Does Your German Shepherd Dog Eat Grass?

Grass Eating Habit in German Shepherds

If your German Shepherd Dog is eating grass, he is certainly not the only dog on the Earth that exhibits such strange behavior. There are many schools of thoughts and theories as to why a German Shepherd Dog eat grass, but there’s no proven and confirmed conclusion as to why they eat grass. Dogs, irrespective of breed, gender and age eat grass at some point of time.

Veterinary researchers have been pounding on the mystery of dogs eating grass. Dr. Benjamin Hart, DVM, PhD, has studying on animal behavior for over 50 years and according to him one of the questions he is hit with most frequently from dog owners is: “Why does my dog eat grass?” Researchers have carried out study on the dogs eating grass. A number of 49 dogs were exposed to vegetation and grassland. It was observed that around 39 out of 49 dogs had consumed plants at some point of time. It noticed that the grass was preferred more than other plants by most of the dogs. Now the question is: Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

This behavior that is characterized by knowingly eating things by a species that are not their food is called “Pica”. If your German shepherd Dog or any other dog or mongrel is eating grass, this is a kind of pica, a behavior that is not necessarily fatal or harmful, as long as you garden is free from poisonous pants along with the grass that your dog can accidentally ingest.

There are different reasons but none of them have been scientifically proven and confirmed. Some the probable reasons that many canine experts have laid down are as follows:

Settling their stomach: Those there in the veterinary profession would clearly say that your GSD eats grass because he has a natural instinct to use grass as a medicinal herb, whenever they feel irritation or ache inside their stomach. According to some people (especially those directly or indirectly related the veterinary profession) believe that dogs – irrespective of breed – eat grass and then vomit in order to settle their stomach.

Controversy: Many dogs, most of the times, do not vomit after eating grass. This goes a long way to prove that grass is not used by the dogs to vomit in order to settle their stomach. Moreover, in a survey it has been noticed that grass eating and vomit do not always go together… nor grass eating and illness are always associated. In the study of clients and veterinary students it was observed that 18% of the clients’ dogs that ate grass vomited after eating. On the other hand, 9% of the dogs owned by the veterinary-students showed some symptoms of illness before eating grass.

Nutritional deficiency: Some experts consider that dogs eat grass because of nutritional deficiency in their regular diet. Since dogs are not purely carnivorous they needs plant fibers as a part of their diet. Some dogs eat grass probably because their food doesn’t meet their requirement of veg nutrition which they try to compensate by eating grass.

Controversy: Many dogs that are fed on purely non-commercial food, without any vegetables also eat grass. Home made food usually consist of meat, eggs, fruits, veggies etc. that are quite nutritious. Many dogs that are give enough of vegetables of different types also eat grass. Moreover, if it’s a question of nutritional benefits, there wouldn’t have any reason for some dogs to vomit after eating grass.

Natural instinct: Grass eating habit of dogs is a natural instinct. Their ancestors used to eat small amount of grass and plants nutrients as a part of their natural diet indirectly by eating the intestines of herbivorous prey for instance deer, goat, sheep etc. This is considered as the instinctual craving for the roughage or minerals or fiber present in the vegetation

They love to eat grass: Some canine experts conclude that dogs love to eat grass because they like the taste. Grass and plants or weeds contains a vegetable sap that is a sometimes tastes sweet. Your German Shepherds probably like eating grass because of the taste.

We do not have any solid explanation as to why dogs eat grass. There are different school of thought and theoretical statements and believes. Researchers have been burning their midnight oil to come up to a rock solid reason for dogs’ grass eating habits. Now the question is: Is there anything to be worried about? Dog’s grass eating habit doesn’t always cause for alarm. Dogs usually do not eat grass excessively. If you notice your GSD eating grass in excessive quantity you should consult your vet instantly. Grass eating by dogs is something not to be worried about as long as your lawn is not treated with poisonous substances like fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or any other chemical components.

