Best Canned Food For German Shepherd

How Do I Change My Puppy To A New Food

Switching your puppy to a different puppy food or from puppy food to adult food can be tricky. Suddenly changing your puppys food can cause an upset stomach.

You should start by adding a little of the new food to a lot of the old food. For example, your puppys meal should be ¼ new food and ¾ old food. After a few days, you can add more new food and less old food. Gradually increase how much new food you add until your puppy is only eating the new food. This process should take a week or two.

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Victor Purpose Nutra Pro Dog Food

Image courtesy Victor

With VICTOR Purpose Nutra Pro Dry Dog Food, you can keep your energetic dog healthy and happy. This high-protein, low-carb diet is designed for sporting dogs and plush animals with rigorous exercise requirements.

It’s also perfect for growing pups and pregnant or nursing females. VICTOR Purpose Nutra Pro Dry Dog Food is a great alternative for dogs with moderate to high levels of activity on a daily basis.

Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Dry Dog Food

This dry puppy food from Royal Canin is made exclusively for German Shepherds. It meets the breeds unique health and nutrition needs.

The food is suitable for dogs as old as 15 weeks and addresses many common health issues. To combat digestive problems, it has probiotics that introduce beneficial flora into your pups gut.

To avoid joint and bone issues, it has a healthy dose of calcium and phosphorus.

Finally, it has a good blend of antioxidants to enhance your pups vulnerable immune system.

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Best Food For German Shepherd Coat

Need a dog formula that promotes Healthy Skin & Coat on your German Shepherd?AvoDerm Natural Dry & Wet Dog Food, For Skin & Coat, is specifically designed to improve poor dog coating and skin.

Its made with Omega-rich, California-grown avocados and avocado oil to promote healthy skin, coat, immune system, and overall health in your GSD.

This dog food will help keep your German Shepherds coat healthy and shiny all year round. The high-quality protein and omega-rich components in this kibble support healthy skin and coat even for dogs with sensitive skin.

For added nutrition, it contains ingredients like oatmeal, dried tomato pomace, flaxseed , natural flavor, alfalfa meal, and other vital vitamins and minerals.

Its pressure cooked to ensure your dog receives the optimum nutrition and energy from each ingredient to keep your companion active and strong. A lot of dog parents report their dogs coat improved after eating this food.

Cons

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What Is The Healthiest Diet For A German Shepherd

This is a question that many German Shepherd owners ask, as they want to make sure their beloved furry friend is getting all the nutrients they need. The good news is that there are plenty of healthy dog food options out there for German Shepherds.

You should eat foods that include high-quality animal-based protein sources like lamb, beef, pork, chicken, fish, eggs, and legumes. In addition, the meal should be plentiful in fats, vitamins, and minerals.

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Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin And Sensitive Stomach

Image courtesy Purina

Purina has been in operation for more than 85 years and produces a wide range of goods. The Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Sensitive Skin & Stomach is one of their most popular, with over 2,500 positive reviews.

You can feed your dog either dry or wet food, and he may sample two distinct flavor profiles: rice and oatmeal for salmon. This recipe is high in protein and has a total of 30% dry basis protein content, primarily from real meats with no poultry by-product meal.

Because it contains no allergens like wheat, corn, or soy, there’s less of a chance that your dog will suffer an upset stomach. It also includes omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, which help to promote skin, coat, and joint health.

Should German Shepherds Eat Wet Food

German Shepherds can definitely drive on wet food, but of course it depends on the individual dog. Wet dog food can be beneficial for some GSDs because it is generally more palatable, but also these products typically contain high-quality proteins that are closer to their original form compared to kibble. Additionally, most of the ingredients are generally fresher.

Because of its composition and moisture content, it is also easier to digest. Thats beneficial to GSDs because they, as a breed, are generally prone to bloat and other gastrointestinal disorders.

However, there are also disadvantages to feeding your German Shepherd wet dog food. Because they grow to be pretty large dogs with equally large appetites, canned food will definitely be more expensive than kibble.

Youll also need plenty of storage space to keep all the cans of food your dog will go through in a brief span of time.

Additionally, many believe that wet food makes your dog more prone to periodontal disease. However, frequent brushing and regular dental evaluations should minimize that risk.

Lastly, if your German Shepherd has a hardy appetite, wet food alone could leave them feeling hungry, or not give them enough calories because wet dog food has higher water content.

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What Makes A Good German Shepherd Puppy Food

The needs of a puppy are much different than that of an adult dog. Your pup is growing rapidly right before your eyes. Their bones are getting stronger and their muscles are being primed for a lifetime of activity.

As a result, your puppy is actually going to need more nutrients now than they will when they get older.

To ensure that youre giving your dog everything they need, here are some things to look for in your pups dog food.

Many of this information is recommended and regulated by the Association of American Feed Control.

