We love blueberries! Perfect as a tasty treat - and as a regular part of your dogs diet.

Not only are blueberries delicious, they are also a functional food which can have a profound impact on the health of your dog. Studies show that blueberries can improve cognitive function, enhance cardiovascular health and help to prevent cell damage. There is also evidence that these dark berries can help to protect against cancer.

Blueberries are amazing because they contain a powerful antioxidant called pterostilbene. This is important because it reduces oxidative stress, a leading cause of premature ageing and at the core of a whole host of health issues.

To explain why your dog should be eating blueberries, we first need to dig into why the body needs antioxidants.

Why Are Antioxidants Important?

Oxidative stress occurs where there is an imbalance between free radicals and the body’s natural antioxidant defences. Free radicals are molecules which contain oxygen and an uneven number of electrons. The uneven number electrons makes them highly unstable and reactive with other molecules.

Free radicals are basically trying to steal electrons from other molecules in order to stabilise themselves, which causes oxidative stress. It’s a similar process to rust forming on metal.

Cellular oxidative damage is thought to be a leading cause of age related cognitive impairment in dogs. As a dog gets older, the accumulation of oxidative products cause a decline in mental abilities. We see this as a reduced ability to learn, poor attention span and memory. It’s a big part of why our dogs get “old”, and obviously it’s something that we’d all like to avoid!

Antioxidants help by having spare electrons to donate, which neutralises the free radicals. These extra electrons plug up the gaps causing the instability, neutralising the free radicals. No more rust!

We are lucky in that quite a bit of research has been done looking at the benefits of including blueberries in both you and your dogs diet. A 2006 study looking at sled dogs suggests that feeding blueberries can protect against the oxidative stress caused by exercise. Another study indicates that the antioxidant effect can help inhibit cancer cell growth. And a 2010 study shows a wide range of positive effects on the cardiovascular system.

Yes, blueberries are truly amazing.

Wolves Eat Blueberries

Not only are blueberries healthy for your pup, they could be a natural part of their diet.

A 2017 study showed wolves feeding their children blueberries. The adult wolves were observed foraging and regurgitating wild berries - predominantly blueberries - for their pups. The study concludes that berries are a valuable food source for the wolves.

Now, obviously wolves are not dogs. But they are extremely closely related. So if wolves are eating blueberries in the wild, it seems quite likely that your dogs ancestors would have eaten blueberries too. When coupled with the health benefits, we think that adding them to your dogs diet makes a lot of sense.

Here’s footage (from the study) of wolves eating blueberries:

HOW TO FEED

Blueberries are quite potent, so you don’t need to go overboard. Just a small amount each day is great. You can feed fresh or frozen, and while both are good options there is evidence that frozen is superior.

A 2014 study found that freezing the blueberries improves their antioxidant abilities. The antioxidant compound is actually responsible for giving blueberries their blue colour. Since it’s found in the skin, freezing the blueberries improves the availability of the antioxidants.

You can add blueberries to your dogs meal at dinnertime, or you can use them as treats. And while you’re at it have some yourself - the health benefits apply to humans as well.

And if you are wondering, of course we include blueberries in our Whoa Nelly! dog food. We use blueberries in our Beef & Chicken recipe, as well as both of our puppy recipes. Lucky dogs 🐾