🍒 Can Dogs Eat Acai Berries? - The Answers

Summary

Yes, they can. However, we recommend only feeding your dog small amounts of this super food and to always keep an eye on them after they’ve been consumed. Despite them being good for your dog, too many acai berries are toxic to dogs and can cause them to get sick 😞.

Overview of acai berries

Acai berries are from Brazil where they grow wild. There are two types: black and white. Black acai contains higher amounts of anthocyanins while white acai contains higher amounts flavonols. Both varieties are very good sources of vitamin A, vitamin E, beta-carotene and more which we’ll cover below. Some people say the berries have a taste of dark chocolate which we guess is one of the reasons these berries are so popular 😁.

The berries are considered a super food because they contain antioxidants. These are great for dogs because they help animals stay healthy and provide the vitamins needed to main general health and overall wellbeing. The berries also contain a good amount omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for their joints and help maintain a beautiful coat 🐩.

What makes a food ‘super’?

Superfoods must be natural, free of artificial ingredients or preservatives, so look for those terms on labels to ensure harmful pesticides haven’t been used. The most important part? They should offer plenty of fiber, vitamins and minerals, being nutrient dense is mainly what makes a food ‘super’ such as spinach 🍃 which has over 17 different vitamins and minerals it’s something worth including in both dogs (sparingly) and humans diets alike.

So, my dog is ok eat acai berries?

Yes, they can. However as mention in our summary, we recommend only feeding your dog small amounts of acai berries and to always control the portion. A dog can eat up to 100-200 grams (about 1/3-1/2 cup) of acai berries per day. We recommend that you only feed your dog small amounts of acai berries and that you monitor them when they eat, many people like to include these in their dog’s diet due to the massive health benefits they provide, let us go over some of the nutrition below.

Benefits

✅ Vitamin C

Since acai berries are rich in vitamin C, dogs can also benefit from the fruit’s antioxidant properties. High doses of vitamin C can benefit dogs who are recovering from an illness or surgery.

✅ Calcium

Calcium is an essential mineral in the diets of dogs. It helps to build strong bones and teeth just like with humans.

👀 Watch out for

❌ Sugar Content

Whilst full of goodness, be mindful that too many may not be a healthy choice due to their high sugar content. Dogs produce salivary amylase, the enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates, they lack the sucrase enzyme that breaks down sucrose which can cause gastrointestinal irritation and diarrhea.

❌ Theobromine

Theobromine is a xanthine stimulant. It occurs naturally in cocoa(chocolate), tea and certain other foods. Since dogs are able to metabolize theobromine better than humans, a higher amount of theobromine can be toxic. This is what causes chocolate poisoning in dogs so don’t go feeding your dog a bowl of these!

Theobromine poisoning in dogs

In terms of symptoms, you’re looking out for:

• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Seizures

There isn’t much treatment available for theobromine poisoning in dogs. It’s hard to tell how much theobromine is safe for dogs because it depends on several factors such as age, weight, breed, etc. You should take your pet to the veterinarian right away. If it doesn’t respond to medication within 24 hours, then surgery may need to be performed.

Similar alternative

Blueberries

Blueberries whilst they aren’t technically a superfruit because they’re grown on trees rather than harvested directly from nature 😁. But since they’re such a popular treat, we decided to include them here anyway!

Like other superfruits, blueberries pack a powerful punch when it comes to protecting your pet’s cells from oxidative damage caused by toxins and pollutants. They also contain high levels of vitamin C, another nutrient essential to maintaining healthy skin and immune system function.

Goji Berries

These berries are one of the rarer fruits on earth, growing only in China and Tibet. Their unique color comes from high levels of carotenoids, powerful plant pigments that make them red, yellow, green and even purple. These colorful compounds are responsible for much of the goji’s reputation as a longevity elixir. The Chinese believe eating goji will increase energy, stamina and overall vitality.

Strawberries

Strawberry is another delicious fruit that we humans enjoy but many dogs don’t like strawberries 🍓. They do however love other fruits such as apples or watermelon. Strawberries are high in fiber and nutrients, containing Vitamin C, B6, K, folate, iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, biotin, and selenium. These are essential nutrients for dogs' health.

Allergic to Acai?

It seems unlikely that any dog could become allergic to acai. However, if your dog has an allergy to something else, they might react badly to acai. If this happens, stop feeding him/her acai immediately and call your vet right away.

Ok for puppies?

There is no evidence that acai is harmful to puppies and other young pets such as kittens. In fact, there is anecdotal evidence that suggests that acai helps young animals develop strong bones 💪. So yes, you should definitely give your puppy some acai every now and then. Just keep in mind that these little ones need less of everything so don’t overfeed them 😊.

Recommendations

Whilst high in vitamins and antioxidants; due to the high sugar content and presence of theobromine, it’s best to keep the berries as a once-in-awhile treat, rather than a staple in your dog’s diet. Try mixing it with other superfoods like pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp hearts, bee pollen etc. You’ll get more nutrients out of those ingredients together. Best of luck!