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{"id":9155,"date":"2022-05-16T12:14:59","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/?p=9155"},"modified":"2022-05-16T12:20:21","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:20:21","slug":"can-dogs-eat-acai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puplore.com\/can-dogs-eat-acai\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Dogs Eat Acai? Are Acai Berries Or Bowls Safe?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fruits can be of great nutritional benefit to dogs. They can help strengthen a dog’s immune system, improve the digestion process, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berries, in particular, are known to have health-bearing properties considering they offer plenty of nutritional benefits in just a bite-size package. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, not all fruits or berries may be safe for dogs to eat, as a few berries are associated with a lot of health risks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about acai? Can dogs eat acai berries? This article examines answers to these questions and more. Read on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Acai Berries?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Acai<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Acai, scientifically named Euterpe Oleacera, is a palm tree that is grown for its grape-like berry fruit, trunk wood, and palm leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are a native tree species to Brazil\u2019s Amazon. Acai berry fruits are small, round, and a dark-purple color with quite a tangy-earthy taste.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, this berry is an exemplary staple food that is in high global demand and widely known for its rich health benefits to humans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, dealing with the subject of this article, the real question lies in its safety and health benefit to dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Dogs Eat Acai? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is no straightforward answer to the above question. No doubt, acai offers several health benefits to humans, but to dogs, it is complicated. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It contains several nutrients that are beneficial to a dog\u2019s health. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, it also contains a very toxic compound called \u201ctheobromine,\u201d which is poisonous to dogs, the very same compound that also renders chocolate poisonous to dogs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report<\/a> by the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) regarding dog consumption of acai advises dog parents to keep off the fruits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, several dog parents claim to have fed a minimal quantity of this fruit to their dogs without any resulting adverse effects or theobromine toxicity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is within logic to agree that a minimal quantity of acai consumption in dogs and on an occasional basis will not cause any ill health to dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it would also be safer to err on the side of caution and completely avoid feeding acai to dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping both opinions in mind, this article would consider both the good and bad, the potential benefit versus the risk of feeding acai to your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Brazilian<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Below is a nutrient profile of 100g of acai berries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutrition Facts<\/th>Amount<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Calories<\/td>75<\/td><\/tr>
Fat<\/td>6.5g<\/td><\/tr>
Sodium<\/td>5mg<\/td><\/tr>
Potassium<\/td>235mg<\/td><\/tr>
Carbohydrate<\/td>5.4g<\/td><\/tr>
Fiber<\/td>3.8g<\/td><\/tr>
Sugars<\/td>1.1g<\/td><\/tr>
Protein<\/td>1.1g<\/td><\/tr>
Vitamin A<\/td>2%<\/td><\/tr>
Vitamin C<\/td>13%<\/td><\/tr>
Calcium<\/td>0.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Iron<\/td>2% <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is evident from the nutrition facts above that acai certainly does contain nutrients and minerals that can benefit a dog’s health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following section considers the several ways these berries can be of benefit to dogs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health Benefits: Is Acai Good For Dogs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rich in Antioxidants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Acai berries are a rich source of antioxidants, i.e., Substances such as vitamin C that inhibit potentially harmful oxidizing agents in dogs and help strengthen dogs’ immune systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heart Health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is common knowledge that fish is a major source of omega-3 fatty acids, which benefit dogs in a number of ways, including improving cognitive functions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, acai berry is also another source of omega-3 fatty acids. Hence feeding a small amount of acai fruit to your dog will reduce its risk of cardiovascular diseases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provides Calcium<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

calcium is another mineral a dog needs. According to experts<\/a> on dog nutrition, a dog needs 1g of calcium daily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mineral aids in the formation of teeth and bones, smooth function of muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, and cell signaling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calcium also helps with blood clotting, which is an important aspect in the healing of wounds, and acai contains a reasonable amount of calcium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anthocyanins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

as with other berries, anthocyanins are present in acai berries. These water-soluble vacuolar pigments are responsible for the darker color in most berry fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, its benefits transcend beyond color pigmentation as it possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties and is thus helpful in fighting the effects of chronic inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also can neutralize superoxides, which a dog is likely to produce whenever under stress.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

May Reduce the Risk of Cancer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although there isn\u2019t any scientific research to back this claim except preliminary animal studies, there is the possibility of acai being helpful in fighting off colon cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A particular study<\/a> carried out on mice infected with colon cancer showed that the effects of pellets with 5% of acai powder resulted in a 76.9% reduction in both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in the mice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why You Should Not Give Acai To Your Dog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As much as there are health benefits of acai consumption in dogs, there are also dangers to be aware of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explained below are some health dangers associated with dog consumption of this berries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theobromine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As noted earlier, Acai contains theobromine, a toxic substance that also makes chocolate an absolutely unsafe treat for dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what exactly is theobromine?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theobromine, mostly known for being one of the several compounds that are naturally present in chocolate, is a molecule made in plants, especially in cocoa, considering it is a major alkaloidal constituent of the cocoa tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In humans, theobromine gives that \u201cwake-up and active\u201d feeling associated with caffeine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in dogs, it is a highly toxic substance in large quantities, meaning a dog would have to consume a lot of it to suffer its ill effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs cannot fully metabolize theobromine leaving it stuck in the liver for around 18 hours before getting it out of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18 hours is more than enough for this substance to cause damage to a dog\u2019s system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some symptoms of theobromine poisoning in dogs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n