Make Note Of Your Dog’s Activity Level
Dogs who live an active lifestyle will need more than 1700 and less than 2200 calories every day. Most German Shepherds are naturally active, but they will become less active as they age. Additionally, your dog might just not be as active as others, just as some humans are naturally less active.
These dogs will need a lower caloric intake. Between 1700 and 2200 is a good place to start, and then calories can be upped or reduced if you notice the dog is too skinny or gaining too much weight.
What Is The Life Expectancy Of A German Shepherd
The life expectancy of a German Shepherd is between nine and thirteen years. This breed of dog is known for being a healthy and hardy breed, but there are some health problems that can shorten their lifespan.
It is important to feed your German Shepherd a diet that will help them maintain their health and keep them at a healthy weight to help ensure a long and happy life.
How Much Food Should My German Shepherd Eat
Understanding what to feed your German Shepherd is one thing understanding how much and how often you should feed your dog is another. The amount of food you give your dog depends on several factors: your dogs age, activity level, and ideal weight.
Puppies need to eat three times per day between the ages of eight and 12 weeks old. After this period, you can begin feeding it twice per day, which is how often you should plan to feed an adult. When youve just brought your puppy home, you should plan to give it whatever the breeder fed it to prevent any stomach problems. You can gradually mix new food into the old food over the course of about a week until your dog is eating all new food. Make sure not to overfeed your puppy, as growing too fast or becoming overweight can lead to problems like hip dysplasia, which is common in large breeds like German Shepherds.
In order to determine how much you should be feeding your dog, you can utilize feeding guides such as this one. According to the chart, if your German Shepherd is 70 pounds, you should feed him 3.5 cups of food per day. However, if your dog is very active, he may need more. If he is old, he may need less. Talk to your veterinarian to create an eating plan that will work for your dog.
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness nurtures and cares for GSD pups, just like a loving mom does for his baby. And this is why the world blindly-trusts Blue Buffalo Wilderness and we rank it the No.1 best food for German Shepherd puppies.
This dog food not only fulfills your GSD pups daily nutritional requirements but also satisfies its taste. The product features High-Quality Real Chicken as the first ingredient to satisfy every German pups natural love for meat and promote strong muscle growth.
With protein, theres an infusion of healthy complex carbohydrates sourced from peas, potatoes, carrots, and antioxidant-rich cranberries and blueberries so that your German Shepherd Puppy never lacks even a single nutritional need in its diet.
And the amazing thing?
Blue Buffalo grain-free puppy food is made with the ingredients that help support balanced growth including DHA and ARA, essential fatty acids found in mothers milk, that improve cognitive development and retinal health.
This Product is Best for German Shepherd Puppies Because:
Complains about this Product:
While a majority of the users are satisfied with this product, some have filed complaints about this product. Most complaints are related to the dog getting diarrhea, doing vomit, and passing loose stools. Some also fear that feeding Grain-Free products to baby pups may lead to heart diseases.
Things To Look For In A Dry Dog Food For German Shepherds
Although German Shepherds can live on almost any kibble, their large and agile bodies thrive on high protein formulas. These allow them to build and maintain lean muscle mass.
Generally, you should avoid any brand that doesnt have an animal source of protein listed at the top of its ingredients list.
The needs of every GSD will be different but, generally, this is the nutritional content you should look for in dry dog food:
| Lifestage | |
|---|---|
| > 25 | > 23 |
Additionally, you should look for a brand that doesnt have any filler carbohydrates. Deciding on whether or not you should feed your German Shepherd a grain-free diet is up to you. Generally, dry dog food containing digestible carbohydrates like vegetables and whole grains is sufficient.
When youre looking for a kibble brand for your GSD, take the time to look at the additional ingredients. Some variants contain supplements like omega 3 fatty acids, which are beneficial to your dogs skin and coat. Others have probiotics for a healthy gut while several contain glucosamine for optimum joint health.
Of course, your German Shepherds specific health conditions will affect the type of food they need as well. If they have food allergies, make sure you scrutinize the label to keep your dog safe.
If theyre not hitting their weight milestones, they might need to consume high-calorie kibble to gain weight. If your dog has a health condition that might require a special diet, its always best to get dry dog food recommendations from your vet.
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Drawbacks Of Feeding Your Dog Dry Dog Food
The disadvantages of feeding your German Shepherd dry dog food lies mainly in the fact that there are so many poorly formulated variants which can be detrimental to your dogs health.
If you dont scrutinize your options, you might end up with over-processed ingredients, filler carbohydrates, and questionable animal parts. These dont just make your dog more prone to malnutrition, but also digestive distress. Symptoms of which include frequent bloating, vomiting, flatulence, and poorly formed stools.
