[JOHN B]

I have joined this site because I to have been going CRAZY trying to find a kibble for my 2 German Shepherds. I WANT a 5* limited ingredient dog food but I do not believe that there is one. Perhaps someone can shed some lite on this topic or even suggest a food choice.

[GSDsForever]

Laurie is absolutely correct:

Skin issues are one of the most common health issues for German Shepherds, so much so that vet books reference things like “German Shepherd Pyoderma” for example. Very, very commonplace. These bacterial and other infections typically have an underlying health disorder that is primary.

GSDs are *frequently* are mentioned in veterinary literature among the dogs most commonly suffering allergies. Allergies or autoimmune system dysfunction are known to underlie skin troubles in GSDs.

Laurie, I too believe that a fresh home prepared diet is ideal.

But in a food allergy dog, it’s all about removing the allergen in the diet — whether commercial kibble/wet, raw, or homecooked.

I’m so grateful to have my dog no longer suffering from allergies! She is doing beautifully, is so much more comfortable and happy, and looks gorgeous now. But we had to change diet (food allergies), address inhalant and environmental allergies in care, and she receives Cytopoint injections — multipronged approach.

[Alice M]

Hi,

I switched my German Shepherd to Now Fresh and no problems. She didn’t do well on Acana. Hope this helps.

[jenny p]

I have a 60 lb German Shepherd/ lab mix who is having loose stools with Acana. I was told that maybe she needs a lower protein lower fat food. Any recommendation on a kibble ? She also has has a bout of pancreatitis and UTI issues.

[jenny p]

I have a 60 lb German Shepherd/ lab mix who is having loose stools with Acana. I was told that maybe she needs a lower protein lower fat food. Any recommendation on a kibble ?

[LuAnn T]

I nominate Northwest Naturals frozen raw complete diet 5 lb roll dog food in chicken and turkey varieties. You have a review of this dog food on your site with a 5 star enthusiastically recommended note. I have fed it for over a year and my dogs are much improved in health and agility because of the change. Even their teeth don’t have the plaque build up. My Aussie is 13 and had bad hips but now runs like a 2 year old, and a German Shepherd which is a breed with hip concerns and she is active at 8 years of age and excellent health.

Thanks for the reviews!
LuAnn T

[Ellen H]

Here’s my problem. We have been using the Castor and Pollux Organix Brown Rice and Chicken recipe for quite a few years. We have three large dogs and the bag was 25 pounds so we were buying a bag about every 10 days, getting costly but the dogs do well on it, and Amazon Prime had a good price. Now they have not only changed all the formulas but they have also raised the price AND made the bag even smaller at 18 pounds and now we can’t afford it anymore.

I have had dogs die way too young; my first GSD only made to 8 before he got cancer in his heart; our second one died in his sleep of some kind of aneurysm at 3-1/2! After that I started trying to clean up their food because I started cleaning up the human food. We are now organic or Non-GMO in our house and I need a clean food that will suit my needs for organic or non-gmo and that we can afford to feed our dogs.

The three dogs are a German Shepherd dog who will be 6 at the end of this month, a GSD/boxer mix dog who will be 7 in January, and a young dog that showed up at our gate last year and we think he’s probably 2 now, looks like a mastiff mix maybe. I’m really scared to change foods but I’m also scared my husband will go bankrupt if I keep with Castor and Pollux, the making the bag smaller was just the last straw.

[Margaret G]

Hello, I have a 12 week old Irish Wolfhound/German Shepherd mix. She was on Taste of the Wild Puppy food but we were recommended to switch to Holistic Select Puppy Food for Large and Giant breed dogs. I am concerned after reading these posts that the calcium is too high. I slowly switched her from the TOTW. Her stools are soft but formed. I was thinking I should switch to a lower calcium kibble but after reading these threads, I am wondering if I should stay where I am for a bit? She is growing fast, already 27 pounds. I want to be sure we are using a food that will keep her bones as healthy as possible. I would appreciate any suggestions! Thank you everyone.

