[Ivey Evans]

Hello I am at wits end and need of opinions, my Shepard has constant yeast issues due to allergies they think is good related I have tried. Signature. Chicken , then lamb , then open farm lamb, open farm ocean raw mix, then the open farm skin and coat what I plan on doing is. Going through the ingredients list and seeing what each of them has that’s similar so I can narrow down the allergens however I’m open to ideas and brands that are as hypoallergenic and skin supporting as they can get.

[Disha Oberoi]

My 3 year old German Shepherd has a similar problem with periodic spots on her side and a rough crust covering it. And during this period she starts running to the toilet a lot and eats poorly, but after applying flu ointment, which we started to smear on the spot, it dissolves and everything becomes as before, on the advice of the veterinarian.

[Sheikh F]

I’ve been following your post right from the beginning, and it’s been truly captivating to read. I want to extend my gratitude to you for sharing such an excellent blog. Please continue to provide regular updates.

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• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by Sheikh F.

[Gunjan M]

I’ve been following your post right from the beginning, and it’s been truly captivating to read. I want to extend my gratitude to you for sharing such an excellent blog. Please continue to provide regular updates.

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[johanna B]

Hello, Sorry I’m so late to the party. 🙂 I’ve been feeding Titan Raw for about six years. My German Shepherd thrives on it. She’s at the perfect weight, she has a beautifully shiny coat, and unbelievable energy. Her favorite is the Tripe. I’ve tried to explain to her that she can’t live off of that alone, but you know kids lol. I feed the blue, and red and tripe twice a week. I also feed dry just because my pups 92 pounds, and I can’t afford to feed just raw alone. I would if I could….. I would love for the Dog Food Advisor to review Ross Wells Titan.

[Lisa T]

Hi, first time posting on here but I’m kind of at my wits end. This is going to be long but I really need some advice here.

So I have a 14 month old Cane Corso/German Shepherd/Great Dane/ Rotty/Lab/Pitbull mix. She’s a mouthful, I know. She favors heavily on the German Shepherd side and is currently 63lbs with the vet thinking she could comfortably get up to 10lbs heavier. Since she was a puppy she has been a picky eater – with me going through about 5 brands of puppy food until she actually showed interest in Blue Buffalo. When she became an adult I transitioned her to adult Blue Buffalo adult and she would eat, but she’s not a heavy eater daily. The vet told me not to worry about it because she was proper weight.

Come to the present and she just had her routine physical exam and her yearly labs. The vets told me she had elevated levels in certain things but not to worry about it and that she had a severe UTI. I got the medicine for her, she’s been taking it with relucatance. Once I looked at the paperwork and started to lookup exactly what she was elevated in for her labs, everything had to do with her liver. Which, to me, seems like something I should maybe worry about. Anyways the vet also stated I should change her dog food from Blue Buffalo to a different brand and gave me no reasons. Just a list of what they recommend, which seems to all be owned by the big 3 food companies. As I researched her elevated levels and what they meant, her UTI, and the request to change the dog food, it all seems to point to maybe she can’t handle a high protein diet.

So my long winded question for suggestions is : anyone know of a low – medium protein dog food that I can try? I know fish recipes tend to be the better option for this and I have successfully transitioned her from Blue Buffalo to Natural Balance salmon and brown rice and she doesn’t like it. She eats here and there but would prefer to not eat until she goes to a family members house where they have not so good dog food down for their dogs.

Any help would be appreciated.

[J R]

I just signed up on this site And I can’t figure out how to post but I found this old thread also I am looking for a larger dog kibble everything I buy is that small stuff that my German Shepherd aspirates on. I don’t understand this why these dog food companies are making this tiny size saying it’s for large dogs. Biggest size I found is Iams, But he gets tired of eating that. Everything I find is the size of rabbit food.

[AK E]

We have 2 German Shepherd pups aged 7 months. Currently we are feeding Orijen Large Breed dry dog food. What would be a good food to transition them to when they are about a years old? Thank you.

[Jennifer W]

I have a 14 month old intact female Giant Schnauzer from a very ethical responsible breeder (spent 2 yrs on wait list for a pup). You may or may not know that Schnauzers can have a defect in their gut (the exact cause is unknown) that makes it very hard to digest fat and puts them at increased risk for pancreatitis or worse, a condition called Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE) which can often be fatal and when not fatal becomes a chronic life long health battle. Since my girl has had 3 bouts of bright red bloody stools that got her sent to after hours ER vet, I have put the fear of God in me about what she gets her mouth on. The breeder feeds Purina Pro Plan (which is one of your top 10 picks) and gave me a pretty thorough “feeding plan” to adulthood. Ordinarily the breeder would have her on 5-6 cups per day of the Large Breed Under 2 Years and that’s what she’s been on up til recently. I’ve switched her off the chicken/rice one to the Salmon/rice (still Pro Plan under 2) (it has a German Shepherd on the bag).

Anyway, I did this because she just never has firm poops – and I mean never. It isn’t diarrhea, but it’s mushy enough that it’s difficult to pick it up with a poop bag. It just kinda mushes everywhere. At least once every other month or so she’ll have a bout that requires several meals of white rice and pumpkin along with 2 doses of Imodium to quiet her gut down. She’s not a huge fan of food so I just leave her bowl full and she eats when she feels like it. Her poops smell far more than my Corgi’s poops (she’s on Nulo Weight Mgt), but I wouldn’t say they smell particularly foul. She’s perfectly healthy otherwise and her weight is good – very pronounced waist, but you can’t see or feel ribs when petting her sides. But, becuz of my fear of HGE and the chronic soft stools I’m wondering if I should consider something different. I fed my GSDs a raw-ish diet of small about of high quality kibble (for bulk), mackerel filets, Icelandic sardine oil, Sojos Mix a Meal, and a GSD specific vit/min supplement. My Corgi also gets the sardine oil and 2-3 mackerel filets per week. My last GSD was 19 generations OFA Good or Excellent so I know that diet works, but I’m worried about what all that fish oil might do. I’m just at a loss for what’s the best approach. I’ve even thought about taking her to a gastroenterologist at A&M, but my local vet said they don’t what causes this in Schnauzers so there’s not much they do but treat it symptomatically and watch what she ingests. Cheerios and cheese are the only training treats we use also. She prefers Munster over cheddar or Swiss. ;o) Any thoughts?

