Raspberry

Raspberries are on the American Kennel Club's list of fruits dogs can eat. AKC describes them as safe for dogs in moderation, loaded with antioxidants, low in sugar and calories, and high in fiber, manganese, and vitamin C. Fresh or frozen, a few berries make a decent low-calorie training reward. The internet warning you have probably seen is that raspberries contain xylitol. That is true, and it is also badly out of proportion. The Merck Veterinary Manual puts the dose associated with hypoglycemia in dogs at more than roughly 100 mg/kg (45 mg/lb), with severe hepatic insufficiency reported above 500 mg/kg. The naturally occurring amount in a handful of raspberries is nowhere near either number. The xylitol that actually kills dogs is the added kind: sugar-free gum, sugar-free jam and preserves, some peanut butters, breath mints, and chewable supplements. Read the label, and treat any product marked sugar-free as off limits until you have checked it. Portion by size. A couple of berries for a toy breed, five or six for a medium dog, a small handful for a large dog, with all treats inside 10% of daily calories. Raspberries are high in fiber, so the practical consequence of overdoing it is loose stool, not poisoning. Introduce a new fruit with a single berry and give it a day. The things to keep away from your dog are the processed versions: raspberry jam and syrup, raspberry-flavored yogurt, sorbet, and anything from the sugar-free aisle. Frozen berries straight from a bag are fine, though it is worth halving them for a small dog that swallows without chewing. If your dog gets into a sugar-free product, or becomes wobbly, weak, or collapses after eating anything sweetened, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately. Do not induce vomiting at home.