How Long Do German Shepherds Stay Pregnant
The standard length of a German Shepherds pregnancy is approximately 63 days. German Shepherds tend to be a larger breed because of which their pregnancy can be slightly longer than smaller breeds.
To accurately estimate your German Shepherds pregnancy, you will need to monitor your pets pregnancy very closely, ideally from the time of her first heat cycle to how many times she experiences the heat period. Make sure to record the time and date so that you can track the time your pet conceived a pup. You will note that your German Shepherds due date numbers up to around 63 days from their gestation period.
Do I Need Breed Specific Dog Food For My German Shepherd
Breed specific dog foods have been developed by commercial dog food companies as a point of difference from the all breed dog foods categorised by stage of life, or dog size.
One such current example of breed specific dog food for German Shepherds is the Royal Canin dog food brand.
Royal Canin claims the dog food formula has been developed for the breed specifically.
But, are you better off feeding your GSD a breed specific dog food like Royal Canin?
Instead of picking a specific brand of dog food, you might ask your dogs vet what balance of nutrition and what adequacy of nutrition your dog needs, and picking a dog food based on that.;
So, breed specific brands might not necessarily be better than other brands. It can depend on several factors specific to your individual dogs needs.
Analysing Royal Canin
Some question you might ask about Royal Canin might be:
Does it contain real meat sources?
What sort of grains does it contain corn?;
Does it contain healthy fats?
What sort of benefits does it have over other foods chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine?
You can check out Royal Canin here:
You can go to Royal Canins website and see what benefits they claim in their food for a specific breed, and how theyve formulated their pet food to cater to that.
Dog Food Formulated For Specific Types Of Dog Breeds, Such As Large Breeds
Some companies also produce dog foods for types of dogs, such as large breeds.
Meal Plan / Feeding Guide By Weight
There are lots of German Shepherd food brands out there. However, you need to look for foods that meet your pet’s unique dietary requirements.
A few great recommendations from Hungry Bark include:
- Superfoods with Chicken, Turkey + Brown Rice
- Superfoods with Turkey + Duck
- Superfoods with Lamb + Turkey
- Superfoods with Salmon
If you doubt how much food your dog needs, you should check the meal pack. Most dog food brands provide feeding calculators to help you work out how much your pet needs.
Dry Foods
Hungry Bark recommends these daily serving amounts for your German Shepherds.
- 3lbs: 29-43 grams daily
- 80lbs: 431-517 grams daily
- Above 36kg : You should add half a cup for every additional 7kg .
Lactating German Shepherds need more calories than other adults. So If your female pet is lactating, you should visit your vet or pet nutritionist to recommend the best feeding schedule and amounts for your pet.
Puppies typically need three times the amount of food as adults. And Hungry Bark recommends thrice of daily adult servings for German Shepherd puppies. However, if your puppyâs activity level is low, you should stick to twice the daily adult servings to avoid obesity.
If you are transitioning to Hungry Barkâs dry food, you should feed your pet 75% of the old food and 25% of the new food in the first three days. Within the next 4-6 days, you can serve your pet 50% of the new food and 50% of the old food.
Wet Canned Foods
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How Much Do You Feed A German Shepherd
German Shepherds areknown for their size and energy. They are excellent guarddogs and need a nutritious and wholesomediet to keep them healthy throughout the day. There are a lot of factors thatneed to be considered when deciding how much dogs are supposed to eat everyday, as not feeding your dog the right quantity can cause obesity or malnutrition.
An adult German Shepherd must be fed at least twice aday, preferably in the morning and evening. They require about 2.5 to 3.5 cupsof food per day, depending on their size, weight, age, gender, and physicalactivity.
It is important toremember that every German Shepherd is unique as it lives in differentenvironments. Hence, you will need to consider quite a few factors to avoidover or under-feeding your dog. These factors vary between dogs, so you need tolook into each category carefully before deciding upon a meal plan. Lets diveinto the details!
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Do German Shepherds Need Vitamins Or Supplements
You may choose to take vitamins and supplements, but do German Shepherds really need them?
German Shepherds dont need vitamins or supplements if they are eating complete and balanced pet food. You should only give your dog vitamins or supplements if recommended by your veterinarian to benefit their health and well-being.
Now, as my German Shepherd has been recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the spine, in addition to her prescribed medication, she takes YuMove Joint Supplements from Amazon. Her vet recommended these, and they contain Glucosamine and Chondroitin for joint support and easing stiffness.
I have to say Ive been pleased with how she is doing on them, so if your dog has a similar condition, Id recommend speaking to your vet.
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How Long Is A German Shepherd Considered A Puppy
A German Shepherd should be fed a puppy diet until around 12 months of age, or as advised by your veterinarian based on their growth and development.
Adult German Shepherds are somewhat prone to obesity, which can contribute to the skeletal disorders they are prone to.
You should continue to monitor body condition and modify feeding to keep their weight moderate or somewhat lean.
