The saying goes that diversity adds flavor nutritional value to life, and this is especially true when it comes to what we eat. Constantly consuming the same meals can lead to tedium. Similarly human food, our furry companions appreciate a change in their diet just as much as humans do, and believe it or not, there are superfoods for German Shepherd dogs as well! What can German shepherds not eat?
However, caution is advised because numerous foods that are harmless for human consumption can lead to gastrointestinal issues or even toxic reactions in German Shepherd dogs. Often, pet owners are unaware of the dangers certain human foods pose to their dogs, and unintended consumption of these items is a frequent cause for emergency visits to the vet.
What are the signs of food toxicity?
If your German Shepherd ingests something harmful, monitoring them closely at home for any adverse reactions is essential, or in more severe cases, a trip to the vet may be necessary to induce vomiting.
Symptoms to watch for include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lack of energy drinks
- Shaking or seizures
- Unsteady movements
- Excessive drinking or urination
Immediate action is crucial upon realizing your German Shepherd has consumed a poisonous substance. Contacting a vet for advice is a must. Resources like the Pet Poisons Helpline are invaluable, offering guidance from veterinary professionals about the toxicity of the ingested toxic substance, symptoms to anticipate, and the subsequent steps to take. Depending on the situation, you may be advised to bring your pet to the clinic for treatment or to observe them at home for any troubling symptoms.
Foods Your German Shepherd eat Should Avoid
Creating a color-coded guide based on the traffic light system for high-quality dog foods and their effects on your German Shepherd can help you quickly understand what’s safe and what’s dangerous for your furry friend. Here’s a breakdown:
Green Category (Mild Effects) Dog Food
These are foods that aren’t toxic to your German Shepherd but can cause minor issues like slight diarrhea, irritation, or vomiting. They are safe foods should be given in moderation due to potential long-term adverse effects from frequent consumption. Examples of high-quality German Shepherd dog foods might include:
- Cooked bones and lean meats (in small amounts)
- Rice and cooked pasta
- Certain fruits like apples (without seeds) and bananas
- Certain vegetables like carrots and green beans
Yellow Category (Moderate to Severe Effects)
Foods in this category can lead to more serious health issues ranging from significant gastrointestinal or severe stomach upset, to difficulty breathing. Immediate veterinary consultation is advised if your German Shepherd puppy ingests these toxic foods. Some of these high-fat foods might be:
- Dairy products like milk or cheese (due to lactose intolerance)
- Certain nuts like walnuts or macadamia nuts
- Raw eggs or raw meat due to the risk of salmonella or E. coli
- Onions and garlic which can cause anemia
Red Category (Highly Toxic)
These foods are hazardous and can be lethal. They are safe foods that should never be given to your German Shepherd as they pose a significant risk to their health and life. Items in this category include:
- Chocolate, coffee, and caffeine products
- Grapes and raisins which can cause kidney failure
- Xylitol (found in sugar-free gum and certain peanut butter)
- Alcohol and alcoholic beverages
- Avocado
It’s crucial to keep all foods in the red category out of reach of your German Shepherd and to exercise caution with foods in the yellow category. While the green category foods are generally safe, they’re not a substitute for a balanced German shepherd’s diet tailored to your German Shepherd’s needs. Always consult your vet when introducing new foods into your dog’s diet, especially if they fall into the yellow or green categories, to ensure they’re suitable and safe for your specific pet.
What Can German Shepherds Not Eat?
Educating yourself about the dangers certain foods pose to dogs can be a lifesaver. Many incidents of poisoning in German Shepherd dogs arise simply from unawareness among pet owners, as highlighted by Frontiers in Veterinary Science. To potentially save the life of at least one German Shepherd, here’s a list of 25 foods that are toxic to them. Remember, the severity of poisoning can vary based on how much your German Shepherd consumes particular dog food and the specific toxin involved.
Alcohol
German Shepherds cannot safely ingest alcoholic beverages as this can lead to alcohol poisoning, adversely affecting their liver and brain. This condition can dramatically lower their blood sugar levels and cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, coordination problems, respiratory difficulties, and even death. It takes only a minimal amount of alcohol to harm your pet.
Pets might accidentally consume alcohol if it’s left within reach, either from an open container or spills on the floor, so vigilance is key.
Caffeine (Coffee, Tea, etc.)
German Shepherds must avoid tea, coffee, and any beverages containing caffeine. Ingesting large quantities of caffeine can be extremely harmful to dogs, and in severe cases, it can be fatal. It’s important to ensure your German Shepherd does not consume your tea or coffee and to also keep them away from chocolate, cocoa, colas, and energy drinks.
Caffeine can also be found in certain medications, such as cold medicines, supplements, and pain relievers. Signs of caffeine poisoning in dogs include extreme restlessness, hyperactivity, and an elevated heart rate.
