What Food Do German Shepherds Eat

How Much Food Should A German Shepherd Eat

The amount of food your German Shepherd needs will largely depend on your pets size, activity level, age, and overall health. The key is to make sure you dont overfeed or underfeed your dog. So, how much food should a German Shepherd eat?

On average, an active adult German Shepherd weighing 70lbs needs 1740 calories a day, whereas an active, larger sized German Shepherd weighing 90lbs needs 2100 calories a day. In contrast, inactive GSDs of similar weights only need 1272 calories and 1540 calories, respectively.

I would always recommend seeking the advice of your vet if you are ever unsure of what to feed or how much to feed your dog, but you can always refer to the National Research Councils science-based guide for your dogs nutritional needs. So, what about puppies, you may ask. How much food should a German Shepherd puppy eat?

On average, a German Shepherd puppy needs about twice as many calories per pound of body weight as an adult German Shepherd. Therefore a mature puppy weighing 45lbs needs around 2100 calories, the same as an active adult twice its weight.

When my German Shepherd was a growing puppy, I visited my vet once a month to weigh her and get a quick overall check of her general health.

You also need to assess your dogs activity level. Lapdogs who get minimal exercise may need 10% less than whats recommended on the food label, whereas an active dog that regularly exercises may need 20% to 40% more.

Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy Food

Wellness Complete Health delivers a delicious chicken, rice, and salmon recipe that your German Shepherd puppy will love. Key ingredients include deboned chicken, chicken meal, peas, ground brown rice, and salmon meal. Everything a puppy needs to grow strong and energetic. Puppies will grow strong bones, sharp brains, a shiny coat, and healthy eyes.

Analysis of Wellness Complete Health includes 29% crude protein, 13% crude fat, 5% crude fiber, and a balanced calcium/phosphorus ratio of 1.3% to 0.9%. This food contains 367 kcal/cup.

Overall, Wellness Complete Health is a great choice for a German Shepherd puppy who loves lots of flavor in his food.

Tips For Making Your Own Dog Food At Home

PETA

Making your own food from scratch is hands-down the most reliable way to ensure your dogs diet has not come into contact with anything theyre allergic to. Weve got some healthy dog food recipes to share with you and some great dog food recipe hacks to make cooking for your dog less of a chore.

We hope this guide to dog food allergies helps you find a solution to your dogs symptoms. As a reminder, please always talk to your vet before introducing your dog to a new food.

Recommended Reading: Can German Shepherds Be Left Outside

Also Check: How Much Do German Shepherds Weigh Full Grown

Taste Of The Wild Wetlands Grain Free Dry Dog Food

Taste of the Wild Wetlands made our top favorites because of the wild game proteins in the recipe. Roasted quail, roasted duck, and smoked turkey provide rich flavor and highly digestible protein. K9 Strain Probiotics are developed specifically for dogs and added after the cooking process to ensure viability. Dried chicory root provides the prebiotic fiber to fuel your German Shepherds energy supply.

The analysis of Taste of the Wild Wetlands breaks down to 32% crude protein, 18% crude fat, and 4% crude fiber. This food contains 375 kcal/cup.

Taste of the Wild Wetlands hits many of our strong points for an adult German Shepherd food.

Fats And Other Essential Vitamins And Minerals

A German Shepherd puppy needs around 8% fat in their diet, while an adult GSD should have about 5% fat in their diet.

Natural fats from fish, meat, and plant-based oils contain beneficial properties that are great for your dogs cognition and muscle movement.

These fats will also have visual benefits, as your German Shepherds coat will have a beautiful shine when they get enough fat and oil in their diet!

Because German Shepherds are a powerful breed of dog, their energy levels will be served well by feeding them dog food that contains a range of vitamins like Vitamin A, B12, and E.

You May Like: When Do German Shepherds Ears Stand Up

German Shepherd Puppy Food Requirements

Puppies have seemingly endless energy stores. This means they need a constant supply of calories the right types of calories to keep their energy levels high and help them develop into happy, healthy adult dogs.

As a new German Shepherd puppy owner, youre probably going to have a few questions that need specific answers. Feeding a puppy is a lot different than feeding an adult dog because youre usually housebreaking them so youll need to stay on a regular feeding schedule and their growing bodies require more nutrients from their food than adult dogs do.

Questions like

• How much food should I feed my puppy?
• How many times a day should I feed my puppy?
• How much should a puppy eat?

Theyre all legitimate concerns, and were glad youre taking matters into your own hands, instead of just giving them a constant supply of food all day or, worse, potentially starving them of vital nutrients and minerals because youre not feeding them enough.

As a general rule, you can tell that youre feeding your puppy too often if you can not see or feel their rib cage.

While, for humans, this is considered a sign of malnutrition, its actually a guideline you can use to help figure out if your puppy is getting enough calories from their diet.

Best German Shepherd Food Around

The best German Shepherd food will include a balance of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Many dry or wet foods from stores provide you with a list of ingredients that the dog food contains.

These store-bought foods also offer vital information about which foods are suitable for your German Shepherds age.

German Shepherds enjoy protein-rich foods like meat, but they are seldom averse to eating dairy products.

