If you’re a Border Collie owner, you know that your best friend is just as picky about what they eat as you are.
Border Collies have a different metabolic system from humans, so some foods that are safe for humans can be harmful or even fatal for Border Collies. However, many human foods are completely safe for Border Collies and can provide important nutrients and health benefits.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of 37 fruits, vegetables, and snacks that are safe for Border Collies to eat—and which ones are not.
List of fruits Border Collies can or can’t eat
Wondering which fruits your Border Collie can eat or not? Here is a list of some common fruits your Border Collie can or can’t eat:
Apples
Yes, Border Collies can eat apples.
They’re a great source of vitamins A and C and fiber for your Border Collie. They’re also low in protein and fat, making them the perfect snack for senior Border Collies.
If you want to give your pup an apple, make sure you remove the seeds and core first. Avoid processed apples like applesauce or apple pie filling. These contain added sugar that can be harmful to your Border Collie’s health.
Avocado
The answer is no.
Avocados are not safe for your Border Collie to consume. Avocado fruit, pits, leaves, skin and the actual plant contain persin, so these parts are potentially poisonous to your Border Collie.
However, avocado oil is safe in small amounts.
Bananas
Yes, Border Collies can eat bananas.
Bananas are a great low-calorie treat for your Border Collie. They’re full of nutrients like potassium and vitamins, and they contain biotin, fiber, and copper—all of which are good for your Border Collie’s health. Bananas also have very little cholesterol or sodium, so you don’t have to worry about adding them to your pup’s diet too much. However, bananas do contain sugar—a lot of it—so you should only give your Border Collie a banana as an occasional treat, and not as part of a regular meal plan.
You should avoid processed bananas that are sold in chip form or as part of a pudding or other dessert. These processed versions may contain toxic ingredients that aren’t meant for consumption by pets (or humans).
Blackberry
Yes, Border Collies can eat blackberries.
Blackberries are a great source of vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants that help fight free radicals in the body. They’re also low in calories and sugar—a great choice for Border Collies who need to watch their weight.
Frozen or fresh, either is fine. Just be sure to avoid processed blackberries like blackberry jam, jelly, blackberry-flavored ice cream, as they may contain harmful chemicals or additives that aren’t good for your Border Collie’s health. The same goes for any preservatives or artificial ingredients.
Your pup should eat two blackberries per 10 pounds of body weight each day.
Blueberry
Yes, Border Collies can eat blueberries.
Blueberries are a great source of vitamins and minerals. They’re also high in sugar, so feed them in moderation (4-5 blueberries per 10 pounds of body weight). Frozen, fresh, dried or mashed—either is fine for most pups.
However, avoid processed blueberries like blueberry muffins, blueberry yogurt, blueberry pie, or blueberry pancakes, as they may contain added harmful chemicals and preservatives.
Cantaloupe
Can a Border Collie eat cantaloupe?
The answer is yes! But first, let’s look at what makes this delicious fruit so good for you and your Border Collie.
Cantaloupes are low in calories and high in nutrients like fiber and moisture. They also contain potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and beta-carotene. However, with all of its health benefits, cantaloupe contains a lot of sugar—so give your Border Collie their slice of melon in moderation (about half a cup).
When you’re ready to serve up some melon for your pup, remove the rinds and seeds—they can cause choking if swallowed whole by your Border Collie.
Cherry
Can Border Collies eat cherries? Unfortunately, no. While the fleshy part around the cherry pit is safe for your Border Collie to eat, the plant itself contains cyanide—a substance that destroys cellular oxygen transport in your Border Collie.
Symptoms of cyanide toxicity include dilated pupils, vomiting, excessive drooling, tremors, and weakness or paralysis. Contact your vet if your Border Collie ate a cherry or other fruit containing cyanide.
Grapes
Can Border Collies eat grapes?
