GSP puppy diet

[Jess1]

Hi, I have 2 GSPs
We have a 4.5 month old bitch
When we got her she was kn Skinners Puppy, she's a real gannit with her food, she got terrible bloat & sometimes nearly choked herself, I got her a slow feeder, she would just leave what was to difficult to get out.
I switched her to RAW (Naturaw) she always seems hungry & unfortunately it's just not sustainable (cost)
I am considering trying combine dry & raw
Just slightly concerned about the bloating & choking

Any advice greatly appreciated

Many thanks

 

[P.forpony]

Don't mix dry and raw.
They are digested at different speeds and can cause serious tummy problems if fed together.

For preventing bloat try a raised feeder or feed in your usual way on a platform of some kind to elevate.

Slow feeder bowls do have different levels of 'difficulty' so it might be worth looking at different designs, a snuffle mat is a good alternative that doesn't squash their noses.

Also if you don't already, try separating your dogs at meal times. They often gobble when there's another dog around because they feel competition for the food. So if theyre in different rooms she might relax and slow down a bit more if she realises no-one is going to try and steal her dinner!

 

[Jess1]

Don't mix dry and raw.
They are digested at different speeds and can cause serious tummy problems if fed together.

For preventing bloat try a raised feeder or feed in your usual way on a platform of some kind to elevate.

Slow feeder bowls do have different levels of 'difficulty' so it might be worth looking at different designs, a snuffle mat is a good alternative that doesn't squash their noses.

Also if you don't already, try separating your dogs at meal times. They often gobble when there's another dog around because they feel competition for the food. So if theyre in different rooms she might relax and slow down a bit more if she realises no-one is going to try and steal her dinner!

Thanks for your response
Yes I have fed her in different rooms & no different
Haven't tried a raised platform or snuffle mat
Thanks for this

 

[CorvusCorax]

Try scattering her feed over the garden and making her look for it, or feeding her daily allowance by hand as part of her training regimen over several sessions.

I have fed dry and raw (not in the same meal, mostly dry with a bit of raw thrown in here and there) with no ill effects.

You can get a lot of things cheaply from the butcher, supermarket or 'greyhound men'.

 

[Jess1]

Try scattering her feed over the garden and making her look for it, or feeding her daily allowance by hand as part of her training regimen over several sessions.

I have fed dry and raw (not in the same meal, mostly dry with a bit of raw thrown in here and there) with no ill effects.

You can get a lot of things cheaply from the butcher, supermarket or 'greyhound men'.

Yes, I did put her biscuits rolled up in an old towel which helped her but obviously with raw thay won't really work

 

[CorvusCorax]

When I fed raw minces I would put them in a Kong, which worked quite well.

 

[AmyMay]

No problem mixing raw and biscuits.

I agree with elevating her food bowl, am I would also soak her food for 20 mins prior to feeding it.

I’ve gone off slow feeders because they gave my dog stomach cramps (too much air inhaled).

I would also consider how many times a day you are feeding (are you feeding at least 3 times a day?).

 

[skinnydipper]

Don't mix dry and raw.
They are digested at different speeds and can cause serious tummy problems if fed together.

Absolute nonsense.

 

[skinnydipper]

Yes, I did put her biscuits rolled up in an old towel which helped her but obviously with raw thay won't really work

If you are feeding raw minced complete try spreading on Lickimats, there are lots of different ones available for variety.

 

[Jess1]

No problem mixing raw and biscuits.

I agree with elevating her food bowl, am I would also soak her food for 20 mins prior to feeding it.

I’ve gone off slow feeders because they gave my dog stomach cramps (too much air inhaled).

I would also consider how many times a day you are feeding (are you feeding at least 3 times a day?).

Yes she's fed 3 times a day, sometimes use a kong, cannot manage to slow her eating. I'd like to keep her on raw but just not financially sustainable

 

[CorvusCorax]

Honestly, if she has that amount of food drive, I would harness it in the training

 

[skinnydipper]

If you want to slow her eating when feeding kibble there are many different food dispensing toys which you can use.

Examples are Orbee Tuff Mazee, Kong Wobbler, Kong Gyro, Kong Spin It, Starmark Bob a Lot

 

[skinnydipper]

I never use a bowl for food, I think it is a missed opportunity to add interest/enrichment.

If you want to bulk out the raw with kibble you could mix it together. I have a silicone feeder which has honeycomb like divisions which would work. Available from Amazon. Easy to clean on top shelf in dishwasher.

If raw is proving too expensive I wouldn't compromise on the quality of the raw, it would be better I think to feed the best quality kibble that you can comfortably afford.

There are ways you can feed kibble to make life a bit more interesting without going to the expense of buying food dispensing toys. Put some in the bottom of muffin trays with a ball on top; save your cardboard boxes and brown paper, lightly scrunch up bits of paper, put them in the box and throw some kibble in; keep kitchen roll tubes and fill with kibble, turn the ends over or make a cracker. As CC said you could always scatter feed.

 

[satinbaze]

The latest research regarding bloat indicates that using a raised bowl actually increases the risk. A puppy I bred that is very greedy is fed using a kong wobbler abc this has really helped to slow her down.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Don't mix dry and raw.
They are digested at different speeds and can cause serious tummy problems if fed together.

For preventing bloat try a raised feeder or feed in your usual way on a platform of some kind to elevate.

Slow feeder bowls do have different levels of 'difficulty' so it might be worth looking at different designs, a snuffle mat is a good alternative that doesn't squash their noses.

Also if you don't already, try separating your dogs at meal times. They often gobble when there's another dog around because they feel competition for the food. So if theyre in different rooms she might relax and slow down a bit more if she realises no-one is going to try and steal her dinner!

That’s been proven to be nonsense, I’ve fed raw with some kibble occasionally with zero ill effects, plus kongs with both. Surely kongs slow her down a bit? I make different difficulties of kongs, hard for the smart dog, easy for the less critical of thinking. @CorvusCorax tends to feed on walks, obviously you’d need kibble for this unless you have gloves etc. You don’t need to do the traditional feed a meal thing. I like the scattering thing, we often do it on the lawn, it’s mental stimulation for them too, handy when you can’t exercise a very young pup too much.

 

[Highmileagecob]

It might be worth having a chat with your vet to make sure her digestion is all it should be. The ravenous hunger in a young dog is unusual, unless she is competing for food. Also, feed after exercise to mimic the dog's natural hunt/eat instinct.

 

[P.forpony]

I'm definitely out of date sorry!
Thanks to the lovely brains above for the correction on mixing raw and dry, and the raised bowl and bloat info.
Every day is a school day to do better by our animals

 

[Jess1]

Good morning
I have ordered Millies Wolfheart Riverside mix, still have 17 tubs of Naturaw puppy in freezer & will try to order this as & when I can
Also fortunate we can get fresh fish for her, which she enjoys

 

[Love]

Our GWP was the same. She’s always been on skinners kibble with us. We scatter fed (snuffling for it in the lawn and old cardboard boxes was her fave) and also used it to train with to slow her down. We sometimes soaked it too and packed it into kongs. She worked out she could flip a slow feeder bowl over within minutes of first using it This all worked really well for us and now she’s learnt to steady herself she is fine to just have it as normal (we still use it to train with but not every meal)

 

[Clodagh]

Good morning
I have ordered Millies Wolfheart Riverside mix, still have 17 tubs of Naturaw puppy in freezer & will try to order this as & when I can
Also fortunate we can get fresh fish for her, which she enjoys

Mine are all on MWH. I have to do extra shifts at work to pay for it but it’s great stuff.