Are Strawberry Leaves Poisonous to Dogs?

The Short Answer is:

Despite the deliciousness of strawberries, it is always important to be aware of how much your dog is consuming as well as how you serve them. If you’re going to serve strawberry leaves, it’s best to either serve them in small amounts or, better yet, avoid serving them at all. It is always in our dogs’ best interest to live a long, healthy, and happy life, no matter how grumpy they get.

The purpose of this article is to explain “Are Strawberry Leaves Poisonous to Dogs?“.

Strawberry is a refreshing delight in the summer heat. Whats the best place to enjoy them?

Theres no doubt about it: the local park with your pet (of course).

Imagine the sun radiating just the right amount of warmth a slight breeze and fresh strawberries to enjoy as you chill.

Strawberry is indeed safe for humans and dogs. Despite this there are a few things you should know about strawberries specifically the leaves.

Before you and your pal take a bite or two of this tasty treat here are a few things you need to know. 

Can dogs eat strawberry leaves?

We often remove the leaves from fruit and get right to the best part the fruit itself (obviously). The leaves however are actually edible! Is that right? Yes! 

Could we also feed them to our dogs (*screams in excitement*)? The answer is yes.  Nevertheless just like everything else there are benefits and drawbacks that you should consider before feeding these leaves to your pet (which we have listed for you btw). 

Benefits 

• I’m done with inflammation. With the presence of caffeic acid strawberry leaves are anti-inflammatory in nature. They reduce inflammations as well as pain from arthritis and joint problems (how nice is that?)
• They are rich in vitamins and minerals. These leaves (no pun intended) provide your pal with vitamins C calcium and iron. Keep them healthy for as long as possible!
• They are abundant in antioxidants too. They protect cells from free radicals which are harmful substances. Antioxidants promote health and body function. 

Drawbacks to Consider

• Contains a high level of tannin. It may cause your pals stomach to wage war if he accidentally takes too many leaves. In addition to diarrhea appetite loss and vomiting tannin may cause other symptoms. 
• An allergic reaction is possible. Although not all dogs are allergic to strawberries you might need to check if your buddy has any when they eat them (avoid them if your pet is). 

Having said that it is always best to carefully consider the ups and downs of feeding your pal strawberry leaves.

Every dogs body reacts differently after eating which means every dogs body will react differently. Therefore when in doubt seek professional advice from your local vet for whats best for your dogs health and well-being. 

How should I prepare strawberry leaves for my dog? 

Adding strawberries to your dogs food is one of the best ways to prepare an exquisite meal for him. If you are a home dog chef using strawberry leaves in baked cookies would be a great addition to your menu! 

Even though it may actually be refreshing serving raw strawberry leaves as a dog treat may not be the best idea. Strawberry leaves are safe for cats (in small quantities anyway) but feeding them leaves may cause a tummy ache since the leaves can be difficult to digest. 

In conclusion tiny amounts should be fine as long as you have determined if your friend is allergic before ingesting them. A vet is always there to answer any questions you may have and will even suggest meals that can be safely incorporated into your beloveds diet plan if you are still unsure. 

Can dogs eat strawberry stems and strawberry seeds?

From the leaves we move down to the stem and seeds.

Seeds should not be a problem but the stem is something you and your pal might want to stay away from.

While strawberries are not toxic to humans eating their stems may cause gastrointestinal obstruction (not pleasant) since our pets may not be able to digest them as well as we do.

Strawberry sharing is fine as long as you chop off the stem for safetys sake and you eat substantial portions.

How nutritious are strawberries? 

In addition to its mouth-watering blend of sweetness and sourness strawberries are undoubtedly healthy for dogs and humans alike!

To begin with its low in carbs making it the perfect snack or treat for your furry friend to get that summer look! 

The fact that it contains essential vitamins and minerals helps to keep the body healthy and fully functional. Its Jeff Bezos-rich in Vitamin C (for immunity and skin health) Vitamin B9 (for tissue growth) Potassium (for blood pressure regulation) and Manganese (for many bodily functions).  

We have nutritional tables and charts for you to check out if you’re interested in the specifics of nutritional value and content!

Toxic fruit leaves that dogs shouldn’t eat 

There lurks a dangerous duo that you should keep out of reach of dog paws: cherry and tomato leaves. What makes them so dangerous? We have got you covered. 

Because of the cyanide content in the leaves pits and stems you should not feed cherries to your pal in general. When consumed in large amounts cyanide is poisonous and can threaten a dogs life. 

Tomatoes are another foe your furry pal needs to stay away from as much as possible. It contains a substance called solanine.

The dogs might suffer gastrointestinal distress lethargy and weakness if they swallowed a lot of them.

A small number of tomato leaves however usually would not cause toxicity in your friends body if they accidentally ate them.

Just to be safe will you promise not to give your pet tomatoes in the interest of their cuteness? 

Those are not the only leaves your pal should not eat so we found you a comprehensive list of which fruits and veggies he/she can eat. 

How many strawberries should I feed my dog?

You’ll find that the portions will vary depending on how big your pet is. For small dogs one medium-sized strawberry will do; for medium-sized dogs one to three medium-sized strawberries; and for large dogs three to four medium-sized strawberries will do the trick! 

To ease your pals digestion process and of course to keep them safe cut those fresh delights into smaller pieces and remove the stems and leaves. 

Are vegetable leaves good for dogs?

While leafy greens are not exactly our go-to meals they are very good for our health! The best way to determine which vegetables are safe and which ones are not is to feed your dog what you would eat. For Popeyes strength lettuce and spinach are common examples.

How? Greens are packed with vitamins (A C and K) minerals (calcium iron and potassium) and fiber! As a consequence of some veggies’ high fiber content it is wise to introduce them slowly to your dogs diet to avoid tummy aches or digestion traffic jams. 

Where can I find the best greens for my furry companion here? Donot worry we have got you covered! The following is a list of the top veggies for dogs (and yes you can have them too): 

• Spinach. Vitamins and minerals help combat inflammation heart disease and even cancer. In addition spinach boosts immunity and maintains heart health (to love better). 
• Broccoli. It is an excellent source of fiber calcium and vitamin C (A). Broccoli is always a good choice for dogs whether it is uncooked baked or boiled. However steaming broccoli and allowing it to cool a bit before serving can help ease pups’ developing digestion. 
• Cucumber. Its one of the most refreshing and crunchy veggies you’ll ever find! Kudos to cucumbers for having zero carbs electrolytes and vitamins (K C and B1). 

As with learning to ride a bike it takes a little while but over time it will definitely become second nature to your pup (at least eventually).

Try eating greens alongside them for moral support and strength (we know veggies are hard to enjoy but you both will get there!) 

Conclusion

Strawberries are one of the best snacks out there without a doubt. Is there anything better than enjoying them with a furry friend? We do not believe so (unless they steal yours constantly)!

Despite the deliciousness of strawberries it is always important to be aware of how much your dog is consuming as well as how you serve them.

If you’re going to serve strawberry leaves its best to either serve them in small amounts or better yet to avoid serving them at all.

It is always in our dogs’ best interest to live a long healthy and happy life no matter how grumpy they get. 

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.