Important Related Read: Herbal Cure For Dogs

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Hydrotherapy Treatment for GSD

Since the ancient times hydrotherapy is considered as an effective treatment for human beings. Documentations have proved that several attempts had been made to formalize the practice of hydrotherapy as a treatment during 18th century.

Until recent times canine experts did not spare thoughts over hydrotherapy as an effective treatment for a number of conditions in dogs especially in the medium to large dogs such German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweillers, Mastiffs etc. Certain conditions in canines - especially in GSD may worsen or may show almost no improvement with exercises that was once considered to be useful. As a good alternative to general treatment through medicines and exercises, "hydrotherapy" is now considered as one of the most effective treatment of such conditions like hip and/or elbow displasia, Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD), Chronic Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy (CDRM) etc. Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), which is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs especially found in medium to large breeds can be effectively treated by hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy treatment has also proved to be quite effective in small breed of dogs having Luxating Patella or floating kneecaps. Modern veterinary science also recommends hydrotherapy treatment to dogs having ligament injuries, obesity problems and any other mobility issues. Significant development can be noticed with this treatment method by employing a professional canine hydro therapist.

Veterinarians and experts considers that swimming or moving in water has favorable therapeutic effects in pre and post surgical rehabilitation, increasing body awareness, developing mental and physical balance and last but not the least, for maintaining general fitness and developing muscle tone.

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How I Brought Rechie Back To Main Stream of Life After The Severe Psychological Trauma

Obese German Shepherd... This is a topic that has been discussed too frequently among the GSD enthusiasts all around the Internet. The problems of overweight is too common and unfortunately obesity has hit a few breeds more than the others, and German Shepherd is one of them.

Problem of obesity in a medium sized breed like GSD is often not identified and understood by the owners. The irony is that when a owner - if a newbie or if not much experienced, sees his dog he would often claim that his dog is too thin, and needs to gain weight. Sadly, the consequence is overfeeding that often leads to deformed structure, impaired digestive system, abnormal liver function, weight gain etc. You can click through this link - offering information about Food and Nutrition for German Shepherds... most important to know for an owner is science of Food and Nutrition For German Shepherd.


Relevant read:  How to care for your German Shepherd puppy



Unfortunately not much has been discussed about why a German Shepherd may grow skinny - or rather too skinny and doesn't recover or recover very slowly. I want to share some very unique experience - an incidence that had brought wrinkles in my forehead!


January 18, 2015, 5:46 AM - My Rex, my boy, my friend who taught me how to love a dog and how to be loved by a dog, left his last breath, breaking our hearts into pieces. The very next day of Rex's unfortunate demise, Rechie (Rex's Daughter) my darling girl stopped all her play. She ceased to eat, bark and move. What worried me most was that Rechie even stopped sleeping. She used to keep her eyes opened all through night. In just as fewer as only 10 days she seemed to have forgotten all her normal behavior, and she carried herself in a way as if we were all new to her. Her blank look confused all of us, including the couple of best vets whom I visited. The main medical concern was that her body mass index (BMI) had rapidly fallen to an alarming level.

Believe it or not... A few days later her condition went down to even worse than this

I am sure I am not the only dog owner to face this challenge. I talked to several vets and none of them have effectively diagnosed the problem. I admit that that it was beyond my imagination that a sudden emotional and psychological trauma could have such a deep impact on her health. I started analyzing the overall situations and series of incidences that had happened.


Finally, the condition went out of gear. Rechie stopped lifting her head and looking at her pack members (Reva - her mom and anybody in my family) who came near her. She showed no response to touch, and gave a blank look, as if she didn't know anybody.  


How did I manage to bring her to the main stream of life?

The depth of grief is really not possible to measure. But I could understand that Rechie was severely impacted by the sudden and permanent loss of her most beloved partner, with whom she used to share her water bowl, toys, and personal times while reposing in her hall and playing in the yard. The trauma, for her, was overwhelmed by the suddenness of bereavement.

