Can German Shepherds Eat Raw Meat

Safety Rules For Giving Your German Shepherd A Bone To Eat

Weve established that it is ok to give your German Shepherd a bone, even though your dog can survive without bones by eating other foods with the nutritional value found in bones.;

But saying that your German Shepherd can eat a bone does not mean just any bone. Some safety rules need to be followed.

Check out this short video on the dos and dont of giving your dog a bone from veterinarian Dr. Alaess:

Why Raw Dog Food

This is obviously more apparent in pre-packaged, highly processed foodslike dog food. While dog food may have the nutrients and ingredients listed, have no doubt in your mind that your dog would do much better off, and receive a higher nutritional count, if they were getting these foods raw .

In more modern terms, the thought behind a raw food diet is that by mimicking the diet that dogs ate in the wild, we can help them become more healthy. When dogs became domesticated, they also began to share some of the same food as humans. This led to the eventual marketing of mass-produced dog food.

The main reason that commercially processed dog food is so popular is not because its great for them. Sure, theyll eat it, but the real reason most people buy it is because its convenient. Buying pre-made food takes the thought and effort out of having to develop a diet plan yourself.

The catch-22 is that you may not be providing your dog with as much nutrition and health as you could be. For example, corn is used as a common source of protein in dog food because its widely available and can eliminate the dogs protein requirement. However, there are plenty of other sources of protein that are much higher in quality than corn.

Furthermore, some leading veterinarians have observed that commercially made dog food can contribute to the development of doggy diseases like diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, and arthritis. No fun!

What Do German Shepherds Eat 32 Frequently Asked Questions

• German Shepherds
• What Do German Shepherds Eat? 32 Frequently Asked Questions

The German shepherd is a working dog breed that originated in Germany and ranges from medium to large. German shepherd dogs are noble, hardworking, loyal, and intelligent companions. They are large and have streamlined, athletic builds that allow them to be both strong and agile. German shepherds are well-suited to working as service animals, such as guide dogs for the blind, despite their excellent herding abilities. They perform admirably as working dogs, particularly in law enforcement and military operations. They make excellent guard dogs, as well. Of course, in the right home, the German shepherd dog can be an excellent companion.

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Should I Feed My German Shepherd Raw Meat

• Is Chicken bad for German shepherds?

Most people recommend raw meats, as they contain the nutrients and vitamins a German Shepherd needs without getting cooked out. Cooked meat wont harm the dog, however. Cooked meat is best by baking it or boiling it. Bones should always be given raw, though, so that they dont splinter and cause intestinal problems.

Can German Shepherds eat raw food? Feeding a German Shepherd Puppy Raw BARF stands for biologically appropriate raw foods. These diets do not include cooked or otherwise processed foods. There is some evidence that German Shepherds fed a raw diet may have a reduced risk of hip dysplasia.

How much food do you feed a German Shepherd? As one might expect, the feeding amount mainly depends on how old age your German shepherd is. Overall, there are four ranges that you need to keep in mind. 16 weeks and below: ½ cup of food for each meal 16 weeks to 9 months: Approximately 1 and ½ cup of food for each meal

What are the feeding requirements for German Shepherds? The feeding requirements for a young dog do not have to match the diet of an adult. Sometimes younger German shepherds require a high-energy diet to keep them active. This is the case of dogs that live both indoors and outdoors. These dogs also require a diet rich in protein to regulate their body temperature. And the diet for the puppies?

Raw Meat May Cause Food Poisoning

While a German Shepherds digestive system is resilient enough to fight off bacteria, that doesnt make them immune to infections.

Feeding a German Shepherd raw meat may put it at risk of contracting harmful bacteria like E.coli and Salmonella. If infected, the dog may suffer fever, diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and lethargy. Immunocompromised or older dogs may even die.

Additionally, owners feeding their German Shepherds raw meat are also more susceptible to developing foodborne illnesses. Handling raw meat or touching any other contaminated surfaces will increase the likelihood of infection.

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Precautions To Take When Feeding Your German Shepherd Raw Meat

To prevent cross-contamination it is important to take precautions when you are feeding your German shepherd raw meat. This includes washing your hands before and after handling raw meat. For children feeding raw meat, you must supervise them and teach them how to handle raw meat properly. Dishes used for preparation must be disinfected properly and dispose of any leftover raw meat immediately.

Can German Shepherds Eat Raw Meat Benefits And Dangers

Yes, German Shepherds can eat raw meat. Their digestive systems are fully capable and resilient enough to digest raw meat such that it wont negatively affect their health.

That said, you need to consider some risks and potential problems that may arise from giving your German Shepherd raw meat before you incorporate them into your dogs diet.

In this article well look into the benefits and risks of feeding your German Shepherd raw meat and determine whether or not you should feed them to your dog.

Large governing bodies such as the American Veterinary Medical Association , Centers for Disease Control & Prevention , and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration highly discourage feeding dogs raw meat. They state that raw meat is dangerous and can make both you and your German Shepherd sick.

With that said, here are some potential dangers of a raw meat diet:

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Why Are Ingredients Important

Here’s a list of ingredients of a large breed puppy food from a well-known high-end dog kibble

Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Oats, Whole Grain Sorghum, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Pork Fat, Chicken Liver Flavor, Flaxseed, Dried Beet Pulp, Fish Oil, Lactic Acid, Pork Flavor, Iodized Salt, Potassium Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, vitamins , Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Taurine, minerals , Oat Fiber, L-Carnitine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene, Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Cranberries, Green Peas.

Firstly, anyone will tell you, the fewer ingredients the better. ;More ingredients mean the food has been messed around with and processed loads. ;This list has 46 ingredients!

Also, the rule of thumb with any ingredient list is

The higher up in the order, the more of it there is. ;So let’s do a quick analysis

So just looking at ingredients 2 through to 6 and what do you notice?

Yup, that’s right wheat, oats, sorghum, corn, and corn again.

And nowhere in the first seven ingredients do so see anything that resembles muscle meat!

Dairy Products That German Shepherds Can Eat

All dairy products should be given in minimal amounts to German Shepherds because of their high-fat content. German Shepherds bodies are less tolerant of these animal fats than human bodies. You also need to introduce them slowly because some dogs can be lactose intolerant.

If you feed your German Shepherd dairy products, try to go for the low-fat, plain options, but be careful because low-fat dairy products also usually have reduced sugar content.

The danger with reduced sugar dairy products or flavored dairy products is the addition of the sweetener xylitol, which is incredibly toxic to dogs .

Cheeses are a great source of B vitamins, calcium, fatty acids, proteins, and vitamin A. However, they are often high in fat and high in sodium. With cheeses, you should rather go for low-salt, low-fat, plain cheese.

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You Wont Deal With Misleading Labels

For wary pet owners, the labels and ingredients lists attached to pet food products can be frustratingly misleading sometimes. Its common to see labels such as vegetable origin derivatives or animal and meat derivatives. However, some individuals may overlook this and trigger an unwanted allergic reaction.

When you see these labels on pet food products, it means that the manufacturers can use another type of meat without needing to notify customers. This can become a problem if your German Shepherd happens to be allergic to certain meat types.

Switching to a raw meat diet will eliminate the need to inspect labels which will save you precious time. As long as you follow the recommended portion for your dog and ensure that the meat is not contaminated, you are very unlikely to experience issues in the future.

Transitioning To The Raw Wild Diet

Transitioning to a raw diet can be stressful for dog owners. But unless you have a finicky eater, you should be able to make the transition smoothly.

Raw Wild recommends the following steps to transition a puppy to the Raw Wild diet:

For adult dogs, Raw Wild recommends making the transition like this:

If after two days your dog is still resisting the new food, do the following:

Keep in mind that many dogs vomit up their first raw meal. My Charley did precisely that and promptly ate it again.

So don’t stress out if it happens, it’s normal and likely because they wolfed their new dog food down too quickly.

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Your German Shepherd Needs The Nutritional Benefits From A Bone True Or False

The bone of contention in discussing whether your German Shepherd should or shouldnt be given a bone is majorly about their nutritional value. If we take bone to mean everything that comes with it, we are discussing the organic components and the inorganic component .

There are several nutritional benefits German Shepherds can get from the different components of a bone:

• If a bone is fresh, your dog will get plenty of protein out of it. Its important to understand the nutritional needs of your dog, for example, the recommended daily protein allowance for an adult dog is between 18-22%. Your German Shepherd Dog will not get that amount from a bone with barely any flesh on it, especially not from one that has been gnawed on for days!;
• Large bones will contain, the soft tissue at the core of a bone that is mainly composed of fat and blood. While the nutrients in the marrow are beneficial to your dog, experts suggest that the little amount that a dog can get from a bone is not a consistent requirement in your German Shepherds diet.

The marrow in a bone may not provide the recommended 5% fat for an adult dog and not every bone comes with marrow, anyway.

Your adult German Shepherd Dogs daily recommended calcium and phosphorus intake is 1g and 0.75g respectively . This makes around 0.8% calcium and 0.67% phosphorus in your dogs meal.

Below are some of the health conditions that your GSD can suffer from if they have a low or exceeded intake of calcium and phosphorus.

Nuts And Nut Products That German Shepherds Can Eat

Nuts and nut products can be a great source of healthy fats and proteins. However, their high calory count means that they should only be fed to your German Shepherd in small amounts to prevent excess weight gain. If your dog is overweight or suffers from pancreatitis, etc., you should avoid nuts altogether.