Cherries
German Shepherds should avoid eating cherries. While the fruit’s flesh might not be harmful, it can still lead to stomach discomfort. More importantly, the stem, leaves, and pit of cherries contain cyanide, which is poisonous. Therefore, feeding cherries to your pet is not recommended.
In cases of significant ingestion, be on the lookout for symptoms such as dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, bright red gums, and potential shock.
Avocado
Avocados pose a significant risk to German Shepherds due to a toxin called persin, found in the fruit’s pit, skin, leaves, and bark. While the flesh of the avocado contains less persin compared to these parts, it is still unsafe for consumption by your pet.
It’s crucial to prevent your dog from accessing areas where avocados are grown to avoid the ingestion of any part of the plant. Ingesting avocado seeds can lead to blockages in the stomach or intestines, which can be life-threatening.
Symptoms of avocado poisoning in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Additionally, due to their high fat content, avocados may trigger pancreatitis in dogs, especially those that are more prone to this condition.
Chocolate (including Cocoa)
Chocolate poses a significant risk to dogs due to the presence of theobromine, a compound found in all types of chocolate, including white chocolate. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolate are particularly dangerous because they contain a higher concentration of cacao powder, making them more toxic. The severity of chocolate poisoning in dogs depends on the type and amount of chocolate consumed, as well as the dog’s size.
Ingesting chocolate can cause a dog to vomit and experience diarrhea. It may also lead to more severe symptoms, such as seizures and heart problems, and in some cases, it can be fatal. The Pet Poison Helpline warns that certain types of chocolate may contain additional hazards, like raisins, macadamia nuts, coffee beans, and the sweetener xylitol, potentially compounding the risk and leading to dual health issues.
Garlic
While garlic can be safe for German Shepherds in small amounts, consuming large quantities is dangerous. A dog would need to ingest a substantial amount for toxicity to occur. Garlic belongs to the Allium family, making it closely related to leeks, onions, and chives, all of which are harmful to dogs, with garlic being significantly more potent.
Excessive garlic consumption can damage your dog’s red blood cells, leading to their rupture and resulting in anemia. Symptoms of garlic poisoning in German Shepherds may include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and difficulty breathing. An important consideration is that the signs of garlic toxicity can be delayed, sometimes not appearing until several days after ingestion.
Grapes (and Raisins)
Fruits such as raisins and like grapes are extremely toxic to German Shepherds and can lead to kidney and respiratory failure, even in small quantities. The exact cause of their toxic effects is not fully understood, and the precise amount that can cause illness remains unclear.
This warning extends to various dried forms of the fruit, including currants and sultanas, as well as products containing grape derivatives like grape juice, raisin cereal, and raisin bread. Snack items like granola or trail mix, along with human foods made with baked foods goods such as raisin cookies or bars, are also potential sources of toxicity.
Early symptoms of ingestion include nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy.
Hops (used in Home Beer Brewing)
Hops, the flowers used in brewing beer, are indeed toxic to German Shepherds and other dog breeds, posing a serious health risk if ingested. The exact compound within hops that causes toxicity in dogs remains unidentified, highlighting the importance for those who brew beer at home or keep hops around for any reason to ensure they are securely out of reach of their pets.
Should your German Shepherd come into contact with and ingest hops, there are several critical signs and symptoms to watch for, including:
- Malignant Hyperthermia: An abnormally high body temperature that can be life-threatening.
- Increased Breathing Rate: You may notice your dog panting more than usual, a sign of distress or overheating.
- Racing Heart Rate: An elevated heart rate that can be felt by placing a hand on the chest.
- Vomiting: This may be an early sign of hop poisoning and can occur as the dog’s body attempts to rid itself of the toxin.
If you observe any of these symptoms or have reason to believe your dog has ingested hops, it’s crucial to seek veterinary care immediately. Time is of the essence in these cases to prevent more severe complications or fatalities. Your vet may induce vomiting, provide supportive care to stabilize your dog’s temperature and heart rate, and implement other treatments to manage symptoms and ensure your pet’s safety.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are indeed harmful to German Shepherds, as well as to other dog breeds. The consumption of just a few of these nuts, whether they are raw or roasted, can lead to significant severe health issues due to their toxic properties. Despite extensive research, the specific toxic compound within macadamia nuts that causes these adverse effects in dogs has yet to be identified.
The symptoms of macadamia nut poisoning in dogs can vary in severity but typically include:
- Weakness in the hind legs, makes it difficult for the dog to stand or walk properly.
- Elevated body temperature or fever.
- Vomiting may serve as an attempt by the body to expel the toxin.
- Muscle tremors or shakes indicate a disturbance in muscle control and nerve function.