No vet here was eager to focus on this problem; they were NOT eager to consider her 'grief' as the root to other problems, although they said that she was in deep psychological trauma. They were rather more keen on prescribing liver extracts, appetizers, multi-vitamins and multi-minerals etc... all of which failed one after the other! 

I had left with no other option but to fight that war alone!

Here's my steps to bring Rechie back to main stream of life from the deep slump... 


My first step was to combat grief! I had no other options opened, but to opt for homeopathic treatment. I am NOT a vet though... I admit that I have scarcely sufficient or almost no knowledge of veterinary science.

Ignatia 200 (5ml/g) [Ignatius Amara]
Ignatia amara was a life saving medicine for Rechie. Ignatia was given as a grief remedy mainly, but this medicine also has a remedial effect on headaches, nervousness, insomnia , heart palpitations, gas, indigestion and weakness, all of which were my concerns.

I administered 5 globules of Ignatia, three times a day. On the 4th day, I could notice a slight betterment in her behavior. Rechie started looking at us, when called. On the 5th day she wanted to get us, although she needed help to rise, as she was too week to stand by her own. On the 6th day she had a biscuit... not a full one though.   

Fortunately Ignatia amara seemed to have helped Rechie successfully fight the trauma. I continued Ignatia 200 for several days and the condition went on improving. But there were other problems, making the situations more complicated.

Attention Patience and Love 
Extremely long periods of grieving aren’t often seen in dogs. But recovery may not be always too fast. It took almost over half a month for Rechie to come out of such a life threatening trauma. In such a situation an anguished pet needs additional attention, extra love and understanding to help him/ her cope.

Rechie gradually seemed to be recovering. Although apparently she was almost out of the trauma, but with more close observation I could still find a grieving heart. However, the depth of grief wasn't as much as the initial days. Ignatia could not be the only remedial process... she was given lavish love and company.  

I Introduced Rechie To Thoughtful Play 
This was immensely important as an integral part of the therapy & fortunately it turned out to be quite effective. The motive was to put light physical and psychological exercise. I started out with one of her favorite toys.

So what is that game and why I call it a thoughtful play? Simple... I wanted her to do some task through this play, and while doing so she was required to use her brain and thoughts. Her favorite toy (not just anything she liked) was chosen because she would do work to get it. The game is too simple... It's playing fetch. But this time I consciously threw it behind things like pile of leaves, branches of trees etc. so that she was required find it from the hidings, grab it and fetch it to me. An easy and simple thought stimulating game was really effective.

I made sure that she did not over exercise, as she was almost without food for several days. Initially 5 minutes exercise for her was more than enough.

It was really unimaginable that a sudden traumatic shock that the loss of a beloved pack member could bring to a dog. I faced a serious challenge saving Rechie and bringing her back to the main stream of life. It all required me to think from a dog's perspective, a make some constant and close observations to her behavior, even after she was apparently recovered.


There were some other serious problems

For Rechie the trauma was accompanied with several other problems that were really serious matter of concern. Among the other problems, the most concerning were:
 

Vomiting: Initially she had stopped eating completely and could not bear the sight and smell of food. When she started nibbling food, she could not eat more than just one-fourth a biscuit. And as soon as she ate she would puke out immediately. She was dehydrating fast, although she had intense thirst. She used to drink huge and puked instantly.

A Homeopathic approach was again found to be too helpful.

Arsenicum Album
Arsenicum Album 30, worked like magic! Being one of the most effective liver cleanser, Arsenic Alb. helped a lot not only by stopping vomiting, but also by controlling the water consumption and supporting the liver function. By administering 3 times a day I got brilliant results.  

Arsenicum Album works effectively to combat vomiting, restless anxiousness, indigestion, heartburn, swallowing difficulties, nausea and intense thirst. For animals it works great against skin eruptions, itchy, dry and flaky. For canines Arsenic Album is very effective in specific complicated conditions like toxicity due to drug, toxicity from vaccination, food poisoning. Arsenic Alb. is also very effective against toxins in kidney or liver.

