Can my dog eat blackberries?
Can dogs eat blackberries?Yes
Washed, without stalks and in small amounts.
Yes, dogs can eat blackberries – washed, without stalks and in small amounts. They're low in calories, lower in sugar than many other fruits and rich in fibre. Depending on your dog's size, about two to six berries a day are enough; too many can upset the stomach and turn the stools dark.
How many blackberries can your dog eat?
Enter the weight – the amount updates straight away. You can adjust age, activity and neutering below.
How the calculator works
- Daily requirement: Resting energy requirement 70 × 15 kg^0.75 ≈ 534 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 855 kcal.
- Treat allowance: at most 10% of that = 86 kcal for all treats combined.
- Calorie limit: 86 kcal ÷ 43 kcal/100 g = 200 g of blackberries.
- Guide value for dogs 10–25 kg: 4 × blackberry at 6 g each = 24 g (guide value from the source).
- Recommendation: the smaller of the two, rounded down to half portions → 4 × 6 g = 24 g ≈ 10 kcal.
Sources: 10% rule from the WSAVA guide to treats · kcal value: USDA FoodData Central. Daily requirement as in the dog calorie calculator.
Result · 15 kg · Adult
Up to 4
× blackberry on a snack day
(≈ 24 g, 10 kcal)
Treat allowance 86 kcal (10% of 855 kcal) · 1 blackberry ≈ 6 g
Limited by: guide value
Here the guide value for dogs 10–25 kg sets the limit (guide value from the source): at most 4 × blackberry. In terms of calories, up to 200 g would be possible.
Based on PetMD: 1–2 berries (dogs up to approx. 9 kg), 2–5 berries (approx. 10–23 kg), 5–6 berries (approx. 23–41 kg).
This applies if it's the only snack that day – if your dog gets other treats too, give correspondingly less.
The app calculates recipes in grams, kcal and portions to suit your dog's weight, age, activity and allergies.Blackberries for dogs: amount by weight
| Weight | Maximum per snack day | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 2 × blackberry≈ 12 g | ≈ 5 |
| 10 kg | 2 × blackberry≈ 12 g | ≈ 5 |
| 20 kg | 4 × blackberry≈ 24 g | ≈ 10 |
| 30 kg | 6 × blackberry≈ 36 g | ≈ 15 |
| 40 kg | 6 × blackberry≈ 36 g | ≈ 15 |
- All snacks together no more than 10% of daily calories (WSAVA recommendation). If your dog gets other treats too, give correspondingly less.
- Guide value per weight class – small up to 10 kg, medium 10–25 kg, large over 25 kg: Based on PetMD: 1–2 berries (dogs up to approx. 9 kg), 2–5 berries (approx. 10–23 kg), 5–6 berries (approx. 23–41 kg).
What's in it
- Low in calories (around 43 kcal per 100 g) and, at just under 5 g of sugar per 100 g, lower in sugar than many other fruits.
- Rich in fibre (just over 5 g per 100 g) and in anthocyanins, the dark pigments with an antioxidant effect.
- Contain vitamins such as C, E and K – although in snack amounts they're only a small addition to the food.
What to watch out for
- Too many berries can cause tummy ache, vomiting or diarrhoea because of the fibre and sugar.
- Larger amounts can turn the stools dark blue to black, which is easily mistaken for blood. If your dog seems unwell or you're unsure, call your vet.
- Blackberries contain traces of natural xylitol. In small snack amounts this is considered safe; only very large amounts would be a problem.
- Only give wild berries if you can identify them with certainty: holly, mistletoe, juniper and pokeweed are toxic to dogs.
- Jam and jelly are very high in sugar and can contain xylitol.
- Stalks are hard to digest and can be a choking hazard.
How to prepare blackberries
How to do it
- Wash them thoroughly, including berries you've picked yourself
- Remove the stalks
- For small dogs, halve, mash or purée them
- Offer them mashed as a topping or in a chew toy
- Freeze berries yourself without sugar for a summer snack
Better not
- Blackberry jam or jelly
- Shop-bought frozen berries with sugar or sweetener
- Unknown wild berries
- Large amounts in one go
How often?
As a snack on the odd day. If you'd like to give blackberries regularly, it's best to discuss this with your vet. All treats together should make up no more than 10% of daily calories.
Frequently asked questions about blackberries
Can dogs eat wild blackberries from the hedgerow?
Yes, if you're sure they're blackberries and they haven't been treated with pesticides. Wash them anyway. Don't feed unknown berries – holly, mistletoe, juniper and pokeweed are toxic to dogs.
Can dogs eat frozen blackberries?
Home-frozen blackberries without sugar, yes, in small amounts. With shop-bought frozen berries, check the ingredients list for sugar or sweeteners such as xylitol.
Can my dog eat blackberry jam?
No, jam and jelly are very high in sugar. If your dog has licked up a little, it's usually not a problem – but check whether the product contains xylitol. If it does, call your vet.
Can my dog have blackberries every day?
Better not without checking with your vet first. Blackberries are a snack for the odd day; too much of any single food can throw the diet off balance.
Can dogs eat loganberries and other blackberry hybrids?
Yes, hybrids such as the loganberry are also considered safe for most dogs – in the same small amounts as blackberries.
Why is my dog's poo black after eating blackberries?
The dark pigment in the berries can turn the stools blue to black, which is easily mistaken for blood. If your dog ate blackberries beforehand and is lively, that's the most likely explanation. If the discolouration continues without berries or your dog seems unwell, call your vet.
Do blackberries contain xylitol like raspberries?
Yes, but only in traces. The amount in a small portion is so low that it's considered safe – a dog would have to eat very large amounts to show signs of poisoning.
My dog ate a lot of blackberries on a walk – what now?
Usually nothing happens apart from soft or dark stools. Keep an eye on your dog and call your vet if it vomits, gets diarrhoea, has abdominal pain or doesn't want to eat.
Similar foods
- In moderationFruitRaspberryFresh or frozen, without sugar and only a few berries a day.See the answer
- YesFruitBlueberryFresh or frozen, washed and without sugar, in small amounts.See the answer
- YesFruitStrawberryWashed, without the leaves and stalk, and cut into small pieces.See the answer
- YesFruitAppleWithout the core, seeds and stalk, cut into slices or small pieces.See the answer
- In moderationFruitCherryOnly a few, without stones or stalks; stones, stalks and leaves are toxic.See the answer
Sources
- Can Dogs Eat Blackberries? – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Can Dogs Eat Blackberries? – PetMD (vet-reviewed)
- Blackberries, raw (SR Legacy, FDC 173946) – USDA FoodData Central
- Feeding treats to your dog – WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee (10% rule in the calculator)
Reviewed on · DoggoMeal editorial team
This page is no substitute for veterinary advice. Dogs with pre-existing conditions – for example of the kidneys, liver or pancreas, or with diabetes – and dogs with allergies often need their own rules. If your dog has symptoms or you're unsure, ask your vet.
Recipes that fit your dog
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