If you own a german shepherd, you must’ve thought of feeding strawberries to it, especially in summers. But Can german shepherds eat strawberries? are strawberries safe for your german shepherd? The answer is YES! Strawberries are a tasty treat for your german shepherd, and it is delightful to know that they are also mostly safe.
Strawberries are rich in several vitamins and fiber content while having low levels of sugar and fat. This makes strawberries a perfect source of nutrients for your dog, so you should feed strawberries to your dog on a hot summer day.
If you decide to feed strawberries to your german shepherd, then you must be thinking about the benefits that strawberries bring to the table. If you are looking for the benefits, you are at the perfect place because we will be explaining several benefits, threats, and much more information in great detail throughout the article.
Benefits of strawberries to your german shepherd
Now that you know that it is safe for your german shepherd to eat strawberries in limited quantities, you must know about the potential benefits of strawberry consumption. Strawberries are rich in many benefits, and this section will explore those benefits.
Strawberries are rich in antioxidants.
Because German Shepherds are such high-energy dogs, it’s not uncommon to see them succumb to aging prematurely. The fundamental reason for this is that they are experiencing increased oxidative stress. The by-products of the dog’s metabolic activity accumulate in its body, causing oxidative stress.
When oxidative stress levels rise, dogs are more likely to develop disorders including arthritis, kidney failure, and heart failure. Controlling the food and dosing the dog with antioxidants are the only effective ways to combat this.
Hence feeding your german shepherd with strawberries is very beneficial because strawberries are packed with natural antioxidants, which help clear out your dog’s system and keep it healthy.
Strawberries are rich in vital nutrients.
As we highlighted previously, German Shepherds require a well-balanced diet to stay healthy. Strawberry is one of those fruits that can meet your dog’s nutritional needs in various ways. This is because strawberries are fully packed with many vital nutrients for a german shepherd’s body.
Strawberries have a high vitamin C content, which is essential for a german shepherd’s immune system to work properly. Even though german shepherds can produce their own vitamin C, additional vitamin C may not hurt them, and it may even help if your dog is very active.
Strawberries are high in vitamin A, which can help prevent many skin diseases and hair loss. Their skin will be soft, silky, and moisturized if they consume enough vitamin A. This is also important because german shepherds are very playful dogs, and they will need a supplement to help keep their skin healthy and protected from things like sunlight.
Strawberries will improve your dog’s dental health.
Often your german shepherd may have eaten pointy and sticky foods which get stuck in its teeth. Strawberries have an enzyme, malic acid, which helps clean the teeth of your dogs. They also contain certain properties which help whiten your dog’s teeth by removing plaque.
So, giving strawberries to your german shepherd becomes even cooler because it works as a very yummy treat and a natural remedy to improve your dog’s dental health.
A better alternative to most other treats.
According to many experts and veterinarians, strawberries are a better alternative to dog treats because they don’t contain any artificial chemicals. Many treats available in the market contain ingredients like sugar, which can be harmful to your dog. So using strawberries as a treat is the safest option for your german shepherd.
Helps with digestion issues.
Digestion problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, stomach pains, and flatulence, etc., are very common in dogs. Your german shepherd may even suffer from them very often because of the lack of dietary fibers in its diet.
Strawberries contain high amounts of dietary fibers, and they may turn out to be an ideal solution to these digestion problems for your german shepherd.
They have high water content.
As we explained above, strawberries may help with digestion problems; the reason behind that is the high water content in strawberries. This increased water content will keep your german shepherd hydrated as they need a large amount of water because of their playful nature.
Strawberries contain manganese.
Manganese is an ingredient that helps improve the health of your german shepherd’s bones and its joints. It also helps to digest nutrients like protein and carbohydrates, which are usually hard to metabolize.
All of this ends up generating more energy for your german shepherd. Lastly, manganese is not provided to your dog through meat, so it is a good idea to incorporate strawberries into your puppy’s diet so that they are not deprived of manganese.
Strawberries contain folate.
Folate aids in the formation of new cells and the regeneration of existing ones. Folate has also proven to help in the creation of red blood cells for german shepherds. Folate has also proven to lower cancer risk in dogs. If your German shepherd is pregnant, it may benefit from the use of folate. Folate will help in their puppies’ growth and has been shown to decrease cleft palates.
Potential risks attached to feeding strawberries to your german shepherd
While strawberries may be very beneficial for most german shepherds, they may end up being toxic to some as well. We will be explaining the potential side effects of feeding strawberries to your dog.
Canned strawberries may contain harmful ingredients.
Canned or processed strawberries may contain other preservatives and additional sugars, which could leave to obesity for your german shepherd as well as other health problems. Some canned strawberries may even contain a toxic sweetener called Xylitol, which could be harmful to your dog.
You should always avoid giving any canned fruits to your german shepherd, especially canned strawberries. And always contact your dog’s vet first if you are feeding strawberries to your dog for the first time.
Some German shepherds may be allergic to strawberries.
