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How Much Raw Meat To Feed My German Shepherd

How Much To Feed The Adult Raw Fed Dog

Should you feed ONLY raw meat to German Shepherds?

You got your first delivery of Doggy Moggy Beef – now what?; How much do you feed your dog?

GUIDELINES NOT RULES

When deciding how much to feed your dog, think in terms of guidelines not rules.; Consider all the variables that might affect your decision. Age of the dog and its level of physical activity. ; Are they healthy? Is your dog in heat? Is your dog pregnant/nursing? Are they currently at a healthy weight? Are they lay-abouts indoors or are they roaming the property outdoors?; What other food are they receiving during the day?;

Take for example our Bernedoodle, Philly. It was a no brainer that when she was pregnant and nursing she required more food to fuel her body and her puppies. After the puppies were weaned, it became obvious she was gaining weight and we needed to reduce the amount she was being fed as the demands on her body returned to normal. What worked before, wasnt working any more. We lowered her food intake, added some more exercise and she is now back to her ideal weight.;

The variables in your dogs life can change so its important to keep an eye on your dogs food intake depending on what season of life they are in. The percentages below are guidelines, not rules.; Much like monitoring our own weight and food intake, we need to pay attention to our dogs and take action when it is obvious that changes need to be made.

IS YOUR DOG AN IDEAL WEIGHT

Its important to weigh your dog when you start them on a raw food diet for the following reasons:;

Feeding A German Shepherd Puppy Kibble

There are many good quality kibble diets, but they arent always the best choice.

The FDA recently issued a notice alerting dog owners to a potential increased risk of a serious heart condition. This is called canine dilated cardiomyopathy .

The risk is in dogs eating foods that include peas, lentils, or potatoes instead of grains.

Some of these cases of DCM were in German Shepherds.

The underlying cause of these cases is not clear, but the FDA note suggests that caution should be used in selecting foods with these ingredients for German Shepherds and other large dogs.

Head over to our article on the pros and cons of feeding kibble to know more.

How Much To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy Per Day

Once you have decided what dog food to feed your GSD, the next step is to determine how much you should feed your German shepherd puppy. To figure this out, let your German shepherd puppy eat as much as he wants in a thirty-minute period. Pick up the bowl after your puppy is full and measure how much kibble is left in the dog bowl. Do this for several days to get the right amount of food.

As your puppy enters growth spurts, youll find that his appetite increases drastically. At this point, observe your pup carefully. If he always seems hungry and looks thin, you may need to put more food into his bowl. If he appears to be chubby or has diarrhea, you should slightly cut back on the amount of food he eats.

Read Also: How Often Bathe German Shepherd

How Can I Tell If My Dog Is The Correct Weight

Your dog should have a natural waist when viewed from above. For very long-haired dogs you may have to feel this with your hands. You should also be able to feel the shape of the individual ribs with just a little pressure when running your hands over your dogs chest. If his ribs are nowhere to be found he is overweight but if they are very noticeable he probably needs more food.

German Shepherds That Shouldnt Eat Raw Dog Food

A Raw Food, Real Food Diet for Our German Shepherd Dog ...

According to Dr. Doug Knueven, a holistic medicine specialist who consults for Natures Variety says raw diets do not suit all dogs.

Since raw foods are normally high in protein, they are not appropriate for dogs with kidney or liver problems. Too much protein stresses these organs, which can aggravate these conditions. Dr. Knueven also states that dogs on chemotherapy or immune-suppressing drugs should be restricted from eating raw food.

If your dog is suffering from pancreatitis or digestive problems, its recommended to start with a cooked homemade diet before switching to raw.

Also Check: How Long Does It Take To Train A German Shepherd

Raw Diet For German Shepherd Puppy

A German Shepherd puppy raw diet plan is not the same as an adult GSD.

Puppies need to eat more protein, fat, calcium, and phosphorus than adult dogs. So, feed puppies 15% bone and less than 20% fat to ensure they get enough nutrients and minerals. Raw food for German Shepherd puppies should include a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, water, and vitamins per AAFCO guidelines.

For proper growth and development, it is not advised to skip meals while your puppy is growing and developing.;

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.

Recommended Reading: How Long Should You Walk A German Shepherd

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.

Lifetime Expenses Of Owning A German Shepherd

How To Feed RAW Food To A German Shepherd – K9 Mukbang

The life expectancy of a German Shepherd is 9 to 13 years. Within this period, you will need to provide everything they need to live out their carefree lives.

