Can German Shepherds Eat Almonds?

Whenever I enjoy almonds or nuts sitting on the couch my dog stares at me with pining eyes sitting right in front of me. That got me curious about can my German shepherd eat almonds & are almonds safe for dogs?

Can a German shepherd eat almonds? Simply no, but what’s the reason, what is the effect of almonds on dogs, let’s find out in this post.

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Can German Shepherds eat Almonds?

Almonds are healthy for humans but how is it toxic to dogs? Although almonds are non-toxic to dogs like some other nuts they cause many health-related issues if it is given in large quantity or given every so often. Some of the almonds may not be damaging for dogs but these are the type of nuts harder to digest for dogs and also contain high-fat content. Similarly, if your German shepherd happens to eat a few almonds, don’t panic and watch them carefully for any signs of illness.

Almonds are not perilous for dogs but still, you should not feed almonds to your furry pet for some good reasons.

Ideally, you should not share almond-flavored foods with your German shepherd though these are nut-free these products are based on chemicals, additives, artificial sweeteners, salt/sugar, and many other harmful ingredients.

So, can a German shepherd puppy eat almonds? You should not even think about it. German shepherd puppies cannot eat almonds as dogs’ digestive systems cannot handle almonds well and may cause obstruction.

If not Almonds so can German Shepherds eat Almond Butter?

If almond butter is free from additives dogs can eat have it in moderation, this tasty treat is non-toxic for furry animals. Like humans, dogs are madly in love with almond butter and are safe to eat occasionally though feeding them too much regularly may cause severe health issues. Thus, to save your dog from any digestion issue or intestinal distress you need to feed a little quantity of butter treat once a week or ten days.

Also, make sure the almond butter you are going to feed your dog does not contain artificial sweeteners or flavors, ensure this dog treat is free from the toxic ingredient named xylitol.

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Why you should not feed Almonds to your German Shepherd?

Almond in any form plain or seasoned should not be given to dogs even though they are not deadly for four-legged animals in general, but the large quantity may cause many various health problems.

Unlike humans, almonds are not at all easy to digest by dogs due to their sensitive digestion system. To be obvious, feeding dogs too many almonds can cause stomach distress.  As almonds are fat-rich food that not just cause digestive upset in dogs but in long term, might be directed to health hazards such as pancreatitis & obesity.

Usually, almonds available in stores are coated with some kind of seasonings or sugar, or salt, which can badly affect dogs’ health. Excessive feeding of salted almonds can be the reason for water retention and salt poisoning and this may worsen the situation of dogs suffering from heart disease. Besides, candied or sugar-coated almonds can trigger diabetes while gastric upset can be the result of seasoned almonds or almonds with spices.

If you think plain almonds do not affect a dog’s health so you are wrong. Plain almonds are also dangerous for dogs’ well-being. Almonds are a good source of phosphorus and the element is highly likely to form bladder stones if present in the body in large quantities.

As a matter of fact, the digestive system of dogs is not good enough to process almonds’ protein and thus source intestinal obstruction. As well the chances of choking are high on dogs as they love to swallow food without chewing and the hard, small nut can be problematic.

On the other hand, dogs may suffer from allergies due to almonds, some symptoms of allergic reactions include swelling, sneezing, hives, heavy breathing, and cough. These may be the signs of some serious allergy calls for immediate action like consulting your pet veterinarian.

What you should do if your Dog Eats Almonds Accidentally?

  • One to two almonds do not cause any harm to a German shepherd but dog of varied sizes reacts differently to the number of almonds ingestion. In this case, you should keep an eye on your pet for the signs of distress, gagging, vomiting, bloating, and allergy reaction.
  • If you are suspecting your dog ate too many almonds then don’t take the risk and contact your pet consultant for guidance in inducing the vomiting process that is usually done by using hydrogen peroxide (the process is valid for 30 minutes of consumption)
  • In case you missed the time or not succeeded in completing the process so take your dog to the veterinarian for medical treatment.

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