Health benefits of strawberries for dogs

Strawberries are chock-block full of healthy properties such as:

  • iodine
  • potassium
  • fiber
  • magnesium, and
  • vitamins B6, B1, and K

They are also rich in antioxidants and contain an enzyme that helps in whitening your dog’s teeth.

Keep them in the freezer, and you will have a healthy cooling snack for both you and your pup on those sweltering summer days.

They are overflowing with Vitamin C, fiber, and many other excellent properties which, if fed consistently over a long period of time can actually help to strengthen your dog’s immune system, and, strawberries have also been known to reduce the effects of aging in a dog.

Other than that, replacing the high-fat packed treats you give your dog with a healthy fruity alternative is always a good idea, and may even go a long way in helping an obese dog lose some weight.

Those packaged treats you usually give your precious puppy are not only filled with fat but also salt and other unhealthy artificial additives that will cause more harm than good in the long run – think overall health and especially teeth.

So, feel free to treat your dog with strawberries, but as with all things in life, in moderation of course. Too many can irritate her stomach, so it’s a good idea to start with a few pieces and keep watching to see how she will react to the fruit.

Note: In case of any adverse reactions, discontinue feeding it to him immediately. You can try again after a few days or weeks to see if he will still have a negative response.

Additional benefits of feeding your doggo strawberries include

  • strengthening your dog’s immune system
  • assisting with their digestion, and
  • weight management.

How to feed your dog strawberries

It is advisable to first remove the stem, then cut the strawberries into small pieces in order to reduce the risk of choking. You can also mash them into a puree and mix with regular dog food. Moderation is key, so be careful not to overdo it.

Can dogs be allergic to strawberries?

Yes, unfortunately, he might have an adverse reaction after eating strawberries, and you’ll need to keep an eye on him for the following symptoms:

  • itchy skin
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea

If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, take him to the vet immediately and rather cease giving him this fruit on further occasions.

What about canned strawberries and other treats?

DO NOT feed your dog canned strawberries, or canned fruits of any kind, as most of these products only replicate the taste of the fruit and contain sweeteners and other added artificial additives that are not healthy for your dog.

Strawberry ice-creams, yogurts, strawberry jams, etc. should also not be fed to your dog. If the strawberries are not fresh, do not feed them to your dog. You may end up dealing with a more significant long term problem such as diabetes due to the added sugars.

Try these delicious strawberry recipes

While feeding your pooch fresh strawberries straight from the pack is neither wrong nor a bad idea, some dogs might just not like the taste. To compensate for their fussy palate, we’ve searched for, and found, two tasty treats that can be made at home, and which your pooch will scoff down with gusto.

Strawberry Dog Treat

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • Extra flour for rolling
  • 1 cup chopped strawberry – pureed
  • 1/2 cup freeze dried strawberry
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 2 cup oat flour

Method

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F.
  2. Grind in a food processor approximately 8 oz of rolled oats until a coarse flour forms, which yields about 2 cups.
  3. Break up the freeze-dried strawberries into tiny pieces with your hand and mix it with the oat flour. Set this aside.
  4. Wash the fresh strawberries and hull, chop and then measure 1 cup, puree it in a food processor – yielding approximately 1/2 a cup.
  5. Add the pureed strawberries, 1 tablespoon of honey and the egg, into a medium-sized mixing bowl, then mix it until smooth.
  6. Add the oat flour and the freeze-dried strawberries into the mixture and stir.
  7. The dough will now be slightly wet. Incorporate the wholewheat flour, adding a little at a time until the mixture is dry enough to the handle.
  8. On a cutting board, sprinkle some flour and turn out the dough. Knead it into the shape of a disk.
  9. Roll the dough out to about 1/4″ thickness, then cut out the shapes with a cookie cutter that is large enough for your dog, place on lined baking sheet. Keep cookies half an inch apart from each other.
  10. Bake for at least 50 minutes – 1 hour, and flip over the treats halfway through the baking time.
  11. Remove the baking pan and let the cookies cool on a rack.

Gluten-Free Oatmeal Strawberry Doggie Bites

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup frozen strawberries, defrosted them with the juice
  • 2 cups oatmeal flour
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbs coconut oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
  2. Mash the berries, and add them together with the flour, beaten egg and coconut oil in a bowl.
  3. Combine it thoroughly until it is finely mixed. This dough will be sticky and moist.
  4. Roll into little bites and flatten them with your hands
  5. Place them on a lined baking sheet.
  6. Bake at 350º in the oven for at least 20 minutes.
  7. Turn the oven off and let them cool in the oven which gives them the opportunity to keep drying.
  8. Store in an airtight container

Final say on feeding dogs strawberries

Feeding your dog a strawberry treat (either fresh or as a home-made cookie,) is not a bad idea or bad for his health. Strawberries are non-toxic, fat-free, contain a multitude of beneficial properties and assist in strengthening your pups immune system.