Although strawberry allergies are very rare in german shepherds, some may still be allergic to them. So before feeding your dog strawberries, monitor whether they have any allergies and talk to their vet as a precautionary measure.
It may be very harmful to german shepherds who have diseases.
Strawberries may be harmful to german shepherds who are suffering from diseases such as diabetes. This is because strawberries consist of a significant amount of sugar, and a large amount of sugar intake may increase their blood sugar level.
Secondly, strawberries contain a small amount of acid, which may upset your german shepherd’s stomach and make him sick again. So always take special care of your dog’s existing condition before feeding them strawberries.
Your german shepherd may become overweight.
You should only offer strawberries to your german shepherd as a treat because they are pretty high in their sugar content. If you overfeed your german shepherd strawberries, there is a very high chance that your german shepherd may become obese. Being overweight will make them prone to diseases like diabetes and irregular blood pressure.
Upset Stomach and Diarrhea
Of course, your German shepherd is more than likely to develop an upset stomach and diarrhea. Fortunately, merely laying off the strawberries will allow them to recover in about 24 hours. However, it can be rather unpleasant at the moment.
May cause thyroid problems.
Goitrogen is a substance that is found in strawberries and might lead to problems for your german shepherd. These problems are related to thyroid malfunction, and you will notice that your dog has become extremely lethargic and overweight.
Make sure that strawberries are less than 10 percent of your german shepherd’s diet so that they do not get sick by consuming strawberries.
How to feed strawberries safely to your german shepherd?
Now that you know how beneficial strawberries are for German shepherds, the next logical issue is how to feed them properly. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered!
Before we get started, remember that strawberries should not be served to German Shepherds in large quantities. Just because strawberries are good for you doesn’t mean you may eat as many as you want. Excessive strawberry consumption can cause severe indigestion and diarrhea in children.
Strawberries should make up no more than 5% of an adult German Shepherd’s fresh fruit and vegetable diet. It is possible to raise it by 10% for senior dogs. When it comes to elderly dogs, it’s usually best to contact a veterinarian before deciding how much to feed them.
To make sure those disadvantages do not affect your dog, we will discuss how to feed strawberries to your dog safely. You need to follow the following steps to be 100 percent safe properly.
- Wash them thoroughly: This will help make sure that no dirt particles or any harmful chemicals remain on the strawberries. So that your german shepherd does not get sick.
- Cut them into smaller pieces: This is to prevent choking so that there are no potential fatal risks to your dog.
- Puree them: If your German shepherd is a puppy, it will be best to puree the strawberries so the little guy can enjoy the taste of strawberries without being at risk of choking or anything.
- Give them as a whole: If your German shepherd is big, giving strawberries as a whole will be a fun way for your dog to eat as it can play with the strawberries as well.
Are strawberries safe for baby german shepherds?
Fruits should not be fed to them until they are three months old. The puppies‘ digestive system is still in development mode, and they will only be capable of handling these fruits by the end of three months.
You should start by feeding strawberries to your puppy in small amounts and look for any symptoms which may highlight an allergic reaction. The symptoms may include itching, difficulty breathing, and loose stools. But the symptoms are not just limited to the conditions mentioned above; there may even be more symptoms.
If everything appears to be in order, you can begin giving them strawberries as a treat now and then. Two or three strawberries, mashed and mixed with their diet, are recommended for smaller puppies.
Are canned strawberries safe for german shepherds?
No, you should not feed canned food to your dog. Anything that has been sugared or packed in syrup should not be fed to them. The added sugar and chemicals in canned food can cause problems for your dog.
These problems may even be exaggerated if your dog already has diabetes. The blood sugar levels may shoot up, which may cause heart problems for your german shepherd.
The artificial sweetener Xylitol is the principal offender in these canned food items. Xylitol is specifically poisonous for dogs. Even little amounts can induce seizures, liver failure, and even death in dogs.
Hence it is never recommended to feed them canned foods! Even if you think that your canned strawberries do not include any amount of Xylitol, you should still contact the vet before your german shepherd consumes them.
How often should you feed strawberries to your german shepherd?
As a general rule, roughly 10 percent of your german shepherd’s diet should consist of snacks and fruits, while their main meals should account for the remaining 90 percent. While strawberries can fill the 10 percent, it is not suggested. They’ll be more prone to issues like an upset stomach, as well as becoming bored.
Hence the 10 percent should be inclusive of all the fruits your german shepherd consumes on a daily basis.
To ensure your dog doesn’t receive too many strawberries, you should feed them two to three every day. Remember, when it comes to introducing strawberries to your canine, it’s best to start with small amounts and then increase the amount gradually.
Final Thoughts
Strawberries are a good source of many nutrients for your german shepherds that they may not be getting from their diets otherwise. But it is important to consider any side effects before feeding them to your dog.
Follow the proper way to feed strawberries to your dog and always watch out for any allergies/ previous diseases that your german shepherd may be suffering from. Lastly, strawberries are a delicious treat, so do not deprive your four-legged friend of this amazing fruit!
