Being the owner of a pup, I know how much love these little creatures can bring to your life. You almost become a kind of parent for them. I am not exaggerating, it’s true, right? Whatever you eat, you give the very first bite to your cute little buddy and then you eat, if they get sick, you also lose your appetite.
But the question here is that do you give each and everything to your pet without knowing about their effects? Not at all! That must be your answer because we can’t compromise on the health of our pets, right? We need to know about both the positive and negative effects of the food we are giving to our pets.
So, when summer is all high, watermelons have all ripened up and got juicy and everyone in the house is going to eat them. How can you leave your German Shepherd behind? But can a German shepherd eat watermelon or not? This question will keep hitting your mind and that’s what I have discussed in this article in detail.
Can German Shepherds Eat Watermelon?
The answer is yes! Watermelons have nothing to do with toxicity if given responsibly and in controlled amounts as they are the most refreshing and healthy food that you can give to your puppies. Even US service animals have approved that watermelons are safe to feed dogs and offer great health benefits. Whether fresh or frozen, dogs love to eat them.
Watermelons are rich in vitamin A, C, B6, Lycopene, Potassium, and much more that are of great nutritive value for dogs.
Benefits Of Watermelon To German shepherds:
From the above discussion, one thing is clear that feeding watermelon to a German shepherd promises several health benefits. But what are those? Let’s take a closer look at it.
Rich in Potassium
Potassium is the most important mineral or electrolyte in the body that tends to keep your dog energetic and healthy. It aids in regulating muscle contractions, nerve signals and keeps the heart functioning properly. Potassium deficiencies can make your dog feel tired all the time with no appetite.
However, watermelon might not be the main source of potassium for German shepherds but offers a significant amount of this electrolyte to keep your dog animated all the time. Potassium tends to keep the level of electrolytes maintained and as it works great for the muscular and nervous system, so feeding them watermelon in moderate amounts after a heavy exercise is a great way to blow all the tiredness away and prevent fatigue.
For the math portion, an average amount of watermelon that is safe for your dog is 150 grams and one cup of diced watermelon consists of 170 grams of potassium.
Great for hydration
Summer is the season of severe dehydration that water solely can’t beat whether it’s humans or dogs. That’s why we take fruits and juices as an additional source to prevent overheating in hot summer months. And as watermelons are 92% composed of water, they work great to keep your GSD cool and if chilled or frozen, it would add more to the joy.
House of Vitamins
Vitamins are those organic molecules that are needed in very small amounts but if not present, the whole metabolism of the body can deteriorate. Several vitamins are required of German shepherds and watermelon is a great source of those essential vitamins needed for healthy metabolic functioning.
- Vitamin B6: This vitamin helps in protein synthesis, leads to the secretion of hormones, and builds a stronger immune system.
- Vitamin A: This one is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for vision, reproduction, healthy skin, immunity, nerve functioning, and much more.
- Vitamin C: A vitamin that acts as a major antioxidant in the body and demolishes harmful free radicals from the body and tends to alleviate inflammation and boost cognitive functioning.
Rich in Lycopene
Lycopene is a very essential nutrient having antioxidant properties that are mostly present in pink or red fruits such as watermelons, tomatoes, and grapefruit, etc. As German Shepherds are most likely to develop cancer, Lycopene tends to maintain heart health, improve vision, provide protection from sunburns, and prevent certain types of cancers such as Lungs cancer, larynx, and esophagus.
According to the estimation made by the American Veterinary Medical Association for health issues, each year 27 million dogs are diagnosed with cancer and 50% of German shepherds die over the age of 10 because of cancer. Association of Lycopene with several other nutrients such as Vitamin D, zinc, Vitamin E, and zeaxanthin works great in reducing eyesight issues in older dogs.
Maintains body weight
Usually, German shepherds don’t gain weight quickly but when they gain, it happens suddenly and you will notice it someday randomly. Watermelons play a great part here too as it contains a very low calories count that can prove to be the best alternative to the weight-gaining treats that you might be giving to your dog.
Furthermore, it enhances the body’s arginine levels that in return boosts the fat-burning ability of the body and helps your dog to get back to its original weight.
Are there any negative effects of feeding watermelon to German shepherds?
Although watermelons are very safe and nutritious, too much consumption in a single day can lead to an upset stomach for your pup. There are several precautionary measures that you need to follow before offering them watermelons, so before any delays let’s get straight into them.
Remove the seeds
No doubt the flesh part of watermelons is highly nutritious but you need to remove the seeds before giving them to the dog. Seeds are hard to digest and can lead to gastrointestinal blockage, bloating, and even stomachaches. Because whenever you offer this juicy and delicious fruit to them, they will come running to eat it and they can’t take care of themselves.
As an owner, you need to follow those measures for them and it becomes your duty to make sure that you don’t forget to remove the seeds before giving watermelon to the dog.
Remove the rind
Not only seeds are a problem, but the rind is also hazardous for the German shepherds. As it is hard to bite and its sharp edges can cause problems while chewing. If swallowed, it can cause an upset stomach and blockages. So, remove the rind also and then give watermelon to your GSD.
Cut into smaller pieces
Cutting the flesh of watermelon into smaller pieces is not only easier to chew and digest for your doggie but also helps you to make sure that you have removed all the seeds and now it is safe to give them to the dog.
How much watermelon should a German shepherd eat in a day?
Too much watermelon can lead to diarrhea and upset stomachs in your dog. Give them watermelon but in a very moderate quantity of about ½ cup to the adults and less to the pups.
Preventative vet experts advised that whatever you feed to your dog either fruits or vegetables it should not exceed more than 10% of your dog’s caloric intake.
Each cup of watermelon contains approximately 50 calories and a dog weighing up to 60lbs is allowed to consume 1200 calories each day through watermelons. 10% of this calorie count is 120 calories and you can feed them 2 cups of watermelon every day.
Can watermelon cause allergies to German shepherds?
Yes! It can but cases are very rare. GSDs can be allergic to watermelons but you can’t be sure at the start if your dog is the one. So, when you start giving your pup watermelons, give them a very little amount and if you don’t see any signs of allergies or any other problems, then you can increase the amount.
Symptoms that you may notice if your dog is allergic to watermelons are coughing, vomiting, bloating, sneezing and diarrhea, etc. In case of severe allergies, round rashes called hives can appear, you may sense them having difficulty in breathing and swellings, etc can be fatal in extreme cases.
So, if you are intimidated and confused, whether you should feed watermelon to your German shepherd or not, consult your vet.
Conclusion:
That’s a wrap for this article. So can German shepherds eat watermelon? I hope that you have got all of your doubts cleared regarding this question.
Yes! Watermelons are of great nutritional value to them including vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants and you can give them in both a fresh and frozen state. Also, take care of all the precautionary measures because these little things if not followed properly can prove to be very hazardous for your pet.
- Remove the rind
- Feed them watermelon in moderate amounts
- Remove the seeds
- Chop the fruit into smaller pieces
Be careful while feeding your pup anything and if your dog is vomiting, bloating, or coughing, or in case of any uncertainty, consult your veterinarian immediately.
