German shepherds taking weight gainer

[MikeRoss]

My brother has 2 four month old german shepherds thats he has been feeding a scoop of weight gainer or protein or some other supplement with their food. This cant be good for a dogs kidneys. What do you think? These dogs have awesome pedigrees by the way and were quite expensive. Just want to make sure before i go over and take his dogs. Thanks

 

[RazorCuts]

I would not give them that as it will throw off the nutrient content of the dry food at this young age and can cause growth problems. If he wants to give the dog some higher protein diet he should look into feeding raw.

 

[BOOMSHAKER]

My brother has 2 four month old german shepherds thats he has been feeding a scoop of weight gainer or protein or some other supplement with their food. This cant be good for a dogs kidneys. What do you think? These dogs have awesome pedigrees by the way and were quite expensive. Just want to make sure before i go over and take his dogs. Thanks

If he wants the dog to put on weight why not just give him a little extra "FOOD"!? If he wants to give the dog some extra protein, why not just give the dog some extra CHICKEN or FISH??? Sounds dumb but I am gonna go out on a limb and say it may just work! Tell your brother to stop using the pup as an experiment! Good luck brother.

 

[tenny]

i have an irish wolfhound

who regularly gets a treat of raw chicken wings
when i catchem on sale .99 lb

been doin it since he was 5 months old

now hes a 195lb killer...he'll lick you to death

 

[klowndog]

i have an irish wolfhound

who regularly gets a treat of raw chicken wings
when i catchem on sale .99 lb

been doin it since he was 5 months old

now hes a 195lb killer...he'll lick you to death

I give my sheperds the chicken bones, but I pull out the little splinter bones first. I have always heard that the splinter bones will cause problems. Other than that, my dogs always get a little of what I get-steak, shrimp(they love the tails) crab leg shells, hell my little one will even eat grapes, broccoli, melon, whatever! I have never given them whey or anything, but I don't see how it could hurt them. Also, my dogs lick the pan after I cook bacon. It helps fatten them up during winter months and shines up their coat.

 

[aeliop]

I give my sheperds the chicken bones, but I pull out the little splinter bones first. I have always heard that the splinter bones will cause problems. Other than that, my dogs always get a little of what I get-steak, shrimp(they love the tails) crab leg shells, hell my little one will even eat grapes, broccoli, melon, whatever! I have never given them whey or anything, but I don't see how it could hurt them. Also, my dogs lick the pan after I cook bacon. It helps fatten them up during winter months and shines up their coat.

Klowndog, Never give them Grapes, Raisins, Onions, or Chocolate.

 

[tenny]

i know they cant digest cooked chicken bones
as they tend to splinter more so than raw

 

[BOOMSHAKER]

When you cook a chicken bone it gets hard and dry(brittle) and when they chew on it thats when the bones turn into sharp splinters and may lodge in their throats. When the bones are raw they are still somewhat soft and moist.

 

[aeliop]

Bad Idea

My brother has 2 four month old german shepherds thats he has been feeding a scoop of weight gainer or protein or some other supplement with their food. This cant be good for a dogs kidneys. What do you think? These dogs have awesome pedigrees by the way and were quite expensive. Just want to make sure before i go over and take his dogs. Thanks

This would be a bad idea. At the very least if the Protein powder contained chocolate that is something that could be lethal to a dog. The proper German Shepherd should be of a proper fitness level and weight. Trying to make one bigger then their genetic limitation will result in a multitude of health problems including Hip displaytia. Stick to a heathy raw food diet for the German Shepherd and just like you would do for yourself don't overfeed in an attempt to make the dog larger. Start them off with Chicken Necks and as their bite gets stronger graduate them to leg quarters. Once a week give them a treat of organ meat such as liver or hearts. Add some plain yogurt daily to help with their digestion. Add some vegetables but the dog will digest those so fast that it is best to slightly cook them or mash them so they can get all of the nutrients. Healthy fats as well like a Tablespoon of EVOO or Coconut Oil. (Not Bacon Grease only maybe once and a blue moon for a treat) Vitamin C and Emeric's DogtorRX, Plenty of excersise including some kind of job (German Shepherd is a working dog and this makes them happy) and the dog will be healthy and happy.

 

[aeliop]

Correct

i know they cant digest cooked chicken bones
as they tend to splinter more so than raw

You are correct. The cooked chicken bones become brittle and could splinter injuring or choking the dog. The raw chicken bones are flexible and what nature intended them to eat. The practice of crushing the bones strengthens their jaw and neck muscles and is their most natural way of eating. The bones also give them much needed calcium.

 

[gordo14]

Bump to this....

Klowndog, Never give them Grapes, Raisins, Onions, or Chocolate.

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet
- Alcoholic beverages
- Avocado
- Chocolate (all forms)
- Coffee (all forms)
- Fatty foods
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder
- Raisins and grapes
- Salt
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Products sweetened with xylitol

This list is based on the Animal Poison Controls list of death and illness in pets

 

[MikeRoss]

Ok thanks alot for the input guys. I'll mention some of these recommendations.

 

[RazorCuts]

He should just give them a high quality Large Breed Puppy food and leave it at that. Keep the calories low and let the pup grow at a slow steady rate. The size just like in people is genetic. If the dog is going to be 70 lbs he is going to be 70 lbs no matter what you feed unless it is fat. He has a lot of time after the dogs are over 18 months to put some weight on them.
Breeding Bordeaux for several yrs i love people who say the pup is limping, has pano or lame and to find out they are not feeding the recommended food. They are either feeding full puppy, adding people food or overfeeding and them wonder why their dogs develop dysplasia. If he wanted big muscled dogs he should have bought a Mastiff.

 

[Tyrone]

If you want your pup to grow big and strong, just feed em and exercise em...That's really all they need to grow.

If you want them to get even stronger, look into some vests(backpack type) they can where to carry water/weights on walks or other activity.

I have two rescue dogs of decent size and they each have their own back-pack they usually wear on walks, although it's more to make them feel like they're performing a job than trying to get them any stronger.

Forget the 'weight gainer' as everyone has mentioned above.

I'll see if I can dig up a pic. of my pups sporting the back-packs and post it up.

 

[Tyrone]

Here are a couple of pics. with my dogs sporting the 'back-packs' or what ever they're reffered to as...Sorry for the small camera phone pics. Enlarge the pics. if you can.