Raspberries are one of the most delicious fruits for many people. Its exotic flavor leaves anyone mouth-watering for more. This leads people into wanting their pets to try it, or perhaps they look so good that you can't handle those puppy dog eyes and feel the urge to give them to your furry friend. This might make you wonder: "can puppies eat raspberries?".
Don't worry. We have split this post into the 7 more frequently asked questions in order to give you peace of mind:
Yes, they can eat them without any difficulties. However, although this tiny fruit has many benefits, it is extremely important that you give it in moderation. Keep reading to know both the pros and cons of offering raspberries to your puppy.
Yes. In fact, it is ideal that you feed your dog with fresh or unsweetened frozen raspberries. If those you plan on offering have too much sugar or syrup, do not give it to your pet as it can cause health issues, including diabetes.
Raspberries have Xylitol, a natural sweetener, which is dangerous for dogs and can lead to hypoglycemia and liver disease, consequently life-threatening. However, the amount of Xylitol present in raspberries is minimal. This means that you can feed them this fruit without any worries as long as it is in moderation.
Many dogs love fruity flavors like us. As a matter of fact, raspberries are approximately 85% water, which makes them a light snack.
Nonetheless, as we have mentioned previously, it is highly important that you feed raspberries to your god in moderation due to the Xylitol factor.
How much should you give?
It depends on the size of your dog and his health.
For instance, if your dog has a medium size, do not feed them more than one bowl.
If you are dealing with puppies, try only giving them small quantities at first while observing their behavior after. If they don't manifest any signals of discomfort, you may proceed to gradually increase the quantity (do not offer more than 5).
Bear in mind that you should not feed your pet with raspberries if he has diseases that imply caution with sugar.
*Make sure to wash them thoroughly in order to prevent any pesticides that might be present in the fruit.
There are at least 5 benefits of feeding raspberries to your dog. These are:
Nutritious
Even though this fruit has more water, it is high in vitamins and fiber besides being low in fat and sugar.
Overall, they contain or have vitamin b, vitamin K, and vitamin C.
Helps Digestion
Since it is high in fiber, raspberries assist the well-functioning of right digestion while controlling the bowel movements of your pet.
Anti-Inflammatory
This is a great factor since a lot of dogs have the tendency to develop arthritis with aging. Thus, this might prevent that or ease the symptoms.
The reason behind this is that raspberry juice helps relieve sore or swollen joints in dogs.
Furthermore, this helps them settle their tummy as well.
Relieve Symptoms of Chronic Conditions
Because it is a powerful antioxidant, raspberries decrease oxidative stress and prevent threats of a chronic condition, such as cancer and arthritis that might appear with aging.
Improves Vision
Again, since it is an antioxidant, raspberries are able to remove any "oxidative stress" in the retina.
As we've mentioned in another topic, raspberries have Xylitol, a dangerous factor for dogs, mainly for those who own diseases that concern caution with sugar levels, such as diabetes.
Besides, any sort of plant may cause intestinal discomfort, including raspberries. Therefore, symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and loss of appetite might appear.
Furthermore, just like humans, dogs can develop allergies. Therefore, if you see that your dog is itching or is skin alters (e.g.: dermatitis) it can potentially happen in virtue of raspberries.
Another factor to be aware of is that if not organic, this fruit can hold pesticides and other chemicals that may be harmful to your pet.
Be aware that some red fruits possess seeds that can be harmful to dogs. An example could be cherries, a fruit that might be confused with raspberries by dogs.
Therefore, if your pet has developed an enthusiastic taste for it, there's the possibility that he may try to steal similar fruits from the table or the garbage.
Raspberries can be a wonderful treat for your dog and should never replace a meal.
Besides, you should only give raspberries to your dog occasionally since raspberries contain Xylitol. Thus, they should never be given on a regular basis.
The portions vary depending on the size of the dog. However, in most cases, you can give them a handful of raspberries. Do not forget that this can only be applied to healthy dogs. Otherwise, we advise you to check with your pet’s vet.
Even though a handful of raspberries might be okay, this doesn't mean that there is a guarantee that your dog will have a good reaction to them. Hence the need to always introduce a new aliment slowly into their diet. If you check that their behavior is normal, then it is alright to increase gradually the amount you give – but never offer more than one bowl.
Be aware that if your dog is still a puppy, you need to be more careful. Try only giving one at first to see how he reacts. If there’s no abnormal behavior, you may give him a maximum of 5 raspberries.
Overall, yes. You can give raspberries to your dog in moderation. However, this fruit is not the best snack for dogs. Despite the fact that it holds a harmful element to your dog, this happens because they do not have the same necessities as humans when concerning the consumption of extra vitamins. Besides, giving your dog fruit might be a bad habit since he will begin to ask for more over time, which is something that you shouldn’t do. But go for it if you can handle those puppy dog eyes.
