It’s a warm summer afternoon and I’m sitting here enjoying some fresh strawberries. While they taste amazing, I don’t really eat the top part of strawberries, so I throw the strawberry tops away.
But, in the corner of my eye, I can see my dogs staring at me, hoping to get a taste of the strawberries. Since I don’t really eat the top part of the strawberries, can I give it to my dogs? Can dogs eat strawberry tops?
Yes, dogs can eat fresh strawberry tops in moderation because they are rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, folic acid, manganese, potassium, and other important nutrients. Strawberry tops contribute to a healthy balanced diet and can help to reduce joint inflammation and promote a healthy heart in dogs.
This is great news because, if you’re like me and don’t eat strawberry tops, you don’t have to throw them away anymore and you can feed them to your dog.
Feeding Strawberry Tops To Dogs
Now that we’ve established that dogs can eat strawberry tops, let’s have a look at how to feed them to your dog.
Use Fresh & Clean Strawberries
First, you must always make sure that you use fresh strawberries because soggy or moldy strawberries can make your furry friend ill. Also, make sure that you thoroughly wash the strawberries to remove any pesticides or any other chemicals that have been used on them.
Remove The Stem & Leaves
Next, I would advise you to remove the stem because it can cause your dog to choke, and cut up the strawberry top into small pieces so that it is easier for your dog to eat. You can also mash it. It would also advise you to remove the leaves because they can cause digestive problems if your dog eats them.
Start Slowly
If this is the first time that your dog is eating a strawberry top, just give him a small taste so that you can establish if he likes it. If he doesn’t show any signs of unhappiness or digestive distress, then you can give him more.
Introducing something new to your dog’s diet can be a bit daunting sometimes. If you feed him too many strawberry tops, then he can get an upset stomach, so start off slowly.
Feed In Moderation
It’s very important to note though that you should not feed your dog too many strawberry tops. As mentioned earlier, strawberries contain sugar and this can lead to weight gain in dogs.
Can Puppies Eat Strawberry Tops?
While feeding strawberry tops to a puppy might not cause any issues, it is not recommended to do so because a growing puppy needs all the nutrients that he gets from his normal diet which is based on animal proteins and fats.
Can Dogs Eat Strawberries?
Just like strawberry tops, strawberries are safe for dogs to eat in moderation. In fact, they contain all the important nutrients found in strawberry tops, and as such, they promote a healthy balanced diet for dogs. They also promote a healthy heart and reduce joint inflammation in dogs.
Be careful though not to feed your dog too many strawberries because this fruit contains sugar and, when not consumed in moderation, can lead to weight gain in dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Strawberry Leaves?
No, dogs should not eat strawberry leaves. While the leaves are not toxic, they are difficult to digest for dogs and can lead to digestive problems when consumed. When giving your dog strawberries, or strawberry tops, make sure that you remove the leaves.
Conclusion
As you can see, dogs can safely eat strawberry tops in moderation.
Feeding strawberry tops to your dog has many health benefits because they contain vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, folic acid, manganese, potassium, and other important nutrients. Introducing strawberry tops into your dog’s diet will help reduce joint pain and will promote a healthy heart.
Despite being healthy, strawberry tops should be given as an occasional treat to a dog. Due to their sugar content, too many strawberry tops can lead to weight gain in dogs. So, moderation is key here.
