So many dog owners ask theses type of questions and rightly so.
What can my dog eat and what can't they eat. We have so many food items around the house that are great for us as humans to eat so we would assume that they are great for dogs as well, but this isn't always the case.
As dog owners we need to be careful what we allow our pets to get hold of, sometimes hard when you have a hungry Labrador or persistent Beagle giving you those feed me eyes!
Lets take a look at some common fruits...
Strawberries
Yes dogs can eat strawberries with no serious side affects.
Strawberries do not pose any health risk to your dog, although like with a lot of fruit, they are high in natural sugar so a large amount eaten could result in some stomach upset.
Packed full of fibre and vitamins they certainly wont do your dog any harm.
Best to avoid tinned strawberries which could be coated in other ingredients and always wash fruit before feeding it to your pet.
Pineapple
Yes dogs can eat pineapple but it does have a high sugar content.
Pineapple is not toxic for your dog so they can eat it, but the high sugar content means its not great for them to eat on a regular basis. Pineapple is packed with vitamins and minerals but your dog will already be getting what it needs from its normal diet, so giving pineapple should only be an occasional treat if they like it.
Avoid tinned pineapple as this is usually soaked in more sugary substances and do not feed the skin to dogs as it will be hard for them to digest.
Apples
Yes dogs can eat apples.
Packed full of vitamins and fibre giving your dog apple certainly wont harm them.
Apples are high in natural sugar so if you are giving any to your pet feed small amounts and in moderation. Too much could cause stomach upset.
Avoid the pips and core as this can be mildly toxic to your dog.
Bananas
Yes dogs can eat bananas and in fact they can be beneficial to your dogs diet in moderation.
They contain high fibre, potassium, magnesium and vitamins which are all good for your dog. They do contain sugar so avoid giving to much at a time.
Although most dogs wouldn't be interested in the peel its best to avoid as it can be hard to digest.
Oranges
Yes dogs can eat oranges but only small amounts and avoid the peel.
Oranges are very high in natural sugar so only give your dog one or two segments if feeding as a treat as more could cause stomach upset. Not many dogs will like the sweet taste of orange so the risk is lower of them sneaking some away while you are not looking.
Avoid the peel as this contains essential oils which are mildly toxic to your pet and remove any seeds when feeding to your dog. Mild toxicity from the peel may include some vomiting and diarrhoea.
Tomatoes
Yes dogs can eat tomatoes as long as they are ripe.
Tomatoes contain a toxin called solanine which if consumed in large amounts by your dog could cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Solanine is mainly found in the green parts of tomato plants so your dog would have to chew through a lot of leafy plant to get sick.
The tomato fruit is not toxic to your dog so is fine to feed them as long as they are ripe and red. Avoid if the fruit is green (unripe).
Avocado
No, dogs should not be given avocado.
The leaves, skin and pit contain high levels of a toxin called Persin which is mostly harmless to dogs in small amounts but is best to avoid.
A few pieces of the fleshy inside of an avocado should be fine for your dog to eat, but it still contains small amounts of toxins so its probably best to leave it off the menu altogether as it could cause stomach upset.
Blueberries & Blackberries
Yes dogs can eat blueberries and blackberries, they can be a great treat for your pet.
As they are small they could pose a potential choking risk to smaller dogs but generally they are great for your dogs diet. They contain fibre, vitamins and antioxidants which will all add to your dogs overall health. They do contain sugar so feed in moderation and large amounts could cause stomach upset.
Raisins
No, dogs should never eat raisins as they are highly toxic and can be lethal.
Raisins can be highly toxic to dogs so make sure to keep them well away from your pet. Also avoid grapes, raisins are dried grapes. Raisin toxicity in dogs can lead to kidney failure in severe cases so if your pet has eaten any amount you should contact your vet for advice.
It is not known what causes raisins to be so toxic to dogs and some dogs appear to not react as severely as others. Some of the symptoms of toxicity include weakness, loss of appetite, increased thirst and vomiting and/or diarrhoea.