Weimaraner Health Problems and Feeding

Apartment Living

Active Lifestyle

Watchdog Ability

Child Friendly

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Shedding Level

Exercise Needs

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Grooming needs

Stranger Friendly

Health Issues

Trainability

Adaptability

Feeding of Weimaraner is a very important case. It must be proper and balanced with a vitamin and mineral complex. This breed is susceptible to food allergies and stomach swelling so the owner must carefully choose dog`s diet. Feeding has to be regularly and portions for pet should be small. Also you can give food in a special slow feed bowl to prevent dog stomach swelling.

Weimaraner Feeding

Feeding Weimaraner puppies:

• At the age of 1.5 months - 5 - 6 times a day in small portions
• 3 - 4 months - 4 times a day
• 5-7 months - 3 feedings per day
• 8 - 12 months and adult dogs 1- 2 times a day

There are two types of nutrition Weimaraner:

• Ready-made food
• Natural food

When Weimaraner feed a natural food, you need to provide the pet with a balanced diet with vitamins and microelements.

• It is recommended to feed your pet 2 hours before walk
• After a long walk and exercise, the dog can be fed only after 1 hour
• Give water half an hour after walking
• Cooked food should be of room temperature, the portion should be eaten during 15 minutes
• If the dog refuses to eat, the portion should be hidden in the fridge until the next feeding
• Always make sure that there is fresh water in the bowl
• Bowls are washed with hot water after each feeding
• Never feed Weimaraner with human food

Unhealthy and dangerous products for Weimaraner:

• Fatty meat (pork)
• Grapes, raisins
• Onion, garlic
• Chocolate
• Spicy food
• Spices
• Fried food
• Pasta
• Sweets
• Raw river fish (can be infected with worms)
• Tubular bones of a bird
• Minced meat is poorly digested

Good food for Weimaraner:

• Low-fat meat (rabbit, beef, turkey)
• Give chicken meat very carefully (may be cause of allergy)
• Yoghurt, low-fat cottage cheese
• Dill
• Sea fish without bones (boiled)
• Vegetables (squash, carrots, broccoli, pumpkin)
• Apple
• Cereals (rice)
• 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil a day (add to the food)

Weimaraner like every dog breeds is genetically predisposed to some illnesses as a result of selective breeding practices.

Health Problems of Weimaraner

• Hip and elbow dysplasia. It is an abnormality of the hip joint. It can affect one or both sides.  Hip dysplasia can be inherited, or it cause rapid growth of puppies and unhealthy diet, or environment. Some dogs with hip dysplasia never show any clinical signs.
• Distichiasis: It is a condition in which Weimaraner has an extra row of eyelashes on the lower lid and it cause irritation to the cornea and tears.
• Entropion: It is a medical condition in which the eyelid, usually the lower lid, folds inward. It causes discomfort when the eyelashes rub into the cornea and causing irritation.
• Hemophilia A and von Willebrand's Disease (vWD). It is an inherited blood disorder that is caused by a deficiency in clotting factor VIII antigen (von Willebrand factor). The main signs of the disease are excessive bleeding after an injury or surgery. You can also notice often nosebleeds, bleeding gums or even bleeding in the stomach or intestines. A lot of Weimaraners with von Willebrand's disease lead normal lives.
• Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). This life-threatening condition occurs when dog stomach is distended with gas or air and then twists. It can arise if dog feed with a large portion 1 time a day or he eats too quickly, he drinks large volumes of water after eating and exercises vigorously after eating.