What Food To Give A German Shepherd Puppy

What Makes Dog Food Good For German Shepherds

Food that can sustain his lifestyle and meet his nutritional needs is good food!

Look for high-quality ingredients and a recipe that is gentle on his digestive system.

Your adult German Shepherd will benefit from animal protein-rich foods and minimize any health issues that might arise from a bad diet.

Have you tried any of the dog food above? Let us know whether fido likes it in the comments!

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed

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Hill’s® Science Diet® Large Breed Puppy dry food is specially made with an optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth, a unique developmental need of large breed puppies. Give them the best start in life so they can grow to their full potential.

• Balanced minerals for strong bones & teeth
• DHA from fish oil for healthy brain & eye development
• High-quality protein for building lean muscles

Science Diet pet food is available in a variety of dry foods and treats for your dogs unique needs, and canned foods in many delicious flavors your dog will love. ;

Additional info:

Month Old German Shepherd

At 4 months old, you can begin introducing more live animal products into their diet. Ingredients like actual bone, pieces of liver, and raw eggs are great to help your dog pick up the nutrients that may be lacking in their dry dog food.

Avoid giving them too much, though, by following the guidelines weve given you above.

Read Also: How Many Puppies Can A German Shepherd Have First Litter

Iams Proactive Health Large Breed

Rating:

Large Breed Chicken and Whole Grains is one of 14 dry recipes covered in our review of the Iams ProActive Health product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, ground whole grain barley, ground whole grain corn, ground whole grain sorghum, chicken by-product meal
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult shepherds only

Iams ProActive Health Large Breed derives the majority of its meat protein from chicken and chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 25% protein, 14% fat and 53% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.

This classic, grain-inclusive large breed design has been made by Iams for years and is a nutritious fit for adult German shepherds. Calcium levels are a bit high for shepherd puppies. Easily recommended.

Sample buyer reviewIAMS is a product that I have turned to for complete nutrition for my dog as well as my cats! In fact, I have been feeding IAMS to my cats for over 20 years! Sure there are higher priced pet foods, but why would you want to pay more when you get the proper nutrition and a quality product at a reasonable price!

Monitor Dog Food Recalls

No matter which dog food you choose, you should check both the FDA and manufacturers websites regularly to find out about any mandatory or voluntary recalls. Even small slip-ups can lead to contaminated products being shipped, and a gourmet price tag is no guarantee of safety. In 2007, a string of dog and cat deaths led to the recall of more than 150 pet foods. Many of these products were expensive and made in the United States, but they included ingredients imported from China that were contaminated with deadly melamine.;

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Food For German Shepherd Puppies: Faq

There is always the possibility that pet guardians have misconceptions about their canines diet. Do not fret, as those misgivings will be cleared here.

How many calories does a puppy German Shepherd need?

An intake of 500 calories per day is suitable for German Shepherd puppies. Yet, as the pup grows older, the number of meals is fewer, and the calorie intake increased to 1600 calories around fifteen months of age. Overfeeding your Shepherd can lead to obesity, while being underfed can affect its growth thats why you should always consult with your local vet about your pets nutritional intake.

How often should you feed my German Shepherd puppy?

Your sweet little fluff ball needs to be fed three to four times a day until four months of age. But, it is a good idea to practice restraint. Overfeeding German Shepherds can lead to indigestion and diarrhea.And dont forget to increase your puppys calorie intake as it grows older. Remember, your GSD loves to sweat it all off with much-needed physical exertion.

What types of food are good for German Shepherds?What diseases are German Shepherds prone to?

German Shepherds are susceptible to joint problems. Youll find that malnutrition in puppyhood can lead to elbow or hip dysplasia in adult dogs. Also, GSDs have specific allergies indicating weaker tummies, so keep that in mind when you pick out their dry food.

Are German Shepherds hypoallergenic?

Read next

Senior German Shepherd Nutrients

As German Shepherds age, they start to lose mobility in certain areas of their body, most notably their rear legs and rear joints.; Hip dysplasia is very common in this breed due to their gait and how they are genetically built.; As your GSD ages, it will require different nutrients than as an adult or as a puppy.; Most GSDs arent prone to getting overweight because the breed is so active, but this is still something that should be monitored.

As your dog ages, its also possible that your vet may advise you to put your pup on a high fiber dog food, or a food thats specifically made for sensitive stomachs.; Things that your GSD used to eat may no longer be tolerable for your pup as they age, so youll want to monitor any potential health issues that may arise with their diet.

