Quick answer: Yes, most dogs can eat plain strawberries and blueberries as occasional treats. Keep all extras, including these berries, under the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s 10% daily-calorie treat cap. Skip syrups, pies, and any mix that includes grapes.
Dogs can eat washed, plain strawberries and blueberries in treat-size portions; neither fruit is on the FDA’s toxic-food list.
This page is a research-desk briefing on published nutrient figures and treat labels.
What this article covers, and what it leaves out
Our selection rule is the Named-Berry Label Rule.
We cover whole, unsweetened strawberries and blueberries plus commercial treats whose maker pages name strawberry or blueberry. We also require a published guaranteed analysis or a calorie statement.
We do not cover pies, jams, syrup packs, or yogurt cups with unknown sweeteners. We skip mixed fruit cups and any fruit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists as hazardous.
We do not cover wild foraging. Plant identification is outside this brief.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials states that products labeled “snack” or “treat” are for occasional rewards. They are not complete meals.
If treats crowd out the main food, AAFCO notes that the diet can drift off balance. Extra calories can also add weight.
What USDA numbers show for each berry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture FoodData Central record for raw strawberries (FDC 167762) lists 32 calories per 100 grams. The same record lists 4.89 grams of total sugars and 58.8 milligrams of vitamin C.
USDA lists a medium strawberry, 1-1/4 inches across, at 12 grams. That piece is about 3.8 calories.
USDA lists a large strawberry at 18 grams, or about 5.8 calories. An extra-large berry is 27 grams, or about 8.6 calories.
A small strawberry, 1 inch across, weighs 7 grams. That is about 2.2 calories.
The USDA record for raw blueberries (FDC 171711) lists 57 calories per 100 grams. Total sugars are 9.96 grams. Vitamin C is 9.7 milligrams.
USDA weighs 50 blueberries at 68 grams. One berry is about 1.4 grams and about 0.8 calories.
Blueberries carry about twice the sugar of strawberries per 100 grams. Strawberries carry about six times the vitamin C.
Water is high in both fruits. USDA lists strawberries at 90.95 grams of water per 100 grams. Blueberries sit at 84.21 grams.
Potassium also differs. USDA lists 153 milligrams in 100 grams of strawberries and 77 milligrams in blueberries. Sodium is 1 milligram in both.
A USDA cup of whole strawberries weighs 144 grams, or about 46 calories. A USDA cup of blueberries weighs 148 grams, or about 84 calories.
Those figures describe fruit composition. They do not prove a clinical benefit in dogs.
The Berry Budget Rule for serving sizes
The Berry Budget Rule converts a treat-calorie cap into grams.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association says treats should stay under 10% of daily calories. Its 2024 feeding sheet lists treat caps by body weight.
A 4-kilogram dog gets 24 treat calories, and a 10-kilogram dog gets 47. A 15-kilogram dog gets 64, and a 20-kilogram dog gets 79. A 25-kilogram dog gets 94.
Using USDA energy density, 47 calories of strawberries is about 147 grams. That is about 12 medium berries.
The same 47 calories of blueberries is about 82 grams. That is about 60 berries.
A 4-kilogram dog’s 24-calorie cap is about 75 grams of strawberries, or six medium berries. It is about 42 grams of blueberries, or about 31 berries.
A 2-kilogram dog on that sheet gets 14 treat calories. One extra-large strawberry at 8.6 calories uses more than half of that budget.
| WSAVA body weight | Treat-calorie cap | Approx. medium strawberries | Approx. blueberries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kg | 24 kcal | 6 | 31 |
| 10 kg | 47 kcal | 12 | 60 |
| 15 kg | 64 kcal | 17 | 82 |
| 20 kg | 79 kcal | 21 | 102 |
| 25 kg | 94 kcal | 24 | 121 |
Count every other extra in the same cap. Training biscuits, dental chews, and table scraps all count.
WSAVA lists cheddar cheese at 120 calories per ounce. One ounce of cheese can exceed a 20-kilogram dog’s 79-calorie treat budget. Berries are lighter by the gram.
Start below the cap on day one. Watch stool quality for 24 hours before repeating.
These gram targets assume a healthy adult in ideal body condition. WSAVA says a clinician should set the true daily energy need.
How to prepare strawberries and blueberries
Wash both fruits under running water. Skip soap.
Pull the leafy cap and stem off each strawberry. USDA portions describe the berry, not the cap.
Slice strawberries. A whole large berry can be a gulp risk for a toy dog.
Blueberries can stay whole for medium and large dogs. Mash or quarter them for puppies and small jaws.
Serve them plain. No sugar, no syrup, no pie filling, no chocolate.
Skip “sugar-free” gel cups and candied fruit. The FDA lists xylitol among hazardous items for pets.
Frozen plain berries are the same fruit. Thaw or crush them if your dog swallows chunks whole.
Do not replace a meal with fruit. AAFCO treats are extras.
Bananas can share the same treat budget. Do not stack a banana, a handful of berries, and a biscuit in one afternoon.
Offer one fruit type first. If stool stays normal, you can rotate later.