Our complete guide to the best food for German Shepherd Dogs of all ages will help you find more delicious meals as your puppy grows and grows.
Make sure you read our German Shepherd facts to find out even more about these unique dogs!
Is Eggshell Safe For Your German Shepherd
Yes, eggs shell is safe for your dog. Studies have shown your dog shell has a high amount of calcium. This is good for your dog if it finds it difficult to chew bones.
You feed your dog the shell by grinding it into a powder form. To do this you bake the shell first and grind them. This can be added to any meal you prepare for your dog.
If you feed your German shepherd bones you must limit the amount eggshell powered to about 4 grams
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Best Diet For German Shepherds
German Shepherds grow to a large size dog breed between 60 to 90 pounds that is well muscled, slightly tapered, angular and longer than deep chested when fed a breed appropriate diet. Adult German Shepherds require 1,300 to 1,600 calories per day of high quality dog food for senior or less active dogs, and from 1,700 to 2,400 calories daily for active or working dogs.
If choosing a dry kibble diet, select a a quality formula like these Recommended Dog Food Brands with protein level around 24% and fat levels around 14%. Shepherds require quality protein which should come from a named meat source. Most premium kibble formulas work and Raw Dog Food is even better. Grain free kibble is another option but is very calorie dense and high in protein. We mention this with caution as some German shepherds seem to have difficulty tolerating grain free kibble and end up with soft and runny stool. For excellent insight on choosing a quality kibble to feed your German Shepherd, take a look at our Feeding Dry Dog Food section.
A General Guideline For Preparing Homemade Dog Food
My DIY dog food recipe is more of a general guideline, rather than an exact meal plan that I follow each week. My dogs diet changes the same way ours does, depending on what we do and what we buy or grow.
However, we almost always stay with this basic formula:
- 50 percent cooked protein
- 25 percent cooked complex carbohydrates
- Fats and supplements
- Eggshells
Protein is always meat and usually chicken, though weve also used turkey, pork, and beef. We feed any and all parts of the animals, but most commonly, we saute chicken breasts or chicken thighs in coconut oil and ground turmeric.
Coconut oil has a host of health benefits for dogs, such as improving the skin and coat, increasing energy, aiding digestion, reducing allergic reactions, promoting wound healing, preventing yeast and fungal infections, and supporting arthritis or ligament problems.
Turmeric has long been studied for its powerful medicinal properties, including its use as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
We add it to the coconut oil since it is fat-soluble, and use it to support our pugs joint health.
Speaking of dark meat, we feed thighs and breasts interchangeably. While well remove the skin from poultry and trim off excessive fat from red meat, we dont worry about buying the leanest meat possible for our dogs.
A little fat is necessary for a well-rounded diet.
They tend to be the leftovers in our produce bin, so we never have to buy, say, a whole head of cauliflower just for the dogs.
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Keys To A Healthy Gsd Puppy
Veterinary research tells us that large breed puppies such as the German Shepherd need a different diet and feeding schedule than do medium or small breed puppies.
Incorrect feeding early in life can result in a lifelong impact to your puppys health!
In fact, diet is only one of three vital keys to raising a healthy GSD puppy.
Environment and genetics each intersect with your puppys diet to determine how healthy he or she will be as an adult.
For this reason, your first and best resources to create a healthy German Shepherd puppy feeding guide should be your veterinarian and your puppys breeder.
Even if you dont want to keep your new pup on the same food the breeder was using, wait a few weeks before beginning the food transition so your puppy can settle in first.
Is It Better To Walk Before Or After A Meal
There is a belief that walking just after a meal causes fatigue, stomach ache, and other types of discomfort. However, the author and one volunteer participant had no such negative reactions, and found that walking just after a meal was more effective for weight loss than waiting one hour after eating before walking.
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How Much Should You Feed A German Shepherd Puppy
Watching your German Shepherd puppy grow from newborn to senior is a pleasurable experience but feeding them can get confusing for first-time dog owners. Newborn German Shepherd puppies require being fed at least once every 3-4 hours. As they grow older this will slowly decrease to only twice per day.
In this article, you will learn how much to feed a German Shepherd puppy and the diet restrictions of this friendly, hyperactive breed.
What To Feed My German Shepherd Puppy
German Shepherds are big dogs, and they have a hearty appetite. Although dogs are not obligate carnivores by nature, they thrive on a protein-rich diet. Ideally, most of the protein you feed your GSD will come from animal and meat sources rather than plant sources. Feed a minimum of 22% protein, although we would aim for 25% protein at the very least.
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Feeding Guidelines By Weight
German shepherds can be of different weight ranges. Thats why the feeding plan of your dog can be complicated. Fortunately, theres a calculation for the feeding amount of German shepherds according to weight.
- Inactive German Shepherds: For every 1 kilogram your dog weighs, theyll need 40 calories a day.An average weighted German shepherd will then need 1400 calories per day. This only applies to German shepherds that do not exercise or inactive.
