Can German Shepherds Eat Raw Meat
Yes, dogs, including German Shepherd, can eat raw meat and other raw ingredients. German Shepherds are true carnivores, just like any dog, and can, thrive on a raw meat diet. From DNA studies, we know dogs descended directly from the timber wolf approximately 15,000 years ago1. Wolves are clear carnivores, so genetically, dogs demonstrate similar and noticeable carnivorous traits. Their teeth, digestive system, and behavior account for their meat-eating capabilities.
Unlike humans or animals like cows, dogs dont have flat teeth or chew their cud from side to side. Like all carnivores, dogs have narrow pointy back teeth, and their jaws can only move in an up-and-down, chop-chop motion. Carnivores do not produce amylase in their salivary glands. Dogs dont produce amylase in their saliva but their pancreas and small intestine2.
Finally, meat-eating animals like dogs have a higher concentration of stomach acid. This allows faster digestion of animal protein, and the stronger acids kill the bacteria in decaying meat.
However, Dr. RuthAnn Lobos, a Purina veterinarian, says feeding a diet consisting primarily of raw meat may not provide the complete and balanced nutrition your dog needs3. If you plan to feed raw meat to your GSD, you need to do it as part of a balanced raw meal plan. Any raw meat needs to be fresh and thoroughly washed before feeding it.
What Nutrients Do German Shepherds Need
Like other dogs, German Shepherds need lots of nutrients to grow and blossom, including fats, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and water. So while picking out meals for your pet, you need to go for foods that contain these nutrients.
Because German Shepherds are active and agile dog breeds, they require foods with high-calorie content to keep them energized, strong, and healthy at all times. For both puppies and adults, proteins are a major nutritional requirement and source of calories and energy.
Beyond providing energy and regulating their body temperature, protein keeps the immune and musculoskeletal system healthy, builds and repairs muscles, etc. Growing German Shepherds need a minimum of 22% protein, while adult dogs require at least 18% protein in their diets for optimal growth.
Fat is another essential nutritional requirement for German Shepherds. The fat in dog meals comes from the protein and makes their meal tasty. Like proteins, it provides energy and contributes to the development of muscles, cells, nerves, and tissues.
Although fat is vital, feeding your dog with excess fat can make your dog obese. The thing is, obese dogs develop an increased risk for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. On the other hand, if your German Shepherd doesn’t take in enough fat, it will develop skin problems.
Superfoods w/ Lamb + Turkey
Best Dry Food For German Shepherd Puppies
Today, many puppies are weaned directly onto softened kibble, or transitioned from wet food to dry food at around 12 weeks. So they are likely to be already eating dry food by the time they come home with you. In fact they will probably arrive with a bag of the kibble they were weaned onto. These are our picks of the best dry dog food for German Shepherd puppies.
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Hills Science Diet Large Puppy Food
Hills are another major specialist diet dog food manufacturer. Their large breed puppy dry dog food* is a good food for German Shepherd puppies up to 12 months old. The diet contains optimal levels of calcium to ensure that bone growth is controlled in order to prevent the onset of health conditions, including hip dysplasia.
Natural glucosamine and chondroitin is also included to help keep joints and muscles strong and healthy. Your pups immune system is also supported through a blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The food contains no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavorings.
Best Homemade Cooking Practices
When making homemade food for a German Shepherd , make sure you are diligent and adhere to your veterinarians recommendations.
Here are some general guidelines to follow when cooking for homemade dog food for your German Shepherd:
- Never use unsafe or toxic ingredients for your dog
- Cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria
- Cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest
- Research every ingredient before using it for safety
- Follow the recipe as instructed
- Add supplements to their diet as needed
- Understand the impact of dietary changes
- Run any questions by a veterinary nutritionist
NOTE: When in doubt, ALWAYS research an ingredient. You dont want to add food that is toxic to dogs.
We strongly advise discussing your dogs nutritional needs and concerns with your vet before adding or changing your dogs diet.
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Raw Diets Cooking For Dogs And Other Alternative Feeding
This article has been focusing mainly on commercially available dry kibble since that is what most pet parents ultimately choose for their dogs.
However, there are many dog owners that choose to feed alternative diets. These include raw diets and cooking regular people food for dogs.
There are many viable options for feeding your healthy German Shepherd, but there are just as many harmful fads, too.
As with commercial foods, be sure to speak with your vet before starting your dog on a raw diet or home-cooking her meals. Whats healthy for humans isnt usually healthy for dogs.
That means youll need to learn a lot about canine metabolism, life stages, and nutritional needs before you embark on that journey.
