Can Golden Retrievers Eat Blueberries? Yes, But Be Careful!

Welcome to the Vet Advises!

If you’re anything like us, you love your pet golden retriever, and you want to do everything in your power to make sure they’re healthy and strong. So when we heard blueberries are a popular food among humans—and that they’re low cost and filled with essential nutrients—we got to thinking that it might tempt our readers to feed them to their pets as well.

We thought up many questions: Can golden retrievers eat blueberries? Does it matter how big the blueberry is? What if I give them just a few? What if they eat a whole bag? Are there any risks if I feed my dog this kind of fruit?

In this guide, we’ll answer every question you could have about feeding your golden retriever blueberries, so you can make an informed decision about whether this is the right choice for your pet. Now let’s get started!

Are blueberries safe for golden retrievers?

It’s always good to have healthy snacks in your house, and blueberries are a great snack for you, but are they safe for your golden retrievers? The answer is yes and no.

The yes is that blueberries are safe for golden retrievers to eat. The no is that you should introduce blueberries to your golden retrievers slowly. It is best not to feed your golden retriever too much blueberries at once. Giving a small amount initially is ideal when introducing the blueberries to your golden retrievers.

You can always put the blueberries on top of their food or give them one or two as a treat. Blueberries are a great source of antioxidants and Vitamin C and K. They also contain fiber, manganese and copper. These nutrients can help promote optimal health for your furry friend.

It’s highly unlikely but some golden retrievers can show a food intolerance or allergic reaction to blueberries. If your golden retrievers never had them, start slow and watch for any abnormal signs. If you observe any abnormal symptoms, stop feeding blueberries to your golden retrievers and talk to your vet immediately.

Benefits of blueberries in golden retrievers

Blueberries are a great treat for your dog! Here are just a few of the benefits that blueberries offer:

Antioxidants: Blueberries contain polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress in dogs and lower their risk of cancer.

Vitamin C: This vitamin aids in cell regeneration, helps the immune system fight infection, and lowers inflammation.

Phytochemical: These compounds improve overall health and can even help prevent cancer.

Vitamin K: This vitamin helps your dog’s blood clot and works with calcium to maintain healthy bones.

Manganese: This mineral is necessary for your dog to develop strong bones, connective tissue, and cartilage. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation.

Potassium: Potassium works with sodium to maintain a healthy blood pressure for your dog. It also helps keep their nervous system functioning properly.

Calcium: This mineral is essential for bone development and muscle contraction.

Phosphorus: This mineral works with calcium to build bones, teeth, and other tissues in your dog’s body. It also stores energy as ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Anthocyanins: These compounds are responsible blue/purple color of blueberries. These compounds work with the antioxidants to lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, vision loss, dementia, and other diseases in golden retrievers.

Do all golden retrievers like blueberries?

Unfortunately, no, your golden retrievers may not like blueberries.

Golden retrievers have food preferences and blueberries may not be on your golden retriever’s “like” list.

While some dogs can eat anything in sight and never have a problem, other dogs have very delicate stomachs. Dogs who have sensitive stomachs may develop further issues when they are given blueberries or other foods that they are not used to eating.

Blueberries can cause stomach upset including vomiting and diarrhea in some dogs. A dog’s body is not designed to digest large amounts of fruits and vegetables.

Some dogs can even develop pancreatitis which is a serious condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed. This condition requires immediate medical attention by a veterinarian to avoid complications that could be life threatening.

Talk to your veterinarian before you give your dog any new foods (even healthy foods) to ensure that giving him the new food does not cause any health problems for him.

Can my golden retrievers have blueberries every day?

There’s no rule on how often golden retrievers can eat blueberries because they are safe to eat every day. Whether they will actually like them enough to eat them every day is another question, though.

Blueberries have a lot of amazing health benefits, but don’t let yourself get too excited about their superfood status—they’re just not that high in nutrients, and you should always feed your dog a nutritionally complete, balanced diet. Adding treats or extras to your dog’s diet, especially those with health benefits, is a great idea, but it works best when you supplement a healthy diet with blueberries instead of using blueberries as the main source of nutrition for your golden retriever.

Blueberries are really safe for dogs and if your dog likes them enough to eat them every day, then go for it! But dogs may also get bored with the same treat over and over. If that happens, then stop feeding it to them so often or switch things up by giving them different treats.

Also, different treats contain different nutrients and vitamins so it’s important to vary what you give your golden retriever, so it gets a variety of benefits from its diet.

Can golden retrievers’ puppies eat blueberries?

Blueberries are a great source of nutrients for dogs, but can golden retrievers’ puppies eat blueberries? Is it safe to feed these berries to your golden retriever puppy?

The short answer: no. Not really. We don’t recommend feeding blueberries to golden retrievers’ puppies unless your vet approves it for certain reasons.

Puppies have a delicate digestive system, and even the healthiest adult dogs should only eat blueberries in moderation. It’s best to consult with your veterinarian before introducing any new foods into your dog’s diet—especially if he’s a puppy.

A puppy should be on specialized puppy diet during first months of life. A puppy-specific food offers all the nutrition that a growing dog needs, plus they’re much easier on his developing digestive system.

How many blueberries can golden retrievers eat?

Blueberries are considered a superfood because they are so packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are also low in calories, which makes them a great treat for your pet.

But how many blueberries can golden retrievers eat? It’s important to keep in mind that every pup is different and every dog has its own unique nutritional needs so it’s always a good idea to consult with your vet for best serving size.

As a rule of thumb, for most golden retrievers, 10 blueberries would be an appropriate amount. Large dog breeds can tolerate more, but keep the ratio of 10% treats as part of the total daily food intake.

Golden retrievers LOVE their berries, but you need to be careful when feeding your doggy fresh blueberries. Not so much a problem for a large dog but small dogs can choke easily on the berries if they are gulped down or offered frozen.

Many golden retrievers owners grow blueberry bushes in their gardens. Golden retrievers can gorge on the sweet berries, so keeping them separated from your golden retriever is a smart idea. Bush itself is not toxic to your golden retrievers, but if there are any pesticides or herbicides on them, they will make your golden retrievers sick.

How to serve blueberries to your golden retrievers?

Blueberries are a great treat for golden retrievers. Like most fruits, they are low in calories and high in fiber. However, only feed your golden retriever blueberries (or any other human food) with caution.

Before giving your golden retriever blueberries, talk with your veterinarian. Treats should make up only ten percent of your golden retriever’s daily calories—even if the treats are a low-calorie and healthy option like blueberries.

Once you have your veterinarian’s recommendations, serve the suggested amount of blueberries to your golden retriever. Fresh blueberries make a delicious treat, but frozen are especially tasty on warm days. You can feed your golden retriever one blueberry at a time as a sweet treat, or sprinkle them on their food.

Blend blueberries and plain yogurt for a special smoothie treat for your golden retriever. You can also add some other golden retriever-friendly fruits or coconut water to the concoction.

When are blueberries bad for golden retrievers?

You may think blueberries are healthy for your dog, but there are actually some circumstances in which they could be harmful.

If your golden retriever suffers from allergies, blueberries may be a trigger. Your golden retriever’s diet should be free of any food that triggers an allergic reaction.

Too much of a good thing can also be bad. Blueberries may be healthy, but they also contain sugar, so feed to your golden retriever in moderation. Overindulgence can also result in digestive upset.

Avoid store-bought blueberries because they may contain preservatives which can be harmful to your dogs.

Besides diet and allergies, oral health is another consideration when feeding blueberries to your golden retriever. Cavities in golden retrievers are rare but may form if they eat too much sugar.

For whether blueberries are safe for your golden retriever, always err on the side of caution and only feed small amounts as treats mixed into their normal food or as part of a recommended feeding plan from a veterinarian.

What happens when your golden retrievers eat too many blueberries?

We’ve all seen the memes about dogs and their love for blueberries, but what happens when your golden retrievers eat too many blueberries?

It’s important to remember that not all dogs can eat blueberries. Some will suffer from allergies or other digestive problems, so it’s always best to consult a vet before feeding any dog a new food. But if your golden retrievers are healthy enough to enjoy blueberries, here are some symptoms of eating too many:

Soft poop
Lethargy
Choking
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach discomfort

If your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms after eating too many blueberries, take them to the vet right away.

What to do if your golden retrievers eat too many blueberries?

If your golden retriever ever gets into a blueberry bush and eats too many, don’t panic. Blueberries are not toxic to dogs, and they actually have some fantastic health benefits. But too many can lead to an upset stomach and diarrhea.

So what should you do?

First, get any remaining blueberries away from your golden retrievers, especially if they are still within reach. Then, monitor them for the next 24 hours for any abnormal sign of illness. If you notice any abnormal symptoms, contact your veterinary hospital immediately.

Otherwise, just monitor them. In most cases, the diarrhea will clear up in a matter of days or weeks on its own. If you notice it is lasting longer than expected or seems unusually severe or bloody, be sure to consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Can my golden retriever eat blueberry muffins?

Blueberry muffins seem like such a great option for your golden retriever. They are small, delicious, and full of blueberries, which are a fruit that is high in antioxidants.

However, these baked goods are not a good option to feed your golden retriever. They may contain ingredients that may cause food intolerances and an upset stomach. These tasty treats contain high amounts of sugar (which is bad for dogs), as well as flour and salt. Many commercially prepared muffins also include chocolate chips, which is toxic to dogs.

For those same reasons, you would not want to give your golden retriever commercially prepared blueberry yogurt, blueberry pie, pancakes, or anything with artificial blueberry flavoring.

Find out if your golden retrievers can eat other treats

So, can golden retrievers eat blueberries?

Yes, golden retrievers can eat blueberries. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, which help protect dogs from cell damage that may contribute to cancer and other diseases. They’re also a source of dietary fibre, vitamin C and manganese. Making it an excellent treat for golden retrievers. However, try to limit your dog’s intake of blueberries because they are high in sugar.

Blueberries are safe for dogs but don’t let them get too carried away because they are high in sugar and can cause diarrhea if your dog eats too much.

The best way to feed your dog blueberries is by mixing them with other fruits like apples or bananas so that they don’t get bored eating only one type of food every time you give them a snack.

You can also sprinkle some over their kibble at mealtime for an extra treat!