You can look out for the small AAFO seal of approval on the packaging as a quick way to determine if a food is suitable for your dog.

What Is The Best Food For German Shepherds With Allergies

If your German Shepherd has allergies, it’s important to find a hypoallergenic best dog food for German Shepherds that will not trigger their symptoms. There are many brands of hypoallergenic dog food on the market that use alternative protein sources, such as duck or venison.

These foods are often grain-free as well, which is ideal for German Shepherds with allergies.

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Instinct By Natures Variety Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Recipe

Advertised as the raw brand,Instinct dog food is all about providing pups with a diet that consists of wholesome ingredients. The Raw Boost large puppy food is no different.

It has 33.5 percent protein that comes from chicken, turkey meal, lamb meal, and more. Small bits of freeze-dried raw meat are thrown into the mix as well for an extra boost of muscle-building protein.

The recipe uses complex carbs and a variety of plant-based ingredients as well. They act as a source of vitamins and minerals that help your dogs growing body.

The high-protein and grain-free wet food from Blue Buffalo is a great first introduction to solid foods for your pup. It contains DHA for proper brain and eye development.

DHA is found naturally in milk, so it helps to make the transition as smooth as possible.

The canned food is comprised of chicken and chicken liver. The meat ingredients are paired with potatoes and pea protein. Its all swimming in a delicious chicken broth that your pup will love.

In total, the food has 10.5 percent protein and 7 percent fat. There is no corn, wheat, or soy ingredients, ensuring that your pup starts off on the right foot.

Also from Blue Buffalo is the Freedom formula. Its a grain-free formula that can do wonders for your puppys overall health.

Real chicken is used as the primary protein source.

Ingredients To Look For In A Healthy Dog Food For German Shepherds

When picking out the best dog food for German Shepherds, look for these ingredients on the ingredients panel:

• Unprocessed protein sources like deboned chicken, beef, or fish
• Fish oil and flaxseed oil for omega fatty acids
• Grain-free or whole grain
• Blueberries, kale, spinach, broccoli, and beets for antioxidants
• Easily digestible carbohydrates like barley, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes

You should also read the guaranteed analysis panel for a crude protein content of 30% or higher, a crude fiber content of 6% or higher, a crude fat content of 20% or higher, and amino acids like arginine, leucine, and carnitine.

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Senior Dog Food Vs Regular Dog Food

Is there more to senior dog food than just a name on the packaging and fancy marketing?

When comparing an adult or all-life stage diet to one labeled for senior dogs, you might not notice a difference.

However, upon closer inspection of senior dog foods there are extra ingredients included to help not only fortify senior dog foods, but to improve digestibility, reduce inflammation, and support joint function.

But, dont assume that all dog foods marketed for senior dogs are the right match for your German Shepherd. Moreover, some dog foods marketed towards all life stages are actually a great match for seniors.

You just need to know what to look for in the ingredients to make an educated decision.

What Is The Best Dog Food Brand For German Shepherds

Thankfully, German shepherds arent as prone to allergies as other dog breeds, which are a good thing by the way, since there are a lot more options open to you when it comes to feeding your pet.

You have an ease of mind when introducing new products to your dog without so many concerns about how they would react to itthats a real blessing, I can assure you.

Our Top Pick

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Royal Canin Specialized Dog Food For German Shepherds

This Royal Canin formula is designed exclusively for purebred German Shepherds over 15 months old. German Shepherds can have finicky digestive systems. This recipe is intended to combat that with highly digestible proteins including chicken and a selection of specific fibers. It contains brewers rice and oat groats to aid digestion and prevent soft stools. Its available in 17- and 30-pound bags.

Royal Canin Specialized Dog Food for German Shepherds

This dry dog food is tailored exclusively for purebred German Shepherds and includes easy-to-digest ingredients to help support their digestive system.

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Rachael Ray Nutrish Hearty Beef Stew

Rating:

Hearty Beef Stew is one of 6 wet recipes included in our review of the Rachael Ray product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken broth, beef, chicken, dried egg product, egg white
• Type: Grain-free
• Best for:All puppies including large breeds

Rachael Ray Nutrish Hearty Beef Stew acquires the better part of its animal protein from fresh beef, fresh chicken,dried egg product, and egg whites. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 23% fat and 28% estimated carbs delivering a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.

This fully balanced formula contains zinc amino acid complex and 3 other chelated minerals superior nutritional supplements typically found in higher quality dog foods.

Budget priced. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewI think Ive finally found the perfect food for my two shih tzus. They are both very picky eaters and one was constantly itching and licking her paws. I believe the grain free food has helped tremendously in stopping the itching. I use both the Rachael Ray grain free dry and wet food for them and watch them clean their bowls every time. Great stuff!

