Can German Shepherds eat raw meat is a bit controversial topic as some people prefer feeding raw meat to German Shepherds whereas some think that it is very unsafe to do so.
German Shepherds tend to suffer from stomach issues as they have a very sensitive stomach and not only raw meat but we have to be careful before feeding them anything as they sometimes have a tendency to react to foods.
Can German Shepherds eat raw meat?
Yes, German Shepherds can eat raw meat but since they tend to have a sensitive stomach, you should be careful with the amount of raw meat you are feeding them. Avoid feeding them raw meat at night.
If we have to choose the food based on their health benefits, there are many other foods in the competition which are better and more beneficial than raw meat. We can have raw meat as our second preference.
Benefits of feeding raw meat to German Shepherds?
Many people consider raw food over cooked food because raw and fresh foods are in their natural form and are easy to digest and fresh foods have more nutrition compared to any other dog food.
German Shepherds are actually wild dogs so many people believe that fresh and raw food diets are the best and healthiest option for them and makes them healthier and are less prone to digestive issues.
But German Shepherds can no more be called wild dogs as they have inhibited the manmade world and these food activities might not suit their body and can leave unwanted health issues.
Correct way to feed raw meat to German Shepherds
There are two most common and popular ways of feeding raw meat to German Shepherds:
1. The BARF Diet
Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet is nothing but a natural alternative to dog’s foods. It contains raw meat along with some other fresh vegetables, beans and seeds. The motto behind this food is to provide a high quality diet which is high in protein and fiber and highly nutritious just like any other dog food. This food has no preservatives, additives or any artificial fragrance making it much more healthier than the store-bought dog food.
2. PMR Diet
The Prey Model Raw Diet is actually for wild dogs who would find prey and eat. It contains no plant-based food but only meat. In this method, nothing is discarded. They will eat everything including the bones and intestine of the meat.
Drawbacks of feeding raw meat
As mentioned earlier, raw meat diet is not hazardous to health, but in today’s context, it might not suit most of the German Shepherds body.
Following are some hazards of raw meat:
- The store bought dog food is specially made for dogs. It has all the nutrition, supplements, protein, and carbs, which is required for a Germen Shepherd and is in the right proportion. And moving to commercial dog food is actually a good choice. When we prepare our dogs food by ourselves, there is a chance of messing their nutrition amount and calorie intake which may lead to malnutrition in German Shepherds.
- Raw meat has a chance of giving bacterial infection and carry parasite if the meat is not of good quality.
- As mentioned in the PMR Diet, it contains meat, bones, and organs. There is a high chance of choking or breaking teeth while eating raw meat.
Read: Best Dry Food for German Shepherds
Precautions to take while feeding raw meat to German Shepherds
Feeding raw meat once in a while is not bad at all as long as we do it with precautions.
- Always remember to clean the meat properly before feeding it to the dog.
- Remove all the bones which can cause choking.
- Always make sure you are buying your meat from a good shop and it is fresh and does not have any bacterial or fungal issues.
Conclusion
Whether you want to give raw meat to your German Shepherd occasionally or want to use it as a way to replace your dog’s food, the fact is German Shepherds actually enjoy eating raw meat.
Shifting this to an everyday food is a personal decision that should be based on how you want to provide your pet and your dog’s food preferences.
To be safe it is better to go with the mixture of commercial food and homemade food, it will help keep a balance diet.