What Can I Feed My German Shepherd That Has Diarrhoea
Healthy Diet And Nutrition Tips From Dr Sarah Nold
Ensuring your dog has a good wholesome diet not only keeps them healthy, but can also help prevent bouts of diarrhea. Heavily processed foods containing high levels of preservatives and chemicals can play havoc with your dogs digestion, and certain human foods can even be poisonous to your dog.
Trupanion veterinarian, Sarah Nold, DVM, offers her healthy diet and nutrition tips, including common foods to avoid and advice on food allergies.
Are Carrots Good For Dog Diarrhea
Cooked carrots are excellent for dogs suffering from diarrhea due to the high fiber content.;
To prepare carrots for a dog with diarrhea, you need to:
You can also cut carrots into small pieces and cook with white rice.
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Parasites Worms And Internal Upsets
Puppies should have a worming and flea prevention routine as standard precautions.
However, maybe your puppy is born with worms or they get infested by transmission from another dog or something in the external environment.
There are several different types of worms and parasites that can wreak havoc with the insides of your puppy and cause diarrhea.
Worms are pretty easy to treat with medication if you go see a vet, and youll want to ask them what the best course of action is to keep worms and other parasites away.
When To Call Your Vet
If your puppy has just had a couple bouts of loose stool and is otherwise happy and doing great, there is no need to panic. It will likely resolve on its own.
Signs to call your veterinarian to schedule an appointment:
- Diarrhea that lasts more than a day
- Bloody or black stool
- Fever
- Painful behaviorhunched posture, tense, or crying out
- Known ingestion of a non-food item or a toxic substance
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Common German Shepherd Stomach Problems
Sam Shephard is an experienced German Shepherd owner and has learned throughout the years how to optimize the breed’s health and wellness.
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German shepherds make wonderful pets, but, unfortunately for them and their owners, they often suffer from health problems. Common among these are digestive issues and a sensitive stomach. These range from mild to fatal, so its very important to keep an eye on your dogs health and bowel movements.
If you own a German shepherd, you should consult regularly with your vet about your dogs diet. Depending on what issues it has, you may need to adjust by eliminating certain kinds of food, adding supplements, or even designing a raw food diet.
With attention and care, you should be able to keep your dog’s stomach issues in check so that he can live happily and you dont have to clean up too many messes.
What To Watch For
Any abnormal symptom could be a sign of serious disease or it could just be a minor or temporary problem. The important thing is to be able to tell when to seek veterinary help and how urgently. Many diseases cause dogs to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your German Shepherd Dog needs help.
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What Happens If My Dog Keeps Having Diarrhea
Continued diarrhea can lead to dehydration or weight loss and could be a symptom of an underlying illness. Its important not to ignore symptoms when your dog is sick. Dogs often hide their illnesses for as long as possible, acting as if they feel normal when theres really something more serious going on.
Choosing The Right Food For Your Dog
The nutritional requirements for a puppy are often not the same as an adult dog, so its important to purchase a dog food which is labeled for the correct life stage of your dog. If your dog has a chronic condition, certain ingredients may be recommended or should be avoided. Your veterinarian is the best person to help you choose the right food for your pet.
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Has Your German Shepherds Diet Recently Changed
When you change your German Shepherds diet, it can cause some intense dog diarrhea. This is because it is a heavy change on their system. Before we continue on with this point, its important that you understand what we mean when we say change of diet. A change of diet refers to any of the following;
- Changing the type of food, such as going from dry food to wet food
- Changing the quality of dog food, such as buying a cheap brand
- Changing between brands of dog food
- Changing from semi-solid dog food to solid dog food
- Changing from puppy dog food to adult dog food
- Basically, changing up your German Shepherds food at all can be the culprit of diarrhea
The easiest way to prevent this would be to simply never change your dogs diet at all. Of course, this isnt always possible. Therefore, the next best thing would be to slowly ease your dog into their new food. If you just switch overnight, youre putting your dog at risk for diarrhea and other digestive issues.
To start off, mix a tiny amount of the new food in with the old food. With each meal, slowly increase the ratio of the new dog food until thats all your dog is eating. Most of the time, this should solve any diarrhea issues. If youre still seeing diarrhea, you should call your vet and work out a plan to give your German Shepherd the best diet possible.
