Blueberries are delicious, and many dogs love them, too. These yummy treats offer health benefits that may surprise you. As long as you do not feed too many and you pay attention so your beloved pet does not choke on these small round berries, they can enjoy an amazing array of nutritional boosts from them.
The Nutritional Makeup of Blueberries
What makes blueberries such a healthy food? First of all, they have a high amount of fiber for such a small treat. Fiber helps with everything from preventing cardiovascular issues to regulating digestion.
The list of nutrients in these berries mainly focus on popular antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin K. Because these fight free radicals and inflammation in the body, they provide numerous benefits for every system. They also help a dog's immunity work better to help prevent illness or infection. Research with animals has shown blueberries reduce bad cholesterol, which is one of the contributing factors to heart conditions.
For the tiny size of a blueberry, they pack a lot of nutrition. Besides the major nutrients listed above, they also contain a variety of vitamin B types, vitamin E, zinc, iron, selenium, and silicon. While some of these are more medically helpful than others, the entire collection of phytochemicals and nutrients contribute to the overall health and well-being of your furry friend.
Other issues a blueberry's antioxidants can help with include:
- Help prevent colds and similar illnesses
- Protect against heart disease
- Offer a diabetes-safe snack due to low sugar levels
- Soothes arthritis pain
Fight overall aging with antioxidants
It is important to note that giving your dog a couple of blueberries when they feel ill is not going to help much. Like other healthy foods, eating them on a regular basis is the best way to get enough nutrients to make a difference. As little as three or four blueberries with every meal or interspersed as snacks throughout the day give enough vitamins and minerals to gradually make a difference in your dog's condition. Because these berries are so delicious anyway, it was really no reason to ignore them.
Safe Snacks – Best Ways to Feed Berries
Since blueberries are small and round, they may present a choking hazard for dogs who love the taste so much they do not to properly before swallowing. Course, the same thing can happen with individual pieces of kibble if you feed your dog dry food regularly.
When it comes to giving treats like blueberries, you may try different methods to see what your dog loves best. Some commercially prepared foods actually include dry or chopped up blueberries in the recipe. You can purchase fresh berries, mash them slightly, or just sprinkle them on food, too. In the summertime, frozen blueberries make a delicious snack, although this can increase the choking hazard in some cases.
No matter how your dog loves to eat blueberries, they will get the same nutritional benefits found in these antioxidant-rich treats.