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Can Rottweilers Eat Strawberries?

Can Rottweilers Eat Strawberries

In an earlier post, we discussed how bananas are safe for Rottweilers and are a good source of fiber and other important nutrients. So, now it may have you wondering about other fruits and whether they’re safe. How about strawberries, for example?

You’ll be pleased to know that strawberries are safe for your Rottweiler to eat. They’re a delicious, refreshing treat, especially in the summertime. It won’t come as a surprise to hear that they should always be fed to your dog in moderation, like all treats in life.

Strawberries: The Natural and Versatile Treat

When asked to picture a dog treat in our heads, we’d almost always think of a meaty treat, usually found on the pet food aisle and tossed into our shopping cart at the store.

Instead of heading for processed treats, it’s much better to go for the fresh fruit and vegetable section.

There are hundreds of fresh foods to feed your Rottweiler; they are kinder on the pocket and much better for your dog’s health.

Strawberries aren’t just delicious, but they’re packed with nutrients. Like bananas, strawberries contain fiber and vitamin C. Not only that, but they contain a little-known enzyme that helps to keep your dog’s teeth white as they eat them.

As they’re full of water, feeding your Rottweiler strawberries can be a way to refresh them on a hot day, especially if you’re worried about their hydration levels.

In addition, strawberries contain Omega 3, polyunsaturated fat that lowers heart inflammation and reduces the build-up of plaque in the blood vessels. At the same time, Omega 3 helps give your Rottweiler’s coat a healthy shine.

There’s a lot packed into this tiny little superfood! They can be cut up and fed in pieces to your Rottweiler, or frozen for a later date, perhaps for when you go on a hike with your best pal by your side.

You can even slice them up and add them to your Rottweiler’s food – top restaurants serve lamb with a berry jus, so why not add some fresh strawberry as a vitamin-packed accompaniment to your Rottie’s raw meat diet?

Don’t Overdo It!

Sadly, like all the good things in life, strawberries should be enjoyed by your Rottweiler in moderation. It seems that life is just cruel like that at times.

Don’t make strawberries a daily thing; instead, they should be given as a treat once or twice a week at the most.

Their sweetness is due to natural sugars, so it’s important that you monitor your Rottweiler’s strawberry intake.

Dogs should never be fed the sweet, processed candy humans enjoy, but even fruit contains enough sugar to be unhealthy for a dog.

Rottweilers, in particular, are prone to putting on weight easily, so if you have a Rottweiler who’s tipping the scales a little too much, remove strawberries from their diet. Strawberries should only be served as a treat if your Rottweiler is of a healthy weight.

You should never give your Rottweiler strawberries if they have diabetes. Even though the fruit may seem a healthier option, it still contains too much sugar (albeit natural sugar) and can cause serious health problems for your pet.

How to Feed Strawberries to Your Rottweiler

You’re the dog’s owner, and you know how to feed it, of course, but there are certain things to remember when feeding strawberries to a Rottweiler.

First, the fruit must be thoroughly washed to remove bugs, bacteria, or pesticides. The best strawberries to feed your Rottweiler are organic ones, but regular, non-organic strawberries will do if they’re washed well.

Cut off any leaves or stems as these are harder to digest for dogs, so be sure only to feed the red, fleshy fruit.

Rottweilers can demolish a raw lamb’s leg, but it’s still possible for them to choke on something as small as a strawberry.

Slice the fruit into pieces before feeding them one at a time to your dog or placing them in a bowl so they can enjoy them at their leisure.

Don’t be surprised if your Rottweiler doesn’t eat the strawberry immediately the first time they’re introduced to the fruit.

Dogs always treat new foods with unusual textures with caution, and your Rottweiler may want to sniff, lick or even carry the strawberry around in their mouth for a while before eating it.

Or they may simply gobble it down with gusto. You never know!

Only Feed Fresh or Frozen Strawberries to Your Rottweiler

You might think that if they can eat fresh strawberries, your Rottweiler will have no problem with other ways of packaging or presenting the fruit.

However, canned and dried strawberries or store-bought strawberry purees will contain too much sugar for your dog.

Strawberries are meant to be eaten fresh, and when they’re preserved for a long time, such as in a can, preservatives high in sugar are added.

So, stick to fresh fruit only! Freezing fresh strawberries for another time is also acceptable, as long as they come out of the freezer the way they went.

Can Dogs Be Allergic to Strawberries?

Yes, your Rottweiler may be allergic to strawberries. That’s why, if they tend to eat anything in front of them, you should always be in control the first time they eat anything new.

Allergies to strawberries in dogs and other mammals are rare. However, they’re not unheard of.

If you notice any of the following symptoms when your Rottweiler eats a strawberry, do not feed them any more pieces and get them to a vet immediately:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Swollen face or throat
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Vomiting
  • Hives or a rash

Even though strawberries may not cause an allergic reaction, a Rottweiler’s stomach is still sensitive, so you may notice that they have diarrhea or gas after eating strawberries. If this is the case, it’s not necessarily worth a trip to the vet, but don’t feed them any more fruit.

What About Other Berries?

If your Rottweiler loves strawberries and handles them well, you’ll both be pleased to hear that there are many other berries they can eat!

Safe berries for Rottweilers include:

  • Raspberries – are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties but also contain xylitol, so they should be fed even less often than strawberries
  • Blueberries – high in fiber and antioxidants and promote a healthy immune system while being low in calorific value
  • Blackberries – low in sugar but also contain xylitol, so like raspberries, only one or two to be fed on rare occasions
  • Cranberries – are packed full of vitamin C but can be sour tasting, so dogs tend to avoid the out-of-choice.

Not All Berries are Good

Some berries are poisonous to dogs, and you should never allow your Rottweiler to eat them.

These include:

  • Juniper berries
  • Mistletoe berries
  • Holly berries
  • Cherries

Any other berry you meet on your walks in the forest should also be avoided, as there’s no knowing what kind of berry it might be.

If you doubt whether your dog can eat a certain kind of berry, ask your vet.