Pet lovers can give their German Shepherds milk, yogurt, and cheese in small quantities on rare occasions because they love this type of food.

However, it is not advisable to give ice cream to your dog as this food is unhealthy.

If you enjoy feeding table scraps to your German Shepherd, you should understand which human foods are safe for your dog.

Even better, cook specific human foods for your German Shepherd, such as meat offcuts from the butchery.

You can boil up a delicious meat and vegetable stew and broth and mix this with rice for a healthy dog meal. Remember to remove all bones from the dish after cooking to prevent these from harming your pet.

As many people know, it is unsafe to feed cooked bones to your pet, as these can splinter and damage your dogs stomach or intestines.

Considering that the German Shepherd already has a problem with a sensitive gut. This gut problem is known as gastric dilatation-volvulus .

The stomach turns on its axis, shutting off the blood flow to the area, which can cause death if you dont get immediate medical assistance.

Don’t Miss: Why Do German Shepherds Whine So Much

Can German Shepherds Eat Apples Why You Should Or Not

You frequently glance down and see your dog eagerly waiting if youre cooking a meal to eat. If youve got an apple in your hands, youre probably asking yourself, Can german shepherds eat apples?

If you answered yes, youre about answer this question!

German shepherds can not only take apples when theyre eaten in the correct quantity theyre also a nutritious treat!

So if youre worried about giving your german shepherd apples, dont be! If theyre not allergic, theyll be awestruck!

How Often Should You Feed Your Dog Apples

Due to a large amount of fiber and sugar found in apples, they must be consumed in moderate amounts. A couple of slices every few days is perfect. But, in general, you shouldnt serve them too much each day.

If youre not sure how often you should give your German Shepherd an apple, or any other treats, its best to speak to your veterinarian first.

A general guideline 10% of their diets can be a mixture of sweets.

Also Check: Why Does My German Shepherd Look Skinny

Which Food Is Best Recommended For Adult German Shepherds

For the adult food recommendations, we based our choices on similar aspects to the puppy formulas. We chose the food with the most natural and organic ingredients, the highest nutritional benefit, and the overall reputation of the company. Adult German Shepherds do not need as much protein or fat as a puppy since they are done growing. However, we still searched for the highest-quality adult food with the proper balance of protein, fat, fiber, and calories for an active adult German Shepherd.

Vegetables That German Shepherds Can Eat

As mentioned previously, German Shepherds are not carnivores they are omnivores this means that a certain amount of non-meat foods, including vegetables, should form part of their diet. Vegetables provide your German Shepherd with important minerals and vitamins which they cant get from meat.

German Shepherds can eat most vegetables. They should never eat large quantities of these vegetables, and you need to make sure that you serve them correctly. Some are better raw, and others are better cooked. If you cook vegetables for your German Shepherd, or you want to share your own with your dog, you have to remember to cook them without fats or seasonings.

Most vegetables are high in fiber, which is beneficial to your German Shepherds digestive tract. However, the high fiber content also means that vegetables will cause diarrhea in your German Shepherd if the quantities are not moderated.

Additionally, some individual German Shepherds can be intolerant or allergic to vegetables that are supposed to be safe for them to eat. Introduce each vegetable to your dog slowly and always watch them for an hour or so after they try a vegetable for the first time to make sure it is not adversely affecting them.

Nightshade vegetables should be treated carefully as they contain a chemical called solanine, which is toxic in high doses.

Read Also: Will My German Shepherd Puppy Stop Biting

Taste Of The Wild: High Prairie Canine Formula With Roasted Bison & Roasted Venison

This dog food is packed with a variety of high-quality protein sources , making it a brilliant choice for active dogs like German Shepherds. In total, it contains 32% protein.

It is also grain-free, so no worries when it comes to grain allergies. The carbohydrates come in the form of potato, sweet potato, and yucca, and there is a variety of fruit and other vegetables including berries, tomatoes, and peas to provide high levels of vitamins and minerals.

Taste of the Wild uses only natural preservatives, and they steam dry their food with purified water to ensure it is free from chemicals. Pretty fancy, eh?

When it comes to price, it is more affordable than Orijen, which makes its overall rating just that bit higher.

PROS

The Best German Shepherd Puppy Food For Health

German Shepherds are especially prone to certain health problems, including skin conditions, hip dysplasia, and bloat. These conditions are common to a lot of large breeds of dog, and many manufacturers take them into account. Look for puppy food designed for large, active breeds. The right food might help to prevent these conditions from affecting your pup in later life.

Read Also: Is My German Shepherd Pregnant

What To Be Mindful Of When Feeding Your German Shepherd

Now that weve gone over some of the best dog foods for your German Shepherd, below well explore what you should be mindful of before adding new components to your dogs diet.

To ensure that your GSD remains happy and healthy, its important to educate yourself on whats beneficial to them, as well as what may hurt them in the long run.

What Are The Best Treats For German Shepherds

Many dog owners give treats and snacks. Dog treats dont have to follow AAFCO standards, which means they may not contain the proper nutrients in their correct ratios. Lets just say many dog treats on the market will provide hardly any nutritional value at all for your dog! So what are the best treats for German Shepherds?

