Homemade Dog Food Delivery Service
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!
Dont Miss: Is A German Shepherd A Hypoallergenic Dog
Raw Diet For German Shepherd: Nutrition Plan And Recommendation
Noah SanchezGerman Shepherd
Like any dog, the Shepherds are predators so that their teeth, stomach, and digestive secretions are adapted to raw food, especially meat. The dry nutrition of high quality fulfills all dogs needs and peculiarities, so there are no healthcare concerns of avoiding it. But if you decided to start a raw diet for German Shepherd, we have a couple of tips to do it beneficially.
Now Let’s Break Down The Recipe For My Easy Homemade Dog Food Shall We
The recipe box below contains a printable version of my go-to recipe for homemade dog food, which consist of lean ground sirloin, brown rice, carrots, hard boiled eggs, parsley, and a few tablespoons of oil that is high in Omega’s. But sometimes, especially since social distancing, I’ve found that it is helpful to have a list of easy substitutes for when ingredients run low. Plug in or swap out any of the items below based on what foods your pup likes/needs and what you have on hand to create your pup’s ideal dog food flavor profile.
Read Also: How To Stop My German Shepherd From Barking
A General Guideline For Preparing Homemade Dog Food
My DIY dog food recipe is more of a general guideline, rather than an exact meal plan that I follow each week. My dogs diet changes the same way ours does, depending on what we do and what we buy or grow.
However, we almost always stay with this basic formula:
- 50 percent cooked protein
- 25 percent cooked complex carbohydrates
- Fats and supplements
Protein is always meat and usually chicken, though weve also used turkey, pork, and beef. We feed any and all parts of the animals, but most commonly, we saute chicken breasts or chicken thighs in coconut oil and ground turmeric.
Coconut oil has a host of health benefits for dogs, such as improving the skin and coat, increasing energy, aiding digestion, reducing allergic reactions, promoting wound healing, preventing yeast and fungal infections, and supporting arthritis or ligament problems.
Turmeric has long been studied for its powerful medicinal properties, including its use as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
We add it to the coconut oil since it is fat-soluble, and use it to support our pugs joint health.
Speaking of dark meat, we feed thighs and breasts interchangeably. While well remove the skin from poultry and trim off excessive fat from red meat, we dont worry about buying the leanest meat possible for our dogs.
A little fat is necessary for a well-rounded diet.
They tend to be the leftovers in our produce bin, so we never have to buy, say, a whole head of cauliflower just for the dogs.
German Shepherd Homemade Food Risks
A poor diet is a significant threat to the health of your German Shepherd. Here are some things to avoid to provide a healthy diet to your pup.
- Not understanding the nutritional needs of your German Shepherd
- Using inadequate or dangerous recipes
- Not preparing a balanced meal
- Using unsafe or harmful ingredients
- Not understanding the impact of food and dietary changes
- Not understanding your dogs life stages nutritional needs
- Neglecting your dogs health conditions
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary found that most homemade dog food recipes lack critical essential nutrients while others contain dangerously high nutrient quantities.
Further research published in The Journal of Nutritional Science found that 48% of homemade dog diets contained improbable amounts of ingredients and that 71.3 % of dog owners did not know how much food to serve per meal. Whats more alarming is that 30.4% of the pet parents admitted to purposely changing the recipe, 40% of owners didnt measure the proportions of the ingredients well enough, and 28.3% didnt use any of the recommended vitamins, minerals, or amino acid.
In fact, in a survey published in the journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine, vets reported 97% of obesity cases in dogs could be traced to how owners fed and played with their pets.
Read Also: Big German Shepherd For Sale
How Much Should A German Shepherd Puppy Have On Raw Diet
Puppies need 30% protein and 10-20% fat in their diets. Feeding a german shepherd puppy raw food will meet these needs, as well as provide the minerals that are needed for healthy bones.
Raw meat is not recommended for all dogs, including German shepherds. If you decide to switch your german shepherd puppy to a raw diet, its important to do so gradually over two weeks by mixing increasing amounts of raw food with decreasing amounts of kibble.
If you are not keen to feed your German shepherd puppy on raw meat, you can still give it a healthy diet by feeding it high-quality dry kibble without grain fillers. This type of kibble is often made from animal products rather than grain and doesnt contribute to the development of diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.
When deciding to feed a raw diet to german shepherds, it is important to speak with a vet to determine if this diet would be appropriate. The article above offers tips for those who want to feed a raw diet as well as those who prefer their German shepherd puppy to eat dry kibble or a combination of both.
As always, thank you so much for reading! If this was helpful at all, please share it with people you know who would like this information as well. Have a great day!
Why Raw Food Is Best For My German Shepherd
A dog’s stomach is not anatomically designed to digest and ferment carbohydrates . Even grain-free kibble often contains high levels of starchy carbs, including legumes, peas and lentils. Feeding this to a dog puts their system under pressure, creating metabolically stressful insulin, glucagon and cortisol spikes throughout the day as well as causing inflammation and putting strain on vital organs, leading, in some cases, to a host of serious health conditions.
There’s no doubt the canine species is resilient, and despite eating a diet which isn’t providing the natural components they may need, they will adapt and survive for some time. Still, there’s a world of difference between surviving and thriving.
