Is Cranberry Juice Safe for Dogs?
Although the antioxidants in cranberries can role in the health of various systems, the problem is that just because the berries have health benefits doesnt necessarily mean the juice does.
While the red, acidic berry is low-calorie while being full of vitamin C, fiber, and potassium, cranberry juice is high in sugar and may contain other ingredients that can be harmful to your pup. For the same reason, you should also avoid offering your dog cranberry sauce. When consuming cranberries in juice (or jellied) form, both humans and animals are missing out on some of the key health benefits of the fruit, such as fiber, which may help with controlling blood sugar in diabetics and bowel health.
Additionally, whole cranberries (when offered in moderation) are thought to improve your dog’s bladder health and fight bacteria that cause bad breath. For that reason, the disease-fighting cranberry is used in some dog food recipes because of all the vitamins and minerals.
Ways to Provide Cranberries for Dogs
Cranberries are good for dogs. According to the American Kennel Club, both fresh cranberries and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs but only in small quantities. Giving your furbaby cranberry tart treats is another discussion. In giving your furbaby fresh or dried cranberries, always remember that moderation is key. Too little of it, your furbaby won’t be getting enough of its benefits. Too much of it can also be very risky as it may lead to bladder stones or stomach upsets.
Whether your furbaby will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many cranberries can lead to an upset stomach.
One of the most common forms of cranberries that humans eat are dried cranberries. But, can dogs eat dried cranberries? Dried cranberries sometimes come mixed with other dried fruits, like raisins. Raisins are very toxic to dogs, and even a few can cause problems for small dog breeds. Pure dried cranberries with no added sugar are safe to give to your dog. However, convincing your dog to eat tart dried cranberries may be difficult.
Cranberry sauce is safe for your dog if made fresh without extra sugar or artificial sweeteners according to Hepper. However, most canned cranberry sauces contain additional ingredients like grapes and currents which are not good for your dog. So, be sure to read the ingredient label before giving any cranberry sauces to your dog.
Prepared cranberry juices are risky. Juices that contain grape juice are potentially dangerous, as are cranberry dishes that contain large amounts of sugar, alcohol, or other ingredients. In order for juice to be safe for your dog, it would need to be pure cranberry juice with no added sugar. However, this cranberry juice will be very tart and it is unlikely that your dog will want drink it due to the tart taste.
Because your dog is not likely to want to eat pure cranberries or drink pure cranberry juice, a cranberry supplement for dogs is a great and safe alternative. Bladder supplements containing cranberries are powerful supplements that help and support your furbabys bladder and urinary health. Pet Parents® Bladder SoftSupps® help minimize the occurrence of urinary infections, help keep pH levels normal and help provide your furbaby optimal urinary health.
These are bladder supplements that contain Pacran®, the most scientifically proven cranberry product for urinary tract health. This uses the whole cranberry complex to help promote optimal bladder health. Pacran® is a pure cranberry concentrate that cleans out bad bacteria, resulting in a healthier bladder & urinary tract. Dubbed as a natural solution for urinary comfort, Pacran® is an ingredient mostly used in supplements and contains other important compounds such as organic acids, fibers, phenolics, proteins, sugars and fatty acids – all key elements in maintaining a healthy urinary tract.
Moreover, cranberry supplements for dogs are necessary to take a proactive approach and add help to your furbaby to fight off certain illnesses that can be prevented and help maintain and/or improve overall health.
Cranberry, indeed, plays a great role in keeping your furbabys urinary health on top and help provide bladder & dog kidney support to your furbaby, promoting happy & healthy slobbery kisses.
How To Choose Cranberries For Dogs
Here are some tips to get the best quality cranberries for your dog.
Buy Organic First of all, make sure you buy organic cranberries whenever you can. The bog environment where cranberries grow is a high pest environment. And that means cranberry growers use a lot of pesticides Some may use natural pest prevention strategies … like nematodes or hand weeding. But conventional cranberries will almost certainly be grown with insecticides, herbicides or fungicides.
Look For Quality You want fresh cranberries that are deep red, juicy looking and firm to the touch. Avoid the pale, wrinkly, squishy ones! Deeper red means more anthocyanins. Firmness and juiciness suggests better quality and freshness. Cranberries keep well … up to 20 days refrigerated, or freeze them for several years! You may find them already frozen at the store … and that’s fine.