Are Eggs Good For German Shepherds
Yes, eggs are a great source of protein for German Shepherds. In fact, they are one of the healthiest foods you can feed your dog. Eggs are packed with nutrients that are essential for a German Shepherd’s diet, including vitamins A, D, and E.
They also contain omega-three fatty acids, which are important for a dog’s coat and skin health.
How Many Time To Feed A German Shepherd Daily
Just like the feeding amount, youll have to depend on the age of your German shepherd.
However, there are other considerations on how much to feed a German shepherd per day.
- 9 months and below: Feed your GSD thrice per day in equal intervals.
- 9 months to 12 months: Slowly transition to two meals a day, particularly in the morning and evening.
- 12 months and above: German shepherds of this age will now naturally eat twice a day.
You might want to consider avoiding meals right before bedtime. Let them digest their food first before they go to sleep.
Lastly, we go to the most often overlooked part of every German shepherds feeding chart, mealtime lengths.
Related Reading
Suggested How Much To Feed German Shepherd Schedule:
- German Shepherds can eat between 1-1.5 cups of food per day, split into two meals so you dont overload their digestive system.
- A puppy will need to eat more because they are growing very quickly. Talk to your vet about how much exactly so you keep them healthy and happy.
- Make sure your German Shepherd has access to fresh, clean water all day.
- When you take your dog for a walk make sure to bring along some extra water in a collapsible bowl. If they get tired on the way or it gets very hot, this can save their life.
- Dont let them drink too much before going to bed unless you want a lot of puddles.
Recommended Reading: How To Paint A German Shepherd Step By Step
How Much Does A German Shepherd Eat
It is so exciting to bring home a German Shepherd puppy. You cant wait to spend time with your cute pet, start training it, and teaching it new tricks.
But serious pet owners understand that this breed needs a lot of care. German Shepherds are a large breed dog which requires a special diet to counter the breeds health problems.
You must know your GSD puppys nutritional needs and how these change as your pet growshaving a German Shepherd as a pet is a significant responsibility because they rely on you for everything.
You can start your new role by learning how much your German Shepherd eats throughout its life.
Contents
The Correct Way Of Feeding Apples To German Shepherds
A few steps must be followed when feeding apples to your dog. First and foremost, wash them properly. Commercially grown apples may contain traces of pesticides and other chemicals that can make your dog ill.
Check for allergies by giving him a small slice of the apple first. If he is okay, then you may continue without any worries.
Cut the apples in half for big dogs and into 5-6 smaller pieces if he is small. Remove the core and all the seeds. As mentioned before, apples should not be the primary diet, and you must never offer more than one apple at a time to your dog.
Also Check: Are German Shepherds Good With Babies
The Best German Shepherd Puppy Food For Healthy Growth And Weight Gain
The following dog foods are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. Feeding a high-quality kibble from a name-brand company that uses feeding trials ensures the best quality and nutrition.
Here are some of the best German Shepherd puppy foods that are research-backed.
The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Dont feed your German Shepherd puppy the cheapest food you can buy. Cheaper GSD puppy food lacks quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog.
These premium foods cost more initially, but because theyre calorie and nutrient dense they feed your puppy for longer than cheaper foods. They can also help your German Shepherd puppy gain weight in a healthy way, so they dont bulk-up too quickly.
Adding too much weight to your German Shepherd too soon can cause lifelong joint issues that are painful to your pet and expensive on your wallet.
German Shepherd Feeding Guide: All You Need To Know
Like all dogs, German Shepherds have specific nutritional needs. While its possible to feed them the cheap, dry kibble found in your local grocery store, thats not the best diet for this loyal, graceful, obedient breed.
But the ideal food might not be the most expensive or fanciest either.
With all these options to choose from and enough slick marketing to make your head spin, how do you pick the right food?
Below, well cover the different types of diets available, the specific nutritional needs of the German Shepherd, and what you can do to ensure your GSD gets the delicious and nutritious food they need at every stage of life.
Read Also: How Long Do German Shepherds Live
How Can You Tell If Your German Shepherd Is Overweight
If you own a German shepherd, its important to be able to tell if they are overweight. After all, being overweight can lead to a number of health problems for your dog.
One way to tell if your German shepherd is overweight is by feeling their ribs. If you cant feel their ribs easily, then they may be carrying around too much weight. Another sign that your dog may be overweight is if they are panting excessively.
A healthy German shepherd should have a defined waist. This means that when you look at them from above, you should be able to see a slight indentation in their sides just behind the rib cage. If this isnt visible, then your dog may need to lose some weight.
Of course, the best way to know for sure if your German shepherd is at a healthy weight is by talking to your veterinarian. They will be able to give you specific advice based on your dogs individual case and help you create a plan for getting them back down to a healthy weight, if necessary.