In some cases, ingestion of macadamia nuts may also lead to pancreatitis, a condition characterized by the inflammation of the pancreas. This is due to the nuts’ high fat and oil content, which can be difficult for dogs to process.
The onset of these symptoms typically occurs within 12 hours of ingestion and, while the condition is not usually life-threatening, it can cause considerable discomfort and distress to the affected dog.
Moldy Food
Feeding your German Shepherd food contaminated with mold, such as under cooked meat, cooked pasta with, bread, cheese, nuts, and decaying fruits or vegetables, is harmful. Moldy foods may contain mycotoxins, including aflatoxin, which is particularly known for causing liver failure in dogs. Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include vomiting, restlessness, incoordination, seizures, and high fever. To protect your pet, it’s crucial to keep German Shepherd’s food waste securely out of their reach and ensure they do not consume anything that is even slightly moldy or have access to household trash.
Mushrooms (Wild)
German Shepherds should avoid consuming mushrooms due to the risk of poisoning. While only a few mushroom species are toxic, ingesting these poisonous varieties can be highly dangerous or even lethal to dogs.
The symptoms of mushroom poisoning can vary greatly depending on the type of mushroom ingested. Watch for signs such as diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, tremors, and alterations in thirst or urination (indicative of kidney failure). Some mushroom toxins can act rapidly, affecting dogs within 15-20 minutes, while others may not manifest symptoms for up to several days.
While commercially available, cleaned white mushrooms, like white button and Portobello mushrooms, are generally safe for consumption, caution is advised. Personal preferences aside, feeding mushrooms to dogs is not recommended due to the potential risks involved.
Rhubarb Leaves
German Shepherd eat rhubarb leaves due to their oxalic acid content, which is toxic to dogs. Consumption can lead to vomiting, nausea, tremors, diarrhea, and changes in urination and thirst levels. A significant ingestion is required for poisoning to occur.
Interestingly, the stalks of the rhubarb plant can be safe for German Shepherds in small amounts and might even aid dogs with constipation.
If you’re growing rhubarb at home, it’s important to keep a watchful eye on your German Shepherd dog to prevent them from ingesting the leaves, as acute renal failure could be a risk from consuming large amounts of the toxic parts.
Nutmeg
German Shepherds eat nutmeg as it contains myristicin, a compound toxic to dogs. Ingesting large amounts of nutmeg can lead to poisoning, characterized by hallucinations, dizziness, an elevated heart rate, stomach pain, dry mouth, and seizures.
However, it’s highly unlikely for a dog to experience poisoning from consuming foods with small traces of nutmeg. The intention behind including this warning is to raise awareness about the potential risks. A significant quantity of nutmeg would need to be consumed to cause severe toxic effects.
Onions, Shallots, Leeks, and Chives
German Shepherds are not allowed to consume onions, shallots leeks, and chives (either cooked bones
or raw meat) because they can be toxic to pets when consumed in large quantities. Ingestion of too many onions could result in your dog’s blood red cells rupturing, leading to anemia.
Potato (Raw or Green)
German Shepherds should avoid eating raw potatoes or raw or green potatoes due to the presence of solanine, a toxic compound to dogs. Ingesting high amounts of solanine can impact a dog’s nervous system, leading to symptoms such as blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, hypothermia, and a decreased heart rate.
White potatoes fall under the nightshade family of vegetables, which also includes tomatoes, known for producing solanine as a natural insect deterrent.
However, feeding your German Shepherd eat small amounts of cooked raw potato, is generally safe, as the cooking process significantly reduces the solanine content of raw potato.
Horse Chestnuts (Conkers)
Horse chestnuts, distinct from the edible sweet American chestnuts, pose a significant risk to German Shepherds and other dog breeds due to their content of aesculin, a toxic compound present in all parts of the tree, including the leaves. The symptoms of aesculin poisoning in dogs can be quite severe and include:
- Severe vomiting and diarrhea
- Drooling
- Increased thirst
- Restlessness
- Tremors
These symptoms can manifest as quickly as one hour after ingestion or may take up to two days to appear, highlighting the importance of monitoring your dog closely if you suspect they have consumed horse chestnuts.
Horse chestnut trees are prevalent in the UK, as well as temperate regions across Europe, Asia, and North America, with their seeds, known as conkers, falling to the ground in late summer and autumn. It’s crucial to differentiate these from the non-toxic and edible sweet American chestnut, as they are not related and have vastly different effects on dogs.
While a dog would need to consume several conkers to experience serious poisoning, even small amounts can cause discomfort and should be avoided.
Salt
German Shepherds are not recommended to consume excess salt because excessive salt consumption can cause your dog to become extremely thirsty, and could lead to dehydration or sodium poisoning. Urination or thirst can be excessive and happen, and salt may result in damage to the kidneys. The danger of salt poisoning is a serious issue as it could lead to death.
