During the warm summer months, we have an abundance of juicy fruits such as strawberries. Not only do they taste great, but they can also really help to cool you down on a hot day… and it can be very tempting to let your Frenchie join in the fun. But how safe are strawberries for French Bulldogs and should you let them eat them at all?
Can French Bulldogs eat strawberries? Frenchies are allowed to eat strawberries in moderation. They are high in fiber, water, vitamin C and can act as an antioxidant. However, you should avoid feeding French Bulldogs any strawberry recipe that has come from cans, tins, or is covered in syrup or cream.
That’s the very short answer, but I would encourage you to think carefully before feeding anything other than a vet-approved food to your Frenchie. Here’s why…
Can Frenchies eat strawberries safely?
French Bulldogs will digest food very differently to how we do and eating something that isn’t designed for their digestive system could be harmful to them. The bottom line is; Frenchies are carnivorous and don’t really need to have fruit added to their diet.
However, as Frenchie owners we love to give our pups the occasional treat, and that’s how strawberries should be viewed – there’s nothing wrong with a treat, but the regularity and format should be closely monitored.
The advice that vets will often recommend with doggy snacks and treats is the 90/10 rule. This means any treat outside of your Frenchie’s normal diet should only account for 10% of their daily calorie intake. So only ever feed them strawberries in small portions.
You also need to make sure the strawberries you fed don’t have anything added to them. That means no strawberries from a can which will have sugars added, none that have been sold in a syrup, and nothing with cream or sugar on top.
What about French Bulldogs puppies and strawberries?
French Bulldog puppies can eat strawberries, but you need to be a little bit more conservative with how many treats you give them. Frenchie puppies still have developing digestive systems, and any rich or unusual foods can upset their stomachs very easily.
As a Frenchie owner, I remember how much our puppy Claude would vomit. Just the smallest change to his diet could induce throwing up. Even today, Claude can be quite sensitive to foods other than his vet-approved diet.
So, do I recommend you let your Frenchie puppy eat strawberries?
My advice would be to just let them have one berry that has been cut up very small, and then monitor how the puppy reacts over the next 24 hours.
Handy Hint: I developed a guide you can follow which clearly explains how much you should feed a Frenchie puppy to help maintain their health and weight.
What are the health benefits of strawberries?
Whilst there are no scientific studies to show that strawberries can be healthy for a dog, we know they are healthy for humans (according to the BBC).
“Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamins C and K as well as providing a good dose of fibre, folic acid, manganese and potassium. With significant amounts of phytonutrients they have been used throughout history in a medicinal context to help with digestive ailments, teeth whitening and skin irritations. Their fibre and fructose content may help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing digestion and the fibre is thought to have a satiating effect.”
How does that translate to a dog’s health?
Well, I think we have to take a leap of faith, but it would make sense that the high-water content, antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C could make strawberries a great low-calorie snack for your Frenchie.
If they are served either fresh or frozen, there’s no reason to think they could not be a great addition to your Frenchie’s diet, providing you follow the 10% daily rule at all times.
They could help to keep your Frenchie’s teeth clean, strengthen their immune system, slow down the ageing process, plus keep their weight in check.
But what about allergies?
This is an important consideration, as strawberries are a common allergen, and can produce allergic reactions in some people. I’ve blogged before about Frenchie skin allergies, so it’s certainly something to look out for.
What about other strawberry-based foods?
Whilst strawberries could be a healthy treat for your Frenchie, keep their intake to the pure form of this berry only. Never feed them any other recipe or product that contains dairy elements or sugars including:
- Strawberries and cream
- Strawberry cake
- Strawberry jam
- Strawberry jelly
- Strawberry shortcake
- Strawberry yoghurt
How to prepare strawberries for your Frenchie
Now we know that French Bulldogs are allowed strawberries and they aren’t toxic, it’s time to think a little bit more about the safest way to feed them. Here’s what I recommend:
- Only feed your Frenchie fresh, raw or frozen strawberries with no additions.
- Wash them first to remove any dirt or non-organic materials.
- Cut them into very small chunks to prevent choking and easy digestion.
- Alternatively mash or puree to add on top of your Frenchie’s normal food.
- Make sure strawberries in combination with any other snack only account for 10% of daily diet.
In the hot summer months, frozen strawberries are a great idea. They can help a Frenchie puppy who is teething, and even help to cool your dog down.
Frenchies can overheat in summer, and we will often let Claude have cut up frozen fruit as a treat to cool him down. This also includes things like watermelon and apple (both without the seeds and pips).
Handy Hint: I wrote an extensive guide which contains lots of helpful tips on how to keep a Frenchie cool in hot weather.
Related questions
Whilst Frenchies are a very unique breed, they don’t differ all that much to other dogs when it comes to what they can eat from a human’s plate. With that in mind I wanted to answer some of the most common questions dog owners ask about feeding strawberries to their pooch.
Are strawberries poisonous to dogs?
Strawberries are not poisonous or toxic for dogs and will not kill them. However, strawberries to contain high amounts of natural sugars which can upset doggy stomachs in large quantities.
Can strawberries kill dogs?
It’s extremely unlikely that strawberries would kill a dog. However, as with any type of food that isn’t cut up properly, they could present a choking hazard.
It’s also wise to consult with your vet before feeding any type of berry to your dog. Your dog might have a medical condition such as diabetes or allergies that could make strawberries harmful to them.
Conclusion
I am not a vet, but I have researched extensively whether French bulldogs can have strawberries. I recommend that you always talk to your own vet first before introducing any new type of fruit or food into your Frenchie’s diet.
At the very least, make sure you start of small, with only a tiny amount of strawberry. That way you can monitor your Frenchie for any signs or allergy or an adverse reaction to this fruit.
You might also like…
If you are new to Frenchie ownership and want to know what foods are safe and what are not, I recommend you browse through my extensive feeding section. Here are some of the more popular food guides: