Why Are Dog Owners Questioning Commercial Dog Food
Nutrition is an important topic, so I’ve decided to share how I manage the nutritional needs of my dogs. And from the title of this article, you can already tell I feed my dogs a raw diet.
If the thought of feeding your GSD a raw diet is scary, you’re not alone. There’s a ton of information out there.
Some good, some bad, and some dangerous. And because you love your dog it’s natural for you to be cautious.
I was cautious too. I needed to be 100% sure I was choosing the best raw food for my German Shepherds.
But the more I researched, the more scared I became of feeding my dogs’ kibble
First, I want to say that this is not about making kibble feeders feel bad. I was a long-time kibble feeder too.
Feeding a raw diet might not be for you. And that’s okay. You can still opt for kibble, but with a few changes
- Switch to grain-free kibble.
- Choose a kibble that’s certified organic and made with whole foods.
- Go with a company that manufactures in small batches. These foods usually have a shorter shelf life, which is good.
Or better yet, start cooking for your dog. It’s way better than any kibble diet in the world.
For years large commercial food manufacturers have been filling their products unknown to us. Packaging it up all pretty. And selling it as a complete diet.
But you’re not here to read about my rant. You’re here to find the best raw food for German Shepherds. Right?
Find A Mentor Or Raw Feeding Chat Group
You will find there are plenty of experienced dog owners who love to help. We have a great group in our if you want to join us.
One day, you can return the favor and help another puppy owner realize how simple it is to raise puppies on raw!
RELATED: Raw feeding is important, but so are other aspects of raising a puppy. Read this: Taking The Risk Out Of Puppy Shots.
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German Shepherds And Meats
German Shepherds , are strong, noble dogs. They get their energy and a lot of nutrition from meats, but which meats are the best for them?
Mostly, youll want to feed this lovable pet rich sources of protein, and here is a list of meats and how much protein they have in them :
| Meat | |
| 20.2 | 7.2 |
As you can see, bison has a lot of protein, and the grams of protein dont vary that much between chicken, beef, and turkey. All of these are good options, but its also important to keep in mind that German Shepherds also need a good amount of fat to power their energy-filled lives.
Most of these meats are best served to German Shepherds cooked, in order to avoid possible food contamination and viruses. No one likes sick dogs, and we all definitely dislike cleaning up after them.
Curious what else German Shepherds can eat? Maybe what they cant? Ive got you covered.
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Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Food
Rating:
Puppy Large Breed is one of 14 dry recipes rated in our review of the Purina Pro Plan Puppy product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Profile: All life stages
- Best for:German shepherd puppy or adult
Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy obtains the major portion of its meat protein from chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 15% fat and 45% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.
A classic, field-tested formula with controlled calcium and phosphorus ratios making this option ideal for German shepherd puppies.
Recommended with confidence.
Sample buyer reviewMy puppy absolutely loves this food! She can never wait to get her next meal! Her coat is soft & shiny! Highly recommend this product!
Swapping Puppy Food Brands
You should initially feed the same diet the puppy was eating before you adopted them.
Consider continuing with this diet and then with the equivalent adult dog formulation.
If you plan to change to a different food do not do so in the first few weeks.
Then gradually include increasing proportions of the new food over a period of two to four weeks.
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Can German Shepherds Eat Human Food
German Shepherds can eat human foods. Dogs evolved from wolves thousands of years ago, and as they lived alongside humans, they shared food. Therefore, we mustnt forget that dogs historically ate people food long before dog food was invented.
As society advanced and dog ownership grew, table scraps and leftovers were never enough to feed our dogs, and so in the 1850s, the first dog biscuit was created by businessman James Spratt.
The biscuit was made from wheat, vegetables, beetroot, and bound with beef blood and was the start of commercial dry dog food as we know it. By the 1920s, canned wet food was also in production.
Learn More on the History of Dog Food Including the Scientific Answer Why Dogs Can Eat People Food
Can German Shepherds Eat Chicken Fat
Yes, you can feed your german shepherd chicken fat but its not recommended because there is a high possibility that your dog could get sick.