Read Also: Why Do German Shepherds Whine So Much

Top 8 Recommended Best Foods For A German Shepherd In 2021

Contents of Article

In addition to being incredibly smart and trainable, the German Shepherd is also a very large dog. This breed typically stands between 22 and 26 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between 50 and 90 pounds at maturity. Originally developed as a herding dog, the German Shepherd has very strong protective instincts but they are still very gentle and loving which makes them a wonderful family pet. As a large-breed dog, the German Shepherd has an average lifespan between 10 and 13 years which can be impacted by a number of health problems. This breed is prone to several musculoskeletal issues like hip dysplasia and various inherited health issues like degenerative myelopathy, epilepsy, and bleeding disorders. Responsible breeding practices including DNA testing are essential for this breed.

Health Dietary Changes In German Shepherds

If the following health conditions are present in your GSD, a fresh homemade food diet coupled with these recommendations can help remedy them.

Chart Source: NomNomNow.com

Pro Tip: German Shepherds are a high-risk breed for skin allergies and coat problems. Adding a couple of fish oil squirts;to their meals will provide relief and nourishment to keep skin and coats in tip-top condition. Also, probiotics are an affordable way to reduce your dogs inflammatory responses to food allergens.

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What Your German Shepherd Should Be Eating

Your German Shepherd should be getting a balanced diet and it needs to contain all the nutrients they require. If youre feeding them an unbalanced diet and theyre eating unhealthy foods, youre going down a path that will lead to health problems and expensive vet bills.

Do what you can now to make sure that your German Shepherds diet is the best it can be so you dont have to worry about certain dietary health problems popping up in the future.

There are plenty of different foods you can feed your German Shepherd, but you should keep their diet consistent and avoid too much variation in the foods they eat.

Identifying which kind of foods you want to feed your German Shepherd is important so you can adjust their diet accordingly.

Types Of Diet For German Shepherd Puppies

German Shepherds are lean and strong dogs, which means that they need a diet that is high in lean proteins, but low in fats and carbohydrates. A GS that is overweight will have trouble losing weight because of the way that their body is made.

Overweight puppies will also have too much pressure put on their hips and since hip dysplasia is a real concern for GS, you want their hips to grow well. Stay away from foods that are high in filler as well because that will contribute to weight gain without positive benefit.

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Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Food

Instinct has created a highly nutritional dry food for large breed puppies with all the right ingredients and nutrients. The formula boasts high animal protein with freeze-dried bites of real chicken. Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient on the list. The recipe is strictly grain-free for the well-being of your German Shepherd puppy. It does have a good balance of poultry, fish, and meat proteins for healthy exposure, as well as DHA from chicken eggs for brain and eye development.

This food contains 495 kcal/cup with 33.5% crude protein, 15.5% crude fat, and 4.5% crude fiber. Calcium is at 1.2% and phosphorus is at 1% exactly where it should be.

Overall, this food is an extremely good choice for your German Shepherd puppy.

Raw Paws Signature Blend Food

I really like the Signature Blend from Raw Paws. ;It’s great to serve as the main part of a raw food diet for dogs. And it offers balanced nourishment for your dog.

The meat they source is human-grade, high quality, and sourced from family-owned farms in Indiana. ;In fact, it’s probably healthier than the meat you eat every day.

Many commercial farms use growth hormones in their herds. ;And some even use genetically modified growth hormones.

In humans, these can cause all kinds of problems from developmental disabilities, reproductive issues, to breast and colon cancer. ;

And the same can be said for the problems caused in our dogs.

Antibiotics that are regularly used on commercial farms trickle up the food chain and contribute to antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

But Raw Paws only use meats that are:

• Grass-fed.
• Preservative-free.
• Antibiotic-free and hormone-free.

Their foods also contain no fillers or additives. ;And they are minimally processed. All of the beef used in Raw Paws products are locally sourced from farms in Indiana.

Earlier I mentioned that mixing up the meats equals a;healthy diet. ;So I like that the Signature Blend comes in a variety of proteins like:

• Chicken.
• Turkey.
• Duck.

Raw Paws has also taken great care to ensure the proper ratio of meat, bone, and offal.; I can’t stress how important these ratios are to optimal nourishment.

Getting this wrong can cause problems so it’s great that Raw Paws have taken the guesswork out of it.

Also Check: When To Start Training Your German Shepherd

Can German Shepherds Eat Bones

Do you remember the saying give a dog a bone? But can GermanShepherds eat bones?

German Shepherds can eat bones. They are a good source of nutrients, especially calcium and phosphorus. However, never feed a cooked bone as the cooking causes it to soften and splinter as your dog chews it and can cause injuries or choking. Choose a large raw bone larger than your dogs muzzle.