[Mike D]

Hi folks,
I have a 2 yr old female German Shepherd (about 65 lbs) who I’ve had a very difficult time finding a dry dog food that she will eat. About 3-4 weeks ago I switched to Victor Hi-Pro and she loves it (finally!) However, a side-affect has been terrible constipation. I mean her poops are super hard and I can see she’s having a hard time. I started adding a lot of warm water to her food to try to make sure she’s getting enough water (she’s not a big water drinker, even though we change her water throughout the day and make sure it’s always available). But that wasn’t working, so I read about adding canned pumpkin to help. I started this 2 days ago, gradually increasing it to about a half a can. I can tell it’s helping, as even though her stools are still hard, they are slightly softer than they were. Also, she keeps biting at her tail/bum area, and it looks a bit red down there, which I imagine is due to the irritation in the anal area due to constipation, but I’m no vet.

Anyway, all that is background info to ask if anyone else has had a similar experience and if so, did you switch to another Victor formula that remedied this?

I’m hoping for a simple solution, like just switching to a different Victor formula (and not having to do the, “get these really hard to find ingredients and blend them up a special way, preparing a week ahead of time…”-type stuff).

Would love to hear from anyone who’s had a similar experience and found a solution.

Thanks!

[Beth F]

We are slowly transitioning to all homemade, currently feeding Purina 1 with Chicken and Rice (the healthy one) and then adding homemade in gradual amounts. Right now I feed them 2 cups twice a day of this. My female is 2 years old, about 75 lbs, maybe a bit less, and my male is 10 years, very big boned, long coat, weighs 129 lbs! Both are GS, though my female is short coat and smaller build. I am following the Holistic Vet recipes but the amount she suggests to feed them daily seems HUGE! Like 7-10 cups a day????

My vet said 2 cups, I am assuming at each meal? For a total of 4 cups each a day. I think that sounds okay for my female, but should I be giving my male more? He is not high energy at all, spends most of his time lounging to be honest. He doesn’t feel “fat” to me, but he is very solid. My female is very high energy (she’s still in puppy mode, LOL!)

Any suggestions from other shepherd owners would be greatly appreciated. I love the idea of cooking for them because they hate their kibble and canned is too expensive. Thanks for anything you can send my way!

Beth
Mom to Lucas and Lacy

[Great V]

Hi, Patricia J,

It was sad to know about the health issue your dog is suffering from. I have a 7-year-old German Shepherd. It faced a similar problem a few months ago. It is good that you are following a pet nutritionist right from the birth of your dog.

Generally, providing dog food with corn as its primary ingredient may impact its overall health. However, if your pet nutritionist knows the history of your dog and if he has ‘prescribed’ a specific diet, I feel you should follow his opinion.

If you want, you can visit another veterinarian specialized in pet nutrition for a second opinion. It is difficult to analyze why some dog food may be better for your dog when undergoing the leaking issue, as you mentioned.

Let a pet nutritionist decide what is good for your dog. To find a pet nutritionist nearby, log on to an online vet discovery platform and get the list of veterinarians in your area.

You can follow some simple steps to get the list of veterinary clinics in a particular city or metro area. For instance, if you are in Phoenix, find the best veterinary clinics in Phoenix along with GreatVet rating conveniently by either entering the metro area’s name in the search box, clicking on the state on the map provided or clicking on the link mentioning the particular metro area.

[Patricia J]

I’ve been following the Dog Food Advisor for a fair number of years now. Based on what I learned here, I’ve been feeding my German Shepherd/Samoyed mix girl, Sammy, Fromms dry food for the last 11 years (her whole life). We just had a check-up because she has started “leaking”. The vet put her on Proin ER to help with that, but then suggested we do more extensive blood work, which showed that Sammy has a high Createnin level (2.5). Vet said to start feeding Purina Pro Plan NF, that it has been shown to dramatically extend life. OK, fine, that’s what we want, so yeah, I bought some and have been mixing it in with the Fromms to transition.
Here’s what I don’t understand—the first ingredient in the NF is CORN! That’s followed by rice, egg, fish oil, a bunch of vitamins and chemicals. I get that it probably doesn’t have things I’m used to that contribute to her problem (like meat), but how is what it does have in any other way nutritional?? The corn especially got me, as I thought I’d learned that it basically was empty filler. How will this be good for Sammy’s overall health?
Any information/insight will be appreciated. Thanks. Pj

[Anthony A]

These are their other foods that they offer. Which would you guys recommend I switch my German shepherd to once he’s 12 months and no longer needs the puppy formula. From what I’ve read grain free is not a good thing so I’m skeptical of those.
Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
Pet Wants Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 25.0%
Crude Fat, min – 14.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 4.0%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (min) – 2.85%
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (min) – 0.62%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredients Panel:
Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Oat Groats, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ground Grain Sorghum, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Menhaden Fish Meal, Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural Flavor, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Chicken Cartilage (Source of Chondroitin Sulfate), Potassium Chloride, Menhaden Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Salt, Lecithin, DL-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, Alfalfa Meal, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Fructooligosaccharide, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Dried Seaweed Meal, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate.

Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
Pet Wants Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for All Life Stages except growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 25.0%
Crude Fat, min – 14.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 4.0%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (min) – 2.50%
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (min) – 0.64%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredients Panel:
Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Ground Grain Sorghum, Whitefish Meal, Oat Groats, Millet, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Potato Protein, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Monosodium Phosphate, Dried Tomato Pomace, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Choline Chloride, Dried Blueberries, Dried Cranberries, Fructooligosaccharide, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl- 2-Polyphosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacin Supplement, Kelp Meal, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product.

Salmon Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
Pet Wants Salmon Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 25.0%
Crude Fat, min – 14.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 3.5%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (min) – 2.5%
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (min) – 1.43%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredients Panel:
Salmon Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Ground Grain Sorghum, Oat Groats, Whitefish Meal, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Lecithin, Monosodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Alfalfa Meal, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Dried Blueberries, Dried Cranberries, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Fructooligosaccharide, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacin Supplement, Kelp Meal, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product.

