German Shepherd Homemade Food Risks
A poor diet is a significant threat to the health of your German Shepherd. Here are some things to avoid to provide a healthy diet to your pup.
- Not understanding the nutritional needs of German Shepherds
- Using inadequate or dangerous recipes
- Not preparing a balanced meal
- Using unsafe or harmful ingredients
- Not understanding the impact of food and dietary changes
- Neglecting your dogs health conditions
- Not understanding your dogs life stages nutritional needs
Research by the University of California Davis, School of Veterinary and two studies published in the journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine and The Journal of Nutritional Science found that most homemade dog food recipes lackkey essential nutrients, and other recipes used dangerously high levels of some nutrients.
Here are the findings:
- 48% of homemade dog diets had an imprecise determination of ingredients and quantities
- 71.3 % of dog owners did know how much food to serve per meal
- 30.4% of the pet parents admitted to purposely changing the recipe
- 40% of owners didnt measure the proportions of the ingredients well enough
- 28.3% didnt use any of the recommended vitamins, minerals, or amino acids.
- 97% of obesity cases in dogs could be traced to how owners fed and played with their pets.
Best Dog Food For German Shepherds
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Dogs have long been called a mans best friend, and German Shepherds have always been considered the most popular choice of dog lovers because of the varied finer qualities they exhibit. They are the most loyal, confident, steady, intelligent, and capable working dogs ever known to mankind.
German Shepherds embody some of the best traits of a dog, but they also need special care and a proper diet to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Owning a dog is not just a privilege its a responsibility. They depend on us for food, attention, shelter, and more.
Product
Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain
- Special Diet: Chicken Free
- Special Diet: No Corn No Wheat
- Weight: 30 Pound
- Flavor: Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
- Weight: 28 Pound
- Special Diet: No Corn No Wheat
- Weight: 28 pounds
Royal Canin Specialized Dog Food
- Flavor: Chicken
Blue Buffalo Large-Breed Dog Chicken Dinner
- Flavor: Chicken
Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach
- Flavor: Salmon & Rice
Lamb & Peas Grain Free Recipe
CANIDAE Grain-Free
Being large breed dogs, their calorie intake requirement will inevitably be greater than a normal dogs intake.
To help you make a safe choice, we have selected, reviewed, and evaluated the eight best dog food for German Shepherds that cater to all your needs while deciding which formula works best for your high-energy dog.
The Best German Shepherd Diet And Meal Plan For Every Age
The best German Shepherd diet needs the right formulation to support the breeds powerful strength, athletic abilities, and superior intelligence.
And the stores have no shortage of colorful marketing gimmicks and fancy product descriptions at your fingertips to entice you to part with your money at every turn.
Its enough to make your head spin and for you to turn running!
But, this article will more than explore the best German Shepherd diet
Itll be your comprehensive, easy-to-understand road map to choose an optimum diet with balanced nutrition.
Lets jump right in!
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe
Rating:
Wilderness Salmon is one of 18 dry recipes analyzed in our review of the Blue Buffalo Wilderness product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned salmon, chicken meal, peas, pea protein, menhaden fish meal
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best for:Adult shepherds only
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh salmon and chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 17% fat and 38% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%.
A grain-free, protein-rich formula available in over a dozen flavors and recipes which makes Wilderness ideal for those who appreciate the benefits of diet rotation. Fairly priced and highly recommended.
Sample buyer reviewI have a 3 year old husky and ever since she was a puppy i had her on blue wilderness. Ive got her every flavor if not almost every flavor, and this salmon one is the one she has loved the most! Ieave her food bowl full at all times she so can eat whenever she wants. And she eats this salmon one more than every other flavor. Now i know salmon is her favorite protein (:
German Shepherd Raw Diet
Like homemade diets, formulating a raw diet for German Shepherds requires lots of effort and planning. There is more risk of contamination and nutritional imbalance due to its raw nature.
Raw dog food usually consists of uncooked and unprocessed animal-based products. These include raw meat, bones, vegetables, fruits, eggs with shells , and dairy products such as butter and cheese made from raw milk without pasteurization or homogenizing. A raw dog diet resembles the diet that dogs ate in the wild millions of years ago.
Raw dog food is a growing trend These diets provide canines with more nutrients than cooked foods and help them protect their teeth, coat, and digestive functions, among other health benefits. Read our German Shepherd raw diet guide to learn about raw feeding GSDs and their benefits. We recommend visiting our best raw dog food article to find the best brands to feed your dog.
