The Best Dog Food for Weimaraners in 2022

Best Dog Food for Weimaraners Buying Guide

Weimaraners are known for their energy and alertness, two of the most important qualities of a gun dog or a hunting dog. Their classification as an all-purpose gun dog implies that they need to have exceptional scent- and visual- tracking capabilities. They also need to have exceptional stamina, agility, and speed to run after game. Their agility and intelligence are also needed for flushing game out of their respective hideouts. And lastly, they need to have gentle jaws to pick up game without crushing it in their mouths. With all of these requirements for a true-blue all-around gun dog, it is imperative that you give only the best dog food for them.

Nutritional Needs of Weimaraners

On a more general sense, the nutritional requirements of Weimaraners are not really that different from any other dog. However, when we talk about the details, there are certain areas that are quite specific to Weimaraners especially if you have one that is bred specifically for hunting. But if you have a dog that is more of a pet than a working dog, then its nutrient requirements may differ. Here are the nutritional needs of Weimaraners.

• High-quality animal proteins

Like any dog, the Weimaraner requires exceptionally high-quality proteins. And while some plant foods also provide protein, these often come with incomplete amino acids which are crucial building blocks to many tissues in the dog’s body. As such, the principal ingredient of a high quality dog food for Weimaraners should be animal proteins. Barring any food sensitivities, chicken, beef, and pork are always excellent choices. If your pet has allergies, then novel animal proteins may have to be provided to help minimize hypersensitivity reactions. Turkey, buffalo, salmon, and other ‘unconventional’ animal-based foods provide exceptional animal-based high-quality proteins.

Proteins are essential in many processes. These help build and strengthen muscles that are necessary for Weimaraners that are especially bred for sport hunting as well as other activities that require muscle strength. Proteins are also important in the production of vital structural components of the cells and tissues as well as antibodies and other cells of the immune system. Proteins, amino acids in particular, are important in hormonal mechanisms as well. Providing high-quality animal-based proteins to your Weimaraner is important in ensuring optimum health.

• Calories

Calories are not really nutrients but are unit measures of energy released from food molecules. Since all food contain energy, it is important to watch where these calories are coming from. Fats provide the greatest concentration of energy per gram of fat, about 9 calories. On the other hand, both proteins and carbohydrates provide 4 calories each for every gram of food. That being said, the calories contained in a single gram of fat is more than the combined energy provided by carbs and proteins. As such, it is important to look for food that has most of its energy coming from proteins, moderate from carbs, and low from fats.

Energy is needed by your Weimaraner especially if it has a very active lifestyle. If you nurtured it to become more of a lapdog or a couch potato, then its calorie requirement should be reduced. Otherwise, you run the risk of developing obesity and its many associated complications including cardiovascular conditions. Weimaraners are especially prone to the development of tricuspid dysplasia. While this condition is congenital, diet can still play a role in its clinical manifestation.

• Minerals and vitamins

Calcium and phosphorus are vital for Weimaraners especially those that are involved in sports and high-impact activities. Even if your pet doesn’t participate in such activities, they are also prone to hip dysplasia and other problems of the musculoskeletal system. Providing them with enough calcium and phosphorus in their diets can help strengthen their bones and their articulations. This works well with glucosamine and chondroitin-enriched diets.

Vitamins C, E, and A are also important especially for their antioxidant properties. Weimaraners are known to be especially vulnerable to entropion and corneal dystrophy. Providing antioxidant vitamins and minerals as well as other substances can help reduce the incidence of such conditions in your dog.

• Joint-friendly substances

We said that Weimaraners are prone to hip dysplasia. The addition of pet joint supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin in the diet of your dog can help strengthen the joint apparatus, promote optimum range of motion, and facilitate flexibility and pain-free movement. Even dogs that are not that active can also benefit from these nutraceuticals by promoting optimum joint health. So even if they are already old your dog will still be able to move as efficiently as a young hound.

What is the Right Weimaraner Diet?

Having discussed the nutritional needs of Weimaraners, we can now focus on what constitutes the right diet for them.

• Moderate to high amounts of calories

The National Research Council of the National Academies provides guidance on the appropriate feeding of dogs, including Weimaraners. According to the organization, a typical Weimaraner adult that weighs about 70 pounds should receive a daily calorie intake of about 1,688 calories. If your dog happens to be spayed or neutered, then the amount of calories will be slightly lower. Pregnant and lactating dogs will require higher calories as well as Weimaraners that are used in moderate to high-intensity activities. The 1,688-calorie recommendation is only for an average-sized adult Weimaraner with an average level of activity. A true work dog – intense physical activities – will command 3,751 calories worth of food every single day. Juvenile Weimaraners that weigh about 40 pounds will require about 1233 calories each day.

Check out our review of High Calorie Dog Food.

