The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: Bionic on October 29, 2012, 09:39:07 am

Title: Blackthorn berries
Post by: Bionic on October 29, 2012, 09:39:07 am
OH has been pruning the blackthorn bushes where he is putting up a new fence. Everytime the dog goes out he makes a beeline for the trimmings and eats the berries. Will they do him any harm?
Sally
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: Bert on October 29, 2012, 09:46:49 am
Not unless you have mixed them with gin already :innocent: . Blackthorn berries are sloes  :excited: . They shouldn't do him any harm, they are just very bitter. So stop the dog eating them and have them for your self (with gin).  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: Bionic on October 29, 2012, 10:12:28 am
Bert, in that case I have the wrong bush. Sloes are black right?  These are little red berries but obviously now I am not sure what it is.
Sally
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: Bert on October 29, 2012, 10:22:42 am
Then I have no idea  ??? . Any chance of a photo? So we can try to work it out.
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: doganjo on October 29, 2012, 10:25:31 am
Red usually means danger With some exceptions - rasps, strawberries, cherries etc  ::)- my dogs eat berries when I am picking them but I have to be careful they don't do it on walks where I don't know what is growing there.

I'd collect a few and try to find out what they are and if he shows ANY sign of illness or unusual behaviour go straight to the vet.
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: bloomer on October 29, 2012, 10:38:42 am
hawthorn or rosehips spring to mind


how big are the berries?



Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: Bionic on October 29, 2012, 10:42:11 am
Thankyou Bloomer, I have just looked at google images and its definitely hawthorn.
Will it poison the dog?  He is just as naughty as ever so haven't seen any ill side effects.
Sally
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: bloomer on October 29, 2012, 10:48:29 am
see that i can't answer someone else will, i just know they arn't very good for us they have to be processed into jelly before we can consume them :-)
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: Bionic on October 29, 2012, 10:56:06 am
Good old google again
If you are lucky enough to have a hawthorn tree near your home and a dog that likes red fruit, you can pick the ripe berries and feed them as tonic treats.
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/7_4/features/Herbs-For-Older-Dogs_5625-1.html (http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/7_4/features/Herbs-For-Older-Dogs_5625-1.html)
It seems that they are doing him good after all.
thanks
Sally
 
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: Fowgill Farm on October 29, 2012, 11:04:18 am
I collect them and feed them to the pigs and Max our lab likes them too but don't let your dog have too many as they lead to an upset tum, YUK!
Mandy :pig:
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: doganjo on October 29, 2012, 12:01:04 pm
There you are - even at my age I have learned something ::) :excited:!
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: Dans on October 29, 2012, 12:59:20 pm
Hawthorn berries make a great sauce as well, and you can also do wine with them and various other bits, keep some for yourself!

Dans
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: SteveHants on October 31, 2012, 10:02:33 pm
You can eat the leaves too, in the spring when they are bright green "bread and butter" was what they were called when I was a kid.
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: Remy on November 12, 2012, 08:09:23 pm
My horses love hawthorn, it is supposed to be very therapeutic and has a beneficial effect on the circulation, so guess it will be good for your dog too!
Title: Re: Blackthorn berries
Post by: katie on November 12, 2012, 10:07:04 pm
You can eat the leaves too, in the spring when they are bright green "bread and butter" was what they were called when I was a kid.

They were 'bread and cheese' to us