Last Updated: 17/09/2026
Can Dogs Eat Strawberries?
Yes - strawberries are a safe, low-sugar treat for dogs in moderation. Here's how to feed them safely, including a frozen treat idea and what to know if your dog is small, a puppy, or watching their weight.
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 3 minutes - short read
Yes, dogs can eat strawberries - they're one of the safest fruits you can share, seeds, leaves and all. Bursting with vitamin C, fibre and natural sweetness, it's hard to find someone who doesn't love strawberries, including your furry best friend. They're genuinely good for your dog too, when fed in the right amount and prepared with their size in mind - more on both below. Always wash strawberries thoroughly before feeding, to remove pesticides, dirt and bugs.
What are the health benefits of strawberries for dogs?
Strawberries boast a number of health benefits for dogs.1 There is a reason strawberries are routinely recommended as a safe treat by veterinarians!
- Full of nutrients including Vitamin C and antioxidants, which can help promote a strong immune system
- High in fibre, which is great for gut health
- Only contain 32 calories per 100g - making it a great option for pups on a diet
- Also contain no fat or cholesterol, so it's a safe treat for dogs who experience pancreatitis or IBD
In clinic, strawberries are one of the fruits I recommend most for dogs who need a low-calorie training treat — particularly dogs already carrying extra weight, where every treat in the day adds up.
Do I need to remove the leaves or hull before feeding my dog strawberries?
No to the leaves, but for small dogs and puppies, yes to the hull.
The leaves and seeds are completely safe for your dog, so there's no need to remove them for most dogs - just wash the whole strawberry first to remove any pesticide residue.
The hull (the leafy green cap) isn't toxic either, but a whole strawberry is roughly the size and shape that can lodge in a small dog's throat or a puppy's airway if they gulp it down without chewing, which is exactly what excited dogs tend to do with a favourite treat. For toy and small breed dogs, and puppies still learning to chew, slice strawberries or remove the hull rather than handing over the whole fruit.
Are strawberries high in sugar?
No - strawberries are one of the lowest sugar-content fruits around, containing only 4.9g sugar per 100g.2 To compare, bananas contain 12g per 100g, and figs contain 16g per 100g! Some advice will warn of moderating strawberry consumption due to sugar content, but in truth you can feed a lot more strawberries to your dog than most other fruits without worrying about sugar. That said, low-sugar doesn't mean sugar-free. Strawberries are fine in small amounts, but I still see them fed like there's no sugar in them at all - a handful a day, on top of meals and other treats, adds up faster than owners expect. If your dog is diabetic or overweight, treat strawberries as an occasional extra within their daily calorie allowance, not a freebie, and check with your vet how many suit their individual plan.
DID YOU KNOW? On a per 100g/100ml basis, strawberries contain even less sugar content than dairy milk. Strawberries are 4.9% whereas milk is 5.2%. The sugar content in milk is lactose, whereas the sugar content in strawberries is fructose.
Can dogs eat frozen strawberries?
Yes - frozen strawberries make a great homemade treat, but it's best to freeze your own rather than buy commercially frozen berries.
Frozen strawberries are one of my favourite hot-weather treat suggestions for clients - mash a few fresh strawberries, spoon into an ice cube tray or silicone mould, and freeze. It's a simple, low-calorie way to help a dog cool down, similar to our frozen watermelon idea and our homemade Summer recipes. Size the pieces to your dog, with smaller cubes for small dogs and puppies, to avoid the risk of choking.
Storebought frozen strawberries are best avoided - freezing concentrates the fruit's natural sugar, and some manufacturers add juice or syrup for flavour. Past outbreaks of infectious disease linked to frozen berries3 have also led some experts to recommend cooking frozen berries first, so fresh, home-frozen strawberries are the safer choice.
Strawberries are a genuinely useful treat to keep in rotation - low in sugar and calories, safe from fruit to leaf, and easy to prepare safely for dogs of any size once you follow the tips above. For more safe fruit ideas, see our guide to blueberries or our full rundown of human foods safe for pets, and for what to keep off the menu altogether, see our vet guide to foods that are toxic for dogs.
References
Meyers, H. 2021. Feed Your Dog Strawberries American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/feed-dog-strawberries/
Strawberry Nutrition Nutronix. 2022. https://www.nutritionix.com/food/strawberries/100-g
Risk of Hepatitis A from frozen berries. Ministry for Primary Industries. 2022. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news/media-releases/risk-of-hepatitis-a-from-frozen-berries
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Thu 17 Sep 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