[Loretta J]

I have been researching dog food for our German Shepherd puppy and I read in several places that you have to email the company and ask them for that information. I haven’t done it myself so I don’t know how it works.

[Alice M]

The slow feeder is a great idea. I have a German shepherd also and I feed her the Now fresh for large breed. the kibble is a larger size. Hope this helps. I also mix a little canned or raw in with it for more flavor.
I will also check for the orange feeder.

[Michelle D]

Definitely look for a slow feeder. Outward Hound makes an excellent one that you can get on Amazon. The orange and purple are best as they make it most difficult to get to the food. The green one ends up being too easy after awhile. For a German Shepard, I would recommend the orange one. It’s nice and deep for a German Shepherd (we used one for our large dog.)

I didn’t put a link here, because I thought it would be poor form. But you can just search at Amazon for Outward Hound Fun Feeder. The large orange one is about ten bucks and will hold plenty of food.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 4 months ago by Michelle D.

[Molly M]

I have a 1 and half year old German Shepherd Labrador hybrid. We got her at 6 months old and she threw up every morning and had diarrhea constantly. When it wasn’t diahrrea, the poops were still yellow. We had assumed she was getting pesticides in her when our apartment complex sprayed the grass, and tried walking her on the road. It worked for a while but then continued to happen. Finally we decided it was food. We put her on a “Bland Diet” of boiled rice and ground turkey to detox her system and began researching new dog foods. We were struggling with how expensive they were being a newly wed couple just starting new jobs. We were contemplating a raw diet because it was the cheapest natural option, but then we found Abound at Kroger and got very excited, because it wasn’t much more than a raw diet, and dry food is much less hassle. She has been on Abound for 2 months now and has not thrown up once, and her poops are finally more solid, and brown in color. We are stoked! We will continue to use Abound! She has gained back her weight after losing 12 pounds, and looks and plays like she’s very healthy again.

[George D]

I have a German Shepherd who inhales regular size kibble. What dog food has larger size kibble?

Thanks

[Dean W]

Breed like Bull Dogs and German Shepherd are Large Breed Dogs.

But it is not just specific to one breed.

Cross Breed of Two Large Breed can make a big difference.

You may get large animal dog by crossing 2 dog breed.

Cut Dog Nails Regularly to get their maximum Height.

I am available at Dog Nail Grinder

[Nikki P]

We have been feeding our German Shepherds Valens dog food for over 2 years. Our vets cannot believe how beautiful their coats are, they shine and have no dry skin. We feed them the Pasture and the Fisher brand which they love both types. We have never had an issue with this dog food. It is pricey ($101.00 taxes in Can.) for a bag. With the kibble you can see pieces of freeze dried meat/fish mixed in. Their site has a feeding chart for active and inactive dogs in case you are worried about feeding them too much or not enough. We highly recommend this dog food and give it 5 stars.

[Allison L]

This food is amazing ..its a clean food with ingredients all sourced from Iceland and Italy ..what is has done for my 2 German Shepherds was a god send ..they were getting constant cysts and dry skin and their coat was dull and coarse ..they were on Taste of The Wild all their lives .
I will never change their diet from Legend Skin Formula ever ..

[Seamus H]

I called Champion Pet Foods the other day and was told that Orijen sold in Canada is made in Canada and that Orijen sold in the US is made in the US.
I hope this helps as I am wanting to put my 10 week old German Shepherd on Orijen and was concerned about some of the comments in this thread.
I’m in Canada so my understanding is that the Orijen I will feed my pup is produced in Alberta.

[Seamus H]

I called Champion Pet Foods this morning and was told that all Orijen foods sold in Canada is made in Canada and that all Orijen food sold in the US is made in the US.
I’m in Canada so I am happy that manufacturing for Canada isn’t in the Kentucky plant due to the number of negative reviews of the Orijen food from that plant.
I decided to call since I want to switch my 10 wk old German Shepherd over to Orijen Puppy Large from the Holistic Select Large Puppy.