Please Note: Arsenic Album 30 in a dose of thrice a day may also be effective in puppies with Parvo. 

Now that the vomiting was effectively checked, she had to be fed somehow, while she still could not bear the sight and smell of food. Fortunately, she did not refuse biscuits, and I took this chance; I gave her 7-8 biscuits and she slowly ate up all. I tried two more and she ate them too... drank some water. I could notice her drinking tendency quite normal. So that was her dinner for the night. I continued with Arsenic Album 30.

The next morning she tried to get up but she fell. She was helped to walk out to urinate.

She still continued refusing her food in the next morning (served with chicken meat and liver without bones). She fortunately ate a few biscuits again - a few more than the previous night!

A total loss of appetite (Anorexia) was again managed with the help of Homeopathic medicines


Gentiana lutea L and Hydrastis Canadensis (both Mother tincture): Both these medicines have proved to be highly effective against GI complaints, including lack of appetite, poor digestion and vomiting. To be specific Gentiana L and Hydrastis-Can work in slightly different indications.

While Gentiana L acts as a tonic to increase appetite in patients with anorexia and treats gastrointestinal dysfunctions, nausea, abdominal discomfort, Hydrastis Canadensis, on the other hand  has an immensely marked action on liver. It also works against poor digestion, feeble muscular power and obstinate constipation. Hydrastis also works against cancer and cancerous state.


NOTE: Why Hydrastis? Rechie, along with all this problems suddenly start showing symptoms of Pyometra (Uterine Infection) characterized by whitish vaginal discharge, accompanied with increased amount of water intake. I guess this was also a result of the psychological imbalance that Rechie was suffering from. Yes she's a middle aged girl and the chance of occurrence of Pyometra was too common for her at that age. But the severity of the trauma, in her case, resulted a hormonal abnormality, which again is a common cause of uterine discharge that eventually leads of cancer.  I took an additional support of Pulsatilla... Read Out How I Took Rechie Out of This Danger of Pyometra Too. 

Hydrastis Canadensis effectively mitigates of the chance of developing cancer and lessening its danger.


 Therefore for me Hydrastis Canadensis worked as a miracle drug, with favorable effects for several conditions - hepatic dysfunction, digestive dysfunction, poor musculations and chances of uterine cancer.  I continued Hydrastis for four months thrice daily before meals and gradually decreasing the frequency to twice daily before meals. I continued administering 10 drops each time. At the end of third month I noticed the gastrointestinal problems that accompanied weight loss was much in control. However I was continuing Arsenic Album simultaneously. 


Arsenic Album 30 Followed by Arsenic Album 200: Arsenicum being a common and effective remedy for both acute and chronic problems is indicated for stomach problems including sever indigestion, heartburn with burning, difficulty swallowing with nausea & intense thirst accompanied with vomiting and diarrhea. Rechie's specific problems - (failing to bear the sight or smell of food, feeling of great thirst; drinking much,  retching and vomiting after eating or drinking, anxiety in pit of stomach, nausea and dizziness, accompanied with small, offensive, dark stool) were all taken care of by Arsenic Alb. The feeling of great exhaustion after the slightest exertion was also noticed to be mitigated gradually.

Arsenicum album has proved to be effective for patients who are suffering from a sort of fear and nervousness owing to some kind of traumatic experience of the patient or may be owing to certain situations that have transformed the nature the patient into more than usually sensitive. Reichie's situation was much similar, owing to the sudden expiration of her closest pack mate - her dad, Rex.

Dosage that I followed for Arsenic Alb: Initially I started with Arsenic Alb 30, administering thrice daily prior to meals. I continued this dose for on month, followed by administering the same potency twice daily prior to meals for the next month. Then I changed the potency and frequency from 30 twice daily before meals to Arsenic Alb 200, administering thrice a week before meal. Then I reduced it to administering potency 200 twice a week. 


