Help on food for our new GSD - Page 1

Hello,

We added Lulu to our family a month or so ago. She is now almost 4 months old and a very sweet and smart girl. When I first got her I purchased Nutro large breed puppy food thinking it was a good food, since then I have done some research and found that there are many issues with this food as well as a very low rating on some sites. She has also had runny stools (I have gotten it tested and no parasites or bacteria) so I decided to switch. I have now switched her to Taste of the Wild free range formula. I cannot comment on the results as of yet because I just switched it.

My question is, do you think this is too much protien for her? I think it's 32% protien. The man at the feed store also told me he was glad I switched her from Nutro and to not use up the rest of my bag of it, to get her off it right away.  He also said that the "large breed puppy" was talking more about Mastiffs, Great Danes, Great Pyrenese (sp?), etc. and didn't relate so much to German Shepherds.  I would love a second opinion from all of you GSD owners as you will know better than anyone the answer to my question. (I really don't have the time, freezer space or money to go raw either)

Thanks in advance :)

Lisa

raw feeding would be cheaper than TOTW kibble,  but if you don't have freezer space then....
I don't like that much protein for a growing puppy,  but many people on here feed TOTW and like it so you are probably doing well.

I fed Nutro years ago,  and all my dogs had lose stools.  I don't recommend it to anyone.

Thanks Uber, I suppose I could make the time to go raw but our freezer is packed even now LOL, I may try it later when we get a new one and put this one in the garage :)

I don't know about anybody else, but my girl has been the pickiest eater since I first got her.  I started her on Nutro Max Lg Breed, and then I found out what a terrible food it is and I couldn't get her to eat it.  I switced to Science Diet, which she wouldn't touch, then I tried Kirkland brand, and she wouldn't touch that either.

I have now switched to Avoderm Large Breed Adult (they also have Puppy), and she eats it wonderfully, and I've seen her fill out to a good weight for her.  Her coat also looks awesome...shiney, healthy, etc.  It's a moderately priced dog food (I buy it at $32.99/30 lb bag, but it normally runs $35-45/bag), and it's rated a 4 star on dogfoodanalysis.com.

I love it, my dog loves it...so I am happy.

I too started out with the Nuto crap until I found out how bad it was.  We tried another which now I can't remember what it was then I switched to Canadaie (sp) 4 meats all stages kibble and my 8mo old girl is thriving on it.  Her coat is fantastic, no dander, lots of shine. Her stools are great, she has lots of energy and she eats it like she enjoys the taste.  I do add a tablespoon of oil to her food and feed it wet.  They apparently changed their recipe about a year ago and some dogs that were already on it had problems with the change.  We saw a big improvement in her coat and condition when we changed to it.

Rowdy, thank you, I haven't heard of avoderm but will look it up and see if it's available near me just in case TOTW doesn't work out.

DebiSue, thanks for the reply, Canadia all stages was one I was looking at exclusively until I found TOTW. I hear it is a great food. I thought I would try TOTW since it was no grain and I thought maybe it was the grains that are bothering her but I think It's just Nutro! I have read some horror stories and feel bad about even making the slow switch. If TOTW doesn't work out for her or I find it's too much protien Canadia all stages will be the next one I will try.

Does anyone have any input on the "large breed puppy" thing, do GSD's actually fall into that category?

Thanks again!

all 4 of our dogs are on TOWT bison and venisom and they are doing great, especially the puppy. the adults eat 1 cup morning and night the puppy is up to 2.5 cups mornng and night........if you shop around you can find a 30lb bag for 36 plus tax.......

we went throught many, many types of kibbles and its the only one that they can all agree on.

we tried raw and 2 of the 4 do not tolerate it......especially the puppy and the old dog.

royal canin, pro plan, chicken soup for the dog loves soul, sience diet ad, and many other didn't work. at least 1 or some times all the dogs ended up with loos stools or worse............

Thanks SitasMom, your dog is gorgeous! I am starting to increase her food from 1.5 cup morning and evening as she gobbles it up and still seems hungry. She is now having diarrhea since the switch but I am thinking that is because of the switch coupled with still having Nutro in her food. I am doing half and half at this point (I just can't wait to get her totally off the Nutro!) How old is your puppy? Should I give her 2.5 cups this early on (4 months almost) or do you think that will be too much protein with this food?

I have to add here for anyone viewing that after only two days of the switch her energy has nearly doubled with me just adding half TOTW to the Nutro.  She already seems so much better and happier!

You can add canned pumpkin to her food to help with any loose stools.  It was a lifesaver for us.  

We were feeding our girl 1.5 cups 3 times a day until she turned 6mo then we stopped the mid day meal and fed her 2 cups morning and evening.  Just this last few weeks we have dropped it back to 1 cup morning and evening and she seems fine on that.  Seems that she has adjusted well to this food and now needs less.  Poops less on Canadaie than on the others too. 

BTW...check the fat and protein level on your TOTW if you are feeding large breed puppy.  At this age I don't think a puppy food is necessary.  You want to make sure she doesn't grow too fast and start packing on weight.  It will be hard on her joints.  She looks good in your avatar.