[Seamus H]

I called Champion this morning and was told all Orijen food sold in Canada is made in Canada and all Orijen food sold in the US is made in the US.

I hope this helps as I was a little dismayed as I want to start my 10 week old German Shepherd on Orijen Puppy Large. I am in Ontario, Canada.

[Linda B]

Yes, I have used ProThrive Senior for my 10 year old German Shepherd. She was having diarrhea or loose stools every day. It got better then bad again, then finally after months of this, we were told by the Collar and Leash pet store that we should try PROThrive Senior. From the day we tried it until now 1 year later, she stopped having the loose stools. It was amazing. I know I’m late we this post but maybe someone else needs the have the information.

[Susan]

Hi Christine, this is what I use, it’s a Calculator for Calories, it’s for German Shepherds but it still gives you an idea how many calories your dog should be eating….
If you want to know how many Carbohydrates are in the kibble your feeding or want to feed add the Protein% + Fat % + Fiber % + Moisture% + ash % if there’s no ash % just add 8% to the sore, now take your sore away from 100 & you’ll have the Carbohydrate amount….
http://www.german-shepherd-lore.com/dog-food-calculator.html

[anonymous]

Only further diagnostic testing will allow the veterinarian to arrive at a diagnosis. He has had abnormal lab work, so something is wrong.
An increased white cell count usually makes veterinarians worried about either infection or cancer.
Additional diagnostic tests are needed to rule out infection. X-rays, ultrasounds especially of the stomach and lungs, kidneys (whatever the examining vet advises) to check for tumors.
I don’t want to scare you, but German Shepherds are vulnerable to certain types of cancer (genetic).
The sooner you get a diagnosis the sooner you can evaluate treatment options, he’s a young dog. Good luck
Ps: waterchestnuts are not toxic to dogs, however they may have upset his stomach.
But I would think if that was the case he’d be over it by now. Make sure he’s drinking water, if not, or he doesn’t eat times 3 days get him right back to the vet.
Consider the nearest 24/7 emergency veterinary clinic if he takes a turn for the worse and your vet isn’t available.

[S B]

My 1 1/2 year old 65lb german shepherd ate a sliver or so of a waterchestnut on the 26th. Later that day he didn’t want to eat his dinner of play very much. After some hand feeding he ate all his food and some water. Then the next morning he didn’t really want to do anything but sleep and lay around. So we took him to the vet and even the nurse could tell he waren’t acting himself (since he’s a German Shepherd he just runs and plays all the time) . So they did lab work and only noticed that his white blood cells were higher then usual and sent him home on a bland canned food diet. The vets dosent know what’s wrong with him (the waterchestnut could have just been a coincidence) and he only ate a little over half his breakfast this morning with me spoon feeding him. Has anyone else had this type of thing happen to there dog? Or dose anyone might know what’s wrong with him?

P.S. just realized that he has a runny nose also.

[Emily V]

I have been using the raw diet on my dogs fro over 10 years and forums have been a lifesaver for me. I’m hoping you all can help with a mysterious lameness problem in our 2 year-old German shepherd. I’ll try to be as brief as possible here on the sequence of events that were observed:
1. Tsavo discovered a deer carcass in our woods and was chewing on the bones.
2. About a day later, he was slightly lame in his back leg. No physical causes were detected. he had some diarrhea.
3. The lameness moved to his left forefoot about two weeks later and became more pronounced. He would sometimes yip when jumping off the bed. The lameness would improve if he ran around but worsen when he was at rest or walking.
4. Tsavo then began marking in the house and the diarrhea increased.
5. X-rays indicated no issues. The vet confirmed Lymes and erlichia tick diseases were present so Tsavo was treated. It was discovered Tsavo also had crystals in his urine and he was also treated for that. He was also given a homeopathic liver cleanse. Most of the marking behavior and diarrhea disappeared, though he was still lame.
5. After some research, I began supplementing Tsavo with cranberry pills and ascorbic acid, thinking there was a remote chance that the lameness was caused by pain from urinary crystals. After two days, the lameness and marking issue were resolved.
6. A week later, my daughter discovered that Tsavo found an errant bone from the deer carcass and he was chewing on it. The next day, Tsavo had a slight limp in the same foot. He also had diarrhea. It’s been about three days and he currently is not marking, but the lameness is getting worse, despite my continued use of cranberry and ascorbic acid.