Whitefish Meal & Duck Meal Recipe Grain Free Dog Food
Pet Wants Whitefish Meal and Duck Meal Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 30.0%
Crude Fat, min – 16.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 4.5%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acid * (min) – 2.85%
Omega 3 Fatty Acid * (min) – 0.56%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredients Panel:
Whitefish Meal, Duck Meal, Field Peas, Chickpeas, Lentils, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tapioca Starch, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Dried Seaweed Meal, DL-Methionine, Salt, Monosodium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Fructooligosaccharide, Calcium Carbonate Vitamin E Supplement, L- Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product

Chicken Meal & Turkey Meal Recipe Grain Free Dog Food
Pet Wants Chicken Meal & Turkey Meal Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 29.0%
Crude Fat, min – 14.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 3.5%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acid * (min) – 2.60%
Omega 3 Fatty Acid * (min) – 0.71%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredient Panel:
Chicken Meal, Field Peas, Lentils, Chickpeas, Turkey Meal, Tapioca Starch, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Sweet Potato, Salmon Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Tomato Pomace, Chicken Cartilage (Source of Chondroitin Sulfate) Natural Flavor, Lecithin, Salt, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Taurine, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Fructooligosaccharide, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2- Polyphosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacin Supplement, Kelp Meal, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product.

[Anthony A]

Hey I’ve been feeding my dog this food his whole life and I wanted to get some opinions on it. He’s a 11 month old working line german shepherd. It’s a freshly made slow cooked food that I get delivered to my home every 4 weeks. These are the ingredients, this is the puppy formula.

Puppy Formula Dog Food
Pet Wants Puppy Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for the Growth and Lactation/Gestation Stages including growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 28.0%
Crude Fat, min – 17.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 3.5%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acid * (min) – 3.25%
Omega 3 Fatty Acid * (min) – 0.68%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredient Panel:
Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Ground Grain Sorghum, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Oat Groats, Whitefish Meal, Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Brewers Dried Yeast, Pea Protein, Menhaden Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Whole Ground Flaxseed, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Lecithin, Chicken Cartilage (Source of Chondroitin Sulfate), Potassium Chloride, Salt, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Choline Chloride, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Fructooligosaccharide, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl- 2-Polyphosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacin Supplement, Kelp Meal, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product.

[Stephanie P]

Thanks again! That’s really useful! I’m also worried about liver diseases. Yorkshire Terriers are an ornamental dog breed. That means that they can have a huge number of different diseases. And I’m a bit scared because my german shepherd dog passed away from kidney failure. And I realize that it’s gonna be ten times harder to keep a Yorkshire Terrier because they are even more vulnerable. I’ve read on this forum https://www.happyhealthydogblog.com/ that in order to prevent dog liver diseases I should avoid foods that contain copper. Is that true?

• This reply was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by Stephanie P.

[Stephanie P]

I’m glad I found this thread because my boyfriend and I’ve just got a Yorkshire puppy and I’m not sure how to feed him. I mean I used to have a big dog (a german shepherd) and I believe there is a big difference in the nutrition they need. So thanks a lot!

[Maria P]

Hello. Just got a 7-8 month mixed large breed rescue. (They think German Shepherd/Labrador/who knows what else). I just purchased the Primal Raw frozen patties to start him on healthier food. I’m concerned about what we will do when we need to travel or if we want to take a road trip with him or something. I was considering alternating with a freeze-dried food so he gets used to both in case we need to board him or something one day. What is everyone’s opinion? Is it okay to alternate a few times a week between commercial raw, freeze-dried and throw in some cooked chicken or homemade turkey meatballs for snacks sometimes? Thank you!

[Paul W]

I have fed my dogs with raw food for more than fifty years: 7 golden, 2 german shepherds, 3 American mutts, and 1 Belgian “Malinois”.
They all lived longer than what their breed expectancy suggested. All my Goldens lived over 16 years, my beautiful shepherds lived to 17, my smart mutt died at 18 1/2 and my Malininois died when he was over 16 year old.

My Vet and I attribute their longevity to their nutrition:
All of them have been fed the following way:
1 lb of raw meat ( 90% beef shoulder and 10% beef heart) . Less for the mutt.
2 ounces of each raw: sweet potato, spinach, apple, turnip, apple and plain yogurt.
1 ounce of blueberries.
From time to time they received a raw beef bone or turkey neck.
They never had their teeth cleaned: the vet was amazed by their beautiful teeth, even when when they were over 14.
Now I am 80 years old and I have 2 dogs: a seven year old field golden and a 2 year mutt.
I feed them the same way as I have always have done it.

My only worry: they will outlive me. I hope that my children will take care of them the same way as I always loved my dogs.

Thank you

Paul

[Jamie N]

Hello,

My 8 month old German Shepherd, 65 pounds, swallowed about 2 inches of a himalayan chew last night. I had taken it away, but somehow she managed to get it back. I didn’t realize I shouldn’t feed her after, so that her stomach could digest it fully, so I fed her as usual. She hasn’t had diarrhea and is not vomiting, but she’s more lethargic than usual and is drooling all over the place. She seems like she doesn’t feel well, but she still has an appetite (pretty much nothing phases her appetite– she could be vomiting uncontrollably and still want to eat). I’m worried that the chew was forced into her intestinal tract, since she hasn’t tried to vomit yet and its been 24 hours, and about the complications that might cause. Or the chew could just still be in her stomach. Does anyone have advice on what I should do, and at what point I should take her to the emergency vet?

[Jamie N]

Hello,

My 8 month old German Shepherd, 65 pounds, swallowed about 2 inches of a himalayan chew last night. I had taken it away, but somehow she managed to get it back. I didn’t realize I shouldn’t feed her after, so that her stomach could digest it fully, so I fed her as usual. She hasn’t had diarrhea and is not vomiting, but she’s more lethargic than usual and is drooling all over the place. She seems like she doesn’t feel well, but she still has an appetite (pretty much nothing phases her appetite– she could be vomiting uncontrollably and still want to eat). I’m worried that the chew was forced into her intestinal tract, since she hasn’t tried to vomit yet and its been 24 hours, and about the complications that might cause. Or the chew could just still be in her stomach. Does anyone have advice on what I should do, and at what point I should take her to the emergency vet?

