What Food German Shepherds Eat

How About German Shepherd Puppies

German shepherd puppies also need the same consideration as to their dad and moms. They grow fast so they also need high quality proteins. As much as possible, avoid exposing them to common irritants and allergens.

Watch out for labels with chicken, bison and beef as the main ingredients. Do not fed them foods with labels such as by-products as their initial offering. Preferably, pick products with good reputation and no any history of recall-free pet dog food production.

Go for products with consumer advocacy.

Complete Guide To What German Shepherds Can & Cant Eat

German Shepherds are never far away when you are cooking and eating. As such, you may often be tempted to share a bit of whatever you are cooking or eating with your German Shepherd.

But what can you safely share? What foods can and cant a German Shepherd eat?

In this article, we have compiled as comprehensive a list as possible of the foods that your German Shepherd can eat and those that it cannot.

The lists are divided into food groups for ease of reference the can eats of each food group are listed first, immediately followed by the cant eats of that group.

Do You Have A Favorite German Shepherd Puppy Food

Once youve found the perfect food for your German Shepherd puppy, why not tell us about it in the comments section below? Wed be particularly interested to hear if you chose one of our top products!

Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.

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Human Foods That Are Safe For German Shepherds To Eat

If you live with your German Shepherds long enough, chances are you are stocking several ingredients in your fridge and pantry that you may be able to dig into with your German Shepherd. Grocery shopping will become a lot more fun and inclusive once you know what types human foods are safe for your pooch to consume. It is literally safe for German Shepherds the eat several types of fruits, vegetables, grains, oils, spices, and meat on a daily basis. Lets see the list.

Orijen Large Breed Puppy Food

Image courtesy Orijen

The Orijen Puppy Large contains the most animal protein from chicken, which is fresh. The label analysis revealed that the recipe has 43% protein, 18% fat, and 31% carbohydrates… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of around 42 percent.

Champion Petfoods, the well-known maker of Orijen, has long promoted a meat-based “biologically appropriate” diet. This is a tried and true design that makes this particular dish an excellent choice for developing Shepherd pups.

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Why Does It Matter

As a consequence, my dogs diet is based on beef, wheat, and cabbage, and I avoid fish, soy, or rice. But lets be realistic, knowing what my dogs should eat and mixing that all up in a way they will eat it are two very different things. In their original habitat, they would consume these types of things naturally. However, they would not walk up to some spinach plant and start chewing. They are dogs, and dogs eat and NEED meat dogs are omnivores. In nature, they hunt down any smaller animal, kill it and eat it. Dogs get a lot of nutrition by eating the stomach, and the half-digested content of their dinner killdont think about that for too long, but that is how dogs in the wild get their vegetables.

Obviously, that wont fly around here. So, I decided to purchase William D. Cusicks The Best Diet for a German Shepherd Dog manuscript, and I cooked my German Shepherds food following his recipe for seven years before transitioning to raw foodmore on that below. My German Shepherds love their food and thrive on it. As a result, they have higher energy levels, have gained muscle mass, and are 100% healthy. Further, my dogs dont need flea or tick medications eitherthe garlic in the food is a natural pest repellent. My German Shepherds are very healthy dogs! Clearly, feeding the best food for a German Shepherd makes a difference. Food matters!

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food

The Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food is best for all-life stages meaning in both puppies and adult dogs. It has limited ingredients so it wont cause any allergic reactions to your dogs. This product is also made from USA so it is of high and premium quality. If your dogs have sensitive stomach, skin allergies and other skin issues, you may try this out!

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Cereals And Grains That German Shepherds Can Eat

All cereals and grains are carbohydrates, and this list contains common carbohydrate foods like pasta and breads that have been made using grains.

German Shepherds do need carbohydrates in their diet, but too much can lead to sugar-related health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and pancreatitis.

Cereals, grains, and related carbohydrates are good sources of fiber to aid in healthy digestion. However, too much and they will cause your German Shepherd to get diarrhea.

German Shepherds are also prone to bloating, which may be triggered or aggravated by cereals and grains, so you will need to assess your particular German Shepherds reaction to these foods.

Bloating in dogs is not the same as boating in humans. In dogs, it is known as Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, and it is a life-threatening condition in which the stomach can actually twist and cut off the blood supply to the stomach and other organs.