Help! What could the lameness be attributed to? I don’t think it’s related to Lymes or erlichiia because there was no relief after he was treated for those diseases….

[Susan]

Hi, it’s cause the Kcals per cup are lower so you need to feed more, Kcalls per cup in TOTW Pine Forest is 337Kcals per cup & I feed TOTW Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb-338 Kcals Per Cup, I need to feed around 2 heaped cups of the TOTW kibble so the weight doesn’t fall off Patch, then I rotate & feed Canidae Pure Wild Boar 454Kcals per cup I feed 1 & 1/2 cup a day…..
Here’s a calculator & will give you an idea how many calories a day your dog needs but I also feed less so Patch is lean & all muscle, lean dogs live longer then fat dogs.
http://www.german-shepherd-lore.com/dog-food-calculator.html

[Janette O]

I have raised working line German Shepherd puppies on Annamaet Encore for years and have been very pleased.

[Karyn S]

Hello,
I originally posted a similar message to the Large Breed Puppy forum and am re-posting to this forum hoping to gain more feedback.

I will be welcoming a German Shepherd puppy in about a month and have been trying to determine the best dehydrated, freeze-dried or raw diet to start her on. (I do not have the capacity to do an entirely raw diet, but could add raw toppers to meals.)

I’ve read through all pages (in the Large Breed Puppy forum) and just when I feel I have a direction, something changes it.

I started with Hound Dog Mom’s latest list, which includes some Raw and a couple of The Honest Kitchen dehydrated options for large breed puppies. Since the list is a bit older, I reached out to a couple of the companies (for far, Stella and Chewy’s and THK) specific to average/maximum calcium and received conflicting information, which leads me to believe formulas have changed since list was compiled.

Does anyone have recommendations for a dehydrated, freeze-dried and/or raw option(s) that would have safe calcium/phosphorous levels for a large breed puppy?

Thank you in advance!

[Karyn S]

Hello,

Thank you to all who have contributed such a wealth of information to this forum. I will be welcoming a German Shepherd puppy in about a month and have been trying to determine the best dehydrated, freeze-dried or raw diet to start her on. (I do not have the capacity to do an entirely raw diet, but could add raw toppers to a meal.)

I’ve read through all pages and just when I feel I have a direction, something changes it.

I started with HDM’s latest list, which includes some Raw and a couple of THC dehydrated options for large breed puppies. Since the list is a bit older, I reached out to a couple of the companies (Stella and Chewy’s and THC) specific to average/maximum calcium and received conflicting information, which leads me to believe formulas have changed since list was compiled.

I’m also a member of Editor’s choice and there’s only 1 non-dry food option (FreshPet) noted. I have been researching for hours on end and it seems I am nowhere closer to a decision.

Does anyone have recommendations for a dehydrated, freeze-dried and/or raw option(s) that would be safe for a large breed puppy. I’m trying to avoid feed kibble if at all possible.

Thank you!

[jenny d]

We have a 5-year-old German Shepherd who just started having seizures a few months ago. We’ve been feeding her these Canine Carry Out treats, sometimes quite often (teaching her tricks). I threw them away today just in case.

[anonymous]

Did the vet do x-rays? What you describe sounds like what happened to my dog “hemangiosarcoma”. It usually strikes dogs between 8 and 10 years of age. Often no symptoms till it is too late, genetic in nature, tends to occur in certain breeds such as German Shepherds.
The anemia and difficulty breathing indicates tumors and mets to the lungs.
Whatever the case. I’m sorry for your loss.

[Kevin U]

Hey guys,
I’m switching my German Shepherd’s food from Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy to Orijen Large Puppy. I just want to know how can I do it? How much of Blue Buffalo and Orijen should I mix?