[Sandy R]

Hello, RollTide10!

I was looking for something else but came upon your post here from March. Did anyone ever respond to you and/or did you resolve your situation? If so, great! If not, I have a little experience with DLE with my German Shepherd Dog, so am sharing below:

First, you should know that the only area of breakout (so far) has been my dog’s nose. We have been very lucky. She had two episodes where her poor little nose broke out in scaly, whitish-grey “eruptions.” I think it looked a lot worse than it felt as she did not fuss a lot, but it looked terrible. Since there are different types of Lupus (one of which is absolutely god-awful), I went ahead and had a biopsy done so we could have an absolute diagnosis. I paid a couple hundred bucks in 2016 to have my vet do what is called a “punch biopsy” of my dog’s nose and they sent it to a lab at Penn State for verification. They took a tiny, cylindrical needle “punch” of the nose tissue so they could get a good cross-section of the layers of skin/cells. I was not allowed to be in the room when it was done, but it only took moments and she seemed fine when it was over. No bad side effects and she was not “mad” at her vet or me afterwards — always a possibility with GSD’s!! 🙂

After that, we tried a couple different prescribed ointments but they did not seem to help. I have actually had the best luck using an organic dog nose balm that I get thru Amazon. It is called “Snout Soother” by the Natural Dog Company. Comes in either a tin or a “Snout Stick” like lip balm. About $18/ 2 oz. but it lasts a long time. When her nose has any sort of skin disruption, I apply it to her nose using a clean finger 2x a day and follow it immediately with some treats to keep her from licking it off right away. Only takes seconds for it to be absorbed enough to help. While she often still has a tiny spot on her nose that looks a little raw (where her nose makes contact with bedding or floor while she’s sleeping), we have had NO more Lupus type eruptions since initiating use of this product about four years ago. I have been very pleased and thankful! While the balm is expensive for the amount you get, it is nothing compared to what we might have been paying for prescribed meds that were not working. The balm cannot hurt the situation, so it is worth a try. Also, it is oil-based and melts easily, so you might want to consider keeping it in the fridge between uses.

You probably already know this by now, but don’t forget that dogs with DLE have to be careful not to get too much direct sunlight as it can cause or aggravate eruptions. My vet recommended a doggie skinscreen, but I tried several and could not find one that was truly unscented and my baby rubbed her nose trying to get the stuff off! (And the point of that would be …? Silly manufacturers!) So, if you can’t find a usable DOG sunscreen, you might want to try keeping your dog in the shade as much as possible. (BTW …. Obviously, being oil-based, you would NOT want to apply the “Snout Soother” prior to going outside either. It is NOT a sunscreen.)

I hope, at this date, you have already found a solution for your precious pup. If not, I hope this helps!

[Will H]

Pork is actually safe for dogs in limited quantities. It provides some essential nutrients that dogs need and also has a high protein content. So, dogs can eat cooked, unseasoned pork. However, pork has a higher fat content than chicken or lean beef. And too much fat can cause digestive issues and health problems in dogs. While dogs can eat pork, they are better off eating leaner proteins as the main component of their diet. I have German Shepherd and i have some diet for Yoda. We get Taste of the Wild (look it here https://www.bestadvisor.com/dog-food ), pork with rice and i always is looking for foods that contains fish oil and vegetables to get omega 3 fatty acids. These food sources are necessary to keep the dog’s coat and skin look healthy. Additional ingredients like sweet potatoes and carrots are also good for German shepherd.

[German S]

The German Shepherd is a breed of medium to large-sized working dog that originated in Germany. In the English language, mixgermanshepherd.com  the breed’s officially recognized name is German Shepherd Dog.  https://mixgermanshepherd.com/german-shepherd-mastiff-mix/

[Angelo C]

Hello!

My dog is 95 lbs, mix of Rottweiler, German Shepherd and Lab.
She’s currently on Taste of the Wild dry kibble. I’ve been wanting to get her on a mix of dry and wet.
I want to transition to a different kibble brand, Orijen brand dry kibble and Taste of the Wild wet canned food.

Is this safe/”smart” to do? I’m really attracted to the Orijen brand, unfortunately Orijen doesn’t offer any wet canned food and I want her to have a mix of wet food too.
Thank you in advance!

Best regards,

Angelo

[Yumi Z]

I see that “Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Canned Dog Food” has been one of the Top 10 Best Wet Dog Foods by Dog Food Advisory Editor’s Choice…

That’s why we switched from Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Chunks in Gravy Canned Dog Food last Summer for our girls – 11 years old Australian Shepherd and 5.5 years old White German Shepherd…

We have been feeding couple scoops of canned food mixed with dried food.

However, we’ve noticed there is I or 2 cans out of a case seemed to be a BAD one as our girls have had a diarrhea and/or bad gas issue once in a while…

And it has been happening more frequent over last few months…

Then, this past week, our Aussie had worse than usual diarrhea and although she usually has a good appetite, she didn’t eat all her dinner, then the next morning, she just sat in front of her breakfast refused to eat…

That totally alarmed us… and when I took our WGS for a light jog in the morning, she had pretty gooey liquidy poop… then after returned home, she looked little sick… and I realized she must had some issue since the previous day as she had bad smelly gas 3 times which was unusual for her…

That’s when we realized that the canned food was bad AGAIN…

So, we fed just dry food with chicken stock last night & this morning, and they ate fine…

After I consulted with Chewy customer services, we decided to change to VICTOR Beef & Vegetables Stew Cuts in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Dog Food.

We hope this will work.