Beef or lamb bones are better than chicken or pork bones as they are stronger and wont easily splinter. Bones can also help to clean your dogs teeth and keep them strong. Always supervise your GSD when giving him a bone.

The best bone to give to your dog is one that matches their size, as dogs will try to swallow them. Bones should be larger than the length of the muzzle, making them impossible to swallow whole. For example, a large beef shank bone would be just the thing for my German Shepherd, and she certainly thinks so!

Taste Of The Wild Dry Dog Food For German Shepherds

Taste of The Wild Dry Dog Food is one of the top favorites in this list simply because it is very tasty for dogs and it can provide complete nutrition to large breeds.

If you have a German Shepherd in your house, you might want to try this extremely palatable dog food that contains wild game proteins on the recipe, which makes it a very popular choice for dog owners.

It has roasted quail, smoked turkey, and roasted duck that can provide the rich flavor of unique and rare protein sources and also has K9 strain probiotics that are made for dogs to help with the digestion process.

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Proteins In The Feeding Of A German Shepherd

Proteins also play a vital role in the growth of your German shepherd and it is recommended that a German Shepherd dog have a diet with;at least 22% protein;.;It is better to;feed pure proteins;to your German shepherd rather than buying poor quality dog food that has added corn syrup, a stuffing that is very harmful to a dog.

Meal Plans For German Shepherds

The amount of food you should give your German Shepherd depends on her age, size, activity level, health condition, food type, and brand. Underfeeding or overfeeding your dog has serious consequences. So as your pet grows, you need to weigh and feed her with the food quantity that matches her weight.

Puppies typically eat more than adult German Shepherds because they need more nutrients and calories to grow and develop body parts.

Moreso, if your German Shepherd is a couch dog, it will consume less food than working police or sled German Shepherd dog that exercises all day. Working or security dogs need food with high protein content to provide extra calories for their daily activities.

Another essential thing to consider is your dog’s health condition. If your dog is ill or pregnant, your vet may recommend increasing the amount of food you give your dog. Pregnant or lactating dogs typically need more calories and high energy foods to keep up with daily energy demands.

Build Your Dog’s Custom Meal Plan

Read Also: Why Is My German Shepherd So Aggressive Towards Other Dogs

Orijen Adult Dog Food

This protein rich recipe is one of the richest around, with 85% of the ingredients being poultry, fish or egg products. Approximately two thirds of the meat content in this recipe are all fresh or raw, meaning that your German Shepherd will be getting his nutrients in the most nourishing form.

It is 100% grain and gluten free and it is packed with a variety of fruit and vegetables to provide your German Shepherd with his vitamins and minerals. It also comes in three different flavors; the Original, Regional Red and Six Fish, so if you have a fussy pooch then there a few choices for him to choose from, and all of their recipes have whole fish in which helps to maintain a healthy heart.

We love that this is biologically appropriate, in that the recipe is based on a whole prey diet that mirrors the ratio of a wild diet. It incorporates a balance of meat, organs, bones, and cartilage. While that might not sound too appealing to you, your German Shepherd will love it!

Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream

• Grain-free formula.

This recipe is made without grain, potatoes, by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors or preservatives. Only 100% natural ingredients are used in this formula. Its made with smoked salmon, which is a taste that many dogs love as much if not more than chicken or red meat. Salmon is also the first ingredient.

This dog food recipe is also packed with extra nutrients and antioxidants. These will help boost your pups immune system. They will also help keep your German Shepherds digestive system in tip top condition.

We love that this recipe contains Taste of the Wilds proprietary probiotics. This will ensure your German Shepherds gut health is a priority during their adult years.

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Blue Wilderness High Protein Puppy Food

Wilderness wet puppy food is a high-protein, grain-free diet containing deboned turkey*.

The food also contains an important fatty acid thats found in your pups mothers milk, which is vital for good brain and eye function in puppies. Optimally balanced Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are included to promote healthy skin and a glowing coat.

Wrapping Up Best Puppy Food For German Shepherd Puppy

GSDs are known to be large dogs but are more prone to digestive issues. Choosing a suitable food for growing GSD puppies is substantial for their adulthood and life expectancy.

It will be helpful to read the German Shepherd growth chart to help you know if your GSD puppy is growing and developing well. If you want to know more about what to feed your GSDs from 0 to adults, read on The Best Diet for German Shepherds: Counting Calories.;;

Remember that GSD puppy food can only supply their nutritional needs until they are puppies. It is not enough to supply the needs of adult GSDs. Thus, it is best to be ready and start searching for the Best Dog Food for German Shepherd in the next stage of their life.

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