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Iams Proactive Health Large Breed

Image courtesy Iams

Iams ProActive Health Large Breed is a complete and balanced diet dog food for German Shepherds, made with real ingredients like chicken and egg.

This formula has DHA to support cognitive development, as well as calcium for strong bones and teeth. Iams ProActive Health also has 22 essential vitamins and minerals to keep your puppy healthy and strong.

Eagle Pack Power Adult Dog Food

Image courtesy Eagle Pack

The majority of the animal protein in Adult takes the form of fresh chicken and pork meal, as confirmed by the nutritional label. The recipe contains 33% protein, 21% fat, and 38% estimated carbohydrates, which translates to a fat-to-protein ratio of 63 percent.

The all-time classic, fully grain-inclusive design that is free of legume concentrates. Antioxidant preservatives are used in a safe and natural manner. There’s no BHT or ethoxyquin.

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A Glance At Our Winners In 2022

The best puppy food overall in our review is Diamond Natural Large Breed Puppy food. Offering pasture raised lamb as the first ingredient and easy to digest rice for sensitive german shepherd tummies. Specially formulated for large breed puppies the calcium and phosphorus ratio ensures your pup will grow at the correct rate for good bone health. It contains pre and probiotics to help maintain gut health in your precious pup. With a focus on natural health this food contains blueberries, kale, spinach, oranges and coconut to name but a few of the sources of vitamins and antioxidants. Skin, coat, eye and brain health are supported with omega fatty acids. The choice of bag sizes and price point go in this foods favour too. As with most foods some reviews commented that their pups werent keen to eat it.

The best puppy food for the money is Iams ProActive Health Smart Large Breed Puppy Food. Its well-priced and starts with real farm-raised chicken as the main ingredient, and its meant for large breed puppies. It contains 22 essential nutrients that puppies get from their mothers milk, including DHA derived from omega-3 fatty acid. This food is designed to support healthy muscles, joints, digestion, immune system, and brain development.

The disadvantages of this food are that it contains artificial colors and it may cause stomach upset in some puppies if they are intolerant of chicken protein.

Nutritional Requirements Of German Shepherds

Like most canines, German Shepherds require a high amount of fat and protein in their diets. Studies have shown that this is mostly what our pets should eat.

The high level of activity of German Shepherd dogs requires an especially high protein and fat diet.

The correct food can have a profound positive effect on many aspects of your pets life, from their energy levels and general happiness, right through to how long they live. Check our our expert guide on canine nutrition.

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Wrapping Up Dog Food For German Shepherd Puppies

Weve given you a lot of information here. Hopefully, our tips help you find the best food for your German Shepherd puppy. In the end, there is no one food thats right for feeding all German Shepherd puppies you must find the one thats most appropriate for your budget and your puppy.

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Common Health Issues And Diet

German Shepherds are usually pretty healthy, but they can be prone to a few health conditions. Some of these can be prevented or controlled through specific dietary changes.

Food Allergies

Food allergies are common throughout many breeds. Usually, food allergies develop after the dog is fed the same food for many years.

For this reason, we recommend switching out a dogs food regularly. Dont feed your dog the same recipe month after month.

If your dog already has food allergies, the only thing you can do is avoid their allergen. Usually, this means switching to a limited-ingredient diet to make avoiding reactions easier.

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are very prone to hip dysplasia. Luckily, its directly connected to diet.

Hip dysplasia develops when dogs are puppies, though they may not experience symptoms for years. For one reason or another, their ball and socket stop growing at the same rate.

This uneven growth makes them rub against each other, eventually causing arthritis-like symptoms.

While this condition is partially genetic, it is also linked to how the puppy is fed. Those that are fed too much are more likely to experience growth abnormalities, leading to hip dysplasia.

Therefore, it is vital to feed your puppy only what they need. Too much can cause serious issues later on.

Bloat

Bloat is a serious, life-threatening condition that comes without warning.

Digestive Problems

Osteoarthritis

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Nutro Hearty Stews Adult Wet Dog Food

Nutro Hearty Stews Adult Wet Dog Food is a nutritiously formulated dog food providing a well-balanced diet for your dog. It consists of a quality animal protein to adequately build muscle, grain-free to minimize food-related allergies as well as lacking corn, wheat, soy, or chicken by-product meal.

This tasty meal is made from wholesome non-GMO quality ingredients to provide all the vitamins and minerals that help to support the immune system and overall healthy growth of a German Shepherd. Different flavors are also available to choose from. This dog food is best recommended for adult German Shepherds.

Top ingredients: Lamb, Pork broth, Chicken broth, Beef liver, Green Beans

Key features:

• Contains high-quality lamb as a protein source, other protein options available
• Made from non-GMO quality ingredients
• Lacks corn, wheat, soy, or chicken by-products meal
• No artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
• Best for adult dogs