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German Shepherds are large breed dogs that are known as loyal, courageous, and protective breeds. Bred to be working dogs in the police and military force, they are vastly intelligent naturally. German Shepherds require a high-quality diet to maintain their health even though they seem like solid and resilient pets.
The best food for your German Shepherds is one that is AAFCO approved (Association of American Feed Control Officials), meaning that the food is complete and balanced. Meeting the nutrient profile meets or exceeds the minimum requirements set by AAFCO.
When looking for the best dog food to feed your German Shepherd, you should also consider a natural diet- specifically, the BARF diet (Bones and Raw Food). The effects of a raw diet are listed below:
Read more: Benefits of a Raw Diet for Dogs
Raw meat is not only a great protein source for German Shepherds; it's an optimal diet.
Raw meat to dogs is like a keto diet to humans, allowing them to reach their total capacity and excellent health. In nature, dogs are a carnivorous species; holistic raw dog food aligns most with their natural needs.
Dogs' digestive systems are very different from our own. Their stomach is much more acidic, with an average pH of 1. Common bacteria in meat, such as Salmonella and E. Coli (also found in dry dog food), cannot survive in a dog's short acidic digestive tract.
Many owners are intimidated by raw food, worried that the pathogens and bacteria could harm their dogs.
However, when feeding your German Shepherd dry dog food like kibble, you deprive them of vital nutrients and hydration.Most kibble brands lack essential components to your dog's health, such as protein, Vitamin D, biotin, water, and trace minerals. Feeding your dog aBARF diet is the best diet because it will provide them with all the needed nutrients. With a balanced BARF diet provided by a reliable source, your German Shepherd will be healthier than ever.
Health conditions like diabetes, hip dysplasia, and cancer are common in German Shepherds. Mostly due to poor breeding practices, the health conditions of German Shepherds pass as hereditary diseases.
Dogs from high-quality breeders are less likely to suffer from these health issues. However, all dogs face a chance of developing a health condition as they age.
Luckily, that's not the end all be all. We can take preventative measures such as exercising and feeding our dogs the best diet to protect them and reducing common health problems with the proper diet.
A common health condition for any dog is allergies!
Flaky skin, diarrhea, itchy ears, and swelling are the most common signs that your German Shepherd has allergies.
Dogs can have seasonal or food allergies just like us humans! Ingredients like wheat, dairy, and even meat flavorings like beef and chicken can interrupt a dog's immune system and cause an allergic reaction.
Meat flavorings are known to be a common culprit to allergy reactions. That is why some dogs show allergies from Chicken kibble but not Chicken meat.
Thebest way to treat these allergies is to feed your German Shepherd a raw diet.
Kibble has several toxins introduced in the processed pellets. There are so many ingredients present in kibble that it may be challenging to identify what exactly your dog is allergic to.
It could be the toxic additives that your dog's body can't digest or the large amounts of starch added to keep kibble together.
It could be hard to digest proteins, giving your dog bloating and inconsistent stool.
No matter what ingredient is causing your German Shepherd's pain, kibble is harming your dog.
Some dogs may be allergic to meat. However, humans think that a meat allergy from kibble is equal to an allergy to all forms of said meat. Switching to raw food is the best way to ease allergies.
The protein and meats added to kibble are commonly difficult to digest and synthetic, causing various reactions from your dog's immune and digestive systems.
Cali Raw Nutrition formulas are made from natural, human-grade, high-quality protein, so synthetic and indigestible protein is a problem.
A German Shepherd named Valhalla faced horrible allergies that subsided after being put on a raw diet. He took allergy medicine daily and was severely underweight, but he became a healthy, happy pup after eating raw!
All of these conditions can be prevented or treated with the consumption of a natural diet. Your pup would much rather prefer a species-appropriate diet over constant trips to the vet!
Read:How Raw Dog Food Saved Vallaha's Dog From Allergies
No matter what age, it's never to late to switch to a better diet! If you have a senior German Shepherd, a raw diet can help increase their energy level. Their new and better diet can even improve their health!
Raw food may seem daunting, as your dog hasn't been eating it for the entirety of its life. However, the benefit of raw food on senior dogs could increase their lifespan and reduce the risk of diseases caused by aging.
If your dog is older and you're concerned about the aging effects on your dog's health, consider a raw diet.
Boaz was an eight-year-old German Shepherd with cancer symptoms. He then switched to a BARF diet, and he seemed to revitalize almost magically. A limp he previously had is now undetectable, and his owner describes him as "looking phenomenal."
A healthy German Shepherd is highly energetic, engaged, and eager. The average weight for a male German Shepherd is 66-88lbs, and for a female German Shepherd, 49-71lbs is ideal. If your dog is significantly over or under the weighted average, severe health problems may occur.
The best way to prevent an unhealthy weight is by feeding a healthy diet and portioning it to your dog's age, size, and gender.
Luckily, you can find the perfect portions for your dog using our daily feeding calculator
! If you're wondering how much you should feed your German Shepherd puppy, input the ideal weight for an adult German Shepherd. Our calculator takes 2.5% of your dog's perfect weight and uses it as a daily food ratio!