Signs that you are taking too much salt can include diarrhea, vomiting as well as depression, tremors seizures, and high temperatures.
It’s never a good option to share a salty snack with your closest companion. You only have to consider the amount of thirst you feel after consuming salty snacks like popcorn pretzels, chips, or pretzels which is why I don’t give my German Shepherd such snack foods.
Star Fruit
German Shepherds shouldn’t consume star fruits because this exotic fruit can be extremely toxic for dogs because of oxalic acid. The dog’s digestive system absorbs salts of oxalate found in star fruit which can cause acute failure. It is characterized by vomiting as well as diarrhea as well as blood in urine, as well as more frequent urination and thirst.
Your German Shepherd could get sick after eating small amounts of this fruit. He could show signs within one hour.
Tomato (Green)
German Shepherds should not consume green tomatoes because they are contaminated with an intoxic and toxic substance, known as solanine, which could cause respiratory problems, heart issues, and stomach upsets that are severe. But, they’d require eating an amount to reach the point at which they can be. The smallest amount of tomato could result in GI discomfort at the very least.
The ripened red part of the tomato is typically thought to be safe for dogs, all the other green parts that make up the plants (stems as well as vines) as well as tomatoes that are not ripe need to be kept out of reach.
Xylitol (Sweetener)
German Shepherds should not consume an ingredient called xylitol (sweetener) along with all food items with xylitol in them as it’s poisonous for dogs. It can cause your pet’s blood sugar levels to fall and can cause liver and acute kidney failure acute or even death. Initial signs include nausea, fatigue, seizures, or problems with coordination.
An alarming trend of poisonings is evident in light of the rising use of xylitol as a sugar substitute in a variety of products. It can be found in a variety of things like sweets, gum-baking goods, bakery, dairy products, dental products, diet food, and more!
Yeast Dough
German Shepherds are not allowed to consume yeast dough. The dough is a rising mass that causes gas to your dog’s stomach. This then causes it to expand when it expands it obstructs the bowel, or gastric ulcer that could become twisted. The result is a potentially life-threatening situation that requires an abdominal operation.
When you consider it, bread dough must rise, and, if your dog consumes it, precisely what occurs in the stomach of your pet to act like an oven!
Furthermore, as the yeast ferments the dough to increase its rise, it creates alcohol. This leads to alcohol-related, human food poisoning! Signs of alcohol poisoning are obvious, such as abdominal swelling or bloating. The dog could be suffering from lethargy, retching, weakening, collapse, or shock.
Walnuts (Black)
German Shepherds eat black walnuts because they’re extremely toxic foods. They contain a nebulous toxin that can trigger seizures or shaking. A different risk is when the walnuts were laid on the ground for long enough and have become into a scum. It is another toxin.
The only nuts acceptable for German Shepherds to consume are almonds, peanuts as well as cashews. They must however be eaten in moderate amounts due to their high fat amount, which can induce severe stomach upset, as well as diarrhea. Foods that are high in fat can result in pancreatitis or excessive weight gain.
What Do I Do If My GSD Ate Something Toxic?
The faster your dog’s food poisoning is detected and treated, you’ll have a better chance of recovering the dog will experience – and possibly less cost to you!
Here are the instructions for emergencies to follow in case your German Shepherd has eaten something harmful thanks to the Pet Poison Helpline:
- Take your pet away out of the vicinity as soon as you can, and ensure that you do not let any other pets (or children!) be exposed to this space. After that, remove any remaining toxic food materials away from the reach of children.
- Make sure that your pet is breathing properly and behaves normally.
- Take a small sample of the product and container, the vial or container, and keep the sample – you’ll need all of this information in the event you speak to your doctor or Pet Poison Helpline expert.
- Don’t give your pet any food, milk salt, oil, or any other remedies at home! Don’t ever induce vomiting without consulting your vet as well as the Pet Poison Helpline because this could cause harm or be not recommended!
- Do not give hydrogen peroxide to your pet without consulting your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline first.
- Get help. Make sure you have your doctor’s number, the ER veterinarian, as well as your Pet Poison Helpline phone number on your mobile phone which means you’ll get help in a moment.
Conclusion What can German shepherds not eat?
While this particular food list isn’t complete, it does provide an in-depth look at the dog food that you must avoid for the diet of your German Shepherds not eat. If you don’t see a specific food show up on the list, and you’re not sure if you should feed it to your pet or not, talk to your vet first.
While we may pass things off as easy with our dogs as we think they’re capable of handling them It’s time to begin to give them the love and attention they deserve. Be sure to keep a check on the health of your German Shepherd. There could be signs that suggest poor nutrition.