Weve covered the holistic diet approach right here if youre interested in learning more. Feeding your dog an alternative diet can be a fun way to bond with your pup and feel good about providing whole, nutritious, natural foods that support your GSDs health and wellness.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe Grain
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Deboned Salmon, 2. Chicken Meal, 3. Peas, 4. Pea Protein, 5. Menhaden Fish Meal
Truly inspired by the natural diet of wolves, this recipe by Blue Buffalo Wilderness features grain-free ingredients and other protein-rich sources to balance the nutrition for large-breed dogs. Feed your German Shepherd dog a bowl filled with wholesome goodness and nourishment loaded with antioxidant-enriched ingredients for ultimate development and maintenance.
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German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Guide: 6 Months To 12 Months
At this stage in your German Shepherds development, growth will be considerably slower. Since she no longer needs the extra calories to help support her fast growth period, you can safely reduce her feedings to 2 or 3 meals per day.
Youll still want to watch her weight, health, and activity level, but now you can split her daily total calories over fewer meals.
While she should still be eating puppy food at this point, you may consider purchasing a bag of her eventual adult formula.
You can use individual kibbles from the adult formula for treats or training rewards. This will help her get used to the new flavor and texture.
Around 9 months of age, you can begin slowly adding a small amount of the adult formula into her puppy food, though she should still be eating primarily puppy chow.
Again, its imperative that you speak with your vet before making any changes to your GSDs diet.
Only your vet will be able to tell you when your dog has reached maturity and can be safely moved to adult food.
Some GSDs stay on puppy food for a whopping two years! So, make sure you are in close contact with your vet to be sure that your feeding plan is individualized for your specific dog.
What To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy
Wondering what to feed your GSD puppy?
Your German Shepherds athletic body, as well as his energy, health, and condition, depend in part on what you choose to pour into his bowl and knowing how much to feed your German Shepherd puppy.
This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating!
Most dog foods on the market will adequately sustain your dogs life. But you dont want adequate
You want your dog to bloom with health!
Your GSD pup eats nearly double the amount of an adult in order to maintain growth rate and their higher daily energy needs.
Balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature.
There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food.
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Week Old German Shepherd
At 6 weeks old, your job as a new owner is to make sure that your puppy is receiving the same level of nutrition that they were getting from their mothers milk.
Ideally, your puppy should still be nursing from their mother, because most foods are going to have a hard time replacing the needed micro and macronutrients, along with the natural antibodies that are found inside of the mothers milk.
Instinct By Natures Variety Raw Boost Grain
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Duck, 2. Chicken Meal, 3. Peas, 4. Egg Product, 5. Turkey Meal
Your German Shepherd needs a rich and balanced diet with nutrition made from high-quality, natural sources. And if you are looking to switch your Shepherds supper, this option by Natures Variety will not disappoint. The grain-free formula with real duck, chicken meal, and turkey meal is loaded with high-quality protein thats great for your dogs core strength and maintains optimal health.
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Dr Garys Best Breed German Dog Diet
Rating:
German Dog Diet is one of 13 dry recipes covered in our review of the Dr. Garys Best Breed product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, oatmeal, brown rice, dried beet pulp, chicken fat
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Profile: All life stages
- Best for:Adult shepherds and puppies
Dr. Garys Best Breed German Dog Diet derives most of its animal protein from chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 22% fat and 34% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.
We like the fact the formula also includes zinc proteinate and other chelated minerals which provides superior absorption and nutrition. Highly recommended.
Sample buyer reviewOur german shepherd has had a lot of itching problems since she was about 1 year old. We have tried different foods, supplements, sprays and shampoos. Nothing has seems to work as well as when we switched to this food. Scabs that were on her for months due to her itching them open all the time have finally healed over. She is still a little itchy, but significantly better than before. And she loves the food too! We used to leave her food bowl full all day because she would only pick throughout the day. With this food we are only doing 2-3 cups morning and night because she scarfs it all down in minutes! Glad we finally found something that she loves and works so well!
Blue Buffalo Wet Dog Food
This wet diet uses only deboned chicken, together with whole grain rice and barley*. It aims to provide your puppy with the high-quality protein, carbohydrates, and fiber he needs for energy and growth.
This good dog food for German Shepherd puppy also includes sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, and cranberries. No meat meal, corn, soy, wheat, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives are used in this all-natural diet.
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Best Dry Food For German Shepherds
This is a list of balanced foods that have received positive feedback from customers.
Canidae All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, and Fish Recipe* is suitable for puppies, adults, and senior dogs. There is also a reduced activity version of this recipe
This food can be bought in whopping 44lb bags, which is a great option for owners with multiple dogs. This food does not contain corn, wheat, or soy.
