Three Reasons to Give Your Dog Cranberries

When it comes to your furry friend, their health is your number one priority. From their coat to their overall wellbeing, ensuring that they are healthy and happy is essential for every pet owner. One food that has stayed below the radar but has a big impact on promoting dog health is cranberries. These small, tart berries offer several benefits for your canine companion. Keep reading to learn more about why you should consider adding cranberries to your pet's diet and how to do it.

Cranberries are high in antioxidants and compounds that can help reduce inflammation and prevent damage caused by free radicals throughout your dog's body.  In case you didn’t know, antioxidants are essential for promoting health in humans, and the same is true for dogs. Antioxidants have been associated with several potential benefits including slowing the aging process, improving heart health, providing cellular protection and helping to boost the immune system.

Cranberries are loaded with antioxidants, which can help to slow the aging process.

Speaking of the immune system, cranberries are also high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for dogs’ immune systems and their overall health. Dogs are able to synthesize vitamin C, but this ability lessens as they age. Vitamin C supplementation may be beneficial as it helps enhance the activity of immune cells, making our dogs more effective at defending against infections and illnesses. And guess what –  cranberries are the most concentrated source of this vitamin! 

If you still need more reasons to add cranberries to your dog’s diet let’s talk about how it helps promote urinary health. Cranberries are loaded with a powerful compound called proanthocyanidins (PAC), a type of flavonoid, that has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder and urinary tract. If you have a dog with a history of urinary tract infections, cranberries may reduce the risk of recurrence.  Either way, cranberries can be a great preventative and should be considered as an addition for this reason alone. (Note: Cranberries are high in oxalates and should be avoided if your dog has a history of calcium oxalate crystals and stones.)

Now that you know the amazing benefits that cranberries can add to your dog’s health—how do you do it?

There are a few ways to introduce cranberries into your dog’s diet, but ultimately your dog will be the decision maker as to which way is best. Here are a few options:

Feed them fresh: You can offer fresh cranberries as a treat or mix them into your dog’s regular meals. Some dogs like the tart taste while others may find them too sour. Always start with small amounts while you discover if your dog likes them. Avoid offering cranberry sauce or other cranberry products meant for human consumption, as they may contain sugars, sweeteners like xylitol, or other ingredients that are not safe for dogs.