Can dogs eat mulberries? Maybe you enjoy snacking on mulberries and wonder if your dog might be interested in a little berry treat, as well. But is this fruit safe for our dogs to consume?
The short answer is yes, mulberries are safe for dogs to consume and require very little preparation. Very few fruits, in fact, require this little prep before serving. Blackberries are similar. They, too, pack a significant nutrient punch with little to no effort on your part.
Be this as it may, new dietary additions for your dog must always be run by your veterinarian. Here’s what you should know about why mulberries are safe for your dog.
How Are Mulberries Good For Dogs?
Mulberries pack quite the nutrient punch. They have the age-defying antioxidant resveratrol, high levels of dietary fiber, oxygen-circulating iron, vitamins for bone and brain health, and cancer-fighting anthocyanins.
This is way more nutrient benefit than most fruits offer, some of which are much more involved to prepare safely for your dog. In our eyes, this makes mulberries a superfruit for canines.
Dietary fiber, iron, and anthocyanins are massive wins here. Gut health is hugely important for your dog, as is the blood circulation promoted by iron intake. Plus, keeping tumors out of your fur baby’s intestinal tract is always a massive plus.
Plus, mulberries are 80 percent water, which will keep your pup nice and hydrated. Compared to other fruits, the sugar content is much lower, so you can give these a bit more freely, as well.
How Can I Safely Give Mulberries To My Dog?
Mulberries require only the very basic preparation, which is to wash them. Sometimes harmful pesticides are present on the exterior of fruits. In general, it’s a good idea to wash anything you or your pup wish to consume.
There is one other thing to be aware of — make sure that your mulberries are ripe! This is important for you and your pup.
Unripened mulberries can cause significant stomach upset and hallucinations. That’s right; unripe mulberries have been known to cause hallucinations in both humans and animals. Ripened mulberries chemically eliminate the compounds that cause this.
Outside of those two things, you’re free to have fun with mulberries. Just don’t offer dried mulberries to your dog. In general, dried fruits have high concentrations of sugar.
Start your pup out on just a few berries, see how they like it, and keep an eye out for a few hours, just to make sure they don’t have any kind of allergic reaction. Given the water content of these berries, this is very unlikely from small amounts. But if something does occur, it will likely pass.
Always run any concerning incidents with a new food by your veterinarian. Sometimes these can be signs of something more concerning, and early detection is always best.
Have you ever shared mulberries with your dog? What kind of reaction did they have to the flavor? Let us know in the comments below.
