Do you struggle when you eat something that looks delicious , and your German Shepherd wants to eat it too?
Well, don’t fall for those puppy eyes , there are some foods that you should never feed to your German Shepherd dog, no matter how cute your dog is.
You may want to save this list to keep handy for your use to guarantee a healthy life for your German Shepherd Dog.
- Chocolate, Coffee ,Caffeine
According to ASPCA , You might not think your German Shepherd would even want to try chocolate.
But if you are eating some and enjoying it, you can bet your dog will notice and will likely want to try some.
These products all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee, and in the nuts of an extract used in some sodas.
When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death.
Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest.
- Citrus
The stems, leaves, peels, fruit and seeds of citrus plants contain varying amounts of citric acid, essential oils that can cause irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression if ingested in significant amounts.
Small doses, such as eating the fruit, are not likely to present problems beyond minor stomach upset.
- Coconut and Coconut Oil
We encourage you to use caution when offering your pets these foods. Coconut water is high in potassium and should not be given to your pet.
The flesh and milk of fresh coconuts do contain oils that may cause stomach upset, loose stools or diarrhea
- Grapes and Raisins
Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure.
Until more information is known about the toxic substance, it is best to avoid feeding grapes and raisins to dogs.
- Macadamia Nuts
Although researchers still don’t fully understand why macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs,Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs.
Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and can last approximately 24 to 48 hours.
- Milk and Dairy
Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other dairy-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.
- Nuts
Nuts, including almonds, pecans, and walnuts, contain high amounts of oils and fats. The fats can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis in pets.
- Onions, Garlic, Chives
It’s very clear that these four popular herbs – garlic, onions, chives, and leeks – are all toxic to dogs, including German Shepherds.
This also makes it vital to keep any herb or vegetable gardens completely out of your dog’s reach. In the same way, anything you cook that has these herbs as ingredients should never be fed to your dog.
These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage and anemia.
9.Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets and humans which can lead to skin and coat problems.
Feeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural and healthy option that might occur if your pet lived in the wild. However, this can be very dangerous for a domestic pet
Dogs might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract.
10. Salt and Salty Snack Foods
Never feed your dog potato chips, pretzels, and salted popcorn to your pets.
Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death.
11. Xylitol
Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.
Xylitol is a common sugar substitute found in many foods, candies, and gums made for people. It is extremely toxic to German Shepherds and all dogs!
12. Avocado
The toxic compound in avocado is called persin. Persin is not as much of a risk to a big dog like a German Shepherd.
What is incredibly risky is the fat content in avocado and the enormous inner seed.
If your GSD happens to swallow that giant seed, it can easily obstruct the bowel that could be life-threatening.
The high-fat content in avocados puts your dog at risk for pancreatitis, another life-threatening health condition that causes the pancreas to become inflamed and shut down the digestive process.