- Active German Shepherds: In the case of active German shepherds that exercise regularly, every 1 kilogram equals to 55 calories per day.So an average weighted German shepherd will require 1925 calories per day to be able to function properly.
Take note, however, that this calculation may be affected if the German shepherd has a health disorder concerned with metabolism or digestion.
Is It Ok To Feed My Dog Once A Day
The number of meals a dog eats per day depends completely on the family schedule. Dogs should eat at least two meals each day, about 12 hours apart. But a breakfast, lunch, and dinner schedule is an equally great option. If more than 12 hours elapses between meals, the stomach can become hyperacidic causing nausea.
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General Feeding Guidelines For An Adult German Shepherd
As stated above, no information is a substitute for the advice of your vet. Get a vets advice for feeding your adult GSD.
And, the set of considerations listed above and in other linked guides are good for general information.
Adult German Shepherds have generally reached maturity they are no longer a puppy, and also arent considered a senior German Shepherd.
Commercially available dog food is usually labelled as adult dog food on the label.
All Stages dog food may also be suitable for some Adult GSDs.
Adult German Shepherds might be considered adult between the ages of about 14 to 16 months, and 6 to 7 years but, confirm with your dogs vet.
However,;another set of considerations to take into account might be:
General guidelines all come down to good nutrition in the ingredients used, and a balanced diet of proteins, fats/oils, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and water.
When it comes to the ingredients listed on a dog food product label, you should be aware that dogs and German Shepherds are omnivores.
They can have both plant and animal based ingredients in their diets, but to be at their healthiest they need to have;animal protein;.
Its a good sign if the meat in the dog food contains more meat than by-products if it is listed first on the label as an ingredient.
Contrary to;popular myth, they also say that high protein diets;do not cause kidney damage;or hyperactivity in your German Shepherd.
See a vet for a specialised food plan in the above scenarios.
We Call It The German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart Because Though Your Dog Appears To Be Fully Grown From The Age Of 6 Months Still They Are Puppies By Nature
The German Shepherd Dog, one of Americas popular breeds are intelligent and capable working dogs. Their devotion and courage are unmatched. And theyre amazingly versatile.
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The German Shepherd puppy is a popular addition to many households and hence German shepherd Puppy feeding is also important. It was initially developed for herding and is now commonly used as a working dog or pet.
GSDs excel at most anything theyre trained to do: guide and assistance work for the handicapped, police and military service, herding, search and rescue, drug detection, competitive obedience, and last but not least faithful companion.
When such an endearing pet arrives home, its hard not to fall in love immediately. As a particularly affectionate breed, the German Shepherd will reciprocate this love in abundance.
Since they will grow up to be a medium to large dog breed and their diet is an essential way to ensure they develop properly.
There occurs few common mistakes in feeding the German Shepherd.
This is your guide to providing all the nutrients your new puppy needs.
Many types of food can be provided. However, when it comes to German shepherd Puppy feeding, we have to look for foods designed for large breed dogs that are essential for puppies.
This will help to avoid health problems caused by overly-rapid bone growth.
Then gradually include increasing proportions of the new food over a period of two to four weeks.
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Summary: What Kind Of Dog Food Should I Feed My German Shepherd
The type of dog food you feed your dog, and how much, depends on a lot of factors including but not limited to:
Age;
How Much Exercise They Get
Whether They Are Pregnant And/Or Lactating
Whether There Is Other Health Requirements To Consider
The best approach when you first get your dog is to see your dogs vet for a general food plan, and also a recommendation of a food brand and product.
They can make a recommendation based on their assessment of your dogs health and dietary needs.
Usually, some type of commercial dog food product is suggested by a vet as they are easily accessible, and foods like kibble dry food can be quite economical.
Commercial foods, although not perfect, also tend to be formulated to meet certain nutritional requirements , and be formulated for a certain life stage puppy, adult, senior and a nutritional analysis and life stage is usually on the packaging or label.
In some instances, specialised food plans for dogs with allergies, intolerances, health conditions etc. may be recommended by a vet.
Food Requirements Of German Shepherd Puppies
Puppies;have the ability to store energy in a seemingly endless way.;This means that they;need a constant supply of calories; the right types of calories to keep their energy levels high and help them become happy and healthy adult dogs.If this is the first time you have a German shepherd puppy, you are probably going to ask yourself some questions about your diet.;Feeding a puppy is very different from feeding an adult dog;.;Younger children need to maintain a regular feeding schedule and their growing bodies require more nutrients from their food than adult dogs.
Questions like
- How much food should I give my puppy?
- How many times a day should I feed my puppy?
- How much should a puppy eat?
If you do not follow the proper guidelines one can simply be supercharged to your puppy or have it lacking nutrients and minerals vital for its growth.
As a general rule, it can be said that you are feeding your puppy excessively if he can not see or feel his rib cage.
While, for humans, this is considered a sign of malnutrition, it is actually a guide you can use to help find out if your puppy is getting enough calories from his diet.
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