Any responsible pet owner knows that if there is one thing they need to be super careful about, it is their pet’s diet. Unlike animals who live in the wild and can fend for themselves, our domesticated pets depend on us completely. So much so that we can’t rely on their instinct to reject possibly harmful food. Pet owners will swear, the more prohibited the food, the more their pet seems drawn to it!
dogs are no different. These social eaters always seem to have an eye on what is on our plates, and it is almost as though they expect us to offer them some of our food! However, there is always a bit of hesitation as to whether the food we are eating is safe for them or not. The fact of the matter is our dogs differ from us on many fronts, and the tolerance to food is no exception. Our dogs are smaller, and their systems are more fragile than ours.
Just because food is considered safe and healthy for us might not be the case for them. And even if it does pass the list of acceptable food, you also need to know how much of the food you can feed your dog.
Art or skill that pet owners have to master is that of moderation. Too much of anything is never a good thing, especially where food is concerned, you must not go overboard. If you don’t watch the quantity of food you’re giving your bird, you’ll unknowingly pave the way for many health concerns.
All of this applies to fruit even. While fruits make up a good chunk of our dog’s diet, there are so many fruits available that we can’t rely solely on this vague sentence when it comes to feeding.
So today, we’re going to discuss blackberries and if they should be given to our dogs.
What makes up a dog’s diet?
This is the most important question you should be asking. dogs can live anywhere up to eighty years, and so if you want your dog by your side until the very end, you’ll need to ensure that they have a well-balanced diet.
Certain food categories make up their everyday meals. These include:
- Fruits: Fruits are an essential food in your dog’s diet. The good news is that most fruit is safe to be given to dogs, which means there is a wide variety to choose from.
However, the fruit has to be given in a combination of 3, and that combination needs to be changed frequently. Why? This is done to ensure that your dog doesn’t feed on one fruit in excess. We want to avoid this to regulate the sugar levels by playing a balancing game with fruits with different sugar content.
- Vegetables: Vegetables also make up an important part of your dog’s diet. Again, you have a wide variety to choose from, including spinach, celery stalk, peppers, and carrots.
Same as the case with fruits, you need to offer veggies to your bird in combination with other vegetables.
- Bird food: Commercially available bird food isn’t an essential part of your dog’s diet but does wonders as a supplement.
- Seeds: Seeds can be tricky because not all are safe to be given to dogs, and aren’t meant to be a part of their regular diet. However, they are important and should be included.
Birds and Blackberries:
Amongst the list of safe fruits to give to your dog, berries are right there on top. And when we see berries, we mean all kinds. Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, all of them are safe. You have a wide variety to introduce your feathered friend to!
These juicy fruits can be offered in different combinations giving your bird a burst of flavor with their meals. Not only are blackberries safe, but they also have quite a lot of health benefits attached to them. They are rich in all the necessary vitamins as well as antioxidants.
Antioxidants play a very important role in your bird’s health. Your dog’s body has something known as free radicals, which are unstable molecules known to cause some serious health issues. The antioxidants present in blackberries are a strong fighting force against these free radicals. The antioxidants also ensure that your dog has a strong and healthy physique.
Moreover, blackberries are rich in vitamins. This includes Vitamin C, which is great for building a strong immune system for your dog.
Vitamin C also helps quicken the healing process in your dog. Vitamin C is extremely important, and your dog requires a daily dose of it. Lack of vitamin C can lead to your dog exhibiting self-destructive behaviors such as pulling out its feathers.
Blackberries are also high in fiber, which is essential for your dog to have a smooth flowing digestive system and it also helps maintain a normal range of blood pressure.
Potential problems with blackberries:
Perhaps the only potential risk that attaches itself to this fruit is when it comes down to cleaning it before offering it to your dog. All fruits need to be thoroughly cleaned before being given to your dog, and this is done to remove any possible traces of pesticides.
Blackberries have a different outer surface, which is slightly difficult to clean, and thus, there might be lingering doubt about the safety of giving it your dog.
Conclusion:
If you are confident that you have cleaned the blackberries well, there should be nothing stopping you from offering them to your dog. This fruit is healthy and has all the required nutrients. However, make sure not to rely solely on blackberries as a source of nutrition. Remember, fruits should always be given in a combination. Happy feeding!