I thought to inform you about this as the Taste of the Wild Canned Food is listed at the top… and I didn’t want any other pups to get sick over it! 🙁

[Destiny M]

My husband and I just recently adopted a german shepherd mix a couple weeks ago.The previous owners didnt share anything with us except he was potty trained so we dont know what hes mixed with. Hes a year and a half old and 92 lbs.
We discovered he doesnt know basic commands and has been pooping in the house, mostly when we aren’t home. We switched his food from PurinaOne Smart Blend Chicken and Rice to Authority Everyday Health Adult Large Breed Chicken and Rice. His poo went from normal poo to really really soft. We blamed this on the food change and adjusting to the new home.

Now the main concern actually happened last night. We woke to the strange sound of him licking the air. We thought maybe he was thirsty and got a bowl for him in our room as he seems to have seperation issues and wont go downstairs to eat by himself. He drank a little and he stopped and we went back to sleep.
We woke about an hour later to him doing this again. My husband gets down on the floor by the dogs bed and pets him and asking what was wrong. He tells me that he also seems to be swallowing excessively along with the licking the air. I google it and it seems like hes gonna throw up. Well, a few minutes later, he does that. My husband discovers near where he threw up a small pillow from the couch and a sock of his that had been chewed on. Theres fluff in the throw up. The dog is still doing the licking and swallowing. Before we know it, the dog eats the throw up.
Now we are worried. I had my husband take the dog outside, just in case he needs to poo or throw up again. We aren’t entirely sure if it’s the food change, the stress, or some other underlying problem. Tips or anyone else experiencing similar symptoms? We didn’t plan on taking him to the vet as he just got his shots at the end of March but we dont exactly have the money for all the extra tests and such that come along with a vet trip.

[Caroline D]

Hello, my experience with my three-year-old German shepherd who has IBD and PLE (Protein Losing Entropy), and we’ve been fighting this horrific autoimmune disease for over three years. We are still fighting this disease. His chronic and intermittent diarrhea has not stopped since we got him at five months old. His current weight is 43 pounds, but he should weigh around 85 pounds. He has a considerable appetite in which he gets five to six cups of food five times a day. We had x-ray’s, ultrasound, blood tests (no EPI), and endoscopy. The endoscopy biopsies of the stomach and duodenum examination showed that he has segmental lymphoplasmacytic gastritis. In other words, moderate lymphoplasmacytic and eosinophilic duodenitis with mild lymphangiectasia. Unfortunately, this year the diagnosis was changed to severe IBD along with PLE. We tried several grain-free diets over the past three and half years (i.e., Fromm, Taste of Wild, Wellness, Acana, Honest Kitchen, K-9 Natural, and Ziwi Peak), including the prescription diet Royal Canin Hydrolized Protein kibble as well as the formulated home-cooked diet from Just Food For Dogs. We tried antibiotics, Tylan, and Metronidazole. Steroids, Budesonide, and Prednisone. We give him bimonthly B-12 shots since his Albumin levels are low. We’ve attempted herbs under guidance of a holistic vet: slippery elm, psyllium seed husks, chamomile flowers, chia seeds, fennel seed, rosemary leaf, marshmallow root, dandelion root, burdock root, ginger root, ox bile, apple cider vinegar, Plantain, Aloe Vera, colostrum, Tumeric, and pumpkin as well as digestive enzymes, pre-biotics, and probiotics. We tried AnimalBiome Gut Restore supplements. We tried stem cell therapy, which failed because the vet could not extract any fat. My dog has 0% fat as well as 0% muscle. His organs are slowly deteriorating from this horrific disease. We currently have him on a home-cooked diet recommended by a holistic nutritional veterinarian along with supplements and bi-monthly B-12 injections. But to no avail, he still has chronic diarrhea daily and no weight gain. We’ve tried everything medical, scientifically, and holistically. The only hope we have is to try stem-cell therapy again if he can gain fifteen pounds. I genuinely believe that stem cell therapy is the best solution for my dog. Even though it was a little late for my dog to have stem cell therapy because of a lack of knowledge from several of my local vets, I still have a little hope. I will add CLA to his cooked food since this is the only supplement I have not tried that Christi G. recommended; what do I have to lose. I pray for my boy every day to gain 10-15 pounds so that he can get the life-saving stem cell treatment again in Southern California. He is such a happy, tail wagging, playful, energetic, and beautiful boy; I cannot give up on him like the vets in Nevada, they said to euthanize him. I won’t until he stops thriving.

[Harold D]

As we all can find everything about the common breeds but if i want to own the mix breed like Corgi German Shepherd Mix? is that carry all his parents habits or we need something else to feed those ?

Just for Ref of Corgi German Shepherd Mix: https://huskycorgi.com/corgi-german-shepherd-mix/

• This topic was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by Harold D.

[Patricia A]

Did you vet ever check for this common disease in German Shepherds? https://www.ufaw.org.uk/dogs/german-shepherd-exocrine-pancreatic-insufficiency

[Octopus B]

We are looking for food recommendations for a 2 year old mixed breed indoor dog. Her overall activity level is low to medium – both of her owners work during the day but she is walked 2-3 times per week and is relatively active indoors (playing with toys, chasing balls, etc.) She does not attend Agility or any high-activity sports.

Our primary focus is her anal gland issues – she will begin licking herself consistently and will emit a foul smell if she has not been expressed in a few weeks. Our vet suggested that this was due to a lack of grains in her diet and suggested a grain-inclusive meal. The vet did not specify which type of grains were needed and if gluten was a good or bad ingredient.

She was eating Solid Gold Hund-n-Flocken dry food (1/2 cup twice daily). She would also receive supplementary meals of Solid Gold wet food (an assorted variety) replacing a meal about 3-4 times per week. We have since replaced the Solid Gold dry food with Lotus oven-baked chicken small bite food, which contains grains. She still receives the Solid Gold wet foods, which are grain-free.

Her daily treats include CET veggie-dent dental sticks, Tartar Shield sticks, and dried sweet potatoes. She also occasionally eats (organic, whole) dried fish, chicken necks, and other rare treats from our local pet shop.