Whether you choose ProDog Raw’s no fuss, no-nonsense, natural raw dog food or raw puppy food, or you decide to create your own DIY raw food recipes at home, you can be sure that the move to a wholesome, species-specific diet will fuel your dog’s well-being, regardless of thier breed.
Read on to find out what the benefits of raw dog food are for your German Shepherd.
Read on to find out more of why raw food is the best food for your German Shepherd
You May Like: Does German Shepherd Hair Grow Back
Can You Freefeed A Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy
Free feeding is where you leave your dogs portion of food for the day out in the morning so that they have access to it throughout the day. Although this method of feeding is convenient and easy for the dog owner, it may not be a healthy way of feeding your Mini Aussie.
This is because if your puppy has continuous access to food the chances of them overeating are high which may lead to weight gain.
Also, you will not be able to track when they are hungry and the amount of food that they need. Additionally, free feeding makes it hard to train the puppy to follow a certain routine such as feeding schedules.
Our 2022 German Shepherds Feeding Guide
Puppy
Average Weight Approximately 10lb to 30lb
Recommended Daily Food Intake 1-2 cups a day
Adult Dog
Average Weight Approximately 60lb to 90lb
Recommended Daily Food Intake 3-5 cups a day
Senior Dog
Average Weight Approximately 60lb to 90lb
Recommended Daily Food Intake When it comes to feeding your senior German Shepherd , you must consult your vet as to the suggested amount and type of food. There are a range of factors that can affect feeding, so ensure you have spoken to a professional.
Recommended Reading: How To Teach A German Shepherd To Attack
Orijen Large Breed Puppy Food
Image courtesy Orijen
The Orijen Puppy Large contains the most animal protein from chicken, which is fresh. The label analysis revealed that the recipe has 43% protein, 18% fat, and 31% carbohydrates… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of around 42 percent.
Champion Petfoods, the well-known maker of Orijen, has long promoted a meat-based “biologically appropriate” diet. This is a tried and true design that makes this particular dish an excellent choice for developing Shepherd pups.
Transitioning To The Raw Paws Diet
No problem!
Raw Paws offer a free meal planning service where they will create a meal plan for you based on the needs of you and your dog.
Raw Paws also has some great advice on transitioning your dog to a raw food diet.
Making it super easy for both you and your dog. Start with a mixture of 75% of current food and 25% raw food.
If your dog is particularly sensitive to food changes, you should start with a 90% to 10% ratio and increase incrementally.
It could take several weeks to transition your dog to their new raw food diet, so be patient!
Although, here I have a different approach. I believe in fasting a dog for 12 hours and then transitioning 100% to raw.
Many dogs vomit up their first raw meal, but that’s totally normal. This is because they’re so stunned and excited about the raw meat.
Making them gulp down the meal. But at the next go, they take to it like a duck to water.
Read Also: German Shepherd And Golden Retriever Mix For Sale
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.
You May Like: How Much Food Does A German Shepherd Need
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.
Read Also: Chronic Diarrhea In German Shepherds
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:
How Much Water Should A Mini Australian Shepherd Puppy Drink
Mini Australian Shepherd puppies need to drink water to stay hydrated and have good digestion. The normal amount of water that your puppy needs to drink is around ½ to 2 ounces per pound of their body weight.
The amount may vary depending on certain factors such as diet, level of physical activity, dehydration, and medications.
Monitor the drinking habits of your puppy so that you can notice in case there is a change. If your Mini Aussie is drinking less or excessive water than normal, you should contact your vet as they could be having a medical condition.
You can always leave the water out for it to be accessible for your puppy.
Recommended Reading: How To Train German Shepherd Puppy To Sit
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.
Are Dog Supplements Good For My German Shepherd
Switching to a natural good quality raw dog food diet will be the single best thing you can do for your dog’s well-being. Whether you DIY recipes at home, or choose one of ProDog’s no-nonsense foods, like Complete Raw Dog Food or Pure 80:10:10 Raw Dog Food, there is no disputing dog science dogs predominantly benefit from eating meat, organ and bone, with a handful of natural ingredients from time to time. Check out our comprehensive guide on what dogs can eat for more information on the foods you can add to your dog’s diet for these benefits.
Read Also: How Many Miles Can A German Shepherd Run
Your German Shepherds Gastrointestinal System
A lot of todays German Shepherds behaviors, tendencies, and preferences were actually imprinted in the breed a long time ago. Not by the way that they have been bred, but instead through their ancestry.
German Shepherds are descendants of wolves, and a wolves diet consists exclusively of raw meat. Its all they eat from the day that they are born, and their gastrointestinal systems are set up to do so without causing any health issues to the animal.
In fact, the GI system of a wolf is so resilient that when fresh meat is scarce, a wolf can scavenge and consume aging and rotting meet as well and it will do them no harm.
A wolf can do this because compared to a human, its GI system is shorter in length, and this allows food to pass through it quickly and efficiently. If consumed food lingers in a GI system, then bacteria and viruses have a chance to set up shop, so to speak, and this is how illness occurs.
Wolves also have very strong stomach acids which allows them to quickly break down food that a human could never even consider eating. These strong stomach acids, working in tandem with a short GI system, allows a wolf to consume just about anything that it pleases without the risk of illness. This is essential for a wolf living in the wild, because sickness can often mean certain death.