Can my dog eat blueberries?
Can dogs eat blueberries?Yes
Fresh or frozen, washed and without sugar, in small amounts.
Yes, dogs can eat blueberries – fresh or frozen, washed and without sugar. The berries are small and low in calories, which makes them good training treats. PetMD gives 1 to 10 berries a day depending on size; for small dogs, halve or mash them so nobody chokes.
How many blueberries 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 ÷ 57 kcal/100 g = 151 g of blueberries.
- Guide value for dogs 10–25 kg: 4 × blueberry at 1.4 g each = 6 g (guide value from the source).
- Recommendation: the smaller of the two, rounded down to half portions → 4 × 1.4 g = 5 g ≈ 3 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
× blueberry on a snack day
(≈ 5 g, 3 kcal)
Treat allowance 86 kcal (10% of 855 kcal) · 1 blueberry ≈ 1.4 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 × blueberry. In terms of calories, up to 151 g would be possible.
Based on PetMD (vet-reviewed): 1–10 berries depending on size – 1–2 up to approx. 4.5 kg, 2–3 up to 9 kg, 3–5 up to 23 kg, 5–6 up to 41 kg and 6–10 for even larger dogs, possible every day.
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.Blueberries for dogs: amount by weight
| Weight | Maximum per snack day | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 2 × blueberry≈ 2 g | ≈ 1 |
| 10 kg | 2 × blueberry≈ 2 g | ≈ 1 |
| 20 kg | 4 × blueberry≈ 5 g | ≈ 3 |
| 30 kg | 6 × blueberry≈ 8 g | ≈ 5 |
| 40 kg | 6 × blueberry≈ 8 g | ≈ 5 |
- 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 (vet-reviewed): 1–10 berries depending on size – 1–2 up to approx. 4.5 kg, 2–3 up to 9 kg, 3–5 up to 23 kg, 5–6 up to 41 kg and 6–10 for even larger dogs, possible every day.
What's in it
- Small and low in calories: around 57 kcal per 100 g, and a cultivated blueberry weighs only about 1.4 g – ideal when lots of small rewards are needed.
- Contain antioxidants and other phytochemicals, as well as fibre and a little vitamin C.
- Frozen, they make a cooling snack in summer; mashed, an easy topping for food.
What to watch out for
- Small dogs and dogs that gulp their food can choke on whole berries – halve or mash them.
- Too many in one go can cause wind, tummy ache or diarrhoea.
- Blueberries contain around 10 g of sugar per 100 g. If your dog has diabetes or is on a special diet, only give them after checking with your vet.
- Muffins, pie filling and fruit yoghurt with blueberries contain a lot of sugar and sometimes xylitol (birch sugar), which is toxic to dogs.
- Only give wild berries if you can be sure they're blueberries.
How to prepare blueberries
How to do it
- Wash them thoroughly under cold water
- Remove the stalks
- Halve or mash them for small dogs
- Give them fresh, thawed or frozen
- Give them one at a time as rewards – that way you keep track of the amount
Better not
- Tinned blueberries or blueberries in syrup
- Muffins, cake or pie filling
- Fruit yoghurt with sugar or sweetener
- Unknown wild berries
How often?
Small amounts are fine every day too, as long as all treats together stay below 10% of daily calories.
Frequently asked questions about blueberries
Can dogs eat frozen blueberries?
Yes. Frozen blueberries without sugar are a popular cooling snack in summer. For small dogs, mash them or let them thaw slightly first.
Can dogs eat wild blueberries from the woods?
Yes, wild bilberries are suitable too – in small amounts, and only if you're sure they're blueberries. Don't feed unknown berries.
Can puppies eat blueberries?
Yes, in small amounts suited to their age. Mash or halve the berries and start with one or two.
Can my dog have blueberries every day?
Yes, in small amounts. Count them as treats: all snacks together should stay below 10% of daily calories.
Can my dog eat dried blueberries?
Home-dried berries without added sugar, yes, in small amounts. Drying concentrates the sugar, so give considerably fewer than you would of fresh berries. Shop-bought dried berries are often sweetened.
Can my dog eat blueberry yoghurt or blueberry muffins?
No. Ready-made fruit yoghurt and muffins contain a lot of sugar and sometimes xylitol (birch sugar), which is toxic to dogs. If your dog tolerates dairy, it's better to mix a few fresh berries into unsweetened natural yoghurt.
Are blueberries good training treats?
Yes. They're small, quickly eaten and low in calories – ten berries provide only around 8 kcal. They're also good for catching in mid-air.
What should I do if my dog has eaten a whole punnet of blueberries?
Blueberries aren't toxic. Wind, tummy ache or diarrhoea are possible. Keep an eye on your dog; if vomiting or diarrhoea persists or it seems listless, call your vet.
Are wild bilberries the same as supermarket blueberries?
Not quite. The cultivated blueberry from the supermarket is a separate, larger species than the wild bilberry, which is also known as the European blueberry. The same rules apply for dogs.
Are blueberries suitable for overweight dogs?
They're one of the lower-calorie fruits and are easy to portion. Still count them as treats, and on blueberry days give correspondingly fewer other snacks.
Recipes with blueberries
Similar foods
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Sources
- Can Dogs Eat Blueberries? – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Can Dogs Eat Blueberries? Benefits and Risks – PetMD (vet-reviewed)
- Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can and Can't Eat – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Blueberries, raw (SR Legacy, FDC 171711) – 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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