Feeding a German Shepherd: Weight, the Sensitive Gut and Bloat

German Shepherds have two food problems most breeds don't: a gut that is easily upset, and a deep chest that puts them at real risk of bloat. Get the feeding right and both stay manageable. The usual honest line: we are not vets. This is what to watch and when to ask.

The waist test

From above, a waist behind the ribs. From the side, a tuck up behind the chest. Ribs easy to feel under a thin cover. The coat hides fat, so use your hands. A lean Shepherd has better hips, a better back and a longer life. Ask your vet to score body condition out of nine; four or five is where you want to be.

How much, and how often

Measure every meal. Two or three smaller meals a day for adults rather than one large one: gentler on the gut and lower bloat risk. A slow bowl or a snuffle mat. No hard exercise for an hour before and after eating. Treats out of the daily allowance, under ten per cent. The packet's guide is a starting point; adjust monthly by the waist.

The sensitive gut

Loose stools, wind, gurgling, occasional vomiting: common in the breed. Change foods slowly, over a week or more. Avoid table scraps and rich treats. Many Shepherds do well on a consistent, good-quality food with a single protein and added fibre; some need a vet-prescribed gastro diet. If loose stools are chronic, don't keep switching foods; test:

• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). The pancreas stops making digestive enzymes. Weight loss despite a huge appetite, greasy pale bulky stools, a dull coat. Shepherds are the poster breed. A blood test diagnoses it; enzyme powder on the food manages it well.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Chronic diarrhoea, vomiting, weight loss. Diagnosed by exclusion and sometimes biopsy; managed with diet and medication.
• Perianal fistulas. Painful sores around the bottom, a breed hallmark. Licking the bottom, straining, a smell. Vet promptly; early treatment works better.

Bloat

Gastric dilatation-volvulus: the stomach fills with gas and twists. Deep-chested breeds, Shepherds very much included, are at real risk, and it is more common in older dogs, anxious dogs, and dogs fed one large meal or exercised around food.

Signs: a swollen, drum-tight belly; retching or trying to vomit without bringing anything up; restlessness, pacing, drooling; then weakness, pale gums and collapse. This kills within hours. It is a race to the nearest vet, and ringing ahead saves minutes.

Lowering the risk: two or three meals a day, a slow bowl, no exercise for an hour either side of meals, no gulping water after exercise, and for high-risk dogs a preventive gastropexy, which tacks the stomach in place and is often done at neutering. Ask your vet whether it makes sense for your dog.

The honest summary

Measure, split the meals, slow the eating, keep exercise away from food, and test rather than guess when the gut misbehaves. Do that, and the two things that worry Shepherd owners most stay manageable. The health by age guide covers when each is most likely.