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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > Feeding questions (12 replies)
Feeding questions by Khaled Sohib on 05 July 2012 - 09:39 |
Hello, I have few questions actually :) 1- if I am planning to feed my GSD puppy (4 months) home cooked food ( beef, carrots, rice or bread) what is the appropriate quantity should I give him each meal ? 2- if I switched to dry food, I found here Royal Canin for GSDs Junior, I know that home cooked food is better ofcourse but is that brand good enough ? 3- Can I mix between them ? I mean people told me that if the dog ate the home food he wouldn't accept the dry food after that and others told me it is not good for his digestive system, I am not sure as I haven't got the puppy yet and it is my first time :) if yes I can mix them what is the best combination ? I will try to increase the home food as much as I can but as plan B. Thanks alot and kindly accept my ignorance :) Khaled |
Khaled Sohib by Nans gsd on 05 July 2012 - 17:19 |
| If you are feeding a gsd puppy I would definitely find a better quality kibble; Royal Canin is crap kibble and very possibly is on the "recall" list. Or just do your home cooking. YOu could also use something like The HOnest Kitchen formulas, really easy to prepare, the "preference" formula you just add the meat after you soak in water for a few minutes. Also is a balanced diet for your puppy so you don't have to play any guessing games while the puppy is growing up. Good luck to you. Nan |
by wplumb on 05 July 2012 - 19:00 |
| Do you use Honest Kitchen Preference, I have been thinnking about it and just do not know anyone that feeds it |
by Pharaoh on 05 July 2012 - 19:21 |
| My dogs love it and I think it is very good quality. They get that as part of their diet mixed with whole ground chicken that I grind in my kitchen. I make it in large batches and freezed it. They eat it with raw chicken and beef whole parts and sometimes topped with raw egg yolk. Michele |
Pharaoh by Nans gsd on 05 July 2012 - 19:25 |
| YesI do feed The Honest Kitchen Preference; I also tried their Zeal, however, I like thePreference better as you can add your own fresh meat; I use many varieties of ground meats; beef, pork, chicken, turkey, duck, rabbit, etc. All work well with the Preference diet. Love the convenience of having fruits/vegi's already done for you, stores well, lasts quite a while and this Month-July the manufacturer has a 20% discount. Also save 10 bar codes (box tops) and you get a free box. I use the Preference with some kind of meat in the AM and use other meats with bone and all in the PM feeding. Don't use it twice per day unless I forget to take other meats out of the freezer. So far, works well and they eat it well. BOL Nan |
by VKGSDs on 05 July 2012 - 19:52 |
| This is just a guess and I don't mean any offense but looking at the OP's name, it's possible that Royal Canin is the best kibble available in his area. |
VKGSDs by magdalenasins on 06 July 2012 - 21:36 |
| Agreed VKGSDs. Feed whatever meat you can get not cooked but raw. No bread or rice or anything. Add fish or fish oil to that. Best thing for them. If you think they are not getting enough vitamins add one meal a day of the kibble. |
by Khaled Sohib on 08 July 2012 - 07:51 |
Thanks to all, VKGSDs ( Non taken :) and yes I didn't find better brand, I live in Dubai and I found here Royal Canine, Eukanuba, Pro Plan & Pedigree so I choosed Royal Canine as it is better than the others ( and correct me if I am wrong please) Of course I will try to go with home food as much as I can but as I mentioned earlier I need a back up plan :) magdalenasins, just give him raw meat each meal, that's it ?!! how much each meal please? (quantity) |
by Eldee on 08 July 2012 - 12:53 |
| My suggestion is to try and find a grain free food. Dogs, especially GSD's have a lot of digestive issues and it is hard for them to digest grains. I hope you can find one. I just assumed that a pet food store anywhere would carry a grain free kibble. If not, Royal Canin is a good, in my opinion and of the ones you listed and if they are your only choice then that is the one I would pick as well. |
Eldee by Nedev385 on 08 July 2012 - 13:47 |
| Hello, meat it has been advised to boil and only once a week to give crude.Аdd to the flour and sunflower meal and nettles.Excuse me for bad English.You see the change after 2 month. |
