So, you want to spice up your husky’s diet with strawberries. Huskies can feast on many fruits, from avocados to bananas, apples, cantaloupes, and cucumbers. And each of these fruits has its benefits and shortcomings that they offer your dog.
But can huskies eat strawberries? What quantity should they huskies eat if they can dine on strawberries?
Huskies can eat strawberries as they offer them water, fiber, and a host of highly nutritious elements. While the 10% rule works for many treats, it’s best to stick to around four strawberries a day. These berries are good for your husky’s health when delivered fresh or frozen in minimal amounts.
Can Huskies Eat Strawberries?
Yes, Huskies can eat strawberries: They are a fantastic treat for huskies. They are low in calories and full of fiber, vitamin C, manganese, and antioxidants. These nutrients strengthen your husky’s immune system, aid their digestion, and improve their coat health.
Let’s further examine the key benefits strawberries offer your pet.
Water
Did you know that strawberries are amongst the best fruits when it comes to water content? About 91% of a strawberry is water. So, next time you go out with your husky, slide a few pieces of strawberries in your treat bag to keep them hydrated along the way.
Fiber
Strawberries are an excellent fiber source that makes up around 2% of these fruits. Once ingested, fiber gets converted to fatty acids thanks to the bacteria within your pet’s belly.
These aids are vital in deterring the growth of dangerous bacteria.
Malic Acid
Malic acid is a crucial element that helps with your husky’s tiredness. The acid takes part in Kreb’s cycle, a procedure that facilitates energy production. Malic acid may also aid in whitening your husky’s teeth.
Vitamins
Strawberries contain vitamin B1, which facilitates the supply of electrolytes in your dog’s body, which is critical for cellular and muscular activities. This vitamin also helps in inhibiting intestinal, muscular, brain, nervous system, and belly complications.
Another abundant vitamin in strawberries is Vitamin B6 which helps in the operations of the nervous system, red blood cells, and glucose production.
Antioxidants
Strawberries are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, ellagic acid, and anthocyanins. Antioxidants are crucial in minimizing inflammation incidences.
They also assist in neutralizing free radicals in your pet’s body hence lowering the risk of tissue and DNA damage.
Minerals
Vitamin C contains potassium that participates in the electrical charge supply to enable proper muscle and nerve functioning. Low potassium levels in dogs may lead to fatigue and appetite loss.
Strawberries also contain folate, crucial in blood cell formation and using amino acids to develop proteins. Additionally, folate ensures rapid cell growth.
Manganese helps your husky digest and absorb carbohydrates and proteins. It also stimulates your husky’s enzymatic activity, which enables operations like energy production.
Are Frozen Strawberries Good for Huskies?
We do enjoy the feeling of chilled meals in the soaring summer heat. So, why should our huskies be any different?
When out for a jog with your husky, the sun can do a number on both of you. Your husky can respond by panting and letting their tongue out.
Serving them with a few frozen strawberry slices is excellent for keeping them hydrated besides nourishing them.
Remember, strawberries are super-rich in water content rejuvenating the supply lost in the heat. So, letting your husky enjoy a frozen strawberry is killing a bird with two stones.
How Many Strawberries Can Huskies Eat?
Like several other fruit treats, it’s essential to give your husky strawberries in moderation. Strawberries contain around 4.9% sugar, 7.7% carbs, 0.3% fats, and 32 calories in 100g.
With this in mind, it’s best to offer your husky around three or four strawberries. When dealing with strawberries plus similar fruits and treats, ensure they are under 10% of your husky’s meal.
Will Strawberries Make My Husky Sick?
For most huskies, strawberry intake is okay when consumed under regulation. However, some incidents may make it unsafe for your pooch to dine on these nutritious fruits.
Over-Indulging
Despite being natural sugars, strawberries still contain many of them, posing a threat to your husky if you overfeed them. Especially if your husky is struggling with weight or has diabetes, the sugar may aggravate them and potentially lead to other complications like comas and fatal dehydration.
