Food for GSD prone to pancreus and colon problems

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Lucyad

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Any suggestions? She is a white GSD, 6 y/o. She is a very picky eater, and recently has become prone to Pancreus and colon problems, possibly due to stealing cat food (issue now dealt with by cat being fed from worktop, despite his arthritis, poor thing). She is a good weight and gets lots of exercise hacking with me.

She was previously fed 1 large tin of Buchers, daily, and ad lib Omega Tasy 'O's. Since problems she has been on boiled (happy
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) chicken breasts and rice, which is costing a small fortune. Vet suggests Chappie has being the best tinned food, but of course she won't eaty the stuff (no wonder - it stinks!).

I am wondering about feeding raw meat and bone diet, but don't know much about it. I have a neighbour who works at an abatoir - I wonder if he could get me stuff in bulk to freeze....(muses...). I wouldn't know how to start though? (or whether she would eat it!).
 
Hi there.
GSDs are prone to pancreatic problems.
I wouldn't touch tinned meat, sorry
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Butchers and Chappie would be right out for me for a start.

I think it is pretty much agreed that raw is the best thing to feed but logistically it can prove difficult for some people, but if I lived next to someone who worked at an abbatoir, I would have his arm off!

KarynK, SevernMiles and Katie Houston amongst others can advise on feeding raw.
From conversations on and off here, Nature Diet, Autarky and Duck are brands which stick closely to additive free feeding.

For dry foods, I know Royal Canin do a breed-specific range for GSDs focusing on digestion, and skin condition.
 
This stuff:

http://www.muckypupz.com/page/healthy_option_pet_food

(healthy option pet food)

Was an absolute god send for my GSD who had a *very* sensitive stomach in her latter years. I really think it gave her a new lease of life and gave us another year + together.
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She didn't used to be a big fan of biscuits, but LOVED these
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Once she had developed this sensitive stomach, she couldn't have any meat or bones without an incredibly upset stomach and being very ill
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So we had to feed her dry only.
 
Not had experience personally of pancreatic problems (which is a miracle considering I have been around shepherds for 50odd years) however the food I recommend for many digestive problems if raw green tripe, if by any miracle you can get whole tripes from the abbatoir then brilliant, otherwise you can buy it frozen. Not saying it will work but worth a try imo.
 
We've had the same problem with our last GSD and was told to try James Wellbeloved dried food. It worked brilliantly for him and our now GSD gets fed the same. We were even told by Winalot/'Pedigree not to change to their feed as Wellbeloved was much better for GSD's digestion.
 
I've had white GSD's for years now and my first one had the occasional tummy issue. To be honest she was a nightmare to feed and wouldn't touch dry food at all.

I was going to suggest the same as Murphy'sminder and get green tripe from the abattoir. Warning. its hideous and I mean hideously smelly. I fed mine outside cause couldn't stand having the tripe in the house.

BUT. It helped her enormously once her tummy settled and once she was eating regularly i started introducing liver and mince and she got (the other still does) get a raw chicken wing from breakfast.
 
The best food i can think of would be a feed designed specifically for your breed of dog, i looked after 8 german shepherds for over 7 yrs and their owner put them on all sorts of odd foods,they each had their own different health problems,one had severe colitus on and off,one had early stage arthritus at 4!,and the other old lady developed pancreatic cancer and a load of other problems,i changed them all to Royal Canin German Shepherd and they all did so well on it, all had more energy and def more movement,less tummy problems too.
 
Thanks everyone, so much! I will read up on these three tonight, for an imediate swap:-

http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/my_pet/dog_products/breed_health_nutrition/german_shepherd_adult.aspx

http://www.wellbeloved.com/products/dog_food/dog_faqs.aspx

http://www.muckypupz.com/page/healthy_option_pet_food

I will also look further into feeding raw, and speak to my neighbour to see if he could get me suitable meat. I think I have an old chest freezer in the garage which could be put to good use. Don't like the sound of the smell, especially of the tripe, but even if she eats her raw food outside, and has some healthy dried food inside to nibble, it sounds like she could be much healthier.
 
Word of WARNING, never mix raw diet with any of the dried commercial foods, it is very dangerous.

Commercial dried diets will contain some form of carbohydrate to make them affordable. Carbs are not a natural food for a carnivore and a dogs digestive system adjusts to cope with them by slowing the digestive process.

A dog fed raw or a wild dog's digestive system is very fast, it has evolved this way to allow a dog to eat carrion and rotten meat, the food goes through really fast so that bugs like salmonella cannot take hold and cause a stomach upset (kind of ironic isnt it!!!).

If you feed the two diets close together you can cause an impaction, which is bad news, and could cost you an operation!!

A friend of mine had a GSD a few years ago, I watched helpless at her constantly upset stomach (eye of a needle stuff constantly) and her inability to jump in his car aged just 7. Finally he succumbed to my gentle persuasion and changed to raw from the dried stuff. Within 1 week no more stomach upsets, within a month she was jumping into the car with ease, she was finally PTS aged 14, she was still jumping into the car! My sisters 2 month old GSD went onto raw at 7 weeks and has no problems.
 
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