pieces as part of the daily food, not as free extras.

Frozen strawberries are popular in summer, and you can blend a few with plain yogurt or water and freeze the mix in an ice tray. Make sure the yogurt is plain and free of xylitol, and the strawberries are washed and hulled.

Large frozen pieces can be hard for small dogs, so use small cubes or let them soften a little.

A new fruit can cause loose stools or gas, especially if given in large amounts. A few dogs are allergic to specific fruits, and signs include itching, swelling around the face, hives or vomiting. If you see these, stop feeding the fruit and call your vet, and treat facial swelling or breathing trouble as an emergency.

A toy dog can have a small slice or a quarter of a berry, while a large dog can have a few berries. Always cut to a size your dog can swallow safely. Growing dogs and small breeds need smaller pieces to avoid choking.

Start small, and spread strawberries across the week rather than giving a bowl in one go. Count them as part of your dog's treat allowance.

Puppies can try a small piece, but the sugar and acidity can cause loose stools. Senior dogs with sensitive stomachs may do better with a smaller portion.

Dogs with diabetes should only have fruit under veterinary guidance. If your dog has itching, swelling or vomiting after strawberries, stop and call your vet.

The most common mistakes are giving whole large berries to small dogs, leaving the green tops on, and offering canned or sugary versions. Another is assuming that because fruit is healthy, a lot of it is better. Strawberries contain sugar, and too many can cause diarrhea.

People also share strawberry yogurts, sweets and desserts. Strawberry-flavoured products may contain xylitol, and sugar-free versions are a particular concern, since the ASPCA says xylitol can cause low blood sugar and liver damage.

Wash strawberries to remove residues, and keep them in the fridge. Throw away any that are mouldy.

Wash strawberries under running water, and remove the green top. Dry them gently, and cut them to a size your dog can handle. Store them in the fridge, and use them within a few days, since soft fruit spoils quickly. Throw away mouldy berries.

If you grow strawberries, keep dogs out of the patch, since dogs may eat unripe or mouldy fruit. If you want to freeze them, spread small pieces on a tray before bagging them, so they do not stick together. As with all new foods, introduce slowly.