Can German Shepherds Eat Turkey? (When to be Concerned)
Can German Shepherds Eat Turkey?
Many people are unsure if their dog can eat turkey on Thanksgiving or as part of their diet. While some owners may feel comfortable feeding their dogs a small piece of turkey, others may be concerned about the potential health risks.
Can German Shepherds eat turkey? Yes, German Shepherds can eat properly cooked turkey or raw turkey as part of a balanced diet.
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It is high in protein, low in fat, and has high amounts of iron, zinc, selenium, sodium, choline, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamin B complex.
It supports the body by increasing muscle strength, production of energy, formation of amino acids, DNA production, regulation of metabolism, and body normal functioning. Incorporate it in food in small amounts to avoid any issues.
Benefits of turkey for dogs
Turkey is helpful in various ways. It provides the body with various necessary vitamins and minerals. Their benefits are as follows;
1. Protein
Turkey is a high-protein food. Protein is required for musculature growth and function. It provides a cell’s framework and aids in the transportation of nutrients throughout the body.
2. Vitamin B Complex
Turkey meat has a high concentration of B vitamins. There are four important B vitamins present in turkey meat. They are listed below;
- Vitamin B2 named Riboflavin is necessarily required for respiration at the cellular level.
- Vitamin B3 also known as Niacin is necessary for the power manufacturing process and cellular interaction.
- Vitamin B6 known as Pyridoxine aids the configuration of amino acids and assists in the production of neurotransmitters.
- Vitamin B12 is necessary for the production of red blood cell (RBCs) types and the fabrication of DNA.
3. Minerals
Turkey meat has a high amount of essential minerals. They are as follows;
- Selenium (Se) – aids in the production of thyroid hormones, which control your metabolic processes and development leverage ratio.
- Zinc (Zn) – is a mineral required for a variety of physical functions including transcription of gene protein sequencing and enzymatic responses.
- Phosphorous (P) – is important for bone strength.
- It also contains a small amount of magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K).
Feeding turkey to dogs
- Remove the skin. Dogs cannot eat high amounts of fat because it can cause Inflammation of their pancreas and aggravate their GSD stomach.
- Make sure the meat does not have bone fragments in it.
Is ground turkey good for dogs?
Yes, dogs can eat ground turkey as long as it is plain and has no additives. They can eat it raw or cooked.
Is turkey skin bad for dogs?
Yes, turkey skin is bad for dogs. Remove the skin from the turkey before giving it to your dog. The extra fat in the skin can cause pancreatitis.
Can dogs eat turkey gizzards?
Yes, dogs can eat turkey gizzards. If you received some with your turkey at Thanksgiving or Christmas you can cook the turkey gizzards for your dog. Cook them without any added seasoning or salt.
Simply sear them in a frying pan and serve them to your dog when they have cooled enough to eat.
Can dogs eat turkey necks?
Yes, dogs can eat raw turkey necks that are either fully unthawed or frozen. The bones are small enough to not cause an issue. Make sure you watch your dog while they are eating the turkey neck in case there is any choking. Make sure to not feed any cooked bones to your dog. Cooked bones are dangerous.
Does turkey make dogs sick?
No, the turkey itself does not cause any serious health hazards to German Shepherds as long as you remove the skin and do not add any seasoning and salt, or added fats.
Does turkey give dogs diarrhea?
Turkey is normally a much safer diet. In certain conditions, it may be potentially damaging.
Raw turkey may cause diarrhea because of salmonella bacteria. Diarrhea is a severe condition due to food poisoning or overfeeding. It leads to some signs and symptoms like:
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
- Depression
- Dark-colored urine
- Anuria or decreased urination
- Dry skin
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Inability to stand
- Rough hair coat
If your German Shepherd is suffering from diarrhea due to meat intake you need to take them to the nearest vet to avoid serious issues. It may also be lethal.
Diarrhea may cause both behavioral and physiological health issues.
Is turkey better than chicken for dogs?
Despite the fact that they are both birds; turkeys and chickens are two distinct organisms with visible variations in size, appearance, meat flavor, and nutritional values.
Let’s examine the variations between these two bird species.
| Turkey | Chicken |
| Turkey thigh meat is slightly higher in protein than chicken thigh. | Chicken thigh has slightly less protein than turkey thigh meat. |
| Turkey cuts with dark meat are a little leaner and have fewer calories. | Chicken cuts with dark meat have a little more fat. |
| Vitamin A content is 0. | Vitamin A is 2%/100g. |
| They are darker. | They are white. |
| They are bigger and size and thus provide more meat. | They are smaller in size. |
Overall, both types of meat are good in nutrition depending on energy, fat content, and the protein value present across each meat product.
