Best diet for GSD?
Discussion
We just adopted two five year olds, male and female, and both seem to have sloppy poop. They were on a diet of Wainrights dry food in the rescue Kennels. The female has a bit of arthritis, and is on joint supplement, Nutraquin +, 3 capsules a day.
Any suggestions what/if we should change them to, or should they be okay staying on dry food! Something is not right though, or could it just be the stress of the kennels?
I gave the one her medicine in some canned tuna this morning, they both definitely like canned tuna.
Any suggestions what/if we should change them to, or should they be okay staying on dry food! Something is not right though, or could it just be the stress of the kennels?
I gave the one her medicine in some canned tuna this morning, they both definitely like canned tuna.
Our Gsd male was super windy for about 8 years until we tried James Wellbeloved. It literally stopped the wind and made his motions More solid within a day or so. He was so bad before that he could clear rooms.
We stopped pigs ears etc and only gave bonios or milky bones as treats. It was like a miracle.
GSD seem to have very sensitive systems so you have to be consistent.
If they get bored of pre soaked wet food, dropping the odd crunchy one in will keep them happy.
Have had GSD's for 25 and it took me a long time to get it right lol
Good luck.
We stopped pigs ears etc and only gave bonios or milky bones as treats. It was like a miracle.
GSD seem to have very sensitive systems so you have to be consistent.
If they get bored of pre soaked wet food, dropping the odd crunchy one in will keep them happy.
Have had GSD's for 25 and it took me a long time to get it right lol
Good luck.
I'll try them for a few days on this Wainrights 'mature dog with joint supplement', we bought and see if anything changes. Then move onto another. I assume they will be a bit unsettled after moving from a metal box into our luxury palace here.
I just gave them half a carrot each, as they supposedly love them..... they had a taste, dropped them on the floor. Hmm...
I just gave them half a carrot each, as they supposedly love them..... they had a taste, dropped them on the floor. Hmm...
I'll try the shaved carrot later tonight.
We'll see how they go on the Wainrights, then rotate through different types until we see an improvement. They definitely don't seem to eat much at all, which was what the kennel told us before we brought them home.
Arden Grange has been mentioned quite a few times too, and a friend gives it to her two GSDs.
We'll see how they go on the Wainrights, then rotate through different types until we see an improvement. They definitely don't seem to eat much at all, which was what the kennel told us before we brought them home.
Arden Grange has been mentioned quite a few times too, and a friend gives it to her two GSDs.
Our Lab had a dodgy stomach which got worse over a couple months. He was on the Natural Dog Food Company dry food from birth (breeder recommended) but when he went from the puppy to adult food it got much worse.
Some one recommended http://tails.com which I tried with the benefit of a free two week trial.
2 days later he was right as reign with "kickable stools" and 3 months later is still all good.
Some one recommended http://tails.com which I tried with the benefit of a free two week trial.
2 days later he was right as reign with "kickable stools" and 3 months later is still all good.
My rescue kennels said don't change food for a least a week after adoption as the dogs and their digestion will still be settling in.
They also said change any food gradually over three or four days to allow the dogs digestion to adapt.
With my Cassie, I also ended up feeding her about 80% of the recommended amount - this + treats seems about the right amount to keep her output reasonably solid.
Additionally, after 2 months, I've added a Protexin Pro-Fibre supplement which has further improved things.
They also said change any food gradually over three or four days to allow the dogs digestion to adapt.
With my Cassie, I also ended up feeding her about 80% of the recommended amount - this + treats seems about the right amount to keep her output reasonably solid.
Additionally, after 2 months, I've added a Protexin Pro-Fibre supplement which has further improved things.
Another vote for Wellbeloved. Our Golden was brought up on Beta, had very tricky stomach, and picking up after him was gut wrenching at times, trumps could clear the room in 5 seconds.
Now he's fine, plus training treats are dried chicken breast, bit like jerky, and on walks Bakers Meaty Meals the newer one with no added artificial ingredients. Biscuits are shapes and Bonio.
If he gets any human food it's just protein only, eg chicken, salmon trimmings, but he's a dog, gets dog food. He would and does strongly disagree with this strategy, face it, he's a Golden aka gannet.
Now he's fine, plus training treats are dried chicken breast, bit like jerky, and on walks Bakers Meaty Meals the newer one with no added artificial ingredients. Biscuits are shapes and Bonio.
If he gets any human food it's just protein only, eg chicken, salmon trimmings, but he's a dog, gets dog food. He would and does strongly disagree with this strategy, face it, he's a Golden aka gannet.