From the data I discussed in the former section, we can compute the lifetime expenses of having a German Shepherd puppy companion.

The estimated expenses for the first year cost around $2,795 to $5,495, including the puppy.

Assuming that the average monthly cost for your dog is $160 for the succeeding years, we can estimate that the lifetime cost of tending a GSD is around $18,155 to $25,835.

However, this amount doesnt include miscellaneous expenses that may arise. Emergencies can happen anytime and you need to financially prepare for these situations.

Recommended Reading: When To Start Training Your German Shepherd

Keys To A Healthy Gsd Puppy

Veterinary research tells us that large breed puppies such as the German Shepherd need a different diet and feeding schedule than do medium or small breed puppies.

Incorrect feeding early in life can result in a lifelong impact to your puppys health!

In fact, diet is only one of three vital keys to raising a healthy GSD puppy.

Environment and genetics each intersect with your puppys diet to determine how healthy he or she will be as an adult.

For this reason, your first and best resources to create a healthy German Shepherd puppy feeding guide should be your veterinarian and your puppys breeder.

Even if you dont want to keep your new pup on the same food the breeder was using, wait a few weeks before beginning the food transition so your puppy can settle in first.

Avoiding Underfeeding & Overfeeding

A German Shepherd is a large breed dog and should never be skinny. Although the GSD breed is not necessarily prone to being overweight, this is always a danger if you feed your dog too much, or if he doesnt get enough exercise.

Always ensure that you measure your dogs food, stick to the appropriate amounts, and be careful if you give additional treats and extra food. If you give your dog treats, be sure to remove these calories and fat from their daily food intake. Even though the GSD is a large breed dog, they are still smaller than humans, so it can be difficult to comprehend exactly how much extra food you are giving.

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Health Dietary Changes In German Shepherds

If the following health conditions are present in your GSD, a fresh homemade food diet coupled with these recommendations can help remedy them.

Condition
Add Zinc and Vitamin A levels

Chart Source: NomNomNow.com

Pro Tip: German Shepherds are a high-risk breed for skin allergies and coat problems. Adding a couple of fish oil squirts;to their meals will provide relief and nourishment to keep skin and coats in tip-top condition. Also, probiotics are an affordable way to reduce your dogs inflammatory responses to food allergens.

Homemade Dog Food Delivery Service

Raw Fed German Shepherd Mix

If you are a German Shepherd pet owner struggling to find time to cook for your GSD and wish your dog could eat whole, fresh homemade foods more often, a homemade dog food delivery service might be a great fit.

Nom Nom is one of our favorite options. They deliver fresh, prepared homemade dog food tailored to your pups dietary needs straight to your door. Everything is made from real, human-grade ingredients

Their food is developed with the input of a veterinary nutritionist and following the AAFCO nutritional guidelines. They do all the cooking for you, so you never have to worry about using the wrong ingredients, proper nutrition guidelines, portion sizes, and more.

All their meals are customizable to your dogs unique dietary needs, age, nutritional goals, and other key factors. For instance, if your GSD has food-related health issues like allergies or an illness, they will create a recipe that caters to this.

In our experience, its a huge time-saver, and you can spend time on more important things like walks or training. Plus, you avoid all the hassle of planning, shopping, and cooking. We think its worth the cost after you add up the prices of all the ingredients youll need to cook a recipe.

Our readers have access to save;50% off your first order of Nom Nom, just use;this link;to get your GSDs first homemade meal.

Check out Canine Bibles GSD Khaleesi trying out Nom Nom homemade dog food. She definitely recommends it!

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Where To Start With A Raw Food Diet For Your Gsd

Raw food recipes for dogs are all over the internet. ;And dog owners like you can prepare their dogs raw food diet from scratch;with careful planning and time.

But as I mentioned, there are frozen raw diets on the market that help make raw feeding easier for you.

These diets are delivered frozen or freeze-dried to your door. ;Some have everything you need rolled into one.

Ingredients like vegetables, vitamins, and fruits already mixed in. ;Or you can buy them separately.

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.

However, it may be more difficult to regulate a BARF diet to ensure a slow and steady growth rate in young puppies.

If you find this option intriguing, you can check out our article on feeding your dog a raw diet.