No. Grapes are very toxic to Border Collies, and even a small amount of grapes can cause sudden kidney failure in your Border Collie. Symptoms of grape poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and lethargy. Seek veterinary help immediately if you suspect your Border Collie ate grapes.
To prevent accidental ingestion, keep the grapes out of your Border Collie’s reach and educate your family about the danger of grapes for Border Collies.
Mango
Yes, Border Collies can eat mango.
Mango contains four different vitamins: A, B6, C, and E that are great for your Border Collie’s health. It also has potassium, fiber and antioxidants that are beneficial for your pet’s overall wellness and their skin and coat health.
Just remove the mango skin and pit before feeding it to your Border Collie or else they might choke on them! Also avoid processed mango products like mango sorbet, mango popsicles, mango ice cream as they may contain harmful preservatives or other additives that could harm your pet’s digestive system.
The amount depends on the size of your Border Collie, but one-quarter cup of fresh ripe mango once a week should be sufficient for most Border Collies.
Oranges
Yes, Border Collies can eat oranges. But we should only give them in moderation. Oranges are a good source of Vitamin C, potassium, fiber and moisture.
However, remove all traces of peel, skin and pith before giving them to your Border Collie. You should also remove seeds as they can cause intestinal blockage in Border Collies.
You should give your Border Collie 1-2 sections as an occasional treat, but make sure you don’t overdo it.
Peaches
Peaches are a sweet, delicious and nutritious treat for your Border Collie. Peaches are high in fiber and vitamin A, both of which are essential for good health.
You can give your Border Collie a small amount of cut-up fresh or frozen peaches now and then. Just remove the pit before serving it to your Border Collie as it contains cyanide. Avoid processed peaches like peach cobbler or peach pie, as they may contain toxic food additives.
Pears
Yes, pears are safe for Border Collies to eat, but you should watch out for the seeds.
Pears are a great snack because they’re high in copper, vitamins C and K, and fiber. They can also reduce your Border Collie’s risk of having a stroke significantly. Just be sure to cut the fruit into bite-size chunks and remove the pit and seeds first, as the seeds contain traces of cyanide.
Skip processed pears like canned pears as it may contain sugar syrups and other additives that aren’t healthy for your Border Collie. One small slice is ok for most Border Collies as pears contain sugar.
Pineapples
Yes, Border Collies can eat pineapple! It’s a tasty snack for your pup, but there are a few things you should know before giving it to them.
First, look for raw, soft pineapple with no brown spots or mold. Avoid processed pineapples like canned pineapple or pineapple because they often contain added harmful food additives.
Second, remove the spiky skin and hard inner core of the pineapple. You wouldn’t want to risk your pup choking on something like these.
As for how much to give your Border Collie? A small amount of raw pineapple every day is just enough to provide them with vitamins and minerals like bromelain and moisture—2/3 small bites is all you need.
Pumpkin
Yes, pure pumpkin itself is a great choice and a very healthy snack for Border Collies.
Pumpkin helps with your Border Collie’s skin and coat, as well as digestion, and can help remedy both diarrhea and constipation in your Border Collie.
Never feed your Border Collie pumpkin pie mix. Canned pumpkin is ok for your Border Collie but make sure it’s 100% pumpkin.
Many pumpkin supplements and pumpkin pup treats are available on the market today. Amount varies with your Border Collie’s size and activity level, but start with a teaspoon per day
Strawberry
Yes, Border Collies can eat strawberries. They’re rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and they’re a great source of fiber.
Fresh or frozen strawberries are both good options for Border Collies. Just cut them into small pieces before serving them to your pup.
Always avoid processed strawberry products like jam and syrup.
Watermelon
Yes, Border Collies can eat watermelon. In fact, it’s a great low-calorie treat!
Watermelon contains vitamins and minerals like niacin, vitamin A and potassium, as well as lycopene—the same antioxidant found in tomatoes that’s known for its anti-cancer properties. Plus, watermelon is super juicy and hydrating, so it’ll keep your Border Collie’s mouth moist and help him stay hydrated on a hot day. Just make sure you cut it into small chunks before feeding to avoid choking hazards.
