What Should I Not Feed My Jack Russell Terrier? List + Tips

Jack Russells are a small dog breed and also have different health issues passing from its breed. Especially due to what they eat. So, it is important to be careful with the food that you feed them.Therefore, I hope to discuss what foods shouldn’t we feed for Jack Russell Terriers. 

So, what should I not feed my Jack Russell Terrier? There are few foods that you should not feed your JRT. Always try to avoid fast foods or artificially flavoured foods. And also, it is recommended to avoid Grapes and raisins, hops & yeast, onions, garlic, avocado, almonds, Macadamia nuts, pepper, chocolate, egg whites, Rhubarb leaves, and dried fruits.

Moreover, if you are concerned about their weight gain, you should feed them according to a consistent feeding schedule for their comfort and avoid them gaining weight. Always try to avoid feeding them with artificial flavoring food or fast foods.

Also, when you give meat to your Jack Russell, always try to purchase less chemical associated meat. Moreover, there are proper feeding times and methods for Jack Russells. You can find those comprehensive topics from our previous posts.

Sometimes, Jack Russells suffer from bad health conditions due to their diets. And if you are a new dog parent to Jack Russell Terriers, you may have doubts about their diets specially, the foods you should avoid. 

Also, you may be wondering if human foods are good for your Jack Russell. Once you finish reading this post, you will find the answers.

And also, you can know the principles of proper feeding. As you pay attention to your food, remember to check on your Jack Russells’s food too.

Let’s dive in!

What should I not feed my Jack Russell?

You should never feed your Jack Russells with the following food, and if you did accidentally, take it to a vet immediately.

1. Grapes and raisins

Researchers have found out that grapes and raisins may cause kidney failure in dogs. Vomiting is the first symptom and then kidney failure within 3-5 days.

2. Hops and yeast

Hops can cause diseases with Jack Russells, like hyperthermia. And also, yeast leads to intestinal blockage or internal fermentation.

3. Onions and garlic

The main cause for hemolytic anemia with the dog is eating onions and garlic. It causes the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells.

4. Avocado

If your dog eats a little portion of avocado, there is nothing to worry about. It may cause diarrhea or vomiting. But if it eats more than one avocado, take it to a vet immediately.

5. Almonds

You should not feed your dog with almonds. Their digestive system is not digesting almonds well.  

6. Alcohol 

Do not give your dog alcohol. Because yeast and hops contained in alcohol are toxic to dogs.

7. Pepper

Pepper in their diet causes digestive disorders.

8. Chocolate

When you find the answers to “what I should not feed my Jack Russell” chocolate is one food that you should always keep in your mind. Because most probably many dog owners like to feed their dogs with chocolates as dogs love to eat chocolates.

But It contains caffeine that is poisonous for your Jack Russell.

9. Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are rich in buttery taste that your Jack Russell will love to eat. Some symptoms in dogs who eat macadamia nuts are weakness in the back legs, vomiting, and diarrhea.

10. Egg shells

Egg shells contain avidin. This causes serious skin, coat, and health disorders.

11. Rhubarb Leaves

As rhubarb leaves taste better, it is poisonous for your Jack Russell causing excessive salivation, lethargy, and kidney failures.

12. Dried Fruits

Dried fruits contain cyanide. Jack Russell’s digestive system is not adopted for this chemical, and the result will be an organ damage.

The best diet for Jack Russell

Already you found the answers to your problem “what I should not feed my Jack Russell”? Now, let’s identify how to prepare the best diet for Jack Russells.

Following preconditions should be fulfilled in your dog’s meal.

1. Caloric Requirements

Jack Russells are an energetic dog breed. Usually, their weight record is between 13 – 17 pounds.

They need approximately 450-650 calories per day. So remember their meals have enough calories.

2. Type of Food

For a healthy diet, at least 75% dry kibble should be included in their meal. Crunchy food helps to reduce the plaque and tartar on their teeth, which is a common health problem for Jack Russells.

