Among all the fruits available to feed your dog, should you go for strawberries as well? Many harmless fruits like grapes that we as humans love can be poisonous and lethal to dogs.

So, the real question is, can a German Shepherd eat strawberries?

Can German Shepherds eat strawberries?

Yes, German Shepherds can eat strawberries but with certain precautions. It should be a part of a balanced diet and given in moderation to positively affect health.

Eating a strawberry can rarely harm your German shepherd; however, you must keep reading to find out when and how it can become dangerous or fatal for your pup.

Benefits of strawberries for your German Shepherd

Strawberry provides several nutrients to dogs, just as it does to humans. They are a great source of manganese, antioxidants, vitamin C, folates, and fibre.

Vitamin C

Strawberries have plenty of vitamin C, which raises antibodies in your German shepherd, thereby supporting their immune system. It also helps increase interferon in the body that prevents and fights against cancer. Also, its antioxidants help slow down your German shepherd’s aging process.

Antioxidant

As already mentioned, antioxidants are essential to slow down the aging process in your German Shepherds body. They remove the radicals responsible for aging and weakening the Immune system. 

Fibre

Fibre helps your German shepherd feel fuller for a long time. And if you are making your pooch lose some weight, it’s great to have more and more fiber in their diet. Once eaten, fiber turns into fatty acid and helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Some fiber slows down the body’s metabolism, which can regulate diabetes and maintain the blood sugar level.

Manganese

Manganese helps strengthen the bones and joints of your German shepherd. It generates energy, carbohydrates and metabolizes protein. It’s challenging to find manganese in meat; therefore, strawberries can be a great addition to the diet. 

Risks of feeding strawberries to your German Shepherd

Feeding anything in excess amount can be bad for your German shepherd. Just like that, if you feed a lot of strawberries, here’s what can happen-

Upset stomach or Diarrhea

The most accessible possible outcome of eating too many strawberries is an upset stomach or diarrhea. However, the discomfort should only last for 24 hours. Any longer than that could indicate a bigger digestive problem.

They can get overweight

Strawberries contain a huge amount of sugar; you should only give them as a treat. Giving too many strawberries to your German shepherd can make them overweight all too quickly. And getting overweight from too much strawberry sugar can also lead to diabetes.

Thyroid problems

A chemical called goitrogens are present in strawberries that can cause thyroid in German Shepherds. It can hinder the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, and the dog may become more overweight or sedentary.

Allergic reaction

Even if there is a slight chance of your German shepherd being allergic to strawberries, you might want to skip it. If you see reactions like constant itching, diarrhea, or vomiting, it’s probably because they are allergic. The possibility of getting an allergy from a strawberry is less but don’t shy away to consult a vet if you are not sure.

How to feed Strawberries to your German Shepherd properly?

Knowing how strawberries can harm your German shepherd, it’s best to feed them with few precautions. For instance, giving them a raw, unwashed strawberry straight from the plant could be a bad idea. Following the proper methods to feed strawberries to your German shepherd will keep them safe. Here are the few ways you can try feeding strawberries-

• Mash the strawberries and mix them with the regular meal of your German shepherd. A small number of strawberries will spice the flavor and give all the necessary nutrients.
• Freezing the strawberries during summer is a great way to feed your German shepherd something cool. It’s better than ice cream and does a great job at soothing them.
• You can also cut up the slices of strawberries and add them to their Kong. They will always keep working for them and stay entertained.
• And lastly, you can give them strawberries the usual way, just make sure you prepare it nicely.

Preparing strawberries for your German Shepherd

You don’t need a lot of preparation to feed strawberries to your German Shepherds. Just make sure those are hygienic.

There is a good chance they can be covered with chemicals and pest sprays; therefore, washing is the first step to make sure it’s clean and safe to eat.

After washing, you also need to remove the stalk. This will make sure the strawberries are neat and ready to be eaten.

How often you can feed strawberries?

Following a general rule of thumb, 90% of the diet of the German shepherd should be meals, and only 10% should be the treat.

Although you can keep the whole 10% for strawberries, it is not recommended. Feeding all 10% of strawberries will most probably give them an upset stomach.

You can feed to 2-3 strawberries in a day which is a moderate amount, not too much or too little. And if you are feeding it for the first time, make sure you start with less quantity and then increase as they get used to it.

Summing Up,

Now that we know strawberries are a great addition to the German shepherd, just make sure you feed in moderation!

Here’s are the key takeaways:

• Strawberries can improve the health of your German shepherd as they are packed with vitamin C, manganese, fiber, and antioxidants.
• Even with a lot of goodness, too much of it can give them diarrhea, upset stomach, or make them overweight. Make sure not to feed it to a German shepherd if he already have diabetes, allergy, or thyroid problems.
• You can feed strawberries by mashing them up, or freezing them,
• Always wash the strawberries thoroughly and remove the stalks before feeding them.
• Everyday quantity of strawberries should be no more than 10% of their overall diet.

If you follow the precautions, you have nothing to worry about! Add strawberries to the diet of your German shepherd and make it even tastier.

The post Can German Shepherds Eat Strawberries? appeared first on Purrfect Paws.