Hi Everyone,
I started my GSD on raw and am buying the premade food from a lady I work with. Needless to say, it is real expensive that way but, for me, a good way to start out. I was wondering about how many pounds a day a 106 pound GSD should get. I started him at 1, now he is at 2 and still acts hungry all the time. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, can anyone recommend a good (easy to follow) book on feeding raw? I would like to just do it myself and save some money. Thanks, Pam
Also Pamela, at first sometimes they like it so much that they ALWAYS act hungry. I don't always feed the same amount every day, but I don't use a pre-made, either. My GSD is a very thin 96lbs, and depending on what he's eating, will eat about 2lbs. It all depends on how much of the food is edible bone, activity, etc. Keep in mind, he's more likely to gain extra weight on kibble. I wouldn't worry so much at first about amounts, since he's getting the right nutrients. You'll know soon enough if he starts losing too much weight. He's much better off too thin than too fat. You'll figure it all out! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Mike Armstrong Webboard User Reg: 08-06-2005
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Loc: San Diego, CA
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The 2% figure is a good starting point, but you'll need to adjust depending on age and activity level. My 2-yr-old female GSD eats about 30% - 50% more than my 8-yr-old male did as he was slowed down with bad hips.
Hi Again and thank you for your replies.
Jenni, You know, you are probably right about him just liking it so much. He's just flashing his big brown eyes to get more food out of me! lol. Anyway, I'll keep him at the 2 pounds for now and see how he does. He is already a slim 106 pounds. The vet said he is a good weight for his size.
Connie, Thank you for the book reference. I'll see if I can get it on Amazon. Also, that is a really good web site. Great information. Again, thanks.
I do have one more question. Should he be getting veggies in his food? I don't give them to him but he does get a multi along with MSM and vitamin C. Thanks again, Pam
Pam, follow Ed's weekly menu for a 90lb male. I just discovered it, and I wish I'd found it sooner. Keep in mind also, that some vets think a healthy weight is heavier than some die-hard GSD people like to see. For example, the vets tell me Caleb's too thin. I ignore them. As far as veggies go, remember that dogs cannot digest cellulose (a wolf would get most its veggies from the stomach of a deer-already partially digested). I puree a mix of veggies and add it in several times a week. Some fruits are ok too. Keep doing searches for feeding-there's a TON on this forum!!!
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote:
I do have one more question. Should he be getting veggies in his food? I don't give them to him but he does get a multi along with MSM and vitamin C. Thanks again, Pam
Like Jenni, I do indeed feed greens and some fruits and some pumpkin or squash, etc. I feed pretty much what Billinghurst and the NJ Boxer site and this site mention feeding, with a few personal tweaks (like most people, I imagine).
I also believe that dogs have evolved eating produce (fallen fruit, etc.), since they are opportunistic omnivores. This doesn't mean they ground cereal grains and made bread, but I think their systems have developed with some well-ripened produce, along with some vegetable matter in their prey's stomachs.
Not everyone agrees with this, btw. There are definitely some experts who believe that all they need is raw meaty bones.
My dogs do great on a much more varied diet than that.
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12/29/05 Started my GSD on raw
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