German Shepherd Raw Diet
Like homemade diets, formulating a raw diet for German Shepherds requires lots of effort and planning. There is more;risk of contamination and nutritional imbalance due to its raw nature.
Raw dog food usually consists of uncooked and unprocessed animal-based products. These include raw meat, bones, vegetables, fruits, eggs with shells on them , dairy products such as butter and cheese made from raw milk without pasteurization or homogenizing. A dog raw diet is supposed to resemble the diet of what dogs ate in the wild millions of years ago.
Raw dog food is a growing trend These diets provide canines more nutrients than cooked foods and help them protect their teeth, coat, digestive functions, among other health benefits. Read our German Shepherd Raw Diet Guide to learn all about raw feeding GSDs and their benefits. We also recommend visiting our best raw dog food article to find the best brands to feed your dog.
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German Shepherd Calorie Requirements
So, how much should I feed my German Shepherd?
The caloric needs of dogs are based on their weight. An adult German Shepherd usually weighs between 50 and 90 pounds, which means most GSDs need between 1165 and 1808 calories a day.
Make sure you follow the 10% rule when feeding treats to your dog. Food would equal 90% of the total calories and treats the remaining 10%.
For instance, if a GSD weighs 65 lbs. he would need;1480 calories;per day. For those eating treats, then thats;1276 calories in food and 142 in treats .;Usually, most full-grown dogs eat 2 meals per day. However, since GSDs are prone to bloating so divide his daily meals into 3 meals. For this, you need to split;1276;into three meals of 425 calories each.
You can use this;calculator;to find their exact caloric needs for your dog based on his own weight.
Pregnant or lactating GSDs may need up to 2 to 4 times the amount of food they would normally need as the mothers energy requirements increase after delivery and during lactation. Be sure to talk to your vet.
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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What You Should Do If Your German Shepherd Has Diarrhea
Diarrhea in German Shepherds is without a doubt one of the most common manifestations of many illnesses and diseases. It is not a disease in itself, but a symptom. Although this symptom can mask a serious problem, it can also be nothing of concern. Nevertheless, diarrhea should not be taken lightly. Even if it is just a slight negligence of the digestive system, it can lead to many other problems such as dehydration if not resolved right away.
Main Causes Of Diarrhea In German Shepherd Puppies
Puppyhood is a time of extreme transition for German Shepherds. As a large breed dog, a GSD puppy is growing up fast and every day is different.
Everything is subject to change at a moments notice, from the food they eat to where they live to what their day is like.
Some of the major milestones in a GSD puppys life are related to the gut and the digestive system. It can take up to 12 months before a German Shepherd puppys gastrointestinal system is fully developed and stabilized.
A GSD puppy may change foods three or more times during this period transitioning from their mothers milk to puppy food and then to adult food.
Since German Shepherds are genetically predisposed to have issues with sensitive stomachs, each food change has the potential to cause diarrhea.
As well, other major stressors can cause temporary bouts of diarrhea. As the German Shepherd Dog Club of America explains, all of these stressors may cause a puppy to experience diarrhea:
- Change in their water.
- Change in their environment .
- Too many dog treats or people food scraps.
- Stress .
- Eating things they shouldnt .
- Worms and parasites, a viral or bacterial infection.
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Eating Or Swallowing Something They Arent Suppose To
Eating, swallowing, ingesting or simply tasting anything outside of a puppys normal diet might cause your puppy to get diarrhea, or in worse cases, get seriously sick.
This is why its important to supervise puppies until they are properly house trained and learn what they can and cant play with and touch.
Keeping the inside and outside of your house puppy friendly is also helpful.
Human food, rotten food, meaty bones with harmful bacteria, grass/organic matter and other foods and objects can cause diarrhea or sickness in a puppy.
Its also wise to keep a close eye on your puppy when you go for walks or to the dog park as anything can be laying around in public areas.
If you suspect your puppy has ingested something harmful or toxic get them straight to the vet.
Home Remedies For Dog Diarrhea
A great many cases are mild and, with your vets advice, may be treated without a trip to the office. They may respond to a regimen of very basic treatments, including:
Fasting
Withholding food for 12 to 24 hours, and providing water in small amounts frequently, can clear the cause of the upset and allow the gastrointestinal tract to settle. Its usually the first line of attack for diarrhea. Before you decide on a fast, be sure that your dog is healthy enough to endure it. Puppies, and elderly dogs, for example, need nutrients. Also, a fast may not be appropriate for small dogs who do not have the physical reserves of their larger cousins.
Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, so make sure to give your dog access to water at all times. You may also offer unflavored Pedialyte to help maintain electrolyte balance under a vets advice.
Kitchen Cures for Dog Diarrhea
After a fast, simple foods are usually introduced slowly. Many dog owners start with foods that act as binders, which can help normalize stool consistency. Some tried-and-true methods include:
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Common Foods That Can Trigger Diarrhea In Dogs
Milk or dairy can cause diarrhea in dogs, especially if not non-fat or low-fat. Fatty foods can cause diarrhea by themselves, but as dogs cannot process fat as well as people, they can also cause an illness called pancreatitis which may result in other gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and/or decreased appetite.
What Can You Give A German Shepherd For Diarrhea
To feed a German Shepherd with diarrhea, give small frequent meals of bland, easily digestible foods such as white rice with cooked chicken. Other alternatives are pasta, pumpkin, sweet potato, or yogurt.
How to treat German Shepherd diarrhea? Know how to treat dog diarrhea at home. If your German shepherd has diarrhea, stop feeding her for 12 hours. This will allow whatever is in her system to work its way out. Provide plenty of water, however, as this may help flush her system and will prevent dehydration. You may also want to offer your dog ice cubes made from Pedialyte.
Why does my German Shepherd have diarrhea? German shepherds have a high prey drive, so a dog left alone in the yard may treat himself to the occasional squirrel or rabbit, ingesting some bacteria along with his treat. Even with supervision, some dogs manage to gobble up things they shouldnt. Certain medications can also cause diarrhea, as can changing your dogs diet too quickly.
What is the best dog food for German Shepherds? Another of the best dog food for German Shepherds with sensitive stomach is Natural Balance. Infact, I recommend it as the #2 best dog food for German Shepherd with diarrhea. This blend is grain free and has limited ingredients. Perfect for dogs with sensitivities to certain popular dog food recipes.
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Help My German Shepherd Has Diarrhea What Should I Do
Diarrhea is a common health problem among dogs that clearly indicates gastrointestinal distress. Thats why it is no surprise that German Shepherd diarrhea issues have been a common matter owners often worry about. So if your German Shepherd also suffers diarrhea and you are wondering why this happens, you are not alone.
Although diarrhea can be an alarming sign, identifying the common causes is not difficult. Fortunately, treatment options are available and your German Shepherd will likely recover as soon as you take an immediate action.
Can Pumpkin Help With Dog Constipation
On the opposite end of the spectrum, pumpkin can also help with constipation in dogs. The Merck Veterinary Manual states that adding 1-to-4 tablespoons of pumpkin per meal to the diet of a dog suffering from constipation can help ease mild constipation. It is important to make sure that dogs are well hydrated any time you increase the fiber content of their food, as dehydration can make constipation worse.
It is also imperative to find out why your dog is constipated. Consult with your veterinarian to make sure your dog doesnt have an enlarged prostate, foreign material or bones in the colon, or another issue that could be an emergency if it isnt dealt with properly.
Pumpkin is a useful and affordable way to help battle your dogs diarrhea. If your dog is suffering from diarrhea or constipation, a tablespoon of pumpkin can ease his distress. Talk to your veterinarian if pumpkin does not help resolve your dogs diarrhea and see if there are other supplements or medications you can try instead.
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When Should You Consult Your Veterinarian
If the diarrhea continues for more than a day, or if your dog experiences other symptoms such as dehydration, lethargy, fever, vomiting, decreased appetite, or if you notice dark-colored or bloody stools, then it could be linked to something more serious. Dry and tacky gums are an indication of dehydration, and you should consult your vet immediately if your dog is experiences any of these symptoms.
Its also important to seek advice from your veterinarian if your dog has a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes or cancer, or is taking medication such as antibiotics. If you think your dog make have eaten something toxic, take him to your nearest veterinary hospital right away.
Knowing what is normal for your dog is important, and if his diarrhea continues longer than usual or if you have any concerns at all, consult your veterinarian for advice. Even if the diarrhea does turn out to be triggered by something minor, its always better to be safe than sorry.