You should shell all nuts before giving them to your German Shepherd. Avoid salted, glazed, caramelized, or spiced nuts entirely, no matter what type of nut it is. Nuts are also potential choking hazards, so you should only feed them to your German Shepherd one at a time.

People who own nut trees often struggle to control their German Shepherds weight because they self-supplement their diets with the buts that fall off the tree. If you own a nut tree, you should be diligent about raking up the nuts and collecting them before your dog can eat them all.

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Benefits Of Feeding Raw Meat To German Shepherd

Feeding meats to your German Shepherd has certain benefits as vets also recommend feeding non-veg when they are in the growth stage.

Lets look at some of the benefits of meats:

• Improves digestion
• Provide Shiny and healthy skin and fur
• Provide more energy and stamina
• Improves immune system
• Avoid allergies

However, if you are feeding commercial meat then you should see its expiry date and their company just passed the food regulatory system formulated by AAFCO.

Why Does My German Shepherd Always Have Diarrhea

Diarrhea Diarrhea in German Shepherds can be caused by a number of factors, but its most commonly caused by food intolerance or parasite. If there is no parasite, its likely your dog is reacting negatively to something in its food. Foods such as milk, fats, heavy fiber, and grains can all contribute to diarrhea.

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Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet

The BARF diet is basically a fresh alternative to kibble. It is mostly composed of raw meat but also includes other ingredients like vegetables and seeds.

The key is to provide the same nutritional profile as high-quality commercial dog food, but through meals that have no preservatives and have better absorption rates.

Through this method, meals should be composed of 70% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 7% vegetables, 5% liver, 5% other secreting organs, 2% seeds or nuts , and 1% fruit.

Can You Feed A German Shepherd A Raw Meat Diet

While its not definitely recommended to feed your german shepherd a raw meat diet, it doesnt mean it cant be done. However, if youre going to feed them a raw meat diet youre going to need to make sure you supplement it with other food.

Some of the main ingredients that incorporate a raw meat diet are organs, muscles, and bones both whole and ground.

However, as well as meat youll also need to incorporate other food. Eggs are a great choice, either raw or cooked.

And you can also give them cheese and milk .

Most importantly, make sure youre giving them lots of vegetables and fruits as well. These are going to contain many of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients your german shepherd needs to thrive.

Some great choices of fruit are apples, bananas, strawberries and watermelon, and vegetables should consist of things such as carrots, broccoli, spinach, and celery.

Lastly, and most importantly, remember that even after all this the chances are that youre not going to be giving your german shepherd a nutritionally complete diet. The chances are theyre still going to become lacking in some area, so raw food diets are best avoided.

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How Can A Raw Diet Help German Shepherds With All Of This

There several reasons feeding raw food to GSD is beneficial.

• Raw food for German Shepherd ensures that your pup always eats;fresh, wholesome, and allergen-free;foods as;no chemicals, additives,;or fillers are used in raw diets, hence;preventing allergies.

• You control the;ingredients that go into your dogs body, so you pick ingredients that wont cause an allergic reaction in your pet. If you dont know the foods that trigger allergies in your GSD, we suggest doing an At-Home Food Dog Allergy Test before picking the ingredients for your pups next meal.

• Raw dog food is easier to digest than kibble; more easily digestible food means more efficient absorption of nutrients and faster inflammatory response. This may help prevent or relieve symptoms of allergies, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and/or a potential case of Perianal Fistula.

• Raw diets remove a lot of unnecessary carbohydrates. Its a great way of helping a dog to lose weight or maintain weight. A raw diet allows you to control the fat level in each meal, promoting a healthy weight even further. Preventing obesity is key in avoiding or bring relief to skeletal or joint maladies in GSDs.

Is Raw Food Safe For German Shepherd Dogs

Sam Shephard is an experienced German Shepherd owner and has learned throughout the years how to optimize the breed’s health and wellness.

Humans have known for quite some time that raw food can be among the healthiest that we can eat. In some circumstances , the same can go for dogs. Keep in mind that a German Shepherd has different dietary needs than a human.

To be clear, 5-6 days a week our dogs mostly get kibble. When we add non-processed food, it’s mostly self-cooked meat and not necessarily raw.

Raw food additions to the menu are rather small and parasite-safe. Decent kibble allows you to balance the nutritional intake more easily, so if you don’t have the time to research and experiment safely, just go with time-tested formulas. If you want to try raw dog food for your German Shepherd, talk to your vet first. Don’t risk your dog’s health by recklessly trying something new because it sounds healthy.

In this article, were going to outline the hows and why’s of feeding a German Shepherd a raw food diet. After reading this article youll be able to make a well-informed decision about whether or not youre going to take your Shepherd onto a raw food diet. Keep in mind that we’ll focus more on the raw food positives.

Remember, doing your own research is important but seeking the assistance of a veterinarian or a dog breeder can be immensely useful as well. If you are unsure of anything, dont hesitate to seek out the assistance of a breeder.

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