[Amanda D]

James, order it from Chewy. You can get your Royal Canin German Shepherd for $56.09 with 1-2 day free shipping. Or for $3 cheaper set to AutoShip. https://www.chewy.com/royal-canin-german-shepherd-adult/dp/103057

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Amanda D.

[Acroyali]

Depends who you ask.

“General appearance
The German Shepherd Dog is medium-size, slightly elongated, powerful and well-muscled, with dry bone and firm overall structure.”

Breed Standards

“The German Shepherd Dog is a medium-size, slightly stretched, strong, and well muscled, with the “bone” dry and firm in the over-all construction.”
http://www.germanshepherddogs.org/sv-standard/

Akc doesn’t specify that I can see.
http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/GermanShepherdDog.pdf?_ga=1.75638421.160310691.1487289527

(Not trying to be nitpicky, but it seems to be the norm that people think GSD’s are supposed to be these huge things and weigh 120 pounds when it’s not so. But for feeding purposes, I’d agree–LB.)

[pitlove]

Hi momofGSDs-

Male GSDs can weigh between 66-88 lbs and females can weigh on average between 49-71 lbs. According to AAFCO a large breed puppy is any dog breed that will grow to be 70 lbs or larger at mature weight and according to veterinary nutritionists a large breed puppy is any puppy that will grow to be 50lbs or larger. I tend to air on the side of caution and follow the advice of nutritionists. So yes I would say GSDs are a large breeed. I would also encourage any GSD owner who has an “AKC” German Shepherd and not a working line to use a LBP formula given the back and hip issues these dogs are facing by being bred for a sickle hock and roach back.

[Annie J]

Good article! There are plenty of board-certified veterinary nutritionists who would be happy to serve you and develop a diet that meets your intentions while ensuring the pup gets the nutritional requirements she needs. I know you have good intentions but this is a critical time in the baby’s life for growth and development of her skeletal, central nervous, and other systems. I can tell you from experience that we’ve had at least 3 young animals come in to our specialty clinic due to malnutrition from online diets that people swore by. the most unfortunate case was actually a 4 month old german shepherd pup who was extremely painful and couldn’t walk. when we took x-rays you couldn’t even count the number of micro-fractures this poor boy had all over his body from months of improper calcium/phosphorus ratio, amongst other nutritional deficiencies. the family members mean well but please at least seek advice from a trained veterinary nutritionist before keeping her on a homemade diet. Raw food harbors numerous microbial agents/pathogens that her immune status may not be able to tolerate at the moment but a nutritionist can also advise about this

[Martha G]

Such a tough issue….I read and read when trying to choose my current dog, as I’d had Dalmatians for 20 years and with the awful chronic renal failure of the last one, had plenty of time while doing her subcutaneous fluids 5X/day to consider I needed something smaller if it needed carrying around at times since I’m already 60 w 3 back surgeries.

My oldest at 14 was a female Dalmatian, adopted at 2 from a show breeder as she was a “failed show dog” due to a super minor conformation issue…what great luck for me! She was spayed after her first heat, which came late at 2, and I fed her Science Diet (1990’s) and some frozen Bil-Jac. These foods were probably simpler then.

Youngest was a German Shepherd at 8 who I had to put down from lymphoma. She had been my father’s dog, was spayed at 1 year, and he fed her WalMart Old Roy’s of some kind until I moved home and put her on Blue Buffalo Wilderness and also Cosequin for arthritis for years 5-8. She had autoimmune issues as a young dog, requiring steroids for 2-3 years, so I think the lymphoma probably came from that condition and/or treatment.

[Susie]

I’m glad it’s working for you. I have researched this topic a lot lately because I was dealing with a dog with something I thought was bloat and also reflux. I was adding a little more water to his food because his labs showed possible dehydration. It’s just something for people to be aware of. It can potentially cause bloat, especially if you have a German Shepherd in particular. But larger breeds in general are prone to bloat. Mine are tiny and they aren’t exempt. If anyone’s noticing their dog coughing and or burping food after adding water to it it’s probably not agreeing with them.