Note of caution: It can be used in different potencies -  6x, 30, 200. Arsenic Alb should be avoided for pregnant and lactating females. The dose of 6 to 200c may be safe if taken in intermittent (non-daily) by adult. Strictly avoid this remedy in puppies.

Other indications: Arsenic Alb is also indicated for itching, burning, swelling, skin eruptions. Dry and scaly skin problems can also be treated.
    

By the 4th months Rechie started showing good improvement and the time required for her to digest the food was not as prolonged as it was. I think I should have started off with my homeopathic formula instead of constantly dropping by the local vets who did not have time to spare to think deep to treat the problems at their root. However, I would still not encourage my readers to avoid going to vets and try treating their dogs at home. I had no other option but to take things all in my own hands. Even for treating the symptoms of pyometra, one of the vets suggested surgery to be the only single remedy. The second vet stated that dogs usually end up with uterine cancer if not treated surgically. Rechie's health condition was too feeble to survive the surgery. Again therefore I was left with no other option opened to take things in my hand. Read Out How I Took Rechie Out of This Danger of Pyometra Too.      

Here are some current pics (shot today - Monday, august 17, 2015) of Rehie. She is still little skinny, but recovering fast. Lord bless her!

AND Finally This... 

 

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How I treated Symptoms of Pyometra Without Surgery

This post is linked to the other post : How I Brought Rechie Back To Main Stream of Life After The Severe Psychological Trauma. "How I Brought Rechie Back To Main Stream of Life After The Severe Psychological Trauma" was an article written to help readers looking for a way to bring out their dogs from sever trauma followed by the sudden loss of a pack member. The impact of the trauma was so sever that it resulted a hormonal abnormality, which was a cause of uterine discharge (white, thick and smelly like puss), accompanied with increase in water intake and licking her vulva more frequently and lick time stayed more than normal. I called up one of the reputed vets here, although already some of them (including him) had failed to take her out of the severe mental trauma that she was suffering from. According to him it was an advanced stage of pyometra and surgery was the only way out to save her life... and for that I would be charged some X amount of money, he added. He already knew about her fragile health and I was pretty much sure that Rechie wasn't in a state to survive the ovariohysterectomy.

With no help from my vets I hadn't had any option but to take things in my own hands again this time. Her treatment for GI dysfunction and trauma was already on and I could not get any professional assistance of a vet. You can read here how I managed to bring Rechie out of the mental trauma due to the loss of her most beloved pack member.

This time with the symptoms of Pyometra I had to bank upon homeopathy again - Pulsatilla

How I moved ahead to treat Pulsatilla

I initiated with 10 drops of Pulsetilla 30 twice daily before meals. I could not find any improvement in the first day, although it was expected. The second day was all the same. Fortunately in the third day I noticed some fruitful improvement, with intensity of the discharge was much gone. I continued with the same dosage for a week more. Surprisingly the discharge was effectively stopped. Licking was stopped and intensity of thirst was decreased. I continued Pulsatilla 30 for for another couple of weeks decreasing the frequency to once per day.

After a month I switched off to Pulsatilla 200, being administered once a week and continued this for next one month, followed by administering it once in a fortnight. I continued giving Pulsatilla 200 once in every 15 days for almost a month and the stopped as the problem was no more noticed. I am not planning to repeat again until the symptoms recur.

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Herbal Cure For Dogs

Herbal Treatment and Remedies for Your Dog...
 