Wet food can also be better for your dog, depending on their health condition.
For example, if you have an obese GSD, they might lose weight sooner on wet food because theyll feel fuller with smaller quantities due to the high-water content.
Additionally, if you have a senior dog or one with dental problems, wet dog food might be more beneficial.
German Shepherd Puppies’ Dietary Needs
Curious, confident, courageous, and vastly cuddly, these canines will gladly risk their lives to save yours. But, German shepherds usually need proper care and attention as they undergo drastic growth in the initial year of their life. Any neglect of nutritional needs results in serious health complications in their adulthood.
To begin with, you have to understand that GSDs are a large breed of dogs. So, it would be best if you gave them a large breed formula. You see, GSDs need extra minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, and calcium. These nutrients support a healthy joint structure and promote buccal growth and a shiny coat. They also need a higher calorie intake as they tend to burn off the energy quickly. The German shepherd puppy sprouts super fast in the first eight months of their lives. That is when they need you to give them extra TLC.
On average, the GSD puppy requires 500 calories a day. And, by the time the puppy is 15 months, it needs 1600 calories. The protein intake should be around 18% to 22%. Moreover, there should be about 8-12% fat content in the diet to sustain the growth of your doggy.
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What Is German Shepherd Favorite Food
German Shepherd Favorite Foods Although preferences vary from dog to dog most German Shepherds gravitate toward items containing beef, lamb, fish, and chicken. Shepherds do like cheese, although this should be enjoyed in moderation, as it can cause gastrointestinal distress in these gentle companions.
Blue Buffalo Bad For Gsd
Nigel said:Wow, read some of those, there was some pretty crazy reactions to BB. I used BB in the past with no issues, they liked it, coats looked nice, no problems. I wonder if they’ve made changes to their product or if its something to do with one of their subs. I’d switch back to the Authority, might consider a vet check too just in case.
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Best Dog Food For German Shepherd Puppies
Speaking of vital elements that must be present in dog food, heres a list of the best German Shepherd puppy food. Not only do these brands pay particular heed to the necessary nutrients for your furry friend. They guarantee an energetic and fit German Shepherd puppy by adding in other minerals for the well-being of your dog.
General Nutritional Recommendations For German Shepherds
All dogs require a balance of protein, fat and carbohydrate in their diet, though dogs of certain sizes may require a slightly different ratio than smaller dogs. Large-breed dogs like the German Shepherd, for example, may require more protein than smaller dogs to help support their lean muscle mass. Smaller dogs usually require more fat than larger dogs to support their faster metabolisms. As a large-breed dog, your German Shepherds diet should provide high levels of protein with moderate fat and limited carbohydrate content. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, adult dogs need at least 18% protein and 5% fat while puppies need 22% protein and 8% fat. If you want your dog to be as healthy as possible, however, you should choose a diet that provides more than the minimum for these nutrients.
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Is It Ok To Put A Raw Egg In Dog Food
The answer is complicated. While some experts believe that raw eggs are perfectly safe for dogs, others believe that they can be dangerous. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
If you decide to feed your dog raw eggs, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, make sure the eggs are fresh. Second, only feed your dog eggs that have been properly refrigerated. Finally, don’t forget to wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw eggs.
If you’re still not sure whether or not to feed your dog raw eggs, talk to your veterinarian. They can help you make the best decision for your pet.
American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe
Top 5 Ingredients: Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Sweet Potatoes
Caloric Content: 3,740 kcal/kg
Feeding Instructions: 3 2/3 4 ½ cups a day for an adult dog
Key Features
Most Inexpensive If you are searching for a dry dog food for your German Shepherd that isnt super expensive, then American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a great choice for you.
It is on the lower end of the price spectrum however, it is still a good dry dog food from a reputable brand that is manufactured in Kansas, USA.
This mix comes in a 4lb, 12lb or 24lb bag, offering the option to choose a smaller bag to begin with to see if your furry friend likes it and then move on to a bigger bag later on.
A 4-pound bag holds about 17 cups, a 12-pound bag holds about 52 cups and a 24-pound bag holds about 104 cups that should last for a while! It can have a strange smell though, which can be off-putting to humans and dogs alike, and can be a little hard for senior dogs to digest sometimes.
This Salmon & Sweet Potato blend offers protein and amino acids through real, deboned salmon, ensuring leaner muscles while still tasting great.
The addition of both chickpeas and sweet potato allow for slow-release energy, which means your best friend will have endless energy all day long.
And lets not forget everything is grain-free, corn-free, wheat-free and soy-free, which is perfect for German Shepherds with sensitive stomachs.
