Last summer, some friends invited me over to pick raspberries from their back yard because they couldn’t keep up with the harvest. From one parking space-sized raspberry patch, I picked 2 gallons of berries in half an hour!
Lucky for me, I didn’t have to pick the low berries because the dogs were gobbling up every berry they could reach. It made me wonder, can dogs eat raspberries?
Can Dogs Eat Raspberries?
Yes, in moderation. Dogs are omnivores, and they benefit from many different fruits and vegetables for the same reasons humans do— these foods are low in fat and sugar, and high in vitamins and fiber.
Raspberries are ok in moderation, though there are some toxic risks if they eat too much.
Are Raspberries Healthy for My Dog?
Raspberries are rich in nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K, all important components of a dog’s diet. They are also fairly low in calories, although most of those calories come from sugar.
Be sure to feed your dog fresh or unsweetened frozen raspberries, rather than raspberries that have been dusted with sugar or packed in syrup.
Too much sugar isn’t good for a dog’s health and can lead to diabetes, weight gain, and other health issues down the line. But that’s not the only reason you want to limit how many raspberries your dog eats.
Raspberries and Xylitol
There’s a reason it’s recommended to keep raspberry servings to less than a cup, though it’s not for the usual reasons.
Raspberries contain trace amounts of the sweetener xylitol, which is harmful to dogs in large quantities. Don’t be alarmed though—to receive a fatal dose, a 22-pound dog would have to eat 32 cups of raspberries.
That doesn’t mean you should let down your guard, however. 4-6 cups could still cause hypoglycemia in that same dog, a condition that can be harmful, especially if that dog has any underlying health conditions.
If your dog is a raspberry gobbler and you have raspberries growing in your yard, it’s best to keep an eye on them while the bush is fruiting, and regularly removing ripe berries to avoid temptation.
How Much Raspberry Can My Dog Eat?
Because of the trace amounts of xylitol in raspberries, even the largest dogs should be limited to 1 cup of raspberries at a time, and only on occasion.
Raspberries are fairly low-sugar fruits. Fresh raspberries are about 4% sugar by weight (lower than carrots at 5%). One cup of raspberries has about 6 grams of sugar, 8 grams of fiber, and 46 calories.
This makes raspberries a sometimes treat for dogs on a reduced-calorie diet or with diabetes, though they are considered a low GI food.
Not all dogs like fruits and veggies, but they’re a healthy snack for the ones that do. If your dog likes them whole, there’s nothing wrong with sharing a few raspberries with your dog periodically.
Serving Ideas
- Share fresh or dried raspberries by sprinkling them on your dog’s daily meal.
- Toss your dog a fresh berry from your own snack or salad.
- Share a frozen raspberry with your four-legged friend as a crunchy snack.
- Brighten up dog treats like our Sweet Potato Casserole or our Peanut Butter Protein Pupcakes by sprinkling them with dried raspberries, or crowing them with a beautiful fresh berry.
Raspberry Recipes for Dogs
Add some fresh, freeze-dried, or frozen (unsweetened) raspberries to this tasty cantaloupe ice cream that you can share with your dog!
Dog-Friendly Cantaloupe Ice Cream
- Prep Time: 4 hours
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 28 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups
- Category: Summer Sweets
Ingredients
- 2 cups (300g) frozen ripe cantaloupe
- 1/2 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen) or 1/4 cup freeze-dried raspberries
- 2 tbsp unsweetened yogurt
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
- Freezer
Instructions
- Make sure you have space for your cantaloupe in the freezer.
- Scrub the outside of the cantaloupe thoroughly.
- Slice the melon in half and remove seeds.
- Slice each half into quarters, remove the skin, then dice the fruit into bite-sized chunks.
- Place cut melon (and fresh raspberries) in the freezer. The more space around your melon chunks, the faster they will freeze, so if you’re in a rush, place pieces on a baking sheet to speed things up.
- When completely frozen (2-4 hours or overnight), place about 2 cups (300g) of melon pieces and 1/2 cup raspberries into the food processor.
- Add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened yogurt.
- Blend until combined, adding a little cool water if needed to blend to your preferred consistency.
Serving suggestions: Top your dog’s kibble with a few tablespoons, serve as part of dinner (replacing some of the usual food), or freeze into paw-shaped pops for the ultimate in homemade frozen dog treat goodness. We love these super-affordable dog-safe silicone molds.
Notes
If your dog is lactose intolerant, you can skip the yogurt, though it does change the consistency. A little peanut butter can work instead. (Watch out for xylitol in some brands of peanut butter!)
For More Information
From peaches to pears, there is a wide selection of information on fruit available on our Can My Dog Eat? directory page.
Learn more about feeding your dog a wonderfully varied diet while learning the limitations of a dog’s sensitive digestive system. We offer a collection of articles on foods that are safe, dangerous or even toxic for dogs to eat, including vegetables, dairy, bread, and junk food.
Learn more about the veggies that are safe for dogs in articles such as Can my dog eat cantaloupe? and Can My Dog Eat Berries?
