Can Dogs Eat Cranberries? Yes, Plain and in Small Amounts

Why plain cranberries are safe

Cranberries are tart little berries with fiber, vitamin C and plant antioxidants, and nothing known to poison dogs. The American Kennel Club says fresh and dried cranberries are safe in small quantities. Their sour taste means many dogs spit them out, which is fine; there is no need to coax them.

A dog on a complete diet does not need cranberries. Do not use them in place of veterinary care for a urinary problem. If your dog is straining to pee, peeing more often or passing blood, that needs a vet visit, not fruit.

Dried cranberries, trail mix and raisins

Most dried cranberries sold in stores are sweetened with sugar or fruit juice, so they carry much more sugar than fresh berries. The bigger worry is mixes. Trail mix, salad toppers and baked goods often combine cranberries with raisins, which the ASPCA warns can cause kidney damage in dogs, as well as chocolate or macadamia nuts.

If your dog ate a mix that included raisins, grapes, chocolate or macadamia nuts, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 straight away. A fee may apply. Do not wait for symptoms, because kidney injury from raisins can develop over a day or two.

How to serve cranberries

Rinse fresh or thawed frozen cranberries and offer them whole to medium and large dogs. For dogs under 20 lb, slice each berry in half so a firm berry cannot be inhaled. You can also cook them briefly in plain water until they pop, let them cool and mash a few into the food bowl.

If you buy dried cranberries for your dog, look for unsweetened ones with a single ingredient, check the bag says nothing about raisins or other fruit, and give fewer than you would fresh, since drying concentrates the sugar.

For dogs that gulp anything new, a slow feeder bowl or a lick mat keeps portions small and eating slow.

How much by dog size

Under 20 lb: two or three fresh berries. Between 20 and 50 lb: five or six. Over 50 lb: up to ten. Halve those numbers for unsweetened dried cranberries. Offer them a few times a week, not daily, and keep all treats to about 10 percent of daily calories.

Large amounts can cause stomach upset, and the AKC notes a veterinarian's warning that eating a lot of cranberries over time could contribute to calcium oxalate bladder stones. Dogs with a history of bladder stones should only have cranberries if their vet agrees.

Thanksgiving and holiday cranberries

Cranberries show up all through November and December. Before you add sugar, set aside a few plain berries for your dog. Cranberry sauce, relish, cranberry orange bread and holiday stuffing are a different matter, since they are sugary and may include raisins, currants, alcohol, nuts or onion.

Keep the dinner table and the trash out of reach. Turkey skin, gravy and cooked bones are bigger holiday risks than cranberries, and if anything with raisins, onion or alcohol goes missing, call your vet or a poison line right away.

Puppies and signs of trouble

Puppies can try one or two halved fresh cranberries once they are eating solid food well. Start small, because their stomachs are easily upset by new foods and by the acidity of the fruit.

Too many cranberries usually cause soft stool, diarrhea or vomiting within a day. Offer water and skip treats. Call your vet the same day if vomiting is repeated, your dog seems lethargic, drinks or pees much more or less than usual, or ate a mix containing raisins.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.