What Are The Benefits Of Raw Eggs For Dogs
There are a few potential benefits of feeding raw eggs to dogs. Some people believe that raw eggs can help increase a dog’s energy levels, improve their coat, and even help with joint pain. While there is some anecdotal evidence to support these claims, there is no scientific evidence that raw eggs offer any health benefits for dogs.
Recommended Reading: Do German Shepherds Drink A Lot Of Water
Feeding A Senior German Shepherd
Your German Shepherds diet will then again change as it turns into a senior. This is as senior dogs typically require fewer calories due to lower energy needs brought about by lesser activity and slower digestion. Therefore, to keep your senior German Shepherd in shape, you must consider a low-calorie, high-fiber, and moderate protein and fat diet.
Usually, you can keep on feeding your senior dog with a decreased amount of its adult food or with specially formulated food for older dogs. But, considering older dogs may already have medical conditions that need to be addressed, your best bet would be to consult with a veterinarian to come up with the ideal diet for your senior German Shepherd.
How Long To Feed A German Shepherd
The mealtime lengths of your German shepherd will mainly rely on your observation. Therefore, youll need to consider these questions:
- How long can your dog finish his portion?
- How long does it take for your dog to be full?
- Is your dog still hungry after eating his portion?
German shepherds normally take anywhere from 10 minutes to 15 minutes to finish the meal, given that you followed the proper feeding guidelines properly. If your dog shows signs of slow eating, we recommend sending them to your vet.
If you think your dog is already full before finishing his portion, there is no problem. However, if your dog is still hungry after finishing the meal, consider sending him to your vet. This is because this can be a sign of a serious health issue involving their digestive system.
Now you know about the German shepherds feeding amount, frequency, and length, but lets not forget about an important part of meals.
You May Like: Do You Capitalize German Shepherd In A Sentence
What Human Foods Do German Shepherds Eat
Although each dog hasits preferences, a German Shepherd will eat cheese, fruits, vegetables, andanything containing beef, seafood, and chicken.
Examples of these foodsare hot dogs, watermelon, apples, beef, pork, carrots, potato, rice, yogurt,and cooked eggs. These are foods that German Shepherds naturally get attractedto. However, not all these foods agree with their stomachs.
Unlike other dogs whoonly develop sensitive stomachsmuch later in life, GSDs have them from birth. By including certain things intheir diet, youre putting them at risk of digestive problems andgastrointestinal issues. This may not be a problem with every German Shepherd,but it is common in most of them.
No one wants to seetheir dog with an upset stomach. So, it is important to control what your GSDeats and keep an eye on him always. If you notice any changes in his outputs,talk to your vet immediately. If your GSD has a very sensitive stomach, you mayhave to take him for tests to find out what to eliminate from his diet.
German Shepherd Feeding Chart
There are three aspects of this feeding chart, namely the German shepherd feeding amount, feeding frequency, and mealtime lengths.
It is important to find out the appropriate feeding amount, frequency, and length for your German shepherd without leaving out one of them. That way, you can accurately find out the best way to feed your dog.
Lets start with the most basic of them all, the feeding amount.
Don’t Miss: Can German Shepherds Live Outside
How Much To Feed German Shepherd Breakdown:
- German Shepherds in general need around 1,000 calories each day .
- Your dog will eat between 30-50% of its body weight in one sitting. So for example, if your dog is 60lbs they should eat between 18-30lbs of food in one day.
- If you notice your dog is losing weight, add more calories to its meal size. If they are starting to gain too much fat on their body, cut back suggested serving sizes by around 25%.
Problems Caused By Improper Food Intake
If you have an active German Shepherd at your home then nothing will depress you more than your dog getting ill. Most of the diseases caused to German Shepherd are related to its stomach. These stomach problems are caused by feeding your dog with unhealthy or inappropriate food.
The stomach of a German Shepherd is very sensitive and it easily gets troubled if the food intake is unhealthy or improper.
Let us have a look at the health problems a German Shepherd can go through due to false feeding.
German Shepherds are tall and healthy but they are not fat. They need an active and slim body to do their job requiring running, jumping, and detecting. Overfeeding and lack of regular exercise can make your dog obese.
Your dog is getting overweight or obese if you can not feel its ribs while gently pressing the coat. This is an alarming situation and you need to consult the vet immediately.
Overweight is dangerous for a German Shepherds health. It can become a reason for diseases like arthritis, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia . The excess weight lays pressure on the joints and can make your dog paralyzed.
To avoid obesity, you need to make some changes to the diet of your dog. Add some fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet. It will help in maintaining a healthy weight of your dog without letting it feel hunger.
