table of contents
- Ingredients of strawberries
- origin
- Purity of the strawberries
- lot
- shape
- Tolerance of strawberries
- Getting used to
Strawberries are not only a sweet, tasty snack in summer and their ingredients make them healthy. But may dogs Eat strawberries or are the fruit for them harmful?
In a nutshell
- Strawberries have valuable ingredients
- attention must be paid to purity and quality
- Fruits only in small amounts give
- best to feed raw
- pay attention to compatibility
Ingredients of strawberries
Strawberries are real vitamin C bombs, but they also contain other healthy substances. Including:
- Vitamin A
- Folic acid
- potassium
- Vitamin B12
- magnesium
- calcium
- Vitamin D
- Polyphenols
- iron
In addition, there is fiber and a low calorie content. In addition, they are almost fat-free. This makes them wonderfully suitable for dogs and not harmful, as long as a few points are observed.
origin
Sprayed strawberries from the supermarket should not be fed to dogs. Because the chemicals used could be harmful.
Note: Even after washing, the pesticides are sometimes still on the fruits or in them. Therefore, it is best to refrain from feeding this fruit to dogs.
Better are:
- Forest strawberries
- Fruits from your own garden
- organic variants
Note: Organically grown fruits and vegetables that have not been treated with hazardous substances are always the better choice. For both humans and dogs.
Purity of the strawberries
Even if dogs have a highly concentrated stomach acid, which can kill germs and dirt better than that of most people, there are still dangers. Among other things, the ingestion of parasites and pathogens. Worm eggs in particular pose a risk when eating unclean fruit.
Therefore, the berries should be cleaned thoroughly in advance, only then are dogs allowed to eat strawberries. Because it cannot be ruled out in your own garden that wild animals or the neighbors' cats will break loose.
lot
How many of the berries can be fed depends on various factors. These are:
- age
- Getting used to
- size
- weight
- compatibility
A dog who has never eaten the fruit may react with vomiting, diarrhea, or other signs of intolerance.
These include, for example:
- itching
- Scratch
- Failure of the fur
- permanent licking
- Stress hackles
It is therefore important to get used to it gradually, as with all other foods and new types of feed.
shape
It is ideal to feed the berries directly raw. As this means that all vitamins and minerals as well as other substances that are useful for health are retained. For easy absorption of these micronutrients, we recommend crushing or mashing the fruit.
However, this is not necessary for dogs that chew their food well in general. You can do without it even with very ripe berries.
Note: Dried fruit can also be used as a healthy treat. However, you should make sure that the amount here has to be correspondingly lower, since the water is missing and the percentage of sugar is higher.
Tolerance of strawberries
Whether the dog can tolerate a strawberry or even larger quantities individually different. Therefore, do not give several fruits or new feeds in combination with them. In general, however, the fruit is considered to be absolutely problem-free.
Only in the case of diarrhea or very sensitive animals should it be avoided or gradually become accustomed. Regardless of this, however, problems sometimes arise if a dog ingests the fruit in too large quantities.
This is due to the high vitamin C content. Because the micronutrient has a laxative effect on the one hand and a diuretic on the other. If taken in too large doses, the water-soluble vital substance can cause diarrhea and a strong urge to urinate. The berries should therefore not be given with other vitamin C-rich feeds. Dogs are only allowed to eat strawberries when safety is guaranteed.
Getting used to
It is advisable to get used to it gradually with every new feed. Because not every dog reacts equally well to everything. Experience has shown that it makes sense to offer a strawberry first and wait a day to see whether there are any symptoms.
If this is not the case, you can slowly increase the amount. Of course, the size and weight of the dog must be taken into account. With a mastiff, a handful of berries is usually not a problem. In a Chihuahua, on the other hand, the large dose of vitamin C could lead to diarrhea and an increased urge to urinate.
Allergic reactions or intolerances are possible with every feed. This also applies to the strawberry. Therefore, with the first few doses, care should be taken to ensure that no discomfort occurs.
Yes, it's cheap. Because then the gastrointestinal tract can gradually adjust to it. However, it should not be overdone when it comes to supplementary feeding. Trying a new food once every few days is perfectly fine. In addition, the quantities should initially be correspondingly low. A single berry or just part of it is enough for testing.
As with human babies, less is more. Gradually creating variety and increasing the amount makes more sense than overloading your digestion.
That is individually different. Some four-legged friends find the fruits so delicious that they pluck the berries directly from the plant. Others, however, do not like the fruit at all.