Allergic Reactions
Always provide a small portion before being more generous as you try out new foods and treats with your husky. Although there is a low likelihood your husky has a strawberry allergy, it’s always wise to test them with a small share and monitor their response.
Some pointers to a potential strawberry allergy include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Inflamed or itchy skin
- Dehydration
- Hives
- Strained breathing
- Discomfort
While some huskies may take a few hours to show these symptoms, some take days. Seek your vet’s help if you suspect a strawberry allergy.
Mode of Delivery
Whether it’s your husky or other dogs you have, never give them canned strawberries.
Strawberry pastries, pies, and other similar products containing strawberries are unsafe for your husky.
These products typically contain added sugars, chemicals, syrups, preservatives, and other products like xylitol that threaten your husky’s well-being. For instance, xylitol can lead to rapid insulin release that lowers blood sugar to dangerous, sometimes fatal, levels.
Sizing
Some dogs, particularly puppies, take their food without chewing it. And while a strawberry is tiny and tender and may seem easy to chew, its shape and minuteness may pose a choking hazard.
Chop your strawberries to avoid choking risks. Alternatively, you can give your husky mashed strawberries.
How Do You Safely Feed Huskies Strawberries?
Now, strawberries pose a choking hazard to huskies. With this in mind, it is best to serve the strawberries cut up into small pieces. The small size also eases digestion. If your husky is still a puppy, you can mash or puree the strawberries. You can also serve the strawberry pieces in frozen form.
Keep off canned strawberries. Canned fruits (not just strawberries) are packed in syrups. These syrups may contain sweeteners and preservatives that are toxic to huskies. Thus, it is best to stick to fresh strawberries.
In the initial stages of feeding your husky strawberries, it is best to give them small portions.
This allows you to observe them for any physiological or behavioral changes. If you notice that something is off, stop giving them the strawberries and contact your veterinarian.
Most importantly, ensure restraint. Too much strawberry means too much sugar, which may result in your husky becoming diabetic.
What Other Berries Can Huskies Eat?
Strawberries are not the only berries that huskies can eat. Here are other berries you can add to their diet and their benefits.
Blueberries
Blueberries are superfoods known for their large amounts of antioxidants which prevent cell damage. They are also high in vitamins such as vitamin C and minerals such as zinc and iron.
Cranberries
Both fresh and dried cranberries are safe for huskies. They are beneficial if your dog has a urinary tract infection. That said, you should remove the cranberry skin before giving it to your husky as it is bitter.
Raspberries
Raspberries are especially good for senior huskies as their anti-inflammatory properties help with aging joints. In addition, they are rich in vitamin C, which helps minimize oxidation, and manganese, which is vital in energy production.
Nonetheless, it would be best if you exercise caution when feeding huskies raspberries. Serve them in moderation, as raspberries contain xylitol.
Blackberries
Blackberries are also superfoods loaded with antioxidants and nutrients such as omega 3, which aid in puppies’ brain and eye development.
PS: Due to their high sugar content, feed your husky all berry types in moderation. It will help if you alternate them with other snacks and treats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does My Husky Love Strawberries?
Science indicates that a dog’s ability to taste sweet things is way below that of a human. In fact, we have more than five times as many taste buds as dogs.
So, how come your husky loves strawberries and other sweet treats?
Strawberries contain a particular chemical, furaneol, as do tomatoes and most other fruits. This chemical is what enables your husky to taste and enjoy sweet treats like strawberries.
Can Huskies Eat Strawberries Every Day?
You can feed your husky strawberries every day, provided you only give a limited amount. A few strawberry slices each evening might be a superb idea to help you go over the tracks you recently taught your husky.
Can My Husky Eat Strawberry Tops?
Do not give your husky strawberry tops. Strawberry leaves aren’t delicious; hence your husky won’t enjoy it. And although they are non-toxic, they are a pain to digest and may result in digestive tract issues.
Closing Remarks
Many fruits are nutritious and edible by huskies, and so are strawberries. Mixing them with other foods, whether sliced or mashed, offers more ways to treat your husky to strawberries.
Nevertheless, as they have high natural sugar content, your husky should take strawberries in limited portions.