Despite the fact that most veterinarian practitioners prefer chemical medicines as treatment for sick animals, certain herbs have also been found to have worked immensely good on specific conditions in animals. Medicinal herbs and their different parts have potentially good effects on canine health - specifically on certain conditions. However, it is important to consider several factors (current health condition, severity of the condition, food habits etc.) while treating a condition for your dog. There are thousands of medicinal herbs that have been documented to treat human ailments, but not all of them are effective and safe for dogs. Studies have shown that dog's habit of eating grass is nothing wrong... rather a healthy habit; however it is still not clear why actually they eat grass. While some says that dogs have instinctual craving for the components of specific types of grass, the other believe that dogs eat grass to recoup their nutritional deficiency in their regular diet. Researchers have been working to unearth the secret of this behavior. Herbal treatment have been quite effective for dogs, but herbs should be used mostly externally unless specifically advised to administer internally as food. While administering externally you may use herbal products fresh or dehydrated and may be used as ointments, compresses, poultices etc. Before using any herbal products we suggest you consulting a registered vet or a herbal medicine practitioner.

Here are a few herbs and parts that are beneficial for dogs' health:
 
Aloe vera The aloe vera is a fragile and luscious herb that grows best in tropical type of weather. Aloe Vera is particularly effective to comfort dermal inflammation due to insect bite, minor to medium burns, skin sores like Acral lick granulomas, which is really difficult to treat. Most interestingly this herb has astringent flavor, which is why dogs usually do not lick it when applied on the wound. Owing to its anti-bacterial properties, Aloe Vera gell can be used on cuts and surgeries.

Aloe vera possesses anti-bacterial characteristics and hence can be used during surgeries to induce the curative process. Another advantage of aloe vera is that when it is applied externally on animals, they will refrain from licking that part of the body owing to the herb's astringent flavor.Aloe Vera is natural a natural pain and itch reliever. Aloe Vera can be administered interlally in very small quantity as laxative. However, the yellow sap that comes out from Aloe known as aloin is harmful for dogs.

Ginger Ginger alleviates nausea. If you dog is suffering from carsickness (motion sickness), you can administer him a capsule enclosing powdered or crushed/grated ginger at least half an hour before starting the journey. Ginger in small quantity is also effective in healing indigestion and can comfort the dog. Ginger is quite effective in preventing cardiac disease, colitis, bronchitis, arthritis and loss of appetite in dogs. Ginger helps control vomiting due to indigestion. If your dog is going through chemotherapy as a part of cancer treatment ginger can be used in small quantity to prevent vomiting tendencies. however, too much of ginger will prove to be harmful for your dog. If administered more than needed it may cause digestive, heartburn, diarrhea, belching, and even bloat.

Hawthorn Hawthorn effectively repairs heart muscles and is a very good medication for dogs having cardiovascular ailments and for dogs that have suffered a congestive heart failure. Hawthorn promotes a healthy circulatory system, controls blood pressure and lower arrhythmia (irregular heart beats).

Parsley Parsley is a good dietary supplement for dogs. It is effective controls cancerous growths. Parsley also helps to promote proper functioning of all organs - especially liver functioning. This medicinal herb has prove to be effective in cleansing the blood stream by helping flushing off the body's toxin. If your dog is having a bad breath, parsley will help eliminating the bad odor. All these properties of parsley make the herb an ideal .

Fennel Seeds Fennel's ability to sooth the digestive tract and helps digestion makes it a choice for many herbalists to treat gastric problems and digestive tract irritation, flatulence or colic not only in human, but also in dogs and cats. With a flavor very different from mint many dogs like the taste of fennel tea. Although a very safe herb, it is suggested not to administer fennel tea or seeds to pregnant or lactating dogs. The volatile oils in fennel may cause photosensitive dermatitis dogs and cats, but such cases are very rare.