Although not specifically formulated for large breeds, Fromm Adult Gold* meets the growth and maintenance requirements of dogs weighing 70lbs or more in adulthood.
This recipe includes Wisconsin cheese which increases palatability and serves as a source of protein and fatty acids.
Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Deboned Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe* contains added glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy hips and joints.
This formula does not contain soy, wheat, or corn.
How Often Should You Feed My Adult German Shepherd
DO NOT feed your German Shepherd a cheap formula with corn, wheat, oats, or rice. German Shepherds are at high risk of Gastric Dilation-Volvulus , which is caused by these ingredients. Bloat can be fatal. Feeding your dog a corn, wheat, oat, or rice formula is not worth the price of the food.
Generally, an active adult German Shepherd can eat 2.5 to 3 cups of food per day, twice a day. This is a solid starting point but check with your veterinarian and the guidelines of the food brand to get the most accurate measurement.
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Eukanuba Puppy Dry Dog Food
Eukanuba uses fish oil in this large breed puppy food* in order to boost brain function, making your pup smarter and more trainable. Theres also plenty of fiber derived from prebiotics and natural beet pulp to promote easy absorption of nutrients and a healthy digestion.
The protein sources used to make this food are animal-based, promoting the development of strong muscles. Optimal levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are included for healthy skin and a radiant coat.
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A Mixture Of Dry And Wet Foods
Most dog owners may prefer to feed their German Shepherd with a hybrid of both dry and wet foods. The beautiful thing about this food option is that your pet will enjoy the best of both foods. If your pet is on a dry meal diet, you may change to wet foods as toppings or a special treat.
However, it would help if you were sure that you are not exceeding your dog’s recommended calorie intake. Else, you may end up breeding an overweight, obese, and inactive dog.
Most dog owners mix both dry or wet foods in a bowl during each meal. Other people alternate both food types for morning and evening meals . In any case, you should seek your nutritionist or veterinarian’s advice to ensure that you are within the calorie limit for your pet.
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Taste Of The Wild Sierra Mountain
Best Grain-Free Option
This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more
About: Taste of the Wild Sierra Canine Formula is a lamb-based dog food, made from high-quality ingredients. Taste of the Wild is designed to mimic the presumed diet of wild canids, so it is made without any grains.
Features:
- Formulated with probiotics to help promote proper and problem-free digestion
- Taste of the Wild is made in the USA, under some of the strictest food safety requirements in the world
- Made with real, antioxidant-rich fruits, such as blueberries raspberries
- Contains both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which may promote skin, coat and joint health
PROS
Taste of the Wild is usually well-received by owners and their dogs, and is considered a pet owner favorite. Most dogs appear to enjoy the taste, and owners report a number of health benefits, including increased energy, improved coat quality and problem-free stools. In short, this lamb-based, grain-free, pro-biotic fortified is an excellent choice for most shepherds.
CONS
Taste of the Wild kibble is relatively small many owners have compared it to the size of puppy kibble. This may encourage your shepherd to gulp rather than chew, which is less than ideal. Additionally, some owners have reported their dogs teeth do not remain as clean while using this food.
Lamb, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas…,
Wet Food Vs Dry Food For German Shepherd Puppies
Feeding dry food has the advantage that it is convenient and usually more affordable than canned wet food. Kibble is also very good at removing plaque from your puppys teeth as he eats. Helping to prevent the formation of tartar and the onset of periodontal disease. Its also much easier to use as training treats.
However, dry food contains negligible water content. To avoid liver and kidney problems in your pup, always ensure that plenty of clean fresh water is available to him. Wet food contains around 80% water, which keeps your puppy hydrated.
Most canned foods are also packed with protein, which is essential for your German Shepherd puppys development. However, feeding canned food generally works out more expensive than feeding kibble, as youll need to feed more of it to meet your pups daily needs.
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Taste Of The Wild Wetlands Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Taste of the Wild Wetlands made our top favorites because of the wild game proteins in the recipe. Roasted quail, roasted duck, and smoked turkey provide rich flavor and highly digestible protein. K9 Strain Probiotics are developed specifically for dogs and added after the cooking process to ensure viability. Dried chicory root provides the prebiotic fiber to fuel your German Shepherds energy supply.
The analysis of Taste of the Wild Wetlands breaks down to 32% crude protein, 18% crude fat, and 4% crude fiber. This food contains 375 kcal/cup.
Taste of the Wild Wetlands hits many of our strong points for an adult German Shepherd food.