[Kathy]

I’ve been reading reviews for the past hour on chewy and also the german shepherd forums. This Zignature stuff looks really good and I have a couple of sample packs here, so I will see what she thinks. Nutrisca also looks like a good food. I did feed her some of the First Mate a little bit ago and she gobbled it up. I don’t like the fact that the stuff is so calorie laden though. It has less protein and more calories per cup (> 500 kcal/cup). Nutrisca has the highest amount of protein (32%) which is similar to Acana. It’s also the closest in terms of kcal per cup, although it’s more than Acana. Zignature seems to be somewhere in the middle there. So I think I have some good options to try. Sorry you’re having such a rough time with your pup, Kristen. I hope you can find a solution soon.

[Kathy]

My german shepherd has thrived on Acana Regionals (Grasslands and Wild Prairie) and Orijen dry foods until they changed to their Kentucky plant. She got really sick on the Meadowlands, which has replaced Wild Prairie. Compared to the Wild Prairie it smelled rancid. I am so mad that they moved their plant and changed what food they source. So now I’m trying to find a new grain free food that is similar to Acana/Orijen. I tried Fromms game bird dry formula but she seems to get itchy on it. If you recently and successfully changed from Acana or Orijen to something else, what food are you feeding? My local pet store gave me samples of First Mate’s specialty dry foods (chicken meal with blueberries and australian lamb meal), Zignature lamb, Zignature duck, Kasiks free run chicken meal formula as well as their lamb formula, and Carna4 green free duck and also their chicken. I’ve also considered trying the Kirkland brand (Costco-Diamond) as I’ve had some friends have good luck with it. I am aware they had a recall back in 2012. Most importantly I’m trying to find a high quality food for a sensitive eater with sufficient protein for a working dog (she’s my guide dog). Thanks for the feedback!

[Jose Carlos M]

First post here.
I feed my 6 months German Shepherd Orijens Puppy Large.
I am very happy with it as the dog is healthy energetic and has a beautiful coat. The problem is the amount. I am already giving him above the recommended amount and he is generally stressed out in hunger. His vet also says he seems a little thin…
Should I feed him more or should I complement with some homemade food, and what would be the best feeding options?

Thanks.

[T. G.]

I have a 6 month old Golden who has been on Orijen large breed puppy since I brought her home at 8 weeks. Her stool has always been like soft serve ice cream – sometimes a bit better. I’ve given her probiotics, rice, pumpkin and it helps a little. I want to switch her to a great food that will firm up her poo. And from what I’ve read, she is probably old enough to go to an adult food soon. I’m just not happy with the potato and legumes I’m seeing in even Acana foods.

I also have an 8 year old German Shepherd mix on Orijen Senior. He had the same issue as the Golden on Orijen Adult, but does GREAT and looks amazing on Orijen Senior. It would be super convenient to feed them both the same food, but like I said, I really like the Orijen ingredients better than any other food I’ve seen.

I’ve been doing a side by side comparison of the Orijen adult to Orijen senior. It really isn’t that different except less fat, more fiber. Acana is quite far off in comparison – more calcium than I’d like too.

So, if the food is good, the nutrients are there, and the calcium levels are not too high (they aren’t I checked using the calcium/phosporus calculator on this site) would there be any harm in trying Orijen senior for my 6 month old? What do I need to consider?

Here’s the comparison. Sorry the formatting is wonky.