Some people recommend grain-free diets for German Shepherds, and you can consult your veterinarian about the advantages of this option.

Dr Garys Best Breed German Dog Diet

Rating:

German Dog Diet is one of 13 dry recipes covered in our review of the Dr. Garys Best Breed product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, oatmeal, brown rice, dried beet pulp, chicken fat
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: All life stages
• Best for:German shepherd puppy or adult

Dr. Garys Best Breed German Dog Diet derives most of its animal protein from chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 22% fat and 34% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.

We like the fact the formula also includes zinc proteinate and other chelated minerals which provides superior absorption and nutrition. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewOur german shepherd has had a lot of itching problems since she was about 1 year old. We have tried different foods, supplements, sprays and shampoos. Nothing has seems to work as well as when we switched to this food. Scabs that were on her for months due to her itching them open all the time have finally healed over. She is still a little itchy, but significantly better than before. And she loves the food too! We used to leave her food bowl full all day because she would only pick throughout the day. With this food we are only doing 2-3 cups morning and night because she scarfs it all down in minutes! Glad we finally found something that she loves and works so well!

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Can My German Shepherd Eat Cheese

A small amount of cheese is fine for your German Shepherd. Cheese is a healthy food that contains protein, calcium, vitamin A, essential fatty acids, and B-complex vitamins.

Cheese helps maintain strong bones and teeth in German Shepherds, and healthy bones are vital to helping dogs have an active lifestyle full of walks and playtime. Keep in mind that many German Shepherds are often allergic and intolerant of lactose.

What Is The Healthiest Food For A German Shepherd Puppy

Its important to choose specially formulated puppy food to support your young pups growth. Experts at the German Shepherd Dog Club of America advise looking for food that lists good protein, such as beef, chicken, or turkey, as the first ingredient. They also recommend avoiding foods that list chicken by-product meal, meat meal, or corn products as the main source of protein. Once youve narrowed down your options, seek advice from your veterinarian on which food will work best for your puppy.

Finally, according to a 2019 report by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 56 percent of dogs in the US are overweight or obese. Its a serious problem that can lead to a variety of health issues in dogs, including diabetes, osteoarthritis pain, and hypertension. Being a responsible pet parent means feeding your German Shepherd the appropriate amount of high-quality food for a well-balanced diet. When you do, youll have a happy, healthy dog eager to join his family on outdoor adventures.

Editors’ Recommendations

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Breeder Of Purebred Ckc Registered German Shepherds

We are a family-based kennel that breeds for the love and preservation of the German shepherd dog.. Located near Kingston, Ontario, we raise our dogs on 20 acres of land and with our 5 young children. The puppies are well accustomed to a family setting before they go home. Our German Shepherds are health screened, OFA or FCI certified hips and elbows, have strong bones, big heads and rich colors. All our German Shepherd puppies are raised with quality care from day one to insure a happy, confident, well balanced temperament. They are around children, cats and smaller dogs to make sure they will acclimate well with any kind of household. Our German Shepherd puppies are black and red in color. German Shepherd puppies for sale come current on their vaccinations, are dewormed and microchipped. We offer a health guarantee, life time support, a vet health certificate, CKC registration papers and a useful German Shepherd puppy starter package.

What Should You Feed Your German Shepherd

German shepherds, bothpuppies and adults, require meals balanced in nutrients and proportions toenable them to keep up with agility expectations. They are large and energeticdogs and require protein in large quantities. It helps to build up their energyand develop their muscles.

Also, fat is necessaryfor the maintenance of a fine coat. Good sources of dietary fat include fishoil, peanuts, and peanut butter. A good quality German Shepherd should alsocontain some calcium and phosphorus in the ratio 1:1 for puppies and 1.2: 1 foradults.

Proper nutrition canreduce hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia,arthritis, and other common health issues in dogs. Here are some foods thatcontain the right nutrients for your German Shepherd:

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Foods To Avoid Feeding Your German Shepherd

Since German Shepherds have large appetites, we must always be mindful of what goes inside their mouths. They tend to eat whatever falls from the dinner table or even whatever food they set their sights on.

As we talk about food diets, we must not forget those foods you must avoid feeding your German Shepherd puppy.

Generally, they may not be too sensitive to dog foods or ingredients, but other foods may be fatal to them.