Her breed info is as follows:

21.6% Chihuahua
12.9% German Shepherd Dog
12.5% Chow Chow
9.7% Australian Cattle Dog
9.0% American Eskimo Dog
4.9% Rottweiler
29.4% Supermutt


[steve johnson]

Hi Denis,
I am not sure if you are still checking responses and hope Achilles is feeling better now. But, when I read your comment, the first thing I thought of too (and agree with Aimee) is wondering if it could be a perianal fistula? My neighbor’s German Shepherd has that too and I think the condition is found more commonly in the breed. She has him on a canned grain-free, hypoallergenic diet called Natural Balance fish and potato. She mixes in some pumpkin because that helps keep things moving and makes it less painful. Using probiotics really helps too. I have used this brand Power Probiotic https://www.askariel.com/pet-probiotics-p/81.htm for many years with my pups. It’s easy to use and I have no idea why but my dogs will even lick it up without food! Anyhow, hope Achilles is doing better.

[Eileen G]

Hello,

With the latest barrage of internet ads that are constantly popping up on web browsers and phone apps, I am seeing a new generation of Pre-Prepared frozen meals being sent to your door. Mostly human food for those cooking for 1 or 2 people.

However, I have recently begun seeing subscriptions to fresh “homemade style” dog food that you can purchase and have mailed to your home on ice
Specifically, the food Nom Nom Now https://www.nomnomnow.com/. Has anyone tried it? Is Dog Food Advisor planning to review it? I’m just wondering if it’s safe and whether it will provide the necessary nutrients to my 70lb finicky German Shepherd.

Thank you!

[GSDsForever]

Hi Victoria.

First (so I don’t forget it!), no, you cannot use cooked pancreas for EPI. It *must* be raw for the active enzymes needed. Vets know this — it’s a special exception recommended in otherwise normal, healthy dogs with EPI.

In your dog’s case, an older dog with cancer, I wouldn’t worry about trying to use pancreas. Just stick with the Enzyme Diane/other prepared enzymes as they are highly effective. For B12, a lot of dogs use WonderLab pills vs the injections.

I share your vet’s concerns about DCM and the connection to many current grain-free/high legume formulas, your dog’s heart murmur, as well as raw for your dog, and agree with his guidance. (Also, while I am respectful of raw feeding, I prefer gently cooked homemade food as ideal anyway and don’t find a benefit for my dogs in raw.)

It’s just hard to capture all those criteria — along with low fiber, low insoluble fiber necessary in particular for EPI dogs — in commercial kibbles, especially here in the U.S. at this time.

Aside from what HaleyCookie pointed out well (Thank you, HaleyCookie!), the starch binding in kibbles, I think companies add to the problem. They just don’t want to spend the money, chance cutting into their profits by including more quality animal protein, which is expensive. Or they don’t think that the public will buy the products at a necessarily higher price — and, here, they might be right.

I mentioned those particular GF formulas ONLY as something you could potentially do part homemade with, and that other EPI dogs are using with success.

Another formula currently being re-released and available again, which *might* work for you with some tweaks (you’ll need lower % fiber in an EPI dog; perhaps you can accomplish this diluting it with what you add homemade?):

Farmina LIGHT Chicken & Pomegranate with Ancestral Grains
34% Protein/11% Fat (6.4% Fiber)
https://www.farmina.com/us/dog-food/n&d-ancestral-grain-canine/113-chicken-&-pomegranate-light-medium-&-maxi.html

I really like Farmina and my German Shepherd is doing very well on their food. I use a different formula, higher in fat and low in fiber (typical of most Farmina formulas).

A board certified veterinary nutritionist I would recommend is Lisa Weeth, DVM DACVN.
http://www.weethnutrition.com/about-us.html
https://weethnutrition.wordpress.com/

You can work with her long distance, through your vet. She is very supportive of homemade diets and experienced with them, and is also more open minded, fair, unbiased across a variety of commercial diets and brands imo. I think you would get a better diet from her for the money than from some other prominent services/DACVNs.

You can get a good feel for what she’s like from her nutrition blog, both her blog and Q&A section (click on “comments” at the top), in that 2nd link. You might ask her some questions there, about a commercial kibble or your current homemade additions; she’s pretty gracious and generous in her answers. (Your questions would tie in to her recent blog entries on DCM & diet, also one on grains.)

I like Susan Wynn, DVM DACVN, also but she left private practice in nutrition in January 2019 to work for Nature’s Variety.

I think the expensiveness comes from the pre-diet formulation blood tests & work up you’ll need to submit (costs dependent upon your own vet), but I think they need that to ensure that a major health issue is not present so that when they formulate a custom diet for your dog it is safe and appropriate, does not make an underlying health problem worse. And, as you’ve already seen for yourself, multiple health conditions & diet parameters, not only require review of all your medical file, but presents a diet more challenging, complicated to formulate. In your case, if you have any of those blood panels, etc. already done recently, then you’ve already spent that money. Talk to her assistant & ask about costs, what is included, your concerns. (They were very helpful with me.)

With Just Food For Dogs, the cheapest by far is doing their DIY — where you buy their recipe + balancing supplement. I just don’t know whether any of those would be appropriate for your dog, with her conditions and the diet parameters. They have good customer service (and knowledgeable veterinary staff) if you want to ask them.

I was encouraged by — and have considered using a couple of their diets myself — an independent review I read from a guy who broke down his total costs for a large breed dog about mine’s weight, showed the receipts and shopped at Whole Foods no less(!), to feed one of the formulas the DIY route. With this diet, you do feed lower total calories because it is fresh whole foods gently cooked, using highest quality ingredients, and is therefore highly digestible. So, his cost was lower than what I would have assumed for a large dog.

• This reply was modified 6 years ago by GSDsForever.
• This reply was modified 6 years ago by GSDsForever.

[GSDsForever]

Jessica,

I hope your German Shepherds are doing well & you were able to find a good food that works for them! How are they?

Thank you for your kind words above and you’re welcome. I especially love helping w/other GSDs! What an amazing breed we are blessed to have in our lives.

I was just thinking about our exchange going back a few months, since we were talking specifically about gluten & celiac disease for you. If you are still around or check back here, I’d love to hear your thoughts for my own dog. As it turns out, we’ve recently learned that she may be allergic to wheat. She had a pretty severe allergic flare.