by GK1 on 08 July 2012 - 14:18 |
| Khaled No ignorance here, your questions are valid and I struggled with this complex topic of diet and nutrition myself. Still do, to a degree. Anyone that thinks they know it all regarding canine nutrition misplaced their confidence in the wrong closet. I will say upfront, home cooked or raw meat based diet is superior to any commercial food. There is no comparison whatsoever between whole, live foods and factory processed. I initially started my pup out on a so-called grain free 'superfood' until 5 months. A cute shiny bag. He thrived on the kibble but I sensed commercial food was a poor diet in the long run and kibble diets often lead to rapid growth spurts and weight gains - not good for the joints. I transitioned the pup entirely to raw at 5.5 mos and have not fed a single morsel of kibble since. However, I continue to go back and forth with cooked meals, mostly cooked lately, but for no particular reason other than I think the pup digests it a little easier than raw. Same ingredients, just cooked proteins (mainly a variety of poultry parts), but without cooked bones (still give those raw: beef with marrow). I also feed egg, yogurt, fish, veggies, fruits, herbs and cooked whole oats. Pup is about 9 mos now and has always been lean, super energetic and has yet to show even a hint of an ailment. He loves to eat. Recommend you research some recipes based on available proteins in your area and within your budget of course. Making dog food is easy, especially if you are handy in the kitchen. Amount depends and there is no math for it; just need to know your dog and adjust based on growth rate and activity level. I think my pup eats quite a lot, but he is also physically intense and gets much daily exercise. Work with it and experiment; you and dog will find the balance. |
by EuroShepherd on 08 July 2012 - 16:14 |
Khaled, if you decide to feed both kibble and homemade food to your dog, do not feed them both at the same time. Kibble and fresh food digest at a different rate, when both are fed in the same meal it raises the chance for the dog to get bloat. So, if for money or convenience you decide to do both kibble and fresh food make sure you always feed them in separate meals. GK1 had very good suggestions. Feeding fresh, homemade meals is the best for your dog's health. Raw bones must be included for appropriate balance of minerals (also raw bones are the absolute best way to keep your dog's teeth clean) if it makes you feel better then you can dip raw bones in boiling water for a few seconds to kill any pathogens on the surface before feeding, but make sure you don't boil the bones long enough to cook them. Raw meat is preferable to cooked meat, but this is your choice, you can feed the meat cooked if you wish, or dip it in boiling water for a few seconds if you are concerned about pathogens. Goat meat, sheep meat, poultry, small whole fish, eggs, fresh raw goats milk, yogurt and cheese are also good additions. Organs (like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, pancreas, stomach/tripes) are very rich in nutrition for dogs and should be a part of their diet too. Dogs need some nutrients that vegetables, herbs and fruit provide. Parsley, sweet potatoes, carrots, chickpeas (and other legumes,) mint, thyme, dill, garlic, olive oil, sesame seeds and oil are all ok for a dog's diet. (note: small amount of oil goes a long ways.) I think parsley and carrots and or sweet potatoes/yams would be fine for making up the bulk of the veggie part of a dog's diet. Apples and pears are good fruit choice for dogs. When feeding grain, it must be well cooked. Rice is easier to digest for dogs than most other kinds of grain, go easy on any grain that has gluten. A dog's homemade diet should be approximately 50-80% meat/bones/organs, 10-20% eggs/dairy, 10-30% veggies, no more than 25% grain and no more than 10% fruit. Ratios can vary by meal, so no need to be real strict. Meat, bone and/or organs should be a part of every meal....but, the other things (veggies, dairy, grain or fruit) do not necessarily have to be included in every meal. |
EuroShepherd by Khaled Sohib on 09 July 2012 - 06:43 |
Thanks to all, it is really appreciated and please keep following my posts as I am sure I will have lots of questions in the future :)) |
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