Pros
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Understanding Aafco Standards For Wet Dog Food
The AAFCO, or the American Feed Control Officials, set the standards for dog food nutrient profiles. According to the organizations recommendations, food given to dogs should have the following minimum values:
| Nutrient | |
|---|---|
| 8.5% | 5.5% |
What makes these figures confusing is that theyre based on dry matter. So if youre using these standards, you need to take into consideration that canned food can be anywhere from 75 to 80% moisture. On the other hand, kibble is only around 10 to 15% moisture.
To use these recommended figures for wet food, all you need to do is check the label for the moisture percentage and the minimum crude protein guarantee.
Compute the products dry matter by subtracting the moisture percentage from 100. Then, compute for the protein content through the following formula:
For example, if a canned dog food variant with 75% moisture contains 12% crude protein, you might think that its not up to par with AAFCO standards. However, if you compute for its protein content based on dry matter, youll get:
At 48%, it surpasses the protein content of many high-protein kibble. Most importantly, it goes beyond AAFCOs crude protein recommendation for all life stages. So, be careful when checking labels and make sure you convert the figures before you decide.
What Are The Dietary Requirements For German Shepherds
The amount of food you should give your German Shepherd depends on age, size, activity level, health condition, food type, and brand.
Only feed top-quality dog food without any cheap fillers like grain or soy. Puppies can stay on puppy food until they are 12 months old.
And adult German Shepherds should be fed high-quality dog food meant for large breeds with an excellent protein source like chicken or lamb.
If your GSD is a low-energy couch potato, youll get away with feeding way less than if your dog was a working dog in activities like agility or Schutzhund.
Highly active GSDs weighing around 60 to 90 pounds should get around 1,750 and 2,000 calories per day.
The most essential ingredient on the nutrient list should be protein, an essential mineral for strong muscle and bone healing and development.
Excellent sources of protein are eggs, fish, poultry, and beef.
Including fish oils would provide healthy omega 3 fatty acids, which will maintain your GSDs lustrous coat and strengthen your immune system.
Stay away from cheap fillers like corn, soy, and wheat that are usually found in low-quality pet foods.
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Other Blue Buffalo Dry Dog Foods:
Blue Basics Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food Blue Basics Grain Free Puppy Dry Dog Food Blue Basics Grain Free Small Breed Dry Dog Food Blue Basics Grain Free Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food Blue Basics Puppy Dry Dog Food Blue Basics Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food Blue Basics Weight Control Adult Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is made with natural ingredients, including chicken and brown rice. The formula includes antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, along with essential vitamins and minerals. This formula also contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to help maintain a healthy skin and coat.
Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Free Small Breed Bites Natural Dry Dog Food features real chicken as the first ingredient and is free of grains, corn, wheat or any other fillers. The formula also contains probiotics for added gut health support.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food features real chicken as the first ingredient along with other quality proteins like turkey, lamb meal and fish meal. The formula includes essential vitamins and minerals for overall health support.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food features real chicken as the first ingredient in addition to other quality proteins like turkey, lamb meal and fish meal that are easily digestible to promote healthy growth in young puppies. The formula also contains omega 3 & 6 fatty acids for skin & coat health support.
Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula
Top 5 Ingredients: Beef Meal, Grain Sorghum, Ground White Rice, Dried Yeast, Egg Product
The Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula is a wonderful choice for your German Shepherd who is no longer a puppy.
This mix is enhanced with superfoods and probiotics to assist with overall health and development, as well as antioxidants, omega fatty acids for your furry friends coat and skin and nurturing minerals.
It includes protein, such as beef and fish, as well as fruit and vegetables such as blueberries, peas, kale and coconut. There has been some indication that this food is not suited to super picky eaters, however this dry food is generally a good choice for German Shepherds.
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Adult German Shepherd Nutrients
Adult German Shepherds also need age-appropriate food, so it is important that when he reaches the age of 15 months or so, he should be transitioned from a large breed puppy formula to adult formula as his nutrient requirements change . A high-quality adult kibble should include 18% to 24% protein and around 14% fat content.
Similar to the Siberian Huskys food needs, an average adult German Shepherd should consume anywhere between 1,700 calories and 2,400 calories a day, dependent on his size and energy levels. If he is a less active pup or an elderly dog, then he will need much less energy, and he should only consume between 1,300 and 1,600 calories.
Both adult and puppy German Shepherds generally do better on grain-free kibble as they are commonly allergic, or intolerant to, grains and most Veterinarians would suggest putting your pup on this straight away to save any dietary upset or the need to change his diet in the future. However, not all owners and experts agree on a totally grain-free diet, so this is a personal choice as there are pros and cons to each argument, so therefore we have included a mix of grain-free and grain inclusive recommendations.