What I know about this in dogs is really just that: wheat is a common food allergen in food allergic dogs, while gluten intolerance in dogs has only been found as a rare inherited condition in Irish Setters (Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy).

[Christie B]

I don’t know if you still look at this feed… but my 10 year old German Shepherd is going through EXACTLY the same thing as your boxer. Have had all the same tests and almost exactly the same meds. Was wondering what happened with your moms boxer and what they finally equated to the diarrhea and weight loss. Please let me know. We are seriously considering putting him down without a diagnosis. We have spend so much money on vets and specialists trying to find an answer or diagnosis. He looks so sad, and it breaks my heart.

[Rachel E]

So I just changed my dogs food. Been trying to find one that is best for him. He’s a hybrid breed and supper hyperactive. He German shepherd and border collie mix with a sensitive stomach. Also was not acting like he was satisfied with his food. Always getting into left over food. So I switched him to simply nourish limited ingredients. Now I’m on a tight budget. And simply nourish was with in my budget. It has only been a few days. But I’ve noticed a change in him. His brain is supper intelligent like mine, and I know that requires more vitamins and minerals. Energy requires high protein. He’s been more relaxed and not seeming so hungry. He has not gotten sick off the food.

[joanne l]

I really don’t see a problem either way. If he is doing fine on what you are feeding than leave it alone. If you are really concerned than call the vet, but I don’t see any problems on what you are feeding now. I have a German shepherd and one before this one and I have feeding both. If you want to feed large breed puppy food than feed it when he gets a little older, maybe 6 months.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 2 months ago by joanne l.

[Linda R]

My dog is a 5 year old German Shepherd. She has had bad food allergies all her life. I have had her on Orijen dog food when she was young. She has been on Acana Singles for about 4 years now. Had her at the Vet he said she is doing fine and he see no reason to change her food.

[Sidelle B]

Sentinel Spectrum is POISON Period
My Timba is 1/2 German Shepherd & 1/2 Huskie. Gave it to him for 3 yrs before he had a Seizure. He had it 2/25/19 Lasted a long time. He threw up out back 1st. He looked like a bug dying from being Sprayed. My Security Camera caught the whole thing. I posted it on FB. I researched EVERYWHERE. Did Elimination. Complete Blood Work Up. I was afraid it might be Vectra D. The FDA needs to step in & step up to checking these things out. People that buy these Meds only do it because they LOVE their FAM Members. It’s Not Cheap. His Bloodwork came back Normal. Called owner of the Timba’s father & no history of Seizure in either one. Was afraid to use Vectra again but if 1 flea is around it will find me. Natural Stuff doesn’t work. Used Vectra & he was Ok. I’m not diligent on Heartworm pills in off months but in April thought I better give it. So gave it to him. May 13th he came in & collapsed at my feet into a Seizure. This time seemed more like a Seizure & I tried to talk him thru it & pet him. Didn’t last as long as 1st one. Called my Vet. Took him in. Bought the Meds & asked what he would do. I said I didn’t want to put him on it yet. I had a dog years ago that was Epileptic. He ran into things etc. & flashing lights like Xmas would send him into one. Timba was Different. He said he’d do what I wanted to do. Buy the Meds to Have on hand & see if he has another Seizure. I wanted to find out the REASON & knew I wouldn’t if I put him on Meds. I Bought Purina Neurocare which he recommended.
Timba loved it at 1st. I think it’s Cleaned his system out along w Milk Thistle & pureed watermelon. So now it’s already June & I think I should give him the Pill. He liked it in the Beginning. But Lately didn’t want to take them. Dogs are Smart & KNOW things when WE don’t. I watched another video of someone’s dog having a seizure after some Flea stuff. I thought about it & decided I wouldn’t give it. Afterall How TOXIC does something have to be to KILL things like Fleas from inside. That is a GIVEN & NO ONE should Give any of that. I finally found a Blog of this lady w 3 GSDs & Wow. I knew this was why he had a SEIZURE.
Never gave SENTINEL SPECTRUM POISON Again. Even wrote them. It took 3 yrs. for this GARBAGE to manifest into a Seizure for My Baby. He has not had another one. I still use Vectra D . If I use any Heartworm med again it would be Interceptor since it seems Safest but I don’t know that I will. You can draw their blood for titers to catch the larvae before it’s a worm. I live in SoCal & my Vet said I probably don’t have to worry too much unless I take him to the Mtns or beach. It’s now been 4 months. No Seizures…………… SENTINEL SPECTRUM IS POISON
I had a dog get Heartworms years ago when I was in Okla for a couple years. Was Terrible but we treated him & he got better & lived another 7 yrs.
https://www.facebook.com/sidelle/videos/10216707066167999/UzpfSTEyMDE4MDA3MDM6Vks6NDA0NzA4MjcwMjMyNDM0/?comment_id=405162720186989&reply_comment_id=405170330186228&notif_id=1567985476776943&notif_t=group_comment

[Jill S]

It’s alarming and disheartening to know you can’t trust the label of a product sold in the United States. My heart goes out to the owner who lost her precious dog, but as with any chew type treat, always supervise your dog. When I offer my two German Shepherds a bully stick I stay in the same room with them. If I need to leave the room I either take the treat away or call for my husband to sit with them.

[GSDsForever]

Jessica,

One German Shepherd show kennel that I know of feeds SportMix Chicken & Rice, a pretty simple formula, without legumes (or potatoes) or gluten. And the dogs have been doing well on it.

It has that very moderate (to moderate high) protein & fat that most GSD show breeders tend to favor, 26/16.

https://www.sportmix.com/dog-food/wholesomes/wholesomes-chicken-meal-rice-formula/

I don’t know much about the line, other than that it is owned by Midwestern Pet Foods (which itself is owned by an old milling company, Nunn) which makes Earthborn, a brand that seems to have much more visibility and promotion.

Earthborn Holistic, with its many grain-free formulas, was heavily implicated among the DCM case reports to the FDA, while Sportmix was not.

[GSDsForever]

Jessica,

Hi. Cool to hear from another German Shepherd lover. I’m a lifelong owner and really passionate about the breed.

You might consider Annamaet & Holistic Blend (division of Eagle Pack).

