Can dogs eat blueberries? Benefits and how many to give

Yes. Blueberries are not toxic to dogs, and most dogs can have them in small amounts, plain, as a low-calorie treat. A few berries for a small dog and a small handful for a large one is plenty. The foods to be careful with are the ones flavored with blueberry, such as muffins and yogurts, which bring sugar, fat and sometimes ingredients that are dangerous to dogs.

Are blueberries good for dogs?

They are a good treat. Blueberries are mostly water, low in calories and fat, and contain fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and the plant pigments that make them blue, which act as antioxidants.

That does not make them a health supplement. A complete dog food already supplies what a dog needs. The real case for blueberries is that they are small, soft, easy to portion and far lighter than most biscuits and chews.

How many blueberries can a dog have?

As a rough guide for a healthy dog, on the days you offer them:

These are not exact limits. Treats of all kinds are commonly kept to about a tenth of a dog's daily calories, and your vet can tell you what that means for your dog. The first time, give one or two and watch for a day.

Too many blueberries at once can cause gas, loose stools or vomiting. They can also darken the stool. If a stool is black and tarry, or you are not sure what you are looking at, call your vet.

Fresh or frozen?

Both are fine, as long as they are plain. Wash fresh berries first.

• Frozen. A cool treat, but frozen berries are hard and slippery. Thaw or mash them for tiny dogs, dogs that gulp, and older dogs with sore mouths. Our guide to dental care for senior pets covers painful teeth.
• Dried. The sugar is concentrated and more is often added. Dried blueberries also turn up in mixes with raisins, and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. Skip mixed dried fruit entirely.
• Canned, pie filling or jam. Packed with sugar or syrup. Not for dogs.
• Wild berries. Do not let your dog eat berries you cannot identify with certainty. Several wild berries are poisonous.

Choking in small dogs

A blueberry is about the right size to lodge in a very small dog's throat, especially when frozen. Halve or squash berries for toy breeds, and feed them one at a time.

Why blueberry muffins and yogurts are different

The berry is fine. What comes with it often is not.

• Muffins, pancakes and pastries. High in sugar and fat. Some recipes include raisins, chocolate chips or macadamia nuts, all of which are toxic to dogs. Sugar-free baking may use xylitol, also labeled birch sugar, which is dangerous to dogs even in small amounts.
• Blueberry yogurt. Usually sweetened, and light or sugar-free versions can contain xylitol. Yogurt also contains lactose, which many dogs digest poorly.

If your dog stole a bite of muffin, check the ingredients. If you find xylitol, raisins, chocolate or macadamia nuts, call your vet or an animal poison control line right away.

Blueberries for older dogs

A light treat for a dog on a diet

Older dogs move less and gain weight easily. Swapping a biscuit for a couple of blueberries keeps the ritual of a treat with far fewer calories, though they still count toward the day's total. Our guide to weight management for senior pets covers the rest.

Do blueberries help an aging brain?

Only modestly, if at all. You will see blueberries described as brain food for senior dogs. The research in older dogs has mostly looked at complete diets enriched with a blend of antioxidants, often alongside exercise and mental stimulation, not at blueberries on their own. A few berries as a treat are not a treatment for cognitive dysfunction.

If your dog is pacing at night, getting lost in familiar rooms or forgetting house training, that is a reason to see the vet, not to change the treats. Our dog dementia signs checklist can help you describe what you are seeing.

Who should check with the vet first

• Dogs with diabetes. Blueberries contain natural sugar, and a dog on insulin needs meals and treats kept consistent. Ask before adding anything. See diabetes in senior dogs.
• Dogs on a prescription diet. This includes diets for kidney disease, bladder stones or a food allergy trial, where any extra can interfere.
• Dogs with a sensitive stomach or a history of pancreatitis. New foods are best cleared first.

For feeding an older dog in general, see our senior pet nutrition guide.

When to call the vet today

Call your vet, an emergency clinic or an animal poison control line now if your dog:

• Is choking, gagging, pawing at the mouth or struggling to breathe
• Ate anything containing xylitol, raisins, chocolate or macadamia nuts, even if it seems fine
• Ate wild berries you cannot identify
• Is vomiting repeatedly, or has diarrhea that lasts more than a day or contains blood
• Has diabetes, ate a lot of berries or sweet food, and is weak, vomiting or very thirsty
• Has a swollen face, hives or trouble breathing after a new food

This article is general educational information about feeding blueberries to dogs, not veterinary advice. The portions are rough guides for healthy dogs, and blueberries are a treat, not a treatment for any condition. If your dog has diabetes, is on a prescription diet or has eaten a blueberry product with other ingredients, ask your veterinarian what is right for your dog.