I recommend giving your Border Collie half a cup of diced seedless and rind-free watermelon per 10 pounds of body weight.
List of vegetable Border Collies can or can’t eat
Wondering which vegetables your Border Collie can eat or not? Here is a list of some vegetables your Border Collie can or can’t eat:
Broccoli
Yes, Border Collies can eat broccoli.
Broccoli contains a lot of vitamins and minerals—including vitamin C and calcium—that are good for Border Collies. Broccoli stems and florets, both are safe to eat, either cooked or raw. However, always cut them into small pieces to avoid choking hazards. You should offer your pup 1/4 (0.25) cup of broccoli per 10 pounds of body weight.
Cabbage
Yes, Border Collies can eat cabbage.
Cabbage contains vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants that are good for your Border Collie’s health. It is also rich in fiber and moisture. Any color of cabbage is safe and healthy for Border Collies, but red cabbage is more nutritious—it has 10 times more vitamins than green cabbage. Lightly cooked or roasted cabbage is the best way to offer it to your four-legged friend, because this cooking method makes it easier for him to digest. However, make sure not to season with oil or salt.
Carrots
Can Border Collies eat carrots? Yes! Border Collies can eat carrots, and they should.
Carrots are an excellent low-calorie treat for your Border Collie. They contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber. And as a bonus, crunching on this orange veggie is great for your Border Collie’s teeth. Raw, frozen or cooked carrots are fine—it’s really up to you. Cooked carrots are better since they’re easier to digest than raw or frozen ones (which means less gas).
If you’re going to give your Border Collie raw or frozen carrots, chop them into smaller pieces so they don’t choke on them.
As for carrot cake, it’s probably okay if you make sure there are no harmful additives in the recipe. One or two baby carrots are enough for an average-sized pup.
Celery
Yes, Border Collies can eat celery.
Celery is a great low-calorie treat for Border Collies! It contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and high moisture and fiber content.
You can feed your Border Collie celery sticks, or chop up a few pieces and let them enjoy it as a snack. You can also mix it with their regular food or top it with small peanut butter licks.
Just be sure to cut the celery in bite-sized pieces so that your Border Collie doesn’t choke on it.
Celery leaves are also ok—just make sure they’re organic and washed before feeding them to your Border Collie.
Cucumber
Border Collies can eat cucumbers. Cucumbers are a healthy snack for Border Collies, providing vitamins, minerals, moisture and fiber. They also provide phytochemicals that help freshen your Border Collie’s breath (and yours!).
The seeds and peels or skin are safe as long as they are organic. However, avoid processed cucumbers like cucumber pickles, as they may contain harmful food additives like onions, salt, and sugar.
The amount depends on the size of your Border Collie, but only one or two pieces of cucumber per day should be fine.
Garlic
Garlic is toxic to Border Collies.
N-propyl disulfide, a sulfur compound in garlic, causes hemolysis of red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Other symptoms include vomiting and hyperthermia (a dangerously high body temperature). Raw and cooked cloves and bulbs of garlic are toxic to your Border Collie. The toxic dose is 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight. Contact the vet immediately if your Border Collie ate garlic.
Onions
No, onions are toxic for your Border Collie.
Onions contain N-propyl disulfide, which is a sulfur compound that causes hemolysis leading to anemia in Border Collies. The toxic dose is 15 gm/kg of the body weight of your Border Collie. This means that even a small amount of onion can be toxic to your Border Collie if they weigh less than 10 lbs.
All types of onions are bad for Border Collies—red, white, whatever! Besides, all parts of the onion plant are toxic to Border Collies too, including the flesh, ring, leaves, juice and processed powders. You should contact your vet immediately if your Border Collie ate onions or any part of the plant.