Firstly, lets tackle food and ingredients that can be fatal to German Shepherds, even if its ingested in small amounts.

Coffee is one of the most toxic foods to dogs. They contain caffeine, which causes cardiac arrhythmias, high blood pressure, vomiting, tremors, and seizures.

If youre a coffee-lover, make sure you have a secure place to store it away from your pup.

Another toxic food German Shepherd owners should not feed their dog is chocolate. As yummy as this is, chocolates contain theobromine. All dog breeds cannot metabolize this substance. Thats why its poisonous to them.

Gums, peanut butter, and candies that contain xylitol are also toxic to dogs. It causes disorientation, hypoglycemia, seizures, and collapse.

This is much more threatening than coffee and chocolate, so you need to be extra careful with this.

Aside from those mentioned above, there are many other toxic foods you should avoid feeding German Shepherds. They may not be fatal, but they can cause discomfort and progress to severe diseases.

Superfoods For German Shepherds

Always look for foods that start with whole, natural, ingredients. Superfoods like the ones listed below are fantastic choices because they are packed with nutritional benefits:

• Flaxseed is a wonderful source of fat and fiber for a German Shepherd. Flaxseeds and flax oil are rich in those Omega-3 fatty acids that keep your dog shiny and beautiful. Flax also has anti-inflammatory properties, which makes for healthy joints and prevents arthritis.
• Pre and Probiotics foster the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs gut wall. Prebiotic balanced fiber is a fantastic ingredient to feed a GSD as it stimulates digestive bacteria activity and can improve regularity and quality of stool.
• Plant-based carbs complex carbs digest more slowly and provide long-lasting energy and to the body. They come from legumes and vegetables and are an excellent fuel source for this energetic breed.

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Holistic Select Large And Giant Breed Adult

Rating:

Large and Giant Breed Adult Health is one of 5 dry kibbles included in our review of the Holistic Select product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, rice, oatmeal, oats, chicken fat
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult shepherds only

Holistic Select Large and Giant Breed Adult Health derives the bulk of of its animal protein from chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 27% protein, 16% fat and 50% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.

This grain-inclusive, large breed formula boasts above-average protein content yet still free of any plant-based protein boosters. Reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewMy 4 Great Danes absolutely love this food. They are all very healthy, coats are wonderful, and it helps with their teeth. I would recommend this to anyone with Giant Breed dogs. The nutrition information is comparable to what the needs are for Giant Breed . Nothing in this thats bad for your dog. If you decide to get this, your dog will enjoy it!

Peanuts And Peanut Butter

Benefits

Peanuts are packed with nutrition and form an excellent source of Vitamin B6, vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, and niacin. They are protein-rich and are a good source of healthy fat, especially for underweight dogs.

Ideal quantity per day

WagWalking says Do not exceed 4-6 peanuts a couple times a week for your German Shepherd. When it comes to peanut butter, 1 tea spoon a day is considered safe as a treat.

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Nutritional Needs Of German Shepherd

German Shepherds have strong and solid muscular bodies so they need high quality nutrition to maintain their energy requirements.

It is not surprising that they need high quality protein diet that supports their overall energy requirement. They also need protein for muscle strength and development and additional fat to supply energy.

On the average, German Shepherds needs an average of 1740 and 2100 caloric intake. While less active and older dogs may require lesser calorie count.

German Shepherds needs a minimum of 22% of protein for their growth while adult dogs need a maintenance protein of 18%. They also need 8% of fats for puppies and 5% for adults to support their energy requirements.

The good thing about German Shepherds is that they grow very fast so you dont have to spend too much on puppy specific dog foods. Usually you can change to adult diet within six months time. Switching to adult formula after they reach the age of 6 months will prevent any joint and bone issues that are usually seen in animals who grow rapidly.

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Symptoms Of Food Toxicity In German Shepherds

As you can see, there are quite a few common food items that can cause toxicities in our dogs.

Aside from this, our German Shepherds are similar to us in the sense that they can have adverse reactions to certain food items. Because of this, its important to understand the possible signs of food toxicity in our furry friends.

Some of the most common signs of food toxicity in German Shepherds include:

• Itching and skin irritation

The possible symptoms of food toxicity in dogs can vary based on what food is consumed.

If your Shepherd is ever displaying any of the symptoms above, or any other strange behavior, its best to have them seen by a vet immediately.