• Moderate to high protein

Depending on the activity level of your Weimaraner you will need to give it moderate to high amounts of proteins, with the latter specifically geared for dogs that are bred for hunting and other physically demanding activities. For good measure, you can opt for a dog food that has a minimum crude protein content of 25 percent, if your pet is just the average hound. If it’s a real hunting dog, then you may want to give it a minimum of 30%.

• Low to moderate fat

A lot of pet parents are especially wary about fat in their dog’s diet. Don’t be. As long as the fat content doesn’t comprise more than 20% of your pet’s diet, it should be perfectly fine. Fats are needed to help in the production of hormones and other molecules in the dog’s body. It’s also important for healthier coats and skin.

Weimaraners Feeding on a Schedule

The calorie requirement we mentioned above is computed on a daily basis. However, instead of feeding your Weimaraner only once, it is generally recommended that you feed adult dogs twice a day to help minimize bloating and its dreaded complication – gastric torsion. For puppies below the age of 6 months, a thrice-a-day feeding schedule should be observed.

These recommendations are general, of course. That is why it is important to seek the advice of your veterinarian so that he can advise you on the exact amounts and frequency of feeding for your dog. Your vet will take into consideration your dog’s age, activity levels, any existing medical condition, and current life stage.

Ingredients to Look For and Some to Avoid

We really cannot help but overemphasize the need to look for dog food that contains high-quality, natural ingredients. Here are some of the ingredients that you have to look for and those that you have to avoid.

• Ingredients to look for

We mentioned above that animal-based proteins should be the first on the product’s list of ingredients. While we don’t have issues with using plant-based proteins, especially if you’re considering going vegetarian for your dog, these lack some amino acids that your pet will need to build important tissues and substances in its body.

Also important are vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, C, and E as well as calcium and phosphorus. These can help promote overall general health for your pet and can also work to prevent some of the health issues that are common in this breed of dog.

Equally important are nutraceuticals like chondroitin and glucosamine. If you can get one that has MSM then you should include this in your buying decision. The thing is that these substances can help in promoting and maintaining optimum functionality of your pet’s joints.

Essential fatty acids, especially the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA can help provide for a healthier immune system, not to mention healthier cardiovascular, nervous, and integumentary systems.

Look for those with prebiotics and probiotics, too. These can aid in more efficient digestion, minimizing problems associated with bloating, gastric torsion, and even food allergies. These also help strengthen the immune system.

Find out more about Probiotics for Dogs.

• Ingredients to avoid

Anything that is artificial should always be avoided. If you see BHT or even BHA and ethoxyquin in the dog food label, then you should scrap this dog food from your list. If your pet happens to be especially sensitive to certain types of gluten and cereal grains like wheat and corn, then avoid these ingredients as well.

Common Health Conditions in Weimaraner Dogs

Weimaraners are very tough and highly resilient sporting and gun dogs. They have muscular build and a really sturdy appearance. However, looks can be especially deceiving since this breed of dog is also known for the following health conditions.

• Bloating

All dogs that are deep-chested are more prone to the occurrence of bloating. While the condition itself can be benign, it can lead to a more serious, often life-threatening condition, called gastric torsion. This results in the inward twisting of the dog’s stomach. This cuts off blood circulation and emergency surgery is often the only way one can avert demise.

Here’s a detailed look at Sensitive Stomach Dog Food.

• Tricuspid dysplasia

The tricuspid valve is a gate-valve that is located between the upper and lower chambers of the right side of the heart. It is a congenital defect that is mostly seen in Weimaraner puppies as well as other breeds of dogs. The tissues that make up the valve don’t grow normally so they are not able to prevent the backflow of blood from the lower chamber and back into the upper chamber. This can lead to easy fatigability in affected dogs.

• Skin allergies

Weimaraners are also prone to skin allergies especially those brought about by ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas. Many of these are transmitted when dogs venture in the wild during hunting trips. In an effort to minimize the itching, they can scratch their skin causing secondary infections.

• Eye problems

This breed of dog is also known for developing eye problems such as entropion and retinal dysplasia. These are more genetic diseases causing the lower lid to fold inward and the formation of folds or rosettes in the retina of the dog. Retinal dysplasia can also be brought about by vitamin A deficiency and viral infections.

• Elbow and hip dysplasia

These mostly affects the joints of the elbows and hips, hence the name. What happens is that there is a failure in the normal growth and development of the various tissues that make up the joint capsule of these body parts.

• Hypothyroidism

Typical of middle-aged medium- and large-sized breeds of dogs, hypothyroidism is a condition that is characterized by hair loss, loss of muscle, sluggishness, cold intolerance, and very slow heart rate. The problem is that the thyroid gland is not producing thyroid hormones as efficiently as it used to.

Weimaraners are highly-trainable dogs that have been assisting hunters in their expeditions. They are highly adaptable and very friendly to kids, strangers, and even cats, too. And if you want to see your dog live its life to the fullest, then you can always start with dog food that is appropriate for Weimaraners.

Source:

1. A Feeding Guide For Weimaraners, Pets4Homes