. Orijen adult , orijen senior, acana

Crude protein (min.) 38% 38% 29 %
Crude fat (min.) 18% 15% 17 %
Crude fiber (max.) 5% 8% 6 %
Moisture (max.) 10% 10% 12 %
Calcium (min./max) 1.3 / 1.6 % 1.2 / 1.5 % 1.70%
Phosphorus (min./max) 1 / 1.3 % 0.9 / 1.2 % 1 %
Omega-6 (min.) 3% 2.50% 2.10%
Omega-3 (min.) 1.10% 1% 0.8 %
DHA (min.) 0.60% 0.60% 0.15%
EPA (min.) 0.30% 0.30% 0.15%
Ash (max.) 8% 8% 9 %
Glucosamine (min.) 1400 mg/kg 1400 mg/kg 600 mg/kg
Chondroitin (min.) 1200 mg/kg 1200 mg/kg 800 mg/kg
Microorganisms (min.) 120M cfu/kg 120M cfu/kg
pH 5.5 5.5
Vitamin A 30 kIU/kg 16 kIU/kg 50
Vitamin D 3 2 kIU/kg 1 kIU/kg 3500
Vitamin E 470 IU/kg 400 IU/kg 250
Vitamin B12 0.5 mg/kg 0.5 mg/kg 0.15
Thiamine 70 mg/kg 50 mg/kg
Riboflavin 55 mg/kg 45 mg/kg
Niacin 390 mg/kg 450 mg/kg
Pan. Acid (B5) 64 mg/kg 50 mg/kg
Pyridoxine (B6) 52 mg/kg 38 mg/kg
Folic Acid 4.7 mg/kg 5.2 mg/kg 1.3
Choline 2400 mg/kg 2700 mg/kg 1900
Sodium 0.30% 0.40% 0.3
Chloride 0.60% 0.64% 0.5
Potassium 1.00% 0.77% 0.8
Magnesium 0.12% 0.10% 0.13
Manganese 25 mg/kg 27 mg/kg
Selenium 1.2 mg/kg 0.9 mg/kg
Iron 230 mg/kg 240 mg/kg 180
Zinc 240 mg/kg 200 mg/kg 255
Copper 26 mg/kg 26 mg/kg 20
Iodine 3.6 mg/kg 1.8 mg/kg 2.7
Lysine 2.40% 2.45% 2.08
Tryptophan 0.40% 0.38% 1.2
Threonine 1.60% 1.50% 0.46
Tyrosine 0.98% 0.98%
Methionine 0.80% 0.80%
Isoleucine 1.50% 1.50% 1.15
Leucine 2.90% 2.90% 2.2
Valine 1.90% 1.85% 1.5
Arginine 2.50% 2.20% 2.15
Phenylalanine 1.60% 1.60% 1.38
Histidine 0.90% 0.80% 0.71
Cystine 0.40% 0.35% 0.32

• This topic was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by T. G..

[Alice M]

I was also feeding my German Shepherd Acana and Orijen for the past 4 years. With the new formula change in Kentucky, She is no longer able to eat it. Extreme itching and inflamed ears with the new formula. I am now searching for another food.

[Susan]

Hi your boy may need top see a vet & get a course of Metronidazole, Metronidazole is an antibiotic for the bowel & stomach it fixes things up. My boy always gets put on Metronidazole when his diarrhea or yellow sloppy poos start he has IBD.. German Shepherds are prone to EPI, IBD & IBS, I would be seeing a vet…
“Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb is the only kibble that makes Patches poos nice & firm…

[Elwood C]

We have a White German Shepherd 9 month old. Looking for ideas. All went well until he ate some rotting squash in the garden, not much but enough. The vet helpped us get him back on track but having a hard time finding a solution to loose stools that occur 50% of the time, on occasion it can be close to diarrhea. Started him on Dr Tims, then Call of The Wild prairie, now Call of the Wild venison. There is no lack of energy, pain, or any negative demeanor about him, and he gets plenty of exercise. He is a high energy dog.

[Kristin S]

I’ve scrolled through a lot of the forum discussions looking for help picking out a new food but i didnt get far. Here is our situation –
7 year old, 125 lbs Germany Shepherd-mastiff mix. He has back and joint problems already. He needs to lose about 15lbs. He is very INACTIVE. He also has yeast problems so we can’t do potatoes.