A few Annamaet grain-inclusive formulas, without gluten grains, that might work for you are the Extra & Ultra. (Along with Small Breed, these don’t include barley.)

One HS grain inclusive formula that I know, without gluten grains, is Sardine, Anchovy, & Salmon. The carb base is rice (brown & white) & oats for grains, plus pumpkin & flaxseed. No legumes and no potatoes.

Like you, I’ve been trying to find good, safe foods that are grain inclusive and without peas/lentils/chickpeas/legumes in the top 10 ingredients, also not potato heavy. Lamb & rice formulas have also been linked to DCM, as have high fiber diets.

While not needing gluten-free in our case, on my exclusion list for now are the top dog food allergens — beef, chicken, dairy, egg, wheat, corn, and soy. I have a food allergy dog and we haven’t entirely worked out what all her allergies include. So you can probably imagine it’s been challenging as well!

Both Eagle Pack Holistic Blend and Annamaet have long, excellent reputations for high quality foods and safety.

Annamaet, in particular, has been outstanding in their communication with me verbally & in writing, as they’ve fielded Qs about their feeding trials and testing of their products, their research including published peer reviewed, and their nutritionists who’ve formulated and oversee their formulas. (I would stick to their grain-inclusive for now though.) Their website lists online places to purchase their foods.

If I think of or come across any other foods that might work for you, I will pass the info on. Good luck!

• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by GSDsForever.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by GSDsForever.

[Jessica C]

Hi! I have two German shepherds. I want them to have grain inclusive diets (rice, corn, other safe grains) for their health balance but I’m struggling to find grain inclusive food that is gluten free. I have very severe celiac and gluten needs to stay out of the house for my own health. Does anyone have suggestions for food we can try? Pea and lentil free is a plus!!

[anonymous]

Average Life Span of Top 25 Breeds
The following is a list of the most popular dogs in 2008, according to the AKC and their average life expectancy.
Labrador Retriever (12.5 years)
Yorkshire Terrier (14 years)
German Shepherd Dog (11 years)
Golden Retriever (12 years)
Beagle (13 years)
Boxer (10.5 years)
Dachshund (15.5 years)
Bulldog (7 years)
Poodle (12 years Standard) (15 years Miniature)
Shih Tzu (13 years)
Miniature Schnauzer (14 years)
Chihuahua (13.5)
Pomeranian (15 years)
Rottweiler (10 years)
Pug (13.5 years)
German Shorthaired Pointer (13 years)
Boston Terrier (13 years)
Doberman Pinscher (10 years)
Shetland Sheepdog (13.5 years)
Maltese (14 years)
Cocker Spaniel (12 years)
Great Dane (8.5 years)
Siberian Husky (12 years)
Pembroke Welsh Corgi (13 years)
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (10 years)

[Owen J]

Approximately three weeks after the birth of puppies can be accustomed to the finished feed. This should be done, including in the event that their mothers have lost their milk and need to transfer the babies to solid food.

From two to four months a puppy should be fed four to five times a day, gradually accustoming him to three meals a day after he has reached at least six months. Closer to the year the dog should eat twice a day. It is important to remember that the food familiar to humans is not suitable for animals – sometimes it can be harmful to the pet’s health due to imbalance.

https://herepup.com/the-best-toys-for-german-shepherds/

[Wendy E]

We just rescued/adopted an 8 month old (?) German Shepherd mix puppy. No vet visit yet but all up to date on vaccines, neuter etc. what size category for feeding should she be? Medium or Large? The adoption rep said she was most likely full grown.
We are continuing her food of Kirkland Puppy Kibble as of now. Not sure when or if to transition. Thank you!

[joanne l]

Thanks I will call the vet, my dog just got a check up, I just called him and read the ingredients to him. He said too much fiber from bran. I thought so anyway. Some foods he switches fine and some he don’t. I have a German Shepherd they tend to have sensitive stomachs. He is tolerating the Holistic Select, but it is a choir making him eat it. If I put beef broth on it he eats it.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by joanne l.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by joanne l.

[anonymous]

@Cathy F
Sorry for your loss.
Often it is not just the food change, it’s possible there may have been something else wrong and the stress of a food change may have exacerbated it.
More time with your pet would have been nice, she must have excellent care all these years to make it to fourteen.

Average Life Span of Top 25 Breeds
The following is a list of the most popular dogs in 2008, according to the AKC and their average life expectancy.
Labrador Retriever (12.5 years)
Yorkshire Terrier (14 years)
German Shepherd Dog (11 years)
Golden Retriever (12 years)
Beagle (13 years)
Boxer (10.5 years)
Dachshund (15.5 years)
Bulldog (7 years)
Poodle (12 years Standard) (15 years Miniature)
Shih Tzu (13 years)
Miniature Schnauzer (14 years)
Chihuahua (13.5)
Pomeranian (15 years)
Rottweiler (10 years)
Pug (13.5 years)
German Shorthaired Pointer (13 years)
Boston Terrier (13 years)
Doberman Pinscher (10 years)
Shetland Sheepdog (13.5 years)
Maltese (14 years)
Cocker Spaniel (12 years)
Great Dane (8.5 years)
Siberian Husky (12 years)
Pembroke Welsh Corgi (13 years)
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (10 years)

[Jack M]

You may need to try several different limited-ingredient diet foods. Your dog could be allergic to the potato, the rabbit, or something else in that particular brand. Try a different brand with completely different protein and carb source.

It takes a lot of time to try a diet. You need about a week to switch. Then, you need to spend 2 or 3 weeks on a diet before you know it will work. It’s kind of frustrating when you don’t get immediate feedback. You have to wait for the reaction to the old food to subside before drawing a conclusion.

One of my dogs is very allergic to chicken and somewhat sensitive to rice. When she was on commercial food, she could eat food with fish, lamb, and potato.

Now that she’s on a raw diet, she gets lamb, goat, beef, mackerel, and canned salmon without any itching issues. I accidentally gave her a ground organ blend that included some chicken and the itching came back.

https://ecopetlife.com/best-food-german-shepherds-skin-allergies/