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What Is A Raw Diet For German Shepherd

Transitioning to the Raw Wild Diet Go cold turkey and switch out your puppys kibble for Raw Wild. Feed your puppy three times a day until around six months of age. Reduce feeding to twice a day from 6 months old. Feed your puppy 2 to 3% of their ideal adult body weight.

Final Thoughts The Importance Of Nutrition

WHAT I FEED MY GERMAN SHEPHERD – RAW SUPPLEMENTS

You now know what the best diet is for your German Shepherd. Theres certainly a lot to consider in this giant guide, but I hope Ive given you enough food for thought!

The best advice I could give you is

  • Choose a type of food that suits your dogs life stage and your lifestyle
  • Invest in the best quality dog food you can afford

Also Check: When To Neuter A German Shepherd

German Shepherd Feeding Guide: Nutritional Needs How Much & How Often

Knowing how to feed your German shepherd properly is one of the first basic things you have to get right as a German shepherds owner. Failure to do it right can expose your dog to a number of health-related concerns such as hair loss, skin disease, and infection.

While there is no hard and fast rule for feeding a dog, there are some general best practices that all vets and animal healthcare professionals agree on. Here are the most common questions new and experienced German shepherd owners have about feeding German shepherds and their answers.

What Can German Shepherds Eat

So now we know what nutrients dogs need; lets take a closer look at what exactly they can eat. These are the main foods German Shepherds can eat. However, they do come with some caveats, so read on!

PROTEINS
Watermelon

These are the caveats to be aware of:

  • If a fruit contains pits or seeds, these must be removed as they contain toxic cyanide.
  • Most vegetables should be cooked first to help with digestion.
  • Fruits, vegetables, dairy, and nuts should be fed in small amounts no more than 10% of daily calories.
  • Although dogs can eat some nuts, they are not recommended due to their high-fat content, which can cause an upset stomach.
  • Its not advisable to feed raw eggs or raw fish due to the risk of salmonella or listeria.
  • Some dogs are lactose intolerant and can not eat certain dairy foods, depending on how much lactose they contain.

I wrote complete guides to all the fruits and vegetables your German Shepherd can eat where you can find a ton of helpful information. These articles also include the nasty ones to watch out for!

Recommended Reading: How Much Dog Food To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy

What Are The Problems With Feeding Your German Shepherd Raw Meat

There are a number of different problems that come with feeding your german shepherd raw meat. And unfortunately, the problems often outweigh the potential benefits. Here are some of the main problems.

Your German Shepherd Will Struggle To Get Enough Nutrients

Dog food has been specifically designed to give your german shepherd all the nutrients they need in their diet. If youre only feeding your german shepherd raw meat, then theyre not going to get nearly enough nutrients.

German shepherds need a variety of vitamins and minerals that raw meat alone cant provide.

One of the biggest problems with a raw meat diet is they often lack calcium and phosphorous too. And even when there are adequate amounts in their food, it can still be hard for your pup to digest.

Increased Risk Of Food Poisoning

Even if you only plan on feeding your german shepherd raw meat as an occasional treat, theres still an increased risk of food poisoning.

While a dogs stomach is strong, it may not be strong enough to fight off salmonella and e. Coli. If you feed your german shepherd raw meat youre going to increase the chances of them contracting these, as well as other diseases.

As well as an increased risk of your german shepherd getting food poisoning, youre also increasing your familys risk of food poisoning as well.

Your Family May Be More Likely To Contract Food Poisoning

This is especially concerning if you have young children who often let their faces and hands get licked by your dog.

Swapping Puppy Food Brands

German Shepherd eating raw

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.

Also Check: How Much Are Akc German Shepherd Puppies

What Might Be The Minimum Standards Commercial Dog Food For German Shepherds Has To Meet

Pet food generally doesnt have its own specific and enforceable regulations in any country.

There are general regulations for animal food in some countries.

In the US for example, The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled

Theres also a voluntary membership association called AAFCO that outlines some standards in the US.

In Australia, Pet food is essentially self-regulated with voluntary industry standards applied through the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia

In different countries, regulations, standards and labelling requirements can differ.

So, be aware of what these are, and where the gaps and limitations in them might be.

You will be required to do additional research to ensure what you are getting in each pet food product, and cover information you might not get given on a label.

Note that standards are the minimum, and not the standards you should necessarily follow for optimal health.

Also note that certain phrases like organic dog food mean different things in different countries.

Check what different phrases mean by law in your country.

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