dogs are adorable and raspberries are sweet. You must be wondering about this bizarre sentence, which links rodents with fruits. So, what is the connection between the two? Well, you might be one of those people who simply go aww, whenever they see a dog. Let the imaginations run a bit wild and let us assume that you have one as a pet. Now, rodents, love to nibble at your food, especially the pet ones. Because they are so adorable, people love to share their food with them. On a lazy Saturday afternoon, you might be eating red, plump raspberries while sitting on your lawn. Curious little creatures like dogs are hardly going to let you have all the fun, are they? They are bound to convince and tempt you into tossing a berry towards them. However, do you know if dogs can eat raspberries or not? In today’s discussion, this is exactly what we mean to talk about.
Can dogs eat raspberries?
It is better to come straight to the point, in case you are in a bit of a hurry and are looking for a short answer. So, the short answer to the question of dogs eating raspberries is yes. Your lovely pet can have some of the fresh raspberries that you have to eat yourself. However, the detailed answer matters the most.
Before we jump into the finer details about your dog’s raspberry problem, we need to have some background knowledge. What do these rodents like to eat, when they are in nature? By nature, we mean the wild habitat. Well, observational analysis tells us that dogs love to have some of the fresh grass hay. It seems to be their favorite wild snack. However, that is not all they love to eat. Vegetables and fruits found in the mossy forests are also OK by such rodents. Some seem to be fond of botanical herbs that are found only in the wild. Stuff like this is full of fiber, something that is critical for proper digestive function as far as your pet is concerned. Sugar content matters the most, and that is why fruits must be given as occasional treats only, to the rodent. Nevertheless, yes, for this discussion, we can safely establish that it is safe to offer raspberries to your pet dog.
Raspberries, xylitol, and dogs
Let us explain why raspberries must be given to dogs, in moderate numbers only. Raspberries contain a rather higher than normal amount of sugar known as xylitol. While humans are not that majorly affected by this sugar, it can prove dangerous to your little pet. This particular sugar tends to get absorbed quickly in the animal’s bloodstream. Skipping the many signaling pathways that are involved, this absorption has the ultimate effect of releasing insulin in larger quantities. We know that more insulin means less blood sugar. This leads to disruption of the normal, homeostatic percentage of sugar flowing in the rodent’s blood.
Now, you can see why offering too many of such berries to your pet is a bad idea. As we mentioned earlier, it is better to start feeding raspberries in small numbers at first. One or two berries a day ought to do the trick. It will give you enough time to see the response of your pet as well!
What do raspberries have to offer to dogs?
It is better to determine the nutritional value of raspberries for dogs using a small sample size. Let us take 100 grams of raspberries as a reference, and see what nutrients are offered by this delicious fruit. The first thing to gauge is, of course, the calories level. It is estimated that 100g of raspberries can offer as much as between 50-55 calories. The number is not too high, not too low. It is the ideal moderation we are after. The fruit does not have an impact on your pet’s overall body weight.
What about carbohydrates? 12 grams of them, that is the value normally calculated for 100 grams of raspberries. You must know that it is carbohydrates, which play a major role in increasing or decreasing your pet’s weight. Apart from carbs, there are proteins found as well, though in very minuscule amounts. However, the fiber content is quite high, which has a good effect on your pet’s digestive abilities. 4.4 grams of sugar in 100 grams of raspberries means that you need to be extra careful when feeding these to your beloved pet. Apart from these, there are certain other valuable nutrients found as well in raspberries. These include vitamins A, C, E, K, B6 and calcium, iron, magnesium as well as potassium.
Why raspberries are good for dogs?
Well, the picture is nearly painted, is not it? Now, you know what a raspberry has in it for your beloved pet. However, there is something that you still need to know. We are talking about the health benefits that your rodent might gain after eating raspberries in a controlled manner. Firstly, the number of vitamins found in the fruit alone makes it a very healthy fruity treat for your furry friend. Take vitamin C for example. It has a key role in preventing diseases like scurvy. A common symptom of scurvy is, of course, the way your pet’s coat might shift towards the rougher side. An antioxidant role for these berries has been established as well, vitamin A is thought to play a major role in that. Oh, and the minerals that we mentioned are important as well. Their role in blood circulation is quite pivotal, to say the least.
Possible side effects
Well, we have seen the positive side of affairs, but what about the cons? Are we simply going to turn a blind eye to the possible side effects that your pet might experience after consuming raspberries? Of course, no. So, what are the possible side effects of too many raspberries? We mentioned xylitol earlier in this discussion. Well, it is not a very nice thing to have too much of this sugar circulating in your veins. It can lead to some serious complications like diabetes, in your pet. Abnormal weight changes have also been attributed to too much berry consumption.
One thing that we have not mentioned about raspberries is that they have a lot of calcium to offer. Just for the same reasons why calcium excess is not suitable in adult humans, too much calcium in adult rodents is also undesirable. It can lead to serious complications like urinary stones or UTIs. Oh, and too many sweet fruits can lead to an irritating feeling in the oral cavity. It is just what you will feel after eating the tenth orange in a row!
Conclusion
We see you want our verdict on the matter. Very well. Our advice is to exercise moderation. Raspberries can tempt your dog, no problem there. How you manage things from there onwards, is something entirely up to you. Again, we must emphasize giving these fruits as occasional treats only. Too much of anything is bad, and berries are certainly no exception to that rule!