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Can Dogs Eat Raspberries?

Can Dogs Eat Raspberries?

Updated on July 18, 2024
Reviewer Profile Photo
Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

Yes, dogs can eat raspberries in small numbers, as an occasional treat. As always, however, consult your veterinarian before adding any new food to your dog's diet to ensure it's an appropriate snack for your pet.

Raspberries are delicious summer berries. If you've ever eaten them in front of your curious dog, you may have wondered, "Can dogs have raspberries?"

In general, raspberries are acceptable for dogs to eat, as long as they’re offered only occasionally in moderation. High-quality dog food should provide all the daily nutrition your pet needs to stay healthy, so while dogs may be a bite-sized tasty treat for your pet, your dog could live a full life without ever eating a single berry.

The primary precaution for pet parents to take when they consider , "Are raspberries okay for dogs" is to feed only a few as an occasional snack. Allowing your dog to eat a couple of raspberries on occasion should be fine for most dogs. The natural sugars in raspberries, however, can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting in dogs with very sensitive stomachs or those who overindulge.

Health benefits of raspberries for dogs

Raspberries contain antioxidants, that might be beneficial for their anti-inflammatory properties for dogs that suffer from conditions such as arthritis or allergies. Other nutritional benefits that raspberries offer humans and that might be beneficial to dogs when offered in small amounts include:

  • Raspberries are high in dietary fiber, which may aid in digestion and regular passage of bowel movements
  • Raspberries contain powerful antioxidants that may help reduce the incidence of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis
  • Raspberries contain minerals such as potassium, manganese, copper, folic acid, iron and magnesium, all of which have essential functions in the body
  • Raspberries also contain vitamins C, K, and B-complex which also have crucial roles in the body’s reactions

One critical downside when dogs eat raspberries is that the fruit also contains high levels of xylitol—a sweetener naturally found in many fruits and vegetables. Although xylitol is harmless for humans, it can be toxic to dogs if they consume enough of it. Xylitol can cause liver failure, gastrointestinal upset, and low blood sugar in dogs that consume too much of it.

How many raspberries is too many for a dog? The answer is it depends on the size, breed, and presence of any underlying conditions in the dog. For dogs with diabetes that may suffer large swings in blood sugar levels, even a couple of raspberries may be too many. In general, you should never feed your dog more than a few raspberries at a time for an occasional snack, and you should speak to your veterinarian before feeding your dog raspberries to find out how many are safe for your dog with their specific weight and overall health.

While a few raspberries are not likely to be toxic to dogs, be sure to keep the fruit out of your pet’s reach, just to be safe.

If your dog experiences any unusual signs after eating raspberries, contact your vet for care guidance, and take raspberries off your pet’s snack lists.

» MORE: Learn about fruits and vegetables that dogs can and cannot eat.

How to feed raspberries to your dog

While all fruit must be washed before eating, there's typically no wrong way to feed your dog raspberries, as long as you don’t offer them too many at a time. Dogs can eat them out of your hand or off the floor if you drop them. 

Dogs can even eat frozen raspberries, which can be tasty and refreshing in warmer months. The raspberry itself should pose no danger, but you might want to let it thaw a bit before giving it to your dog, as a frozen raspberry could damage your dog’s teeth if they try to chew it, or it could be a choking hazard if gobbled up too quickly. One more note about frozen raspberries: double-check the ingredient list on the package to ensure it doesn’t include added sugar or preservatives that might be toxic to your dog.

Next time you catch yourself wondering, "Can my dog eat raspberries?" go ahead and offer one up to see how they like it. Monitor your dog closely for any abnormal signs after they eat it, and strike raspberries from their treat list if they dodon’t . To reduce the chance of gastrointestinal upset or other detrimental health effects, limit your pet’s serving size of raspberries to just a few. Raspberries for dogs should be considered a rare treat. Keep in mind that treats, in general, should make up no more than 10% of your pet's total daily caloric intake.

FAQs about feeding your dog raspberries

Both raspberries and blackberries are fine for dogs to eat in small quantities on rare occasions. Of course, it’s wise to speak with your veterinarian first to ensure they’re appropriate for your particular pet. And remember, snacks and treats, in general, should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calories. 

The one caveat of raspberries for dogs is that the canine digestive system isn't adapted to digest large amounts of fruit, so offer your dog raspberries only in moderation. Too much fruit can give dogs an upset stomach and even lead to vomiting or diarrhea.

The answer largely depends on the size of your dog. For a Chihuahua, one raspberry might be plenty. A Great Dane could probably eat a few raspberries without experiencing any ill effects. Check with your veterinarian to determine the number of raspberries that are safe for your dog to snack on. Since the canine digestive system isn’t adapted to easily digest fruit, start with only one or two raspberries, and see how your dog does.

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Many wild berries are toxic to dogs, including mistletoe berries, gooseberries, salmonberries, and holly berries. As a general rule, it's best to avoid wild berries, and stick to the ones that are available at the supermarket.

Berries that can be provided to dogs in small quantities and only on occasion include strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cranberries.

Notably missing from the list above are cherries. The actual cherry fruit is okay for dogs to eat, but their pits, stems, and leaves contain a toxin called cyanide. This chemical is poisonous to dogs and potentially fatal if consumed. Cherry pits can also cause choking or become lodged in a dog's digestive tract, causing intestinal blockage.

Just because the answer to "Can dogs eat raspberries?" is yes doesn't mean that all fruits are okay for pups to eat. Here are some of the primary fruits that pet parents should avoid feeding their canines.

Avocados Although the actual flesh is not toxic to dogs, the pit not only can be a choking hazard but can also can cause intestinal blockage, plus the high fat content can cause some dogs to develop pancreatic inflammation or stomach upset, even from just a small amount.

Tomatoes The ripe fruit is not toxic to dogs, but dogs that overindulge can suffer stomach upsets. The leaves and vines are toxic to dogs and must be removed before feeding.

Cherries and other stone fruits While in all these cases, the fruit itself is typically not toxic, the main hazard for pets is the pit, which they can choke on. They can alsoswallow it and have it lodge in their intestines where it can cause a life-threatening blockage. The leaves, stems and pits of all these fruits also contain small amounts of cyanide—a potentially deadly poison if your dog ingests it

Grapes, Raisins and Currants Dogs should never eat grapes, raisins, or currants. These foods have proved to be very toxic for dogs. In fact, grapes are so toxic for dogs that they can lead to sudden kidney failure in dogs even if they ingest them only in small amounts. Always be mindful of these dangerous fruits around dogs, and never offer a grape, raisin, or currant to your dog.

Wild berries Many wild berries are toxic for humans and dogs. Unless you're an accomplished naturalist who’s trained in knowing the difference between safe and unsafe berries, you should avoid feeding wild berries to your dog altogether.

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