You can provide your dog with dog toys and treats. This will keep the dog engaged and will not increase its weight and make it obese.
Recommended Reading: How To Buy German Shepherd Dog
Is All Raw Meat Safe For Dogs
For the most part, all raw meat is safe for a German Shepherd. This caution of for the most part is to make you aware that you should never feed your dog raw meat that you wouldnt cook and eat for yourself.
This means that you should always follow the same guidelines that you would use for yourself and your family when choosing meat to serve to your GSD. Make sure that you check the expiration date, and do not pick meat to serve to your dog if the date has passed.
Are German Shepherds Picky Eaters
German Shepherds do have a reputation for being particular about their food. This doesnt guarantee that all German Shepherds will be picky and difficult to feed. Its just worth noting that, if your German Shepherd just sits and stares at their bowl, it could be because they are bored of that food.
One thing you can try to avoid their boredom with food is having a couple of types on hand at a time. These can be two foods you know they enjoy. You can alternate between them so they dont get bored of the same thing every day.
Sometimes, it might seem like your German Shepherd is being picky, but they are just really being cheeky. If your German Shepherd adores wet food, but you only give it to them for one meal a day, they might try to trick you into giving them more by making you think they dont like their dry food.
When they get hungry enough, they will eventually give in and eat their kibble. Dogs will not starve themselves, especially German Shepherds.
Recommended Reading: West German Working Line German Shepherd For Sale
Raw Diets Cooking For Dogs And Other Alternative Feeding
This article has been focusing mainly on commercially available dry kibble since that is what most pet parents ultimately choose for their dogs.
However, there are many dog owners that choose to feed alternative diets. These include raw diets and cooking regular people food for dogs.
There are many viable options for feeding your healthy German Shepherd, but there are just as many harmful fads, too.
As with commercial foods, be sure to speak with your vet before starting your dog on a raw diet or home-cooking her meals.
Whats healthy for humans isnt usually healthy for dogs.
That means youll need to learn a lot about canine metabolism, life stages, and nutritional needs before you embark on that journey.
Weve covered the holistic diet approach right here if youre interested in learning more.
Feeding your dog an alternative diet can be a fun way to bond with your pup and feel good about providing whole, nutritious, natural foods that support your GSDs health and wellness.
How Much Should I Feed My German Shepherd
German Shepherd puppy food is different from an adult dogs. This difference is because as a large breed puppy, their nutritional needs change through their life stages. Puppies tend to eat a lot because they are growing at an accelerated rate.
Their growing needs mean that you should meet their nutritional needs to raise a healthy, strong adult German Shepherd.
Use the guidelines here to help take care of your German Shepherds feeding needs as a puppy and an adult dog.
Don’t Miss: How To Draw Cute German Shepherd
Can You Add Vegetables Into Your German Shepherds Diet
Vegetables are slightly more clear cut as to which ones are and arent safe to add to your German Shepherds diet.
They dont need a lot of vegetables in their diet, and moderation is a key component to feeding them any at all.
Its a good idea to vary the vegetables you feed your dog because some have different vitamins and nutrients than others.
According to the Pet Poison Helpline, all members of the Allium family like leaks, chives, onions, and garlic are very dangerous for your dog to eat.
These vegetables have something called thiosulphate, and this can cause your dog to become anemic.
Anemia can cause your dog to feel weak, have vomiting or diarrhea, elevate their heart rate, and cause them to collapse.
Keep any and all onions away from places your dog can reach. They could be okay with a tiny amount of onion if they accidentally get into it, but its better to avoid them.
Also, avoid feeding your German Shepherd anything seasoned with onion or garlic.
Ripe and red tomatoes are generally considered safe for German Shepherds to eat, but they cant eat the leaves, stems, or any green parts of the plant because it contains solanine.
Solanine can cause your dog to experience seizures, tremors, or problems with their heart. Always give your dog small amounts and monitor them after to ensure they dont have a reaction to it.
Potatoes are another vegetable that falls into the same family as tomatoes, so you shouldnt feed them to your dog raw.
What Nutrients Do German Shepherds Need
The nutritional requirements of German Shepherds are a minimum of 22% protein during growth stages and 18% protein for adult dogs. Puppies need 8% fat, and adults require 5% fat to meet their energy needs. Carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water are also necessary for survival.
You must include these essential nutrients in a German Shepherds daily diet as they are involved in all of the bodys vital functions.
The nutritional content of all commercial pet foods has to follow the guidelines developed by the AAFCO .
The MSD Vet Manual also publishes dog nutrient profiles which contain a ton of detail listing all the individual vitamins and minerals a German Shepherds diet needs.
Recommended Reading: How Big Do German Shepherd Beagle Mixes Get