Below are some ideas for homemade foods for your Jack Russell will love to eat.

• Chicken & Quinoa
• Beef & Barley
• Lamb & Brown Rice

3. Ingredients

It is good to feed your Jack Russell with meat that contains proteins. And avoid feeding them with wheat or corn.

Also, remember to avoid chemical preservatives. Always try to feed the dog with easy digestive food types.

4. Food Allergies

Allergies are common in this small dog breed. If there is a food allergy, their skin can be red, dry, itchy. And the condition becomes much worse with excessive licking and biting of the skin.

It will create patches of hair loss. Containing unusual proteins, or carbohydrate food can be an allergy to your Jack Russell. Consult a vet immediately before turning the condition worse.

Is human food good for Jack Russells?

When you go through the section on what I should not feed my Jack Russell, you may see it is so difficult to feed a Jack Russell, and it is a cost to adopt a Jack Russell. But it is not like that.

You can feed your Jack Russell with the food that you consume daily. Moreover, they will help to boost the immunity system of your dog.

• Blueberries 

A great snack for your dog.

• Broccoli 

Good source of fiber and vitamin C.

• Carrots 

Carrots are good for your Jack Russell but remember to cook or dehydrate them because raw carrots can be hard for your dog to digest.

• Peanut Butter 

Your dog will love to eat peanut butter anytime. It contains healthy fats, vitamin B, E, etc. Purchase unsalted and low-sugar peanut butter.

• Salmon 

Salmon contains omega 3 fatty acids, which are compulsory for your dog. Whether you like to eat salmon or not, your dog definitely will.

• Pumpkin 

This is one of the best digestive aids that helps with diarrhea in your Jack Russell.

• Cheese 

You can feed your Jack Russell if your dog is not lactose intolerant. Low-fat cheese is best.

• Apple Slices 

Few apple slices will freshen your dogs’ breath.

• Cucumber

This Contains antioxidants.

• White Rice

Provide all the essential vitamins and minerals your Jack Russell needs to stay healthy.

Principles of proper feeding

It is not only a healthy and balanced diet that makes your Jack Russell healthy. You should know how to feed your Jack Russell properly. The following guide will help you with that.

• If you want to have a healthy Jack Russell, feed them twice a day. This will help them to maintain proper weight.
• Feed JRTs according to a schedule. Same time every day. So its digestive system adjusts to food intake, and it will be more efficient. 
• Nearly it takes a week to adapt to a new food type for your Jack Russell. So, give them enough time to adapt to the food type and do not allow your dog to stay hungry during that period.
• Avoid feeding them with cooked meals which prepared for other members in the house. It may cause many health issues as well as weight gain.
• Water should always be available to Jack Russell. 

These principles are different when you feed a Jack Russell puppy.

• A Jack Russell puppy should be fed 04 meals a day during it’s first 03 months. Then decrease it to 03 meals per day until it turns 06 months old. Then you can switch to 02 meals per day. 
• A puppy diet should be rich in protein. As it is very important for their growth. Such as repair of injured cells, the immune system, and strengthening organs, etc.

Conclusion

Now you may not have more doubts on “what I should not feed my Jack Russell?” as this article mentioned those food types and what you should feed your Jack Russell as well as how to feed it properly. However, every Jack Russell has its individual needs and health conditions. 

As a good dog owner, you should identify those and consider their size and allergic conditions when you feed them. And there is no need to spend a lot of money on your Jack Russell Terrier for their food.

You can purchase good quality and healthy dog foods if you are fine with that. On the other hand, you can make a healthy and balanced diet for your Jack Russell at home.

Also, your dog will love those. So decide what is best for you and your dog. Always remember to take care of the meal of your Jack Russell as you care about your child’s diet.

Thank you for reading this post. Stay tuned with Jack Russell Owner for more interesting posts about your favorite dog breed.