Can Dogs Eat Goji Berries?

can dogs eat goji berries

If your dog made his way into your goji berry stash, you might be frantically searching to find out: can dogs eat goji berries at all? The answer is yes, goji berries aren’t toxic for your dog. There are, however, some things to be kept in mind before actively feeding your dog goji berries.

Goji berry (also called the wolfberry) is the fruit of a hardy shrub plant native to Tibet and China. They resemble regular cherry tomatoes and have a taste somewhat between tomatoes and cranberries.

Dried goji berries taste sweeter and better, so are a popular superfood additive to the daily diet, for the number of benefits they have. Goji berries have compounds that build immunity against many diseases like cancer. They are rich in vitamins A and C. They’ve become popular enough to be commonly eaten for breakfast even, with cereal, oatmeal, or trail mix.

Can Dogs Have Goji Berries?

Goji berries are safe for dogs when given in moderate quantities. They are fruits so your dog can have trouble digesting when given larger amounts of goji berries daily.

They have sugar in them so the number of goji berries given should be monitored, as they can cause a spike in your dog’s blood sugar. They can be fed to the dog as a treat once in a while.

Are Goji Berries Safe for Dogs?

Yes, absolutely. When given to dogs in small quantities, they are not only safe for dogs, but even beneficial. Goji berries contain biologically significant amounts of vitamins like A, C, B, and E.

Vitamins A and E are known to improve dogs’ immune systems, help build a healthier coat, stronger nails, and better vision. Vitamin C helps boost your dog’s ability to fight off infections, and both vitamins C and B are essential parts of many everyday activities in the body at the cellular level.

Are berries good for dogs? Oh yes. But which ones are safe is the question.

Are Goji Berries for Dogs At All?

Yes, absolutely. In addition to the vitamins mentioned, goji berries also provide significant amounts of microminerals like calcium and iron, as well as improve enzymatic action in the doggy digestive tract, leading to better absorption and digestion of food.

However, if your dog is on any medication for managing his blood pressure or has a heart condition, get an all clear with your vet before giving your dog goji berries.

Goji berries can have interactions with some medications and change their absorption or elimination from your dog’s body. What berries dogs can eat should always be checked before giving them any.

How Many Goji Berries Can My Dog Have?

One thing you should however keep an eye on is that if your dog is diabetic or has issues with regulating his blood sugar, its best to limit the amount of goji berries you give him.

Goji berries are fruit and inherently have a high sugar content. This can lead to blood sugar derangements for dogs who have issues maintaining their blood sugar, or are on medication, or are senior dogs with pre-existing health problems.

Even otherwise, make sure that goji berries never exceed more than 10% of your dog’s total daily intake. For larger dogs, this means far more berries than for a smaller dog. 8-10 berries a few times a week is a good small dose to maintain, from which your dog can still derive benefits. 

Can Goji Berries Cause Allergies in Dogs?

Goji berries do not specifically cause allergies in dogs. Goji berries’ toxic effects are not documented, per se. However, it is always possible that some dogs be allergic to goji berries. A good way to rule this out is to give your dog only a couple of berries the first time that you feed him goji berries, whether as fruit or as supplement.

Should your dog show any symptoms of GI upset like vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, bloating, etc. or show signs of respiratory distress, itching, or choking, you can stop giving him goji berries immediately. You should also take your dog to the vet for a quick check up, if you suspect that he has had an allergic reaction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are goji berries toxic for dogs?

No, goji berries are not toxic for dogs, but if fed in large quantities your dog can have an upset stomach since they are a fruit. On their own, goji berries’ poisonous effects are not documented.

What berries are toxic to dogs?

Wild berries can be poisonous for dogs such as Chinaberry which causes a range of symptoms from vomiting to seizures. It is best to avoid feeding dogs a variety of berries without knowing their effects.

What are the side effects of goji berries?

There are no specific side effects of eating goji berries, except for dogs who are allergic to them or sensitive to them. Dogs who are on blood thinning medication like Warfarin or blood pressure medication should also not be given goji berries.

Are dogs allergic to acai?

Acai berries can cause allergic reactions in dogs. In some cases, acai can prove to be poisonous for dogs, because of its Theobromine content. This is the same compound that is present in chocolate, for example, and makes it poisonous for dogs.

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