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How Much Exercise Does A German Shepherd Need Every Day Remember This Is Just An Average
Although exercise needs vary from dog to dog, German shepherds are an athletic, high-energy breed that needs several hours of activity per day. Generally speaking, your dog will want to play and run off energy multiple times a day, so you cant count on one long walk being enough.
Keep in mind that your German shepherd needs both physical and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Their breed history makes them perfect for herding or working on the farm hence the name shepherd but not so perfect for lounging around. Theyll need a task to do for at least part of the day to satisfy their driven minds, or theyll make one for themselves. If their plan includes your sofa or a favorite pair of shoes, you wont be so happy.
The American Kennel Club lists problem-solving, decision-making, and focused attention as great ways to keep your dogs mind active. Puzzle toys can be a helpful tool, though more energetic pups may prefer something like agility challenges. The idea is to give him a task that helps him feel satisfied and accomplished when he finally achieves it sometimes just a good run together can do the trick.
How Often Should I Feed My German Shepherd Puppy
Puppies receive all the relevant nutrients from birth by feeding on their mother. However, its safe to begin the weaning process onto a new diet for your German Shepherd after three to four weeks.
As previously mentioned, a growing German Shepherd puppy has different nutritional needs than an adult dog. But did you know puppies also need feeding more frequently at various stages of growth?
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Do German Shepherds Need Supplements
Vets usually will advise senior Germans to take a heart and joint supplement. Just like humans, dogs can also experience wear and tear on their limbs and organs.
However, if you have a young and healthy pup thats fed a well-balanced diet, theres no reason to give him additional supplements unless recommended by a vet.
Purina Pro Plan For Large Breed Puppy
Top ingredients: Chicken, Rice, Corn Gluten MealType: Dry
With live probiotics for better digestive health, Purina has your furkids best interest at heart with their specially formulated kibble.
Naturally sourced glucosamine from fish meal and DHA from omega-rich fish oil for developing your puppys brain and vision.
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Homemade German Shepherd Food Recipes
The best homemade German Shepherd food recipes are those created by your dogs vet or vet nutritionist. Custom-made German Shepherd home food recipes are made specifically for your dogs nutritional needs, which is why theyre the most recommended.
The following are examples of homemade dog food recipes you can consider for your German Shepherd, and theyre borrowed from websites belonging to vet clinics or are written by professional vets. These are only examples and should be passed through your dogs vet before being used for cooking your GSDs food.
Your Gsd Is Sick Or Has Decreased Appetite
If youve been sick, you know how that can go with your appetite and cause you to prefer some foods over others. The same is true for your German Shepherd. The fresh and flavorsome taste of homemade food can promote your sick German Shepherds appetite and help the pet feed better.
Also, though some commercial foods today are made specifically for dogs with certain conditions, making your dogs food at home can help you incorporate the special nutrients a sick GSD needs and include them in the vet-recommended amounts. Take, for example, the high-protein, low-carb diet for diabetic dogs.
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Which Dog Food Is Best For German Shepherds
- Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Dry Dog Food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of purebred German Shepherd puppies 8 weeks to 15 months old
- Unique kibble shape is designed for a German Shepherds long, strong muzzle to encourage chewing
- An exclusive complex of antioxidants, including vitamin E, helps protect puppy development of the immune system
How Much Water Should A German Shepherd Drink
Adult German Shepherds should drink one ounce of water daily for each pound that they weigh. Puppies will generally consume more, despite their smaller size. Some variables include age, size, activity level, type of food eaten , weather, medication, or lactating.
Make sure you keep your dogs water bowl filled up and frequently change it throughout the day. If your dog is not drinking enough water, here are some fun ways to keep him hydrated:
- Give your dog ice cubes.
- Make doggie ice pops.
- Add water to dry food.
- Make fun playtime with a hose in the summer.
PRO TIP! Get a dog water fountain such as the PetSafe Drinkwell from Amazon. I like this one as it has an adjustable water flow to suit your pup and even comes with filters to prevent bacteria growth.
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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!
Always Work With A Vet/vet Nutritionist
Working with a vet or a vet nutritionist is a must-follow guideline!
Whether you feed your dog with commercial diets or homemade food, the most important thing to remember is that the meal should include all the nutritional ingredients needed to keep your dog healthy.
Unfortunately, studies on the nutritional completeness of homemade dog food have suggested that most dog owners dont feed their dogs with a nutritionally complete diet. For example, a study that assessed homemade dog food recipes reported that all had one or more nutrient deficiencies, and none included all the required nutrients.
Considering the risk of giving your dog a meal that lacks essential nutrients, the first thing to bear in mind is, thatwhen feeding your GSD with a homemade diet, the recipe should be created in consultation with a vet or a vet nutritionist. Doing this ensures that the diet is sound for your GSDs wellness.
This also means that you should be wary of the readily available homemade dog food recipes on the internet or in other sources like magazines and books. Before using these recipes, run them through your dogs vet first.
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Developed For German Shepherd Puppies Or Large Dogs
There are a number of brands that create food that is tailor made for German Shepherds. Some, like Hills Science Diet, are formulated to meet the specific needs of a growing Shepherd. But even if you do not purchase a food that is made for German Shepherds, ensure that the food that you purchase is at least made for large breed puppies. This will ensure that the food meets the requirements for a healthy diet.
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Holistic Select For Large & Giant Breed Puppies
Top ingredients: Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, OatmealType: Dry
Each kibble is jam-packed with digestive enzymes, active probiotics, and healthy fiber which will keep your pups digestive health at its finest.
The kibble is also of a larger variety, made for large breed pups. An American product with quality ingredients sourced from all over the world.
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What Food Should German Shepherds Avoid
There are certain ingredientsthat should not be in the best food for German Shepherds:
- Grapes and Raisins. These contain toxic compounds that can cause health problems in your dog. In extreme cases, they can lead to kidney failure and even death.
- Salt. Salt is a flavoring agent that is often added to dog food. However, excessive usage of salt can lead to salt poisoning and prevent water deprivation.
- Chocolate. This is among the most toxic compounds that a dog can eat. It can lead to an upset stomach and, if not treated, death.
- Macadamia Nut. These nuts can cause vomiting, muscle weakness, tremors, hyperthermia, and depression in your dog. As a result, they should be avoided at all costs.
- Onion. A key ingredient in onion is N-propyl disulfide which is highly toxic to dogs. Not only does it damage your dogs red blood cells, but it also can lead to anemia.
- Avocado. Avocados contain a toxin called person, which is considered toxic to dogs. It can lead to fluid buildup in their lungs, which can be fatal.
The Best Supplements For German Shepherds
One of the best ways to address your German shepherds unique nutritional needs is to add all-natural, air-dried supplements to their diet. Supplements can fill in nutritional gaps and help support your GSDs overall health.
Here are some of the best supplements for German shepherds:
Fish Oil
Hip dysplasia and joint pain are common health issues for German Shepherds. Adding a fish oilsupplement can help you get more omega-3s into your dogs diet, which can help protect their joint health.
In a meta-analysis of studies on osteoarthritis in pets, omega-3s for dogs were found to have the highest amount of evidence to support their effectiveness. For the highest concentration of omega-3s, choose a fish oilsupplement made from wild-caught pollock and salmon, like this Omega Oil.
Joint Relief Supplement
Inflammation can contribute to joint pain and deterioration. A Relief Supplement is made with natural anti-inflammatory ingredients, like turmeric, antioxidants, and green-lipped mussels . It can help keep your German shepherd feeling good into their golden years.
Probiotics
A probioticsupplement helps support German shepherds digestion, especially if they have sensitive stomachs. Probiotics can promote digestive health by adding beneficial bacteria to your dogs digestive system. In veterinary studies, probiotics showed promise for addressing a variety of doggy digestive issues.
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Diamond Premium Recipe Complete And Balanced Dry Dog Food For Growing Puppies
Diamond pet foods are made with ingredients of exceptional quality and formulated to help your German Shepherd stay active and feel great. The Diamond pet food formula contains carefully determined levels of protein, fat and other essential nutrients to support ideal body conditionDiamond pet foods provide all the nutrients your pet needs, day after day. This formula is also ideal for pregnant or nursing adult German Shepherds!
- Diamond Puppy Formula is enhanced with DHA for healthy brain and vision development.
- The recipe includes omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and ideal levels of protein and fat, to help your German Shepherd grow up strong.
- Diamond Puppy Formula also contains all the antioxidants and fiber your German Shepherd puppy needs for digestive and immune system support
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Natural Adult Wet Dog Food
Image courtesy Blue Buffalo
If you’re searching for high-quality, all-natural wet dog food, Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a wonderful alternative.
This dog food is high in protein and low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for an entourage diet. It’s made with real beef and chicken, can be served as a delicious treat, or blended into your dog’s regular dry food.
The Blue Buffalo puppy food contains no chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors or preservatives making it a healthy choice for your dog.
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