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.
Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Large Breed Adult Dog Food
Top ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Brown RiceType: Dry
A kibble formulated for GSDs watching their waistlines.
It promotes healthy weight loss while still supporting your dogs nutritional needs. Made with non-GMO ingredients and rich in naturally sourced glucosamine and chondroitin.
One great thing about this is that it comes in lamb as well, so if the chicken is one of the allergens making your dog itch, you can give that a try!
Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula
Top 5 Ingredients: Beef Meal, Grain Sorghum, Ground White Rice, Dried Yeast, Egg Product
The Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula is a wonderful choice for your German Shepherd who is no longer a puppy.
This mix is enhanced with superfoods and probiotics to assist with overall health and development, as well as antioxidants, omega fatty acids for your furry friends coat and skin and nurturing minerals.
It includes protein, such as beef and fish, as well as fruit and vegetables such as blueberries, peas, kale and coconut. There has been some indication that this food is not suited to super picky eaters, however this dry food is generally a good choice for German Shepherds.
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Our Backstory: Common Food Allergies For Dogs
After Rascal turned a year old or so, he started developing really strange eating habits. He wasnt finishing his food, had loud intense stomachaches and frequently threw up. We went through a number of blood tests. He had been diagnosed with things like pancreatitis, anxiety and one vet even thought he had parvo. We were stressed and at a loss at how to move forward. That is until we did an allergy test.
We uncovered that Rascal was allergic to a dozen different food items, one being beef, the main ingredient in his traditional dry dog food. Our vet introduced us to an all-natural human-grade dog food company called Just Food for Dogs. The company sells premade food and teaches people how to make a homemade dog food recipe at home. Once we started this all-natural diet, the stomach aches subsided and he was the happiest we had ever seen him.
German Shepherd Puppies Dietary Needs
Dogs are carnivores. Although they will eat vegetables and fruits, their natural diet is meat based. This means that their food should contain high protein and fat levels. German Shepherds also have thick fur, and tend to shed continually throughout the year. The fat content in your dogs diet helps to keep his skin and coat in good condition.
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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.
Look For All Natural Ingredients
Stay away from any German shepherd food with artificial ingredients, especially preservatives, colors, or flavors. Synthetic preservatives can cause health issues, and artificial ingredients cant compare with the real thing. Large breeds need whole, nutritious food like brown rice, