Can Dogs Eat Blueberries? Here’s What To Know About This Healthy Canine Snack
A superfood for humans, blueberries are also a healthy treat for most dogs. 
brendan-howard-headshot By Brendan Howard Medically Reviewed by Jenna Stregowski, RVT Updated April 04, 2023 Medically Reviewed by Jenna Stregowski, RVT Advertisement Pin FB More Tweet Email Send Text Message Print 
dog with blueberries in background; can dogs eat blueberries? Credit: Fascinadora / mphillips007 / Getty
Blueberries are as delicious as they are hard to hold onto, so plenty of pet owners have thought similarly as the tasty spheres drop to the floor: Wait, can dogs eat blueberries?
Heck yeah they can. These healthy little snacks are considered safe for dogs to eat and are included on almost every list of fruits and vegetables that dogs can eat safely. Just keep the muffins and other blueberry baked goods safely put away.
Can Dogs Have Blueberries?
Yup. If you don't take our word for it, Ahna Brutlag, DVM at the Pet Poison Helpline, says blueberries are OK for dogs. In fact, she says, some pet treats include this fruit as an ingredient. Blueberries are a perfect fruity substitute for other foods that are toxic, including grapes and raisins.
Blueberries are not toxic, so the main dangers to feeding your dog blueberries are choking and allergies. If your dog tends to eat their food quickly, a raw blueberry—especially a hard, frozen blueberry—could be inhaled instead of chewed and swallowed.
If you're worried about the choking hazard of a blueberry with a fast eater, consider soft foods that require more chewing and can't be wolfed down whole, like cut-up bananas, watermelons, or peaches. Or, you can always cut blueberries in half or quarters.
RELATED: Can Dogs Eat Apples?
Are Blueberries Good for Dogs?
They are good for dogs—just as long as you keep a few things in mind. Blueberries for dogs are considered a sweet but relatively low-calorie treat with plenty of vitamin C and fiber. Studies show blueberries boast a wide range of other health benefits for mammals—meaning both human beings and our canine companions have a lot to gain from adding this nutritional superfood to our diets.
But Brutlag cautions that while raw blueberries are a relatively healthy snack option, in some cases blueberries can be bad for dogs—specifically when they're added to high-calorie desserts and baked goods. A dog who's fed too many high-fat blueberry muffins may gain weight and run into medical issues associated with obesity and pancreatitis.
"If a medium-sized dog ate a whole muffin, we might see pancreatitis," says Brutlag, as the big dose of fat can inflame a dog's pancreas.
RELATED: Can Dogs Eat Strawberries? Yes, But Don't Get Too Crazy
Tips for Blueberries and Dogs
As with any new food introduced to a dog's diet, if you start feeding Fido blueberries, watch for signs of an upset stomach. Diarrhea, gas, or other gastrointestinal issues might indicate your dog is allergic to blueberries or isn't tolerating the increase in fiber well. Check with your veterinarian if you suspect your dog might be allergic to the fruit or something else new in his diet.
Brutlag says that if you want to try out blueberries on your dog, start with a few and see how it goes. "Some dogs really like them," she says. "Others need a little encouragement."
You should always wash blueberries before feeding them to a dog to get rid of any pesticides, dirt, or mold. As always, blueberries and other treats should make up no more than 10 percent of your dog's daily caloric intake.