Any suggestions?? Thanks a lot

[Freddy w]

Hello
I sort of had the same issue with my shepherds
But I found a solution that works well for them
It’s a dry dog good made by Victor

You can find it on chewy.com

There small bites so don’t get fooled by the photo of the German Shepherd
For my dogs the other dog foods had way to much fiber
Also my dogs are real active

Bets of luck to you

[Molly F]

I realized I should have posted this as a new topic, not buried at the end of another topic!
So, sorry if it’s a repeat for some:
Hey all!
Brand new to the site and to raw feeding!
I am probably going to be working off Dr. Pitcairn’s recipes, and I had a question about supplements. I’d prefer whole food ingredients, so I’m probably going to use eggshell for calcium. I’m wondering if eggs themselves could provide enough vitamin A? I’m thinking of doing an egg based meal in the morning and meat and grain in the evening, using whole sardines for the omegas.
I’m going to check with some local meat producers to get the healthiest meat available and will probably add bones at some point. I read that turkey leg bones aren’t really safe (feel free to add your experience) but what about raw chicken legs?
My puppy is a 7 1/2 mo old German Shepherd from fairly beefy stock (dad was 110lbs, mom was 80!!!), so of course I’ve gotten myself all scared about proper calcium ratios. If I give her whole sardines, those bones shouldn’t throw off the ratios too much, right?
I know many people recommend a more “primal” style diet, but I’m on a tight budget these days and the grain component will Really help stretch my dollar!

[Molly F]

Hey all!
Brand new to the site and to raw feeding!
I am probably going to be working off Dr. Pitcairn’s recipes, and I had a question about supplements. I’d prefer whole food ingredients, so I’m probably going to use eggshell for calcium. I’m wondering if eggs themselves could provide enough vitamin A? I’m thinking of doing an egg based meal in the morning and meat and grain in the evening, using whole sardines for the omegas. I’m going to check with some local meat producers to get the healthiest meat available and will probably add bones at some point. I read that turkey leg bones aren’t really safe (feel free to add your experience) but what about raw chicken legs?
My puppy is a 7 1/2 mo old German Shepherd from fairly beefy stock (dad was 110lbs, mom was 80!!!), so of course I’ve gotten myself all scared about proper calcium ratios. If I give her whole sardines, those bones shouldn’t throw off the ratios too much, right?

[Suzanne W]

My German shepherd was getting awful sores which would frequently become pustules. We spent lots of knee and did antibiotics and baths and diet changes etc and in the end here’s what worked for Ida. We give her grain free diet, we add homaede topper. Although her treats have grains, she doesn’t get many. We spray her tummy (which is where she predominately gets these staph pimples, though sometimes elsewhere) Once a day with silversol spray and let air dry(don’t let her lick it off it needs about twenty minutes to dry) and she hardly ever gets any infections as long as we do this once daily. If we forget for a few days, she may get a dot or two, so then we spray it about every four to six hours till they dry up then resume our once daily. Now, for those that believe this is expensive, it is absolutely not. We save money and her health by not going to the vet, we save her by not ravishing her system with antibiotics, etc, and the best part is it works. After you get the rash or sores under control, it takes very very little. It kills almost every bacteria, fungus, and even virus. We have used this successfully for our pets ear infections, our ear infections, our skin problems, our colds. It does take a few days longer than traditional harmful medicines, but it absolutely works. We keep a spray bottle, an ear and eye dropper, and a nasal thing you squirt in your own nose when you start to get sick AT onset! It wards off your cold somewhat and lessens the time you feel ill. The most important thing is do it at onset and be consistent. I do not sell it or have anything to do with that aspect. I first found it. It is called :ASAP 22 plus silver solution. It is made by American biotech labs, LLC. In Utah. Oh yes, we also take it orally as well. I give the dogs or us a half teaspoon once or twice daily when something comes up. I hope this helps. I regret we never knew about this years ago as there’s been so much suffering. I hope this helps. A little goes a long way. We’ve used it a couple of years.

[Adam G]

Make sure to continue to monitor. German Shepherds are prone to Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). One of the hallmarks of the disease is loose stool. If your GSD has this reaction to more than just the chicken I would look into testing. Especially if the dog is lethargic. That is how we knew our GSD had something wrong and sure enough it was EPI.