The best treats for German Shepherds are those carefully formulated for dogs and contain high-quality, nutritious ingredients. They should be low in fat and calories and free of additives, chemicals, and coloring. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dogs total daily calories.

There are some excellent good high-quality treats on the market. However, some can be quite expensive, so shop around.

However, Im happy to pay that bit more if it means my GSD stays healthy and happy. Willow loves her Guru venison sausages, as you can see from the below photo . She also enjoys Blue Buffalo Health Bars, which you can get on Amazon or any good pet store.

Also Check: How Cold Can German Shepherds Handle

Which Food Is Best Recommended For German Shepherd Puppies

For these recommendations, we chose the food with the most natural and organic ingredients, the highest nutritional benefit, and the overall reputation of the company. Like we said earlier, puppies need high levels of protein, moderate fat levels, small amounts of fiber, and a balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio.

What Nutrients Do German Shepherd Puppies Need

German Shepherd puppies grow rapidly until they are 8 months of age. Puppies may continue to grow until they are 18 months old but their growth rate is not as rapid. Therefore, German Shepherd puppies require high-quality nutrients to support bone and muscle growth, a healthy immune system, and a strong digestive system. Proper nutrition during the puppy stage can reduce common health issues later in life, such as hip dysplasia, arthritis, obesity, bloat, and allergies.

Be sure to feed your German Shepherd puppy the food designed specifically for his breed type: large breed puppy formula. Large breed puppy formulas are designed with calorie, carbohydrate, and calcium content levels so that puppies grow strong and healthy. Small breed formulas will have lower calorie and fat contents, which will leave your German Shepherd puppy malnourished. Likewise, adult formulas for large breeds have lower calorie and calcium levels and are made into larger kibbles which your puppy will not be able to eat or digest easily. It is pertinent that you feed your German Shepherd puppy large breed puppy formula.

Also Check: How Much Do You Feed German Shepherd Puppy

Lemons And Limes: Cant Eat

Lemons and limes can be toxic to your dog.

This is because the skins of lemons and limes contain a substance called psoralen, which can cause dogs to have gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea .

If very large amounts of psoralen are consumed by dogs, more severe symptoms, such as muscle tremors, difficulty walking, liver failure and death, can result.

Dairy Products That German Shepherds Can Eat

All dairy products should be given in minimal amounts to German Shepherds because of their high-fat content. German Shepherds bodies are less tolerant of these animal fats than human bodies. You also need to introduce them slowly because some dogs can be lactose intolerant.

If you feed your German Shepherd dairy products, try to go for the low-fat, plain options, but be careful because low-fat dairy products also usually have reduced sugar content.

The danger with reduced sugar dairy products or flavored dairy products is the addition of the sweetener xylitol, which is incredibly toxic to dogs .

Cheeses are a great source of B vitamins, calcium, fatty acids, proteins, and vitamin A. However, they are often high in fat and high in sodium. With cheeses, you should rather go for low-salt, low-fat, plain cheese.

Recommended Reading: Who Would Win In A Fight German Shepherd Or Pitbull

Highly Recommended Food Diet For German Shepherd

When the question comes to food, we only try to get the best for ourselves whether it be homemade or factory-made, we prefer choosing the best one cause we know it is perfectly fit for us. But do you think that we are the same when the question comes about dogs? Do we know what to feed them and how to feed them?

We all love dogs as pets and are aware that dogs are the perfect pets when the question comes about choosing one. Most of you reading this article may own a pet dog or maybe thinking of owning one, but there are little measures that needed to be taken care of adequately. Lets take a look at some of the best pet strollers for Large Dog Stroller

Also Recommended Small Dog Stroller

Furthermore discussing on the similar topic of dogs, the most popular and essential breed that comes in our mind after reading the word dogs is German Shepherd. It is a dog breed that mainly originates in Germany and also known as Alsatian in Britain till 1977 where its name was changed back to German Shepherd.

This dog breed was chiefly used for herding sheep and was a farm dog. However their strength, trainability, obedience, and intelligence made them famous across the globe. They have been great for all sorts of work including disability assistance, police, military, work, rescue, and even acting.

Also, Check: Comfortable Dog Strollers For German Shepherd Dog

What To Do If Your German Shepherd Eats Harmful Food

Accidents happen, and sometimes our German Shepherds get their paws on food that can cause them harm. Knowing how to react when our dogs eat potentially toxic food is extremely important, and can often save them from possible illness.

So what do you do if your German Shepherd eats harmful food?

The first thing you should do is contact your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can help you understand if the food your Shepherd consumed is toxic, and if they need to come in to be seen.

Though it can be tempting to find answers online, its always best to seek advice from your veterinarian if your dog eats potentially toxic food.

If your veterinarian instructs you to bring your dog into the vet, its important to make sure that you have all the information on the item your dog consumed.

For example, if your German Shepherd eats a candy bar, its important to bring the wrapper in with you. Knowing the ingredients of an item can help your vet determine the best treatment plan going forward.

Also Check: Pitbull Vs Wolf Who Would Win