If you are a German Shepherd owner, you might have seen your furry friend enjoying a whole apple sometimes. Even though you might be glad to see your dog enjoying the apple, you may have concerns about its safety regarding your dog eating it. So can German Shepherds eat an apple? Yes! German Shepherds can safely eat apples, excluding the stem and seeds.
There are a few benefits of consuming apples for your dog as well. When fed in moderation, apples bring lots of benefits for your German Shepherd. These benefits include improved overall health, a stronger immune system, healthier aging, and protection against chronic illnesses such as cancer.
Apples are a good treat for your dog because they are cultivated almost all around the world and are available all 365 days of the year.
At the same time, apples also bring many risks; one of these risks is poisoning because apple seeds contain cyanide. To understand more about the risks and benefits of apples for German Shepherds, we will start by analyzing the benefits.
Benefits of eating apples for German Shepherds
Apples are delicious and are mostly loved by German Shepherds. Because of their abundant production, they may not even be a strain on your pocket. Apples are also rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, pectin, etc. All of these vitamins help your dog stay healthy and active, all of which make apple an ideal fruit for your dog.
Even though apples are abundant in nutrients, they still need to be fed in moderation to lower the risks. We will be talking about certain ingredients that apples contain and that make them beneficial for German Shepherds.
Apples contain fiber
Apples are rich in both types of fiber; soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibers are helpful in better nutrient absorption. Insoluble fibers help ease the digestion process because they help eliminate harmful bacteria from a German Shepherd’s gut. This helps improve the bowel movement, which helps improve a German Shepherd’s overall health.
Apples contain a variety of phytochemicals.
Apples are a good source of several phytochemicals such as quercetin, anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid, and catechins. Nutritionists rarely consider the presence of phytochemicals when deciding a diet plan for German Shepherds, but phytochemicals are still very important.
They boost a German Shepherd’s immunity; they additionally help your dog stay active at a very old age as well. They protect your dog’s eye and cardiovascular health and help keep them away from cancer.
Apples contain vitamin C
Vitamin C, a nutrient, is a stimulant for immunity, and the vitamin C content in apples helps boost a German Shepherd’s immunity. This makes them better equipped to fight viral diseases, several types of bacteria, and other toxins. As a cherry on top, vitamin C also helps in the healthier aging of your dog.
Apples are a great source of keeping your German Shepherd’s dental health in check.
When a German Shepherd chews on small apple pieces, it helps clean their teeth and fight smelly breath.
Apples also help with constipation and diarrhea.
The fiber and phytochemical content in apples help improve digestion for German Shepherds.
Are there any dangers of apple consumption?
If you feed a lot of apples to your German Shepherd, there will be issues. Stomach discomfort and diarrhea are the most prevalent side effect your German Shepherd may experience. Just like the case with humans, a large amount of fiber can prove to be harmful to your dog.
To understand how apples are good and bad for a German Shepherd, you need to look at both; the bad and the good side. In this part, we will be explaining how apples may turn out to be dangerous for your dog.
Apples can result in choking.
As we know, German Shepherds are very active and playful animals; they sometimes very quickly swallow apples and end up choking on them. Choking has been more apparent in baby German Shepherds than adult German Shepherds.
So if you plan on feeding apples to your puppy, make sure to cut them into smaller pieces to prevent any choking.
Apple seeds can be poisonous for German Shepherds.
Apple seeds contain cyanide, which is a chemical compound and contains sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide, which could both be very poisonous for your dog.
Do not allow a German Shepherd to consume apple seeds. Apple seeds are known to contain cyanide in small concentrations. Even though a few seeds may not harm your dog’s health, a larger amount may lead to several health problems such as abnormal heart rate and digestion problems.
A very large amount of seeds may even lead to cyanide poisoning, which could kill your dog. So it is always better to be careful.
Apples have high sugar content.
Apples are pretty high in their natural sugar content. If you feed apples to your German Shepherd in smaller quantities, it might not face any health issues. However, if your dog consumes a large number of apples, it may suffer from a sugar overdose. This could lead to an abnormal blood pressure level, and your dog could even become obese.
A high sugar level also leads to diabetes, and if your dog is already suffering from diabetes, it will not be a good idea to give it apples.
If a German Shepherd already has a chronic illness, like diabetes or cancer, see your veterinarian before giving them any.
Apples may be harmful to German Shepherds if they have any previous allergies.
Finally, a German Shepherd may have allergic reactions due to the consumption of apples, in rare cases. Apple contains certain components which may not suit your German Shepherd’s body, and your dog may have an allergic reaction as a result. They may get an anaphylactic shock if they are allergic to apples.
Take your dog for a vet appointment if you see any symptoms such as coughing, swelling, breathing difficulties, etc. And before deciding between feeding apples to your allergic dog, contact the vet and discuss it thoroughly.