If it comes to choosing between feeding them the fat or not feeding them at all, go ahead and feed them but keep an eye on them in case they start vomiting or seem to be ill.
Also Check: Lpc King Shepherds
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Food Requirements Of German Shepherd Puppies
Puppies have the ability to store energy in a seemingly endless way. This means that they need a constant supply of calories the right types of calories to keep their energy levels high and help them become happy and healthy adult dogs.If this is the first time you have a German shepherd puppy, you are probably going to ask yourself some questions about your diet. Feeding a puppy is very different from feeding an adult dog . Younger children need to maintain a regular feeding schedule and their growing bodies require more nutrients from their food than adult dogs.
Questions like
- How much food should I give my puppy?
- How many times a day should I feed my puppy?
- How much should a puppy eat?
If you do not follow the proper guidelines one can simply be supercharged to your puppy or have it lacking nutrients and minerals vital for its growth.
As a general rule, it can be said that you are feeding your puppy excessively if he can not see or feel his rib cage.
While, for humans, this is considered a sign of malnutrition, it is actually a guide you can use to help find out if your puppy is getting enough calories from his diet.
Benefits Of Raw Meat To Dogs
While raw food is usually 98 percent digestive, processed foods are just 80 percent digestible. It means that fresh food is more effective in terms of delivering nutrients.
Also, many people believe that a fresh meal consisting primarily of raw meat is more representative of what German Shepherds would consume in the wild.
Furthermore, dogs that eat raw meat are healthy since their bodies are well adapted for such a diet and less prone to stomach disorders, which are widespread in GSDs.
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Dont Forget The Supplements
Even if youre feeding free-range, organic meats, the earth is not what it used to be. Your puppy will benefit from some supplementation.
Supplements to consider include:
- Phytoplankton whole food nutrition that contains nearly every nutrient your dog needs
- Nutritional herbs alfalfa, dandelion leaf, nettle and more
- Probiotics friendly bacteria that protects the body from bacteria, viruses and fungi
- Digestive enzymes break down and absorb nutrients from food
- Bovine colostrum helps to build a strong immune system
What Your German Shepherd Should Be Eating
Your German Shepherd should be getting a balanced diet and it needs to contain all the nutrients they require. If youre feeding them an unbalanced diet and theyre eating unhealthy foods, youre going down a path that will lead to health problems and expensive vet bills.
Do what you can now to make sure that your German Shepherds diet is the best it can be so you dont have to worry about certain dietary health problems popping up in the future.
There are plenty of different foods you can feed your German Shepherd, but you should keep their diet consistent and avoid too much variation in the foods they eat.
Identifying which kind of foods you want to feed your German Shepherd is important so you can adjust their diet accordingly.
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Ground Beef Chicken Liver Veggies Mix
This one is among our favorite German Shepherd raw diet recipes. Easy to digest and packed with all the essential nutrients GSDs need.
Ingredients
If Their Digestive System Is Weak
Meat can aggravate digestive problems, so if your german-shepherd has one, you should think twice about feeding them raw meat.
Once again, the greatest part you can do is listen to your veterinarians recommendations. There are a variety of dog meals available for german shepherds who have digestive problems. So, before switching your german shepherds diet to raw meat, understand more about them.
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Keep your dog healthy and fit with this easy peasy homemade recipe its cheaper than store-bought and chockfull of fresh veggies!
I never thought I would be one of those dog owners who made homemade human food for their pups. Not in a million years.
But when Butters recently fell sick with an upset stomach, our vet advised us to feed him a bland diet chicken and rice without any kind of seasoning. So thats what we did we poached a chicken, shredded it in a food processor, and mixed in some white rice and fed him this bland diet for 3 days.
Thats when I started to do some research on homemade dog food, and I have been so amazed as to how many different kinds of vegetables dogs can have. And with the help of Balance IT, you can create so many different recipes for your pup!
Now the best part about making homemade dog food just like making anything at home is that you know exactly what is going into the dog bowl, and not any of that questionable gelatinous gunk from the canned food.