Zucchini
Yes, Border Collies can eat zucchini!
Zucchini is a low calorie treat and full of vitamins and antioxidants. It also contains high levels of fiber and moisture that are good for your Border Collie’s digestive system.
Plain raw, steamed, or cooked zucchini is safe for Border Collies to eat. However, raw zucchini provides more Vitamin A than cooked ones. Amount depends on the size of your Border Collie, but start with just one or two small bites.
List of some other snacks Border Collies can or can’t eat
Wondering which snacks your Border Collie can eat or not? Here is a list of some snacks your Border Collie can or can’t eat:
Bacon
No, Border Collies can’t eat bacon.
Bacon is an incredibly rich and fatty food with a high salt content. Border Collies’ stomachs are much smaller than ours, and they rarely need as much fat or salt as we do. Bacon can prove to be too much for a Border Collie’s stomach to handle, so even if you give your Border Collie only a small piece, it could cause pancreatitis.
However, giving your Border Collie small amounts of cooked bacon infrequently should not cause problems.
Beef
Yes, your Border Collie can eat beef.
Beef is a good source of protein and many important vitamins and minerals. Cooked, unseasoned lean beef is safe for Border Collies in small amounts unless your Border Collie is allergic to beef. Beef broth, beef stew, and specialized Border Collie beef jerky without an excess amount of salt are also safe for your Border Collie.
Stay away from raw beef because it can cause pancreatitis in Border Collies, which is a condition that causes inflammation of the pancreas. Never feed cooked bone to your Border Collie, but larger raw beef bones can be a chew toy. For a 10 pounds pooch, one cup of kibble or 0.15 pound of ground beef is enough if you go for a raw diet.
Bread
Border Collies can eat bread, but only plain white and wheat bread. The best bread for Border Collies to eat is plain white or wheat bread.
If your Border Collie is allergic to bread, don’t give them any. But if your Border Collie is not allergic to it, it’s okay to let them have a bit of bread.
Bread doesn’t provide that much nutrients in your Border Collie, so offer them in moderation. A crust is fine, but a whole slice is too much for your Border Collie.
Too much bread can cause bloating and diarrhea in Border Collies because they’re not used to digesting such high levels of starches.
Cheese
Yes, a small amount of cheese is ok for Border Collies. However, there are certain kinds of cheese that are safer and others that are not safe at all.
Mozzarella, cottage, swiss and cheddar cheese contain vitamins and fatty acids while blue, goat, parmesan and cream cheese can be dangerous for your Border Collie’s health because of the high fat and salt contents.
The amount of cheese you feed your Border Collie depends on the size of your Border Collie, but a few small bites are fine.
Chicken
Yes, Border Collies can eat chicken. Chicken is a good source of protein, omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that are important for your Border Collie’s health.
The boneless cooked breast meat is the best option for your Border Collie. Avoid chicken skin, as it contains a high amount of fat that can cause digestive problems.
It depends on the size of your Border Collie, but give 1/8 to 1/6 cup of meat protein per 10 pounds of body weight per day if your Border Collie is on a raw meat diet.
Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic to your Border Collie.
Theobromine and caffeine are two of the most toxic ingredients in chocolate for Border Collies. Theobromine is found in cocoa powder (most toxic), unsweetened baker’s chocolate, semisweet chocolate, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate. While caffeine is present in all forms of chocolate made from the cacao bean (cocoa), it’s more concentrated in baking chocolate than in other types of pure chocolate.
If your Border Collie ate any amount of these products, contact your vet immediately! An emergency visit might be necessary if there are symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea within an hour or two after eating the product.
The best way to prevent accidental ingestion is by educating everyone in your household about the dangers of giving your Border Collie any type of food that isn’t specifically made for them—especially with something like chocolates that can be dangerous even in small amounts.
Eggs
Yes, your Border Collie can eat eggs. Eggs are a good source of protein, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals—all of which are essential to your Border Collie’s health.
