Can dogs eat strawberries?
Updated 5 August 2026
Yes. Strawberries are safe for dogs and low in calories, so a few berries make a good summer treat. Wash them, halve them for small dogs, and count them out rather than pouring them. The cream that usually sits next to them is the part to keep back.
The detail
Strawberries sit near the top of the safe-fruit list. They are around 90 percent water, carry roughly 4 calories per berry, and most dogs take to them straight away.
The sugar is modest but real, at about 0.5g per medium berry. That makes strawberries a treat to count out by size, and the table below gives sensible numbers.
Preparation is a rinse and, for small dogs, a quick halving. A whole berry is a manageable size for most dogs, but chopping removes the choking question for the smallest mouths.
What is in five medium strawberries
| Calories | Around 20 kcal |
| Sugar | Around 3gLess than most fruit, but it still counts |
| Vitamin C | Around 35mg |
| Anything toxic to dogs | NothingThe tops are bitter, not poisonous |
How much is sensible
| Dog size | Sensible amount |
|---|---|
| Small (under 10kg)Chihuahua, Jack Russell | One berry, halved, a few times a week |
| Medium (10 to 25kg)Cocker spaniel, border collie | Two or three berries |
| Large (over 25kg)Labrador, German shepherd | Four or five berries |
| Overweight or diabetic dogs | A single berry at most, and cucumber does the job better |
Can dogs eat strawberry tops and leaves?
Yes, though most dogs would rather not. The green top and leaves are not toxic, just bitter, and plenty of dogs spit them out on the first chew.
A large amount of leaves and stalks can cause a mild stomach upset, so hull the berries if your dog hoovers rather than chews. It takes seconds and removes the question.
How many strawberries can a dog eat?
Count by body size: one halved berry for a dog under 10kg, two or three for a medium dog, four or five for a Labrador-sized one. That keeps strawberries inside the usual guide of treats staying under a tenth of daily calories.
A raid on a full punnet is not a poisoning, just a sugar and fibre load. Expect soft stools, skip the next treat, and mention it to your vet only if the upset runs past a day or two.
Strawberries and cream
The strawberries are fine; the cream is the catch. Many adult dogs are lactose intolerant, and VCA Animal Hospitals lists diarrhoea, bloating and stomach discomfort as the standard result of dairy in dogs that cannot digest it.
If the bowl is a Wimbledon tradition in your house, share a berry before the cream and sugar go on. Sweetened squirty cream is the worst version of all, so keep the can away from the begging face.
Frozen strawberries
A good warm-weather treat. Freeze washed, hulled berries and hand them over one at a time, or mash and freeze them in a lick mat for a slower version.
A whole frozen berry is hard, so halve them for small dogs or let them sit out for a couple of minutes first. Freezing changes the texture, not the sugar, so the portion table still applies.
Common questions
Can puppies eat strawberries?
Yes, chopped small and one berry at a time. A puppy's stomach is easier to upset than an adult's, so introduce them slowly and stop if stools go soft.
My dog ate a whole punnet of strawberries. Should I worry?
There is no toxin, so the likely outcome is soft stools and an unrepentant dog. Offer water, skip the treats for a day, and ring your vet only if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts beyond a day or two.
Can dogs eat strawberry jam?
No. Jam is mostly sugar, and any reduced-sugar version needs a xylitol check because that sweetener is extremely toxic to dogs. A fresh berry gives the flavour without either problem.
Can dogs eat strawberry yoghurt?
Skip it. Flavoured yoghurts add sugar to the lactose problem, and some light versions use sweeteners. If you want to share yoghurt at all, a spoonful of plain natural yoghurt suits most dogs better.
Can dogs eat wild or garden strawberries?
Yes, they are the same fruit in a smaller size. The garden risk is slug pellets and sprays rather than the berries, so only share from plants you know are untreated.
Are strawberry sweets and laces safe for dogs?
No. They are sugar at best, and sugar-free versions may contain xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs. Keep all sweets out of reach and ring your vet if a sugar-free packet goes missing.