But its important to note that dogs have different nutrient requirements than humans for their proportional body size, such as:
Now this recipe here has a balance of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains, but the ratios can easily be adjusted to suit your pups breed and/or needs.
Cereals And Grains That German Shepherds Can Eat
All cereals and grains are carbohydrates, and this list contains common carbohydrate foods like pasta and breads that have been made using grains.
German Shepherds do need carbohydrates in their diet, but too much can lead to sugar-related health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and pancreatitis.
Cereals, grains, and related carbohydrates are good sources of fiber to aid in healthy digestion. However, too much and they will cause your German Shepherd to get diarrhea.
German Shepherds are also prone to bloating, which may be triggered or aggravated by cereals and grains, so you will need to assess your particular German Shepherds reaction to these foods.
Bloating in dogs is not the same as boating in humans. In dogs, it is known as Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, and it is a life-threatening condition in which the stomach can actually twist and cut off the blood supply to the stomach and other organs.
Some people recommend grain-free diets for German Shepherds, and you can consult your veterinarian about the advantages of this option.
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What Are The Different Types Of Cheese And Can German Shepherds Eat Each Type
All cheese types have different nutrient makeup, distinguishing them from each other. This is the reason why we need to know about each different type and whether that is safe for your german-shepherd or not. The following list contains several different types of cheese.
Monitor Weight & Health
You can determine whether you are feeding the right amount by running your hands over your dogs ribs. Fido is at a good weight if you can feel your dogs ribs but not see them.
Weighing your GSD on a scale regularly is the best way to keep an eye out for a healthy weight.
Monitoring your German Shepherds weight is key as you transition to a raw food diet. An unbalanced diet can lead to excessive energy, skin or coat disorders, allergies, weight loss, malnutrition, or obesity.
Follow your GSDs weight and health closely for about a month to ensure that he is not adversely affected by this new diet. If you notice these symptoms, immediately stop feeding your dog this food and consult with a professional dog nutritionist.
Its important to work alongside your vet to ensure the diet maintains nutritional adequacy.
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Raw Paws Preparation And Food Safety
Raw Paws have left no stone unturned and give great advice on how to prepare and handle their raw food.
They recommend transferring the food into the freezer immediately. And you should only thaw a portion for 3 days worth of feeding.
If you read between the lines here, you can tell their food contains no preservatives. If it did, it would last much longer when thawed.
This is a fantastic and healthy benefit for your dog. And a point of peace of mind for you.
When it comes to thawing, Raw Paws suggests doing this in the refrigerator not on the counter or in the sink. Of course, this ensures there’s no room for bacteria to breed.
Once the food is portioned for thawing, wrap the remaining food tightly and place it back in the freezer.
Tip: Use separate cutting boards and utensils to prepare the food.
This, by the way, is the same protocol for handling the raw foods that we cook for ourselves and our families.
For storing food in the refrigerator, keep raw food stored in a plastic bag or a bin and store it on the lowest shelf to prevent cross-contamination.
After handling raw food, wash your hands and clean all preparation surfaces with a disinfectant such as bleach.
Dont Overdo It With The Organs
You dont want to skip the organ meats. They are important because they are full of nutrients not found in muscle meat. But you want to introduce them slowly. Work up to organ meats as at least 10% of the total diet .
Liver and other organ meats can cause some pretty nasty loose stools in puppies who have never had them before. If your puppy is new to raw feeding, wait until you see a good two or more weeks of solid stools before you introduce organ meats. Then add them in gradually instead of feeding one giant meal of liver. And remember to mix them up dont just feed liver.
RELATED: Whats the biggest mistake people make when it comes to feeding organs? Find out here.
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The German Shepherd Will Not Get Enough Nutrients
Commercially available dog foods are made in such a way that your dog will get all the specific nutrients from his diet. However, when you feed your dog raw meat, he will not get all the nutrients.
The German Shepherd is a large breed of dog and needs different minerals and vitamins in its regular diet that a raw meat diet cannot provide. Another problem associated with the raw meat diet is that it does not contain enough phosphorus and calcium. Even if it contains enough calcium and phosphorus, it can still be difficult for your dog to digest.