Burdock (Arctium lappa) Burdock Arctium lappa falls in the sunflower family that acts as an effective and natural remedy for hepatic ailment (liver problems). Burdock is rich in minerals that are essential for a dog to grow and keep healthy, like silicon, phosphorous, iron, calcium, inulin, thiamine and riboflavin. Apart from these Burdock is also a very rich source of Vitamin B2. This herb acts as an effective blood purifier for dogs having the ability to flush out toxins from the system.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Calendula falls under the Asteraceae family and has been highly admired by herbalists for its potential effectiveness not only for healing wounds, but a wide range of medicinal uses. Calendula works like magic for restricting infection and infected wounds. This herb can be used for healing minor to medium skin infection, lesions, minor to deep cuts, insect stings and even for healing minor burn injuries. Celendula keeps keeping your skin of your old or ill dog in proper tone. Even for atopic environmental skin allergies in dogs that secrete white fluids with bald patches, calendula lotion or ointment is a great solution.

Coltsfoot This is another medicinal herb that can be used by dog owners as cough dispeller. Coltsfoot - that are abundantly found all through England, has been an effective remedy for cough as it helps to get rid of phlegm. Coltsfoot also helps in controlling spams, kennel cough, and distressed breath. However, coltsfoot contain alkaloids that may be harmful for dogs. It is important to consult a herbalist before you give coltsfoot to your dog.

Starthorn Starthorn is a stout herb with thorns. Juice of starthorn leaves are extremely helpful if your dog is suffering from anemia. The juice is highly effective in treating diarrhoea, dysentery, urinary discharges, inflammations, constipation, anuria and cough; also applied for gleet, lumbago and pains in the joints. Dogs suffering from biliousness (excess secretion of bile) characterized by gastric distress should be given starthorn leaves juice continuously. If your dog is undergoing treatment for urinary tract stones or kidney stone then starthorn leaves juice will enhance the recovery process. If your dog hasn't been suffering from such problems, then administering this starthorn leaves juice will prevent your dog from developing such disorders. All you need is to make a cup of juice with 6 to 10 leaves and mix it with chicken/ beef broth.

Papaya leaves extract Easily available, fresh papaya leaves extract aids digestion in dogs, like humans. Not much research have been made yet regarding papaya leaves for dogs, but researchers have proved that papaya leaf tea has anti-cancer effects too.

Herbal treatments are mostly exercised to enhance the proper functioning of the body. It is not recommended to administer the herbs or herbal tonics in high volumes. Most importantly long term treatment is suggested for a proper cure. Many dogs avoid eating the herbs and herbal tonic directly. In such cases tablets made from herbs is the best option. It is important to know which herbs should not be ingested. Herbs that are not edible should not be given to your dog with or as food. However not all herbs that can be externally applied can be used for external use, because your dog can lick it. This page consist of names of herbs only that are not toxic to dogs if ingested.

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Fat is a Four Legged Issue And GSD is No Exception

Fat is a four legged issue

Recent research* shows that 50% of domestic dogs are now overweight in the US and the UK and with obesity being the single biggest cause of health problems in dogs, UK based pet insurance company Bought By Many recently challenged a group of German Shepherd dog owners to reveal all about their pets’ diet and exercise habits in an attempt to answer the question:

‘Are we killing our dogs with kindness (and cake?)’

Any proud pet owner would say they would go to whatever lengths they could to look after their pet and in recent years the health and well-being of our pets has become a booming business with dog walkers, dog groomers, and dog psychologists all becoming a growing breed.

Despite this, we are hearing more and more about the growing problem of dog obesity with a recent study showing dogs as heavy as 9 stones in weight (126 lb or 57 kilos), similar to a fully grown female human.**

No dog lover wants to think that they may be the cause of ill health in their dog but we all know how easy it is to be in denial... the plump person who swears it’s caused by their ‘glands’; the dieter who secretly scoffs a packet of crisps in the car; the couch potato who never gets round to that much-needed jog.... is our love for our dogs meaning that we are pampering them too much, letting them fall into bad habits just like us humans and ignoring the health dangers?

The good news is that the survey showed that ‘diet and exercise’ were almost universally recognised by the German Shepherd dog owners questioned as the most important factors in the health and well-being of our pets – and indeed they are!

Unfortunately though, when it comes to putting theory into practise, we don’t always live up to our own ideals – in fact quite often, our bark is stronger than our bite...

