[Bionic]

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

[Bert]

Not unless you have mixed them with gin already . Blackthorn berries are sloes  . 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). 

[Bionic]

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

[Bert]

Then I have no idea  . Any chance of a photo? So we can try to work it out.

[doganjo]

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.

[bloomer]

hawthorn or rosehips spring to mind


how big are the berries?

[Bionic]

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

[bloomer]

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 :-)

[Bionic]

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
It seems that they are doing him good after all.
thanks
Sally
 

[Fowgill Farm]

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

[doganjo]

There you are - even at my age I have learned something !

[Dans]

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

[SteveHants]

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.

[Remy]

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!

[katie]

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