Came down at 6 am today and found a puddle of brown goo and spatter around it. Someone had a sudden shart for a guess. 
I think it may have happened before I let them out at midnight for ten minutes, as there were a couple of brown dog prints in the conservatory, which was closed all night.... surprised I didn't get any on my own feet.... I should have turned the light on......
Today I gave them a dish of their normal dampened Wainrights...... and they both sniffed and walked away.
I guess/hope they are still just settling in. Blue came in from the garden this morning, jumped on the sofa, sprawled out, like he had lived here for years.
I think it may have happened before I let them out at midnight for ten minutes, as there were a couple of brown dog prints in the conservatory, which was closed all night.... surprised I didn't get any on my own feet.... I should have turned the light on......
Today I gave them a dish of their normal dampened Wainrights...... and they both sniffed and walked away.
I guess/hope they are still just settling in. Blue came in from the garden this morning, jumped on the sofa, sprawled out, like he had lived here for years.
Our GSD was really fussy when it came to food (it wasn't unusual for me to have to sit on the floor and hand-feed him), but he's eating Nutriment now and really enjoying it. It's sold frozen, and he loves it. No tummy problems at all, unless he'd just had his flea treatment - but we've changed his flea treatment and he's fine now.
Best of luck with your two beautiful dogs!
Best of luck with your two beautiful dogs!
As mentioned above, GSDs do have something of a reputation for delicate digestive systems. Our two (and their predecessors) are fed on James Wellbeloved Adult (turkey & rice) and a small quantity of Butchers Tripe just for some moistness and smell in the meal.
As long as we keep them on that they are fine. We don't even change the flavour of the kibble as that has caused problems in the past.
It's very noticeable that when MrsC gives them something for an evening treat (you name it, she's bought it and given it to them) then the following days are, erm, difficult. Hard floors only! She was away for 6 days recently and they were "normal" for the whole time, because I don't generally feed them treats, but when she came back and broke out the treat bag, you can guess how things were the following day.
Our 3 year old is a b*gger for treat begging. He's rather cleverly realised that if MrsC is in the kitchen, all he has to do is sit in front of her and alternatively stare at her for about 3 seconds and then stare at the treat bag for another 3 secs (hangs up in the kitchen), switching back and forth until she registers his request and gives in!
As long as we keep them on that they are fine. We don't even change the flavour of the kibble as that has caused problems in the past.
It's very noticeable that when MrsC gives them something for an evening treat (you name it, she's bought it and given it to them) then the following days are, erm, difficult. Hard floors only! She was away for 6 days recently and they were "normal" for the whole time, because I don't generally feed them treats, but when she came back and broke out the treat bag, you can guess how things were the following day.
Our 3 year old is a b*gger for treat begging. He's rather cleverly realised that if MrsC is in the kitchen, all he has to do is sit in front of her and alternatively stare at her for about 3 seconds and then stare at the treat bag for another 3 secs (hangs up in the kitchen), switching back and forth until she registers his request and gives in!
We feed our 6 year old GSD and elderly yorkie on CSJ dry food, mixture of the tripe flavour and another, reasonably priced compared to the simpsons we used beforehand. A few times a week they also get some raw, usually minces,tripe,fish and some bones etc from local raw food supplier, sardines in tomatoe sauce, and about once a week or fornight they get a can of tinned food which they go mad for! Like giving kids sweets and doesnt matter which one but usually butchers tripe mix.
Have tried giving raw veg but they dont seem overly fussed on it, only eaten raw carrot a couple times, but will happily eat cooked veg after a roast! And they also get any suitable scraps or leftovers.
There coats are great, poo's are small and fine and there flatulance has reduced since swapping to CSJ!
Have tried giving raw veg but they dont seem overly fussed on it, only eaten raw carrot a couple times, but will happily eat cooked veg after a roast! And they also get any suitable scraps or leftovers.
There coats are great, poo's are small and fine and there flatulance has reduced since swapping to CSJ!
If watery diarrhoea is daily then initially I would recommend a reset of the dogs system. This would involve no food for 24 hours until system is cleaned out, then introduce boiled white rice and cooked and shredded chicken breast in small amounts for a couple of days. Then slowly introduce small amounts of kibble with rice and chicken until it's just kibble. Our vet recently told us that current thinking is not to starve the dogs any more but in my experience it does work.
If watery diarrhoea persists then a few tablets from the vet may be needed to clear up an infection (unlikely but we had to do this once).
Good luck.
If watery diarrhoea persists then a few tablets from the vet may be needed to clear up an infection (unlikely but we had to do this once).
Good luck.
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