Blueberries are incredibly healthy for people, but are they fit for your Boston Terrier too?
As a veterinarian, I frequently get asked which fruits and vegetables are safest for dogs to eat. Some fruits are very safe for your Boston, while others may be severely toxic.
If you are unsure if a food is safe for your Boston Terrier, it is always a good idea to consult with your veterinarian.
This article will discuss everything you need to know about feeding blueberries to your Boston Terrier.
Boston Terriers And Blueberry Consumption
What you need to know about Boston Terriers eating blueberriers…
Is It Safe For Boston Terriers To Eat Blueberries?
In general, it is safe for Boston Terriers to eat a few fresh blueberries as a treat. If your Boston Terrier has been diagnosed with a medical condition or is on a special prescription diet, it would be a good idea to consult with your veterinarian before feeding blueberries.
As with any treat, moderation is the key. Only feed your Boston Terrier a few blueberries as feeding excessive amounts of blueberries may cause an upset stomach. Also, blueberries contain high sugar levels, which can be bad for your Boston if fed in high amounts frequently.
Boston Terriers tend to be at a higher risk of diabetes than other dog breeds, so it is best not to feed too much sugar to your Boston. If sugar is provided in high amounts to your Boston, your Boston may be at a higher risk for developing diabetes even if it is from healthy fruit.
This is why I recommend only feeding blueberries as an occasional treat.
Top 5 Fruits Boston Terriers Love (Video)
If you want to know what kind of fruits your Boston Terrier would like, check out this YouTube video, 5 Fruits Boston Terriers Like. Founder of Boston Terrier Society, Donnie Gardner, goes over a survey he conducted with hundreds of Boston parents asking them what their Boston’s favorite fruit is. Here is their response.
What Happens If Your Dog Eats A Blueberry?
If your dog eats a blueberry, you will likely not notice anything out of the ordinary. In general, blueberries are safe for dogs to eat, so your dog will probably not have any side effects from eating a blueberry.
If your dog eats too many blueberries, they could get an upset stomach, including vomiting and diarrhea.
Can One Blueberry Kill A Dog?
It is unlikely that one blueberry would kill a dog. Typically, blueberries are highly safe for dogs to eat.
As a veterinarian, I have never witnessed a dog die from eating blueberries in my years of experience as a veterinarian.
The only way a blueberry could be potentially harmful is if your dog choked on it while trying to eat it or if they are allergic to blueberries. This is a risk with all foods, but it is doubtful to occur.
Can Boston Terrier Puppies Eat Blueberries?
The majority of Boston Terrier puppies can eat a few blueberries safely.
Blueberries shouldn’t be incorporated into your puppy’s daily diet because blueberries are high in sugar.
I recommend only feeding blueberries occasionally to your Boston Terrier puppy because too many blueberries may result in an upset stomach.
How To Feed Your Boston Terrier Blueberries
Rinse the blueberries well with cool water to remove any pesticides or other foreign material from the outside of the fruit. I would recommend first starting with feeding your Boston only one or two fresh blueberries.
Monitor your Boston for gastrointestinal symptoms over the next 24 hours, including vomiting and diarrhea. If they seem to tolerate the blueberries well, then it is likely safe to continue feeding your Boston Terrier blueberries as an occasional treat.
How Many Blueberries Can You Feed Your Boston Terrier?
If you are going to feed your Boston Terrier blueberries, I would recommend feeding no more than 5 or 6 occasionally as a treat. If the blueberries are tiny, you could probably safely feed up to 10 blueberries.
When you are trying to plan your Boston’s diet, I recommend that the calories from treats should be no more than 10 percent of your Boston’s overall daily calorie intake.
Can Boston Terriers Eat Fresh Blueberries?
Fresh blueberries are safe for most Boston Terriers to eat. Consider consulting with a veterinarian before you feed your Boston blueberries if they have a disease or if they are on a veterinary prescription diet.
Can Boston Terriers Eat Frozen Blueberries?
Some frozen food can tend to be extremely firm. In my veterinary career, I have had to repair multiple dog teeth that have been fractured because the dogs had chewed on firm frozen items such as ice.