Your Border Collie should only eat well-cooked eggs with no seasoning or harmful ingredients (since they can be toxic to Border Collies). Raw eggs are not safe for your Border Collie because avidin prevents absorption of biotin and may contain bacteria from the outside shell.
Egg shells are fine as long as you grind them up so there aren’t any sharp edges.
Fish
Yes, Border Collies can eat fish. In fact, it’s one of the best sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids for your Border Collie.
The problem is that not all fish are safe for Border Collies to eat. In particular, larger, longer-lived species like tuna and swordfish contain heavy metals like mercury and should be avoided.
However, it’s perfectly safe for your Border Collie to eat smaller, younger, wild-caught species like salmon or shrimp. In fact, there are even some benefits to feeding your Border Collie smaller fish: they’re easier to digest, they contain fewer calories than larger fish like tuna or swordfish, and they’re much less expensive.
That said, always clean them properly before cooking them; remove the skin and debone them so there are no bones left behind when feeding them to your pet! And don’t forget: add no harmful additives like butter, garlic, salts while cooking.
Icecream
Ice cream is a delicious dessert that humans can enjoy, but it’s not safe for Border Collies to eat.
Border Collies are lactose intolerant, so their bodies cannot process the sugar in ice cream. Eating ice cream can cause your Border Collie to experience diarrhea, vomiting, and even liver failure if consumed in large quantities. Seek veterinary help immediately if your Border Collie ate ice cream accidentally.
Peanut butter
Yes, Border Collies can eat peanut butter in moderation. Peanut butter provides protein, vitamins and healthy fats. However, ensure the peanut butter is pup safe without xylitol and chocolate. Also, avoid peanut butter pretzels, as it contains 3 times more sodium.
Amount depends on the activity level and size of your Border Collie, but start with a half teaspoon per day.
Popcorn
Can Border Collies eat popcorn?
The short answer is yes, Border Collies can eat popcorn.
Plain popped popcorn contains several minerals important to Border Collies, like magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc, along with fiber and trace amounts of vitamins. It also has low amounts of fat (as long as you don’t add butter or salt).
Buttered popcorn or popcorn with other toppings like cheese or chocolate are not safe for your Border Collie, though—they contain way too much fat and salt. And un-popped or partially popped kernels can be a choking hazard and may even cause damage to your Border Collie’s teeth.
Turkey
Yes, Border Collies can eat turkey.
Turkey is a safe, healthy choice for your Border Collie—as long as you provide cooked lean, white, unseasoned and boneless turkey meat. Turkey breast meat is the best option because it provides more protein, fatty acids and minerals.
Be cautious about turkey skin. While it may tempt to share this tasty part of the bird with your Border Collie, it can cause gastrointestinal upset in some Border Collies and even pancreatitis in others. Also avoid processed turkey (hot Border Collies) as they may contain harmful ingredients.
You should feed your Border Collie 20 grams of white meat turkey or 15 grams of dark meat turkey per 12 pounds body weight.
Yogurt
Can Border Collies eat yogurt?
Yes! Plain yogurt is a perfectly acceptable snack for Border Collies, but only if they can digest it. Yogurt is full of beneficial bacteria that can help strengthen the digestive system.
But you should avoid any yogurts with added sugar and artificial sweeteners, as these can be harmful to your pup’s health. One teaspoon of yogurt a day is fine for most pups.
Conclusion
It’s time to wrap up this week’s blog! We’ve covered a lot of ground, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it.
So what did you learn? Well, there are a lot of foods that your Border Collie can eat but you probably didn’t know about. And then there are some foods that you never thought about before—like fish or cucumbers—that are actually pretty good for them.
However, with any safe food, follow the 90/10 rule: 90% normal balanced diet, 10% treat. If you’re feeding your Border Collie over 10% treats (or any amount of anything), be sure to monitor your Border Collie’s health and adjust the amount accordingly.