What size should a cage be for this dog?

dog crate x large image

nerdyicepo

I recently adopted a 1 year old german shepherd and I want to make his arrival to his arrival to his new home to be as stress-free as possible so i'm planning ahead. How big should his cage be? I know he will fit in a large cage (36''L x 23''W) but it a bigger one necessarily? He wont be spending much time in it but i like to keep have it just in case. I want him to be comfortable. Please and thank you.

Answer
A full grown version of your dog should be able to comfotably stand, laydown, and turnaround in his kennel. I run a large gsd rescue,myself - an avg gsd needs a larve to extra large crate. Your 36*23 seems small to me.

My dog eats too fast, this is bad for them, how do I slow it down?

soccer_gir

My large dog (German Shepard mix) eats too fast, we feed her about 2 cups every morning, and she attacks the bowl and finishes in about 10-15 seconds. I've heard this can cause twisting of the stomach, a serious and sometimes deadly condition. How can I slow her down?

Answer
Yes, hun this can cause bloat! Bloat, otherwise known as Gastric Torton, is a condition is rapidly fatal in deep-chested dogs (like your German Shepard and my Saints and Newfs!), causing shock, coma, and death within 6-12 hours.

Here are the symptoms of bloat:

major anxiety
abdominal swelling after meals
gagging
whining
heavy salivating
pacing
dry vomiting
heavy panting
shallow breathing
restlessness
excessive heartbeat
weak pulse with off colored (blue, dark red, white) gums

Initially affected dogs show some of the symptoms above and are not interested in food or water. After 30-60 minutes the dog begins to appear swollen in its midsection due to accumulation of gas in the stomach than begin to pant heavily and breathing becomes rapid and shallow. Keep in mind that the gagging and vomitting is ALWAYS unproductive!!

If your dog shows ANY of the above symptoms she must be observed carefully and taken to a veterinarian immediately. They will take x-rays of the abdomen to confirm the diagnosis immediately.

Here are some things I do to prevent bloat in my dogs:
* I NEVER allow my dogs to play or exercise for 30 minutes BEFORE I feed them.

* I feed my dogs 3 meals a day (smaller, frequent meals are prefered).

* I never put all of their food in their bowls in one sitting. For example, suppose I feed my Saints 2 cups of food at each meal. I will never pour in the complete 2 cups!!! Instead, I will pour about 1/4 of a cup at a time. Allow them to eat and then wait a few minutes to give them another 1/4 of a cup. I have trained my Saints and Newfs to sit and wait patiently in fron of their bowl between feeding sessions. It takes me a full 3-5 minutes to feed my dogs each meal. I drag it out as long as possible!!

*No water directly before eating and no water for an hour after eating!!!! An ice cube or two is fine.

* I crate ALL my dogs for one full hour after eating to discourage them from playing and exercising. It is like their "nap" time!!

* DO NOT used elevated bowls!!! That allows more air into the stomach!

* I don't do this, but I have a friend with GSD who does this: she puts a large rock (large enough so they cannot pick it up, nevermind swallow it!!) in the middle of their bowl when feeding. This slows down her dogs because they have to try to eat around the rock.

Basically, be very aware of the symptoms and always call your vet even if you aren't sure if it is bloat! You rather be safe than sorry!!


NOTE: PLEASE never ever add water to the kibble!!! That will expand the food... which causes the bloating!!!

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