If you enjoy snacking on sweet, tasty berries, there may be some temptation to share your treat with your pooch. Generally, berries, including raspberries, are safe for dogs. Whether you're tossing the occasional treat Buster's way, or including it as part of his meal, raspberries are a healthy choice.
Healthy Raspberries
Berries are healthy for you, and they're healthy for Buster, too. Whether you eat them for their great taste or health benefits, raspberries are great antioxidants, protecting you against damaging free radicals. Buster gains the same advantages from having a few berries in his diets. Raspberries in particular are a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper and iron. They're also abundant in vitamins C, K and B-complex.
Don't Overdo It
Before you give up all of your own berries, wash a berry first and offer it to Buster. Just because you enjoy these sweet, juicy guys doesn't mean he'll take a liking to them. If it turns out he has a taste for raspberries, two or three at a time makes a nice treat. You can toss a few in his dish with his supper, or you can hold a few aside as a special dessert treat. Don't give him too many berries at once; though healthy diet additions, they still have calories that can fatten him up if he eats too many. As well, too many berries at once can upset his tummy.
Naked Raspberries
Though raspberries paired with some cream is a delightful treat for you, you shouldn't indulge Buster in such a rich concoction. The same is true for chocolate-covered raspberries, as chocolate can be deadly for dogs. If Buster's going to share your fruit, it's best to keep the fruit in its natural state. The only thing it needs is a good rinse before offering it to your pup.
Other Fruits
As a rule, fruits are fine for dogs, but dogs should not eat grapes, raisins, avocados or figs. There are a few fruits that need a bit of extra caution, such as cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, apples, and nectarines. The fruit itself is safe, but the seed and pits are toxic to dogs. If it turns out Buster has a fruit tooth, you can try adding blueberries, strawberries, pears and oranges to the mix, in small amounts.