80% of German Shepherd dog owners questioned pride themselves in putting a lot of effort into getting the right diet & exercise for their pet, yet despite that 38% said that the single biggest improvement they could make to their dog’s health was more exercise or cutting down ‘bad’ foods. And when it comes to food it seems we may be in danger of turning our pets into plump pooches! 30% of owners admitted to feeding their dog more than the recommended twice a day with 7% stuffing food down their dogs’ mouths 4 or more times a day.

We all have good intentions. The main diet staples are prepared dog food and fresh meat and fish, but our love for our dogs means that 15% of dogs gorge on leftovers from the family meal every day on top of their normal meals and a whopping 40% do this at least once a week. What’s more, our dogs are becoming comfort eaters. Treats figure highly on the menu, with 54% of those surveyed having tucked in to the British favourite roast dinner in the last month while an amazing 9% were treated to the famous British dish fish and chips!

Of course, as long as your dog is getting plenty of exercise then maybe they deserve those treats, right? Well, yes but unfortunately we don’t always walk the walk when it comes to exercise. A quarter of respondents admit to walking their dog for only 30 minutes or less a day and despite this lack of exercise nearly three quarters would never employ a dog walker.

So rather than being famous as a nation of dog lovers is the UK actually a nation of dog feeders? Is it inevitable that our pets, like so many humans in the western world, are set to expand their waistlines?

The good news for the German Shepherd dog owners surveyed is that only 11% of their dogs are currently showing signs of being overweight and indeed studies have shown that luckily German Shepherd dogs are less naturally susceptible to obesity than other breeds such as Labradors and Cocker Spaniels. However, with 25% of pets in the survey having suffered from joint problems and insufficient diet and exercise for a significant proportion of dogs, the time bomb could be ticking and we could be storing up health problems for the future.

Our dogs’ metabolic rate drops as they age with neutering being another significant cause of lower calorific needs. In fact if a dog is neutered or older it may need as many as 20% fewer calories per day. So if it is still eating the same portion sizes as it did as a puppy then you can be sure that excess weight will follow.

Vets recommend a simple fat test – reminiscent of the ‘can you pinch an inch?’ UK TV campaign of the eighties. Simply feel for your dog’s ribs – they should be easily visible. If they are not and you need to prod harder, your dog is carrying excess fat.

Cuddly of course can be cute and nobody wants to deprive their beloved pet but it’s worth remembering that obesity is the number one nutritional disease affecting pets today. Its relation to arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and decreased life span make it a serious medical condition.

With rising obesity and vet fees having doubled on average over the last 10years, regular health checks are a must. With 9% of respondents admitting their dog would benefit from more regular health checks and 40% saying they do not have pet insurance, this may be another reason why obesity issues are not being spotted earlier.

Studies have shown that most dogs need pet insurance in the first 3 years of their lives, yet most owners don’t take pet insurance out until after that, incurring extra cost by paying for vet fees that they could have been insured against. With 96% of people expecting vet fees to increase further, there has never been a better time to take out pet insurance.

The good news for German Shepherd dog owners is that a few small changes will go a long way – investing in the right amount of good quality food, ditching the fish and chips, making time or allocating money to dog walkers for proper exercise and making sure you have insurance in place for regular health checks are the main things you need.

Studies have also shown that a dog owner's lifestyle and own body condition have a significant impact on those of their pets too, so the message is clear – we all can benefit from an exercise and diet buddy, so team up with your number 1 best friend and get in shape today.

Author Biography

This researched article has been contributed by the UK's top pet insurance company.

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Additional Notes

*Sources: Association for Pet Obesity Prevention 2008 states 44% of dogs overweight; Liverpool University study shows an increase from 35% to 50% in UK in last 4 years (i.e. 4m dogs). Higher than France (39%) or Australia (31%)

**Source: UK Sunday Times 17/8/2014.

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