Can dogs eat strawberries?

Rinse the berries to remove soil and residues, pull off the leafy crown, and cut large berries into quarters. Whole strawberries can be awkward for a small dog to swallow. Frozen slices work as a teething aid for older puppies once they are eating solid food well.

At about 32 calories per 100 g, strawberries are not high in calories, but their sugar content means big portions can upset digestion.

Toy breeds: half a berry, sliced thin. Small dogs up to 10 kg (22 lb): one berry. Medium dogs of 10 to 25 kg (22 to 55 lb): two or three berries. Large dogs: up to four or five berries.

Introduce them slowly if your dog has never had fruit, and note any itching or tummy changes over the following day.

Strawberries also contain a little fiber and vitamin C, but a complete dog food already covers nutritional needs, so the berries are simply an enjoyable extra.

Strawberries dipped in chocolate, served with cream, baked into cheesecake or blended into sweet sauces are not dog treats. Canned strawberries in syrup and strawberry jam add sugar the dog does not need, and some low-sugar products contain xylitol.

Dogs sometimes discover strawberry beds and eat the ripe fruit straight off the plant. The leaves are not considered toxic, but slug pellets and garden sprays used around strawberries can be very dangerous. If you grow them, choose pet-safe methods for pests and fence the bed during fruiting season, usually June and July in northern Europe.