Can Dogs Eat Dried Cranberries? A Few — Watch for Raisins

Why the cranberry itself is not the problem

Cranberries are not toxic to dogs. The AKC lists cranberries as safe in small amounts and notes that sweetened dried cranberries are best avoided. Fresh or frozen plain cranberries are tart, low in calories and carry a little fiber and vitamin C.

Drying concentrates the fruit's sugar, and most brands, including Craisins, add more sugar or fruit juice to offset the sourness. That makes dried cranberries a dense, sweet snack, closer to candy than to fresh fruit in a dog's diet.

If you like to share small snacks, a lick mat or a treat ball makes a little go further and slows a fast eater down.

The raisin risk in mixes

Dried cranberries rarely come alone. Trail mix, holiday stuffing, granola, muffins, cookies and salads often combine them with raisins, currants or grapes. The ASPCA warns that exposure to grapes and raisins can lead to kidney damage in dogs, and the AKC calls the toxic dose unpredictable.

Mixes can also contain chocolate chips, macadamia nuts or xylitol-sweetened coatings, all dangerous to dogs. If your dog got into a bag of mixed dried fruit or trail mix, check the label and call for advice straight away, even if you only see cranberries on the floor.

My dog ate dried cranberries: what to do

If your dog ate a few plain dried cranberries, there is usually nothing to do except put out fresh water and watch for a soft stool. Check the packaging to make sure there were no raisins or other fruits in the bag.

If the product contained raisins, grapes, currants, chocolate or xylitol, or your dog ate a large bag of sweetened cranberries, call your vet or a poison line now. Do not wait for signs, since kidney damage from raisins can begin before a dog looks ill.

How many dried cranberries can a dog eat?

If you share plain dried cranberries, keep it tiny and rare: under 20 lb, one or two; 20 to 50 lb, three or four; over 50 lb, up to five or six, as an occasional treat. Unsweetened dried cranberries are a better choice than sugared ones.

Dogs that are overweight or diabetic should skip them because of the sugar. Fresh or frozen plain cranberries are a lower-sugar alternative, cut in half for small dogs and offered a few at a time.

Puppies and dried cranberries

Puppies are more likely to get diarrhea from sugary foods, and dried fruit is chewy and sticky, which can be hard for a small puppy to swallow. There is no need to give a puppy dried cranberries at all.

The bigger risk for puppies is getting into mixed snacks on low tables or in bags. A puppy's small size means a few raisins in a mix are a bigger concern, so keep trail mix, granola and holiday baking well out of reach.

Signs to watch for and when to call a vet

Too many sweetened cranberries usually cause loose stools, gas or vomiting within a few hours. These mild signs generally settle within a day once your dog is back on its normal food.

With raisins or grapes, early signs can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite, often within hours, followed by reduced urination as the kidneys are affected. Any of these after a mixed snack means a vet visit today. Go at once for weakness, collapse or tremors, which can follow chocolate or xylitol.

Better fruit treats for dogs

Fresh blueberries, apple slices without the core or seeds, banana pieces and seedless watermelon are all listed by the AKC as safe fruits in moderation. They give a sweet taste with less concentrated sugar than dried fruit.

At Thanksgiving and Christmas, when dried cranberries turn up in stuffing and baking, set aside a few plain fresh cranberries or a spoonful of plain pumpkin for your dog instead of sharing from the table.

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