That being said, if you are going to feed your Boston frozen blueberries, it is probably a good idea to first thaw them a little so they aren’t extremely hard.
Remember to always look for plain unsweetened frozen blueberries that don’t have any added ingredients. Some frozen blueberries may have additives such as extra sugar or other products that can be harmful to your dog.
Check to make sure that the frozen blueberries do not have xylitol which is an artificial sweetener that can kill a dog if ingested.
Can My Dog Eat Blueberry Muffins?
It is never a good idea to feed your dog pastries or desserts of any form, including blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins are extremely high in sugar which can be very harmful to your dog.
In addition, blueberry muffins are extremely high in calories and can cause your dog to gain excess weight.
Health Benefits Of Blueberries For Boston Terriers
Blueberries can be a very healthy, low-calorie snack for your Boston Terrier. Blueberries contain many healthy vitamins and nutrients that may promote your Boston Terrier’s health. Here are the three health benefits in more detail down below.
1) High In Beneficial Vitamins And Antioxidants
Blueberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and Manganese. They are also packed full of antioxidants and have been considered as having one of the highest amounts of antioxidants as any fruit or vegetable.
It is important to note that most commercial dog foods have all of the nutrients that your dog needs. This means that your Boston Terrier does not need to be fed extra nutrient supplements.
With that said, feeding your Boston a few blueberries as an occasional treat may give them a little extra boost of nutrients.
2) High In Fiber
One cup of blueberries contains around 4 grams of fiber. This makes blueberries a very fiber-rich food. In moderation, fiber is good for digestion so feeding your Boston an occasional blueberry snack may promote digestion.
3) Low In Calories
Blueberries are low in calories if fed in moderation. One blueberry contains around 1 calorie.
If you feed your Boston 5 blueberries, they are only getting about 5 calories which means that blueberries are an amazing low-calorie treat option.
For comparison, 1 small milk-bone is 15 calories and 1 Pup-Peroni or 1 Beggin’ Strip contains around 50 calories!
If you want to see some low-calorie snack ideas for your Boston Terrier, check out the treats right below here on Amazon or check out this video from the founder of Boston Terrier Society talking about the 5 brands of dog treats Boston Terriers love. See the video on YouTube by clicking here…5 Treats Boston’s Love!
Dangers Of Feeding Blueberries To Your Boston Terrier
There are just a few risks to feeding blueberries to your Boston Terrier. Generally, these are only risks if blueberries are not fed in moderation.
Upset Stomach
If your Boston eats way too many blueberries, they may get an upset stomach. You may notice that they have vomiting or diarrhea within the 24 hours after consuming a large number of blueberries. Here are the three health concerns to watch for down below.
1) High in Sugar Levels
As with any fruit, blueberries have high levels of naturally occurring sugar. It is not good to feed your Boston Terrier too much sugar too often.
This is because Boston Terriers have a higher risk of developing diabetes so excess sugar consumption is never a good thing for a Boston. This is why it is important to only feed blueberries occasionally to your Boston.
2) Diabetes Complications
If your Boston Terrier has been diagnosed with diabetes, it would not be a good idea to feed blueberries as a treat unless your veterinarian has said it is safe.
Because blueberries contain a high level of sugar, they can cause a blood sugar spike in Boston Terriers with diabetes.
3) Allergic Reaction
Any new medication or food can cause an allergic reaction in a dog, though the risk is extremely small for feeding blueberries. I have never witnessed an allergic reaction to blueberries in dogs, but it is possible.
Conclusions
Boston Terriers generally can safely ingest blueberries with no issues. It is important to always feed blueberries in moderation, and too many blueberries can cause an upset stomach.
If you are going to feed blueberries to your Boston, I recommend only feeding 5 or 6 blueberries as an occasional treat. I do not recommend feeding blueberries every single day unless directed by your veterinarian.
Always speak with your vet before feeding a new snack or food if you are unsure of whether or not it is safe. Also, consider consulting with your veterinarian before feeding blueberries if your Boston has a disease or is on a prescription diet.