Let’s get this question out of the way first …
Yes, dogs are carnivores. But being meat-eaters doesn’t mean dogs can’t digest blueberries and other fruits and veg. So, the answer to the question, can dogs eat blueberries? … is yes, dogs can eat blueberries, and they should.
In fact, berries account for 2/3 of the food eaten by adult wolves in Voyageurs National Park in late summer. And the bulk of this is blueberries. Now, you might scoff and say, “Just because wolves eat blueberries doesn’t mean they can digest them.” And you’d be right. Nobody has measured plant digestibility in the carnivorous wolf. But they’ve measured it in the carnivorous polar bear.
In his book Ruined By Excess Perfected By Lack, Richard Patton PhD says his trials showed that … “polar bears are fully capable of digesting carbohydrates in a dry feed, at about 85 percent, the same as any omnivore.”
So wolves can digest blueberries. And they seek them out. But why?
It seems that, for a long time, wolves knew something about blueberries that humans didn’t.
How Blueberries Reached Superfood Status
Blueberries are a relatively new crop … they weren’t cultivated until 1911. This was when Frederick Coville discovered they needed acidic soil. But for decades afterward, blueberries were only found in Eggos and muffins. That is, until 1996 …
That’s when Tufts scientist James Joseph proposed that colorful fruits like blueberries carried health benefits. Joseph used an ORAC (oxygen-radical absorbance capacity) test on different fruits and vegetables to measure their antioxidant abilities.
And like that, the lowly blueberry was the newest superfood. No other fruit scored higher than the blueberry for its antioxidant properties. It even scored higher than açai.
Since then, the blueberry has been extensively studied … and not only for its antioxidant abilities. But for its anti-inflammatory activity and effects on the brain and nervous system.
And the blueberry finally claimed true superfood status.
The Benefits Of Blueberries For Dogs
Since the 90’s, blueberries have been extensively researched. Unlike many other superfoods, scientists have done studies in blueberries for dogs.
Researchers in Italy divided service dogs into two groups (1). Both groups ate kibble … but they gave one group of dogs blueberries and other berries. After 18 weeks the dogs eating blueberries had lower markers of oxidative stress. There was also a significant reduction of oxidative stress.
A second study compared the antioxidant levels in sled dogs (2). The scientists found that dogs eating blueberries were much better protected against oxidative damage than the control group.
Most of these benefits are due to blueberries’ polyphenol content. Polyphenols are naturally occurring phytochemicals that are powerful antioxidants. And blueberries are a more potent source of antioxidants than any other fruit. In fact, researchers are looking at blueberries to prevent the dangers of radiation exposure in astronauts.
And the benefits don’t end there …
Blueberries for dogs can also inhibit tumor growth, prevent mutations, lower blood sugar and decrease chronic inflammation. A study on older humans showed that eating 2 cups of blueberries a day improved mobility (3). In other trials, people who drank blueberry juice had lower blood sugar levels.
Blueberries are also nutritious. They’re rich in vitamins A, C, E and K, as well as trace minerals.
But these aren’t the only health benefits of blueberries for dogs – or for people. They have a very distinctive claim to fame …