On day one, offer one medium strawberry slice or three blueberries. That is under 4 calories by USDA math.
Keep cut fruit in the fridge and toss leftovers the same day. Warm, wet fruit spoils fast.
When berries are a poor choice
Skip berries if your dog has a prescribed low-sugar plan. USDA lists 4.89 grams of sugar in 100 grams of strawberries and 9.96 grams in blueberries.
Skip them if extra fiber upsets your dog’s gut. USDA lists 2.0 grams of fiber per 100 grams of strawberries and 2.4 grams in blueberries.
Skip them after a binge. A sudden carton is a sugar and volume load.
The FDA lists grapes and raisins among hazardous foods. Do not “make up the difference” with a fruit cup that also holds grapes.
The FDA also lists xylitol, chocolate, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, and raw yeast dough. Berry muffins and trail mix often hide those items.
The FDA notes that pits from the Prunus group, such as cherries and peaches, can obstruct a gut. Strawberries and blueberries are not in that group. They still need size control.
Wild woodland berries are out of scope. Many look-alikes are not blueberries.
If your dog vomits, has diarrhea, or seems weak after fruit, stop the fruit. Call the dog’s clinic or a poison hotline.
Commercial treats that actually name a berry
Our research team analyzed maker pages for treats that name blueberry. We compared published specs only.
The calorie spread is wide. The Honest Kitchen lists Parmesan Pecks: Beef & Blueberry at 7 calories per treat. Open Farm lists Icelandic Air-Dried Cod & Blueberry Dog Treat Bars at 29.7 calories per bar.
One Open Farm bar uses 29.7 of a 4-kilogram dog’s 24-calorie WSAVA cap. That is more than the day’s treat budget unless you break the bar.
A 10-kilogram dog with a 47-calorie cap could take six Parmesan Pecks pieces and stay near 42 calories. That still leaves little room for other extras.
Fruitables Baked Pumpkin Blueberry lists pumpkin first and blueberries later. The maker page does not publish calories. It does list 7.0% minimum crude protein and 8.0% maximum crude fiber.
The Honest Kitchen Superfood Cod Crisps - Blueberry lists two ingredients: cod and blueberries. The maker page lists 80% protein and 8% moisture. It does not list calories per piece.
| Product | Berry named | Form | Maker-listed calories | Crude protein | Moisture | Listed size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Honest Kitchen Parmesan Pecks: Beef & Blueberry | Blueberries | Crunchy snaps | 7 kcal per treat | 15% | 10% | 8 oz |
| The Honest Kitchen Superfood Cod Crisps - Blueberry | Blueberries | Crunchy crisps | Not listed | 80% | 8% | 3 oz |
| Open Farm Icelandic Air-Dried Cod & Blueberry Dog Treat Bars | Blueberries | Air-dried bars | 29.7 kcal per bar | 60% min | 8% max | 4.1 oz |
| Fruitables Baked Pumpkin Blueberry | Blueberries | Oven-baked biscuits | Not listed | 7.0% min | 10.0% max | 7 oz, 12 oz, 20 oz |
Open Farm also lists 3,491 kcal per kilogram and 1% minimum omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 line is marked as not an AAFCO essential nutrient in that profile.
Open Farm reports a screening carbon figure of 2.01 kilograms of CO2e per pound for that cod bar. That is a maker-published footprint, not a feeding result.
AAFCO still classifies these bags as treats when the front panel says treat or snack. Feed them as extras.
Other fruit people confuse with these berries
Grapes are not a berry swap. The FDA lists grapes and raisins as hazardous.
WSAVA’s treat sheet lists grapes, raisins, currants, and sultanas among toxic foods. Strawberries and blueberries do not appear on that toxic list.
Do not guess from color. A red grape is still a grape.
Cheese and fruit plates look festive. They are easy to overshoot.
Keep the Berry Budget Rule even when the fruit is “healthy.” Calories still count.
FAQ
Can puppies eat strawberries and blueberries?
Plain berries can fit a puppy treat budget if pieces are tiny. Mash blueberries, and slice strawberries thin. Open Farm states its Cod & Blueberry bars are suitable for all life stages and still labels them supplemental, so keep the 10% cap.
Can dogs eat frozen strawberries or frozen blueberries?
Yes, if they are unsweetened and thawed or crushed to a safe size. Frozen chunks can be gulped. Skip syrup-packed freezer fruit.
Are strawberry leaves or tops safe?
We do not treat leafy caps as a serving. USDA weights describe the berry. Pull the cap and stem before you offer a piece.
Can dogs with diabetes eat these berries?
USDA sugar figures are not zero. Blueberries have about twice the sugar of strawberries per 100 grams. Follow the dog’s prescribed plan, and do not add fruit on your own if sugar is restricted.
What if my dog ate a whole carton?
A carton is a large sugar and fiber load. Check whether grapes were in the same bowl. Call the clinic if vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy starts, and bring the package.
Can I mix berries with yogurt or peanut butter?
Only if every ingredient is xylitol-free. The FDA flags xylitol in some sugar-free gum, candy, cough syrup, mouthwash, and toothpaste. Plain berries are the simpler option.
