Best diet for GSD?
Discussion
We took Blue and Sky to Vets for Pets for a checkup and they were both weighed. Blue is 43 kg, Sky is 33.
Blue was pronounced fit and healthy but Sky has muscle wastage on her rear legs and hips, plus we have found a raw scaly dermatitis under her front right armpit. Vet gave us some cream for that and also,advised we swap her to Yumove, from Nutraquin.
The poops have gone fairly solid for a couple of weeks as we have switched them onto Arden Grange, for big dogs with joint supplements.
For the last three days I have been giving them some raw chicken in their morning meal.
I need to calculate just how much food they should be getting every day, based on their weight, don't want to starve them or have a couple of porkers in the house.
Other than that, they are really great dogs, friendly, loving, no food aggressions, house trained, quiet etc. Only down sides are pulling a bit on the leads when walked together and getting too,excited when they see other animals. They seem to be very 'competitive' with each other, they both want to walk in front, and pull hard to get there, and if one lunges towards a dog or cat, the other has to do it as well.
We have started walking them seperarly the last few days, it is much easier.
Blue was pronounced fit and healthy but Sky has muscle wastage on her rear legs and hips, plus we have found a raw scaly dermatitis under her front right armpit. Vet gave us some cream for that and also,advised we swap her to Yumove, from Nutraquin.
The poops have gone fairly solid for a couple of weeks as we have switched them onto Arden Grange, for big dogs with joint supplements.
For the last three days I have been giving them some raw chicken in their morning meal.
I need to calculate just how much food they should be getting every day, based on their weight, don't want to starve them or have a couple of porkers in the house.
Other than that, they are really great dogs, friendly, loving, no food aggressions, house trained, quiet etc. Only down sides are pulling a bit on the leads when walked together and getting too,excited when they see other animals. They seem to be very 'competitive' with each other, they both want to walk in front, and pull hard to get there, and if one lunges towards a dog or cat, the other has to do it as well.
We have started walking them seperarly the last few days, it is much easier.
We have been feeding them on 50% raw meat and 50% Arden Grange for a month or so now. They love it.
Also bought some salmon oil and drizzle a teaspoon of that on every day, and throw a raw egg in each 3 times a week.
Their dog logs are pretty solid most of the time nowadays too.
Also started her on Yumove to replace the Nutraquin she was on when we first got them.
Ps. The kennels sent us their pedigree sheets a couple of weeks ago, going back five generations, both are pure bred from some fancy kennels somewhere. Noble beasts.
Also bought some salmon oil and drizzle a teaspoon of that on every day, and throw a raw egg in each 3 times a week.
Their dog logs are pretty solid most of the time nowadays too.
Also started her on Yumove to replace the Nutraquin she was on when we first got them.
Ps. The kennels sent us their pedigree sheets a couple of weeks ago, going back five generations, both are pure bred from some fancy kennels somewhere. Noble beasts.
You shouldn't mix raw and dried, something to do with the enzymes in the stomach and how the food is broken down; it buggers it all up (so I have been led to believe).
looking good though a German Shepherd is a dog that one day I would love to own.
looking good though a German Shepherd is a dog that one day I would love to own.
Edited by HTP99 on Monday 24th July 19:31
HTP99 said:
You shouldn't mix raw and dried, something to do with the enzymes in the stomach and how the food is broken down; it buggers it all up (so I have been led to believe).
looking good though a German Shepherd is a dog that one day I would love to own.
Jury's still out on that one. Some are adamant you shouldn't mix due to aforementioned reason but others suggest that as they are scroungers by nature their digestive system can cope fine with the mix. looking good though a German Shepherd is a dog that one day I would love to own.
Edited by HTP99 on Monday 24th July 19:31
All comes down to the individuals. As they seem to be doing well on the combo I wouldn't rush to change it.
King Herald said:
We have been feeding them on 50% raw meat and 50% Arden Grange for a month or so now. They love it.
Also bought some salmon oil and drizzle a teaspoon of that on every day, and throw a raw egg in each 3 times a week.
Their dog logs are pretty solid most of the time nowadays too.
Also started her on Yumove to replace the Nutraquin she was on when we first got them.
Ps. The kennels sent us their pedigree sheets a couple of weeks ago, going back five generations, both are pure bred from some fancy kennels somewhere. Noble beasts.
They are looking brilliant, you have done great by them. They are proper old school looking gsd's,Also bought some salmon oil and drizzle a teaspoon of that on every day, and throw a raw egg in each 3 times a week.
Their dog logs are pretty solid most of the time nowadays too.
Also started her on Yumove to replace the Nutraquin she was on when we first got them.
Ps. The kennels sent us their pedigree sheets a couple of weeks ago, going back five generations, both are pure bred from some fancy kennels somewhere. Noble beasts.
bexVN said:
They are looking brilliant, you have done great by them. They are proper old school looking gsd's,
Thanks. 
: They are really great dogs, well behaved etc, and good fun to have around.I just wish they were a bit easier on the lead. I get the impression they never really went for walks much before.
We don't really give ours any treats, or leftovers or the usual bits and bobs people throw their dogs. After a couple of messy 'accidents' in the first few days after we adopted them I was advised they have sensitive stomachs to that sort of thing.
Occasionally I give them a tin of tuna in brine each added to the morning biscuits, which they love.
Occasionally I give them a tin of tuna in brine each added to the morning biscuits, which they love.
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