Now that you know about the advantages and disadvantages of eating apples for your German Shepherd, you may want to know about the safest way of feeding apples to your four-legged friend. If you are wondering that, you are just at the right place because we have got you covered.
How to safely feed apples to German Shepherds
Most importantly, if your dog has an apple for the first time, make sure you start with a small piece.
Before eating any more apples, be sure he isn’t allergic to them. While it’s improbable that he’ll react, it’s still necessary to wait as long as you can.
You’re in luck if your dog doesn’t have an allergic reaction to apples. The ideal approach to feed a delicious apple to a German Shepherd is to do the following:
- Thoroughly clean the apple. Unless you choose organic, there’s no way of knowing what pesticides and residues have been left on the apple’s skin. However, your dog’s health depends on a complete cleaning before consumption.
- Make sure to cut out the core and seeds from the apple. It’s critical to get rid of the core since it can harm your dog’s teeth if you don’t. Seeds, on the other hand, could be harmful to your dog. Before offering it to your furry friend, make sure you remove every seed.
- Serve to your dog (and take pleasure in it)! There are a few various approaches to this. You can get away with merely chopping the apple in half, removing the seeds, and serving if you have a larger dog. If you’re working with a smaller German Shepherd, such as a 12-month old, break the meat into smaller pieces for easier chewing.
It’s very straightforward, as it’s the same method you’d use to make a nutritious apple snack for yourself. The next time you’re eating an apple, feel free to toss a few to a friend.
You can also boil and mash the apple to produce a healthy homemade apple sauce that you can offer on its own or mix in with your favorite dog chow in his bowl. This is the finest option for a German Shepherd that dislikes the taste of apples at first. A tiny scoop of applesauce could be the difference between success and failure.
Knowing about the safe ways of feeding apples to your dog makes it even more attractive to incorporate apples into its diet. But how many apples are safe for a German Shepherd? Read along to find out!
What is the appropriate amount of apples for a German Shepherd?
Now that you understand why and how you’re probably asking how many apples you should offer the German Shepherd. And, like any other food you give your dog, the key is to feed it to your dog in moderation.
Apples include many vitamins and minerals that are extremely beneficial to your dog. However, fructose is another component in apples that can affect your pet negatively in the long run. Fructose is a carbohydrate formed from sugars, and feeding your dog too much sugar is never a good idea.
This is because a high sugar level leads to several problems such as diabetes and obesity etc.
So, how much is sufficient? A half-apple every day is sufficient for a German Shepherd puppy. A full apple may be safe for adult German Shepherds, but only when they do not swallow the seeds and stems of apples as well.
A general rule of thumb for every German Shepherd’s diet still stands. Apples should not comprise more than 10 percent of your dog’s diet per day.
The simplest way to remember how many apples your dog can eat is to think of it as an apple a day that keeps the vet away. It’s a well-worn adage, yet it applies to humans and dogs. And this is a simple way to keep yourself from overfeeding applies to your dog.
Can German Shepherds eat an apple peel?
Some German Shepherds may quickly eat apple peels and not be bothered by them, but others may experience indigestion by consuming apple peels. It’s usually better to remove the apple peel before giving your dog an apple. But that does not cancel out the possibility of them eating it. It’s only to lessen the risk of indigestion.
Apple peel overall is not that harmful to your dog. However, if it is not thoroughly cleaned and has external preserving chemicals, your dog may suffer from digestion issues, and several allergies could even develop.
How often should you feed apples to your dog?
Apples should be consumed in moderation due to their high sugar and fiber content. It will be good to eat a few slices every couple of days. In general, however, you shouldn’t give too many apples to the German Shepherd every day.
If you’re unsure how often to give a German Shepherd an apple and other goodies, talk to your veterinarian first and discuss the possible side-effects that could occur, specific to your dog. If you are feeding apples as a treat to your dog, you can limit the amount to 10 percent of the dog’s entire diet.
Conclusion
Apple is a delicious fruit that German Shepherds enjoy chewing on. For your dog to gain complete benefits from eating an apple, make sure to remember the following points.
- Apples include components like fiber, vitamin C, and phytochemicals, beneficial to German Shepherds.
- Ensure to wash the apples, remove their peel and cut out the core and seeds before feeding the apple to your dog.
- If your dog consumes a lot of apples, it may have stomach problems and constipation.
- Before modifying your dog’s diet by adding new foods to it, you should visit a veterinarian.
- Take the German Shepherd to the vet if you observe them having any allergic reactions.
- Don’t overfeed your dog with apples at once. It’s more than plenty to have one once in a few days.
Lastly, don’t be afraid when your dog eats an apple because apples are beneficial overall. So don’t deprive your four-legged friend of this tasty fruit!
