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Raw diet
German shepherd
Found [13] Posts :: Page 1 of 1
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cockerlover
Posted: 11:42:10 PM 6/1/2008
Hey everyone,

I am just stopping in real quick for some advice. I have a four year old 96lbs german shepherd. He is pretty laid back and is not a high energy dog. I would say medium. I have decided to feed him a raw diet. Hopefully it will cut down his shedding and poop. It should help out with his ears also. I have read so many tings, they all say something different! one says veggies and fruit and others say only meat? It is all confusing. I also dont know how much he should get at each meal or a day. Any advice would be appreciated!

Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!
Posted: 7:40:48 AM 6/2/2008
First, make sure you have done plenty of research so you can be sure you are covering all nutritional bases.Raw isn't difficult, but there are some guidelines to follow to make sure all nutrients are covered.

Most dogs are going to need about 2-3% of their body weight daily.It's really a watch your dog kind of thing, up it if they loose weight, lower it if they gain. So you can start out with around 31-46 oz(2-3lbs) per day and work from there.You don't have to feed exact amounts each meal, some meals can be big, some small.

There are two schools of thought on the veggies. Prey modelers don't use them, BARF feeder do.That's why it gets confusing, some people insist on them, and the prey modelers figure you'll kill your dog if you feed them.You can decide to follow one 'method' or not.A guideline for prey model is around 10% organs(3-5% of that amount being liver)10% edible bone and the rest muscle meat, skin, etc. Barfers have numbers all over the place.
cockerlover
Posted: 9:58:13 AM 6/3/2008
so he really only needs meat? If I gave him veggies occasionally, can he eat them whole? And garlic, can he have a little of it a week? I know it can be toxic in large amounts.
Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!
Posted: 10:17:48 AM 6/3/2008
Yes, if you choose the prey model method you only feed meat, bones and organs(and all three are necessary, not just the meat).You can feed raw vegetables as treats if you like, they won't count as part of the diet unless they are pureed. Raw and whole, they don't digest very well (since dogs don't chew them enough) so they won't get many nutrient benefits from them, but fine for treats.Barfers puree their veggies so the nutrients are more available.
Posted: 1:26:19 PM 6/5/2008
There is some very good advice given, but... there's always a "but" right?

But, no matter what diet anyone feeds their dogs (and we are huge proponent of raw) they still need supplementation with soil-based probiotics to maintain GI balance and assist to breakdown food. Also, pet lipids to lubricate all internal organzs and joints.
gbroxon
Posted: 1:43:47 PM 6/5/2008
Sorry, we'll have to agree to disagree. A healthy dog fed a proper whole-prey diet needs no supplements. Period. If it makes you feel better to supplement, it probably causes no harm, but it is unnecessary and an unnecessary expense for a healthy, whole-prey-fed dog. I don't think wolves are stopping off for supplements at their local nutrition center.
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/100690
cockerlover
Posted: 1:52:07 PM 6/5/2008
I am buying the food for my dog and being 17 it is already difficult. I didnt think supplements were needed. I think kelp would be the only one he may need. Soy is something alot of dogs are allergic to. I think he will get enough out of fish and the meat and veggies on the side. What about garlic?
Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!
thelifeofriley
Posted: 5:30:57 PM 6/5/2008
If you are going to supplement give him fish oil.
http://www.ashleyspets.com
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fPJS8GenfXo
cockerlover
Posted: 10:27:35 PM 6/5/2008
fish oil from like salmon and stuff like that? The capsules for humans? How many would he get?
Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!
dusty082155
Posted: 11:02:13 PM 6/5/2008
I will be the wet blanket here. I wouldnt feed raw if i were you. Unless you are really sure that this dog is for keeps. The last time you were on this forum, Bear, your cocker spaniel had attacked your moms face and you said it scared you so bad that you were never going to get another dog. Especially a big one. Now you have a GSD ? They are not a small breed. What happened to Bear ? You said he was going to be put down, did you have the little guy put down ? And do you still have Lacie ? Jake ? Caesar ?

I am not trying to admonish you. But i do think from your past record, that you do not seem to keep your dogs for any length of time and switching to raw should be done over a period of time and under strictly sanitary conditions. It takes dedication. You also need to understand that when you take on the responsibility of a pet, its for the long haul. Hopefully, you have learned that by now.
If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater, suggest that he wear a tail.
thelifeofriley
Posted: 8:36:18 AM 6/6/2008
The easiest way is just to buy fish oil in the liquid form, a few companies make it... Natures Logic is a good one. And just squirt it on the top of the food.

But I do agree with Dusty, raw probably isnt the best way to go for you. Dogs can get nutrient deficiencies if not fed raw properly. It takes alot of work, time, research..
http://www.ashleyspets.com
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fPJS8GenfXo
cockerlover
Posted: 12:34:33 PM 6/6/2008
Bear was my cocker who died in his sleep from old age. He never was a problem and I had him for a long time. The rottie we had for 6 months that had been abused had bit my mom and I was scared for a long time. But my counselor said the only way to get over a fear was to face it. Lacie was only a foster that I wnated to keep bt we didnt. What my parents do I cant control. I hadnt wanted a dog after bear. They got this shepherd a year ago one day while I was at school. I didnt know anything about it. I also have a cocker that i got at 10 weeks and she is now 15 months. Then we fostered a golden retriever/ poodle cross for about a month and adopted her. That was 2 months after my mom had got bit. So that is 2 years we have had her. I dont agree with my parents getting rid of dogs like they have in the past, but they have made more of an effort to help me with the training so that it is a family thing. We moved also and now have 7 acres for them and other animals. Our family does clicker training and dog whisperer type stuff now and we have a balanced pack.
Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!
pope1982
Posted: 1:07:40 PM 6/6/2008
We don't feed raw so I really have no advice on this subject, but I have got a little something to say Hannah.

Please don't make me embarrass you by pulling up posts from a little over a year ago where you were interested in afghans, newfs, GSDs and a few other breeds after getting rid of Caesar. Thankfully he dodged the bullet of being put down

Don't lie and make excuses as to what's happened in the past concerning your families animals. You won't be able to fix it and move on if your entire family isn't honest about it and on the same page.

Anyway, good luck and I hope the best for you and your dogs but don't be so over confident with the length of time you have had this pack. Remember, you had your other family members for quite some time too before you parted with them.

Oh yeah, you forgot to mention Jake wasn't there also a staffie "Aris" and an aussie mix puppy somewhere in there too?
Just remember, they are family members not trends or there for your convenience. They depend on you and a stable environment filled with routine as well as unconditional love.
That is what it is all about...unconditional love is such an effort at times because you have to suck it up, come up with solutions and make it through the tough times too not just giving up.

Quitters are so unattractive.


***Edited By: pope1982 on 6/6/2008 1:45:20 PM***
Reason: ADD
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If you don't like it, you can shove it. But you don't like it, you love it.
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