"What should I feed my Weimaraner?" is a common question heard by Wolf Creek volunteers. As feeding our Weimaraners constitutes one of our largest expenses and since dogs come to us having been fed all different types of food, we do have some experience with selecting a good food for our dogs. It is worth noting that Wolf Creek Weimaraner Rescue does not have any exclusive relationship with a particular food manufacturer. We are thankful for the support of several manufacturers.

Many of the Weimaraners that have entered our program have sensitive stomachs and we have found that investing a little more money in a premium food tends to decrease our overall healthcare expenses and improve the dogs' general health. Feeding a high-quality food can provide some very immediate and noticeable results. Simply by changing foods, we have seen dogs' coats drastically improve, significantly decreased skin irritation and itching, and significant reduction of GI upset including a reduction in diarrhea and vomiting. It is also the case that there is not one food product in the marketplace that will work for every dog. Some of our Weimaraners with hypersensitivity to some food products actually develop additional sensitivities over time. We have seen dogs start out great with a particular brand of food but develop a sensitivity to one of the components in that food and have to change brands entirely. While uncommon, that does happen. If your dog does begin to show signs of increased GI upset, we encourage you to consult with your vet as there could be other underlying causes that require medical treatment. It is also worth noting that seemingly sudden sensitivity to a particular food does not necessarily mean that the manufacturer has modified the ingredients in the food, but is worth inquiring about. Food sensitivities can be difficult to pinpoint, so any information that can help identify what specifically the dog's stomach can not tolerate is beneficial.

Looking at your pet's health long-term, nutrition plays a vital role. Providing the necessary trace elements and a balanced diet can keep your Weimaraner at a healthy weight, reduce the chances for chronic diseases like diabetes and arthritis, and even keep your dog's vision healthy as he or she reaches adulthood and becomes a senior pet. Again, before making any changes in your pet's diet, we encourage you to discuss nutrition with your vet. Pets with certain diseases like diabetes and renal failure generally require prescription diets that are dramatically different than commercially-available over-the-counter diets.

So what do we recommend feeding your Weimaraner? Unfortunately there's no easy answer to the question of what food is best for Weimaraners. We can tell you that the vast majority of our dogs have had excellent results with Canidae products. Especially in dogs with sensitive stomachs and some skin conditions, we have seen consistently good results with Canidae. The company is committed to quality and uses consistent manufacturing processes and ingredients. Representatives from the company are more than willing to answer any questions about their products and offer excellent customer service. Some pet owners find that a raw diet works well for their dog. There are several manufacturers of balanced, easy-to-feed raw diets. Some of our dogs have had good results with Stella & Chewy's products. There are many good pet food products available. To help narrow the field, we have only mentioned two that have shown very good results. Typically, retailers that carry the products mentioned in this article will have several high-quality products to choose from. A good knowledgeable retailer can provide you with more side-to-side comparisons and work with you to select a food that works well for your pet.

Again, any time you consider modifying your pet's diet, we encourage you to discuss with your vet first. Because nutrition is such an important component of your pet's health, your vet should be willing to discuss general information with you openly and not insist upon feeding your pet the brand that is available in his or her office, unless your pet has a special dietary requirement that necessitates a prescription diet. Most of today's high-quality foods are well-balanced and your pet should not need to frequently change diets. Unnecessarily changing diets can actually cause more problems than it solves! If you do decide to change your pet's diet, remember to gradually make the change. Start by feeding your pet 75% of their old food and 25% new food. After several days of no stomach upset, increase to a 50/50 mixture and see how your pet responds. Wait a few more days and change the mix to 75% new and 25% old. After several more days at this ratio, if your pet shows no signs of stomach upset, it should be fine to entirely phase out the old food.

Most importantly, find the right product for your pet. Every Weimaraner is different, so it is impossible to say with certainty what the best food for your dog is. Do your research, look for quality and consistency, and remember that too much of a good thing is a bad thing! Just as important as selecting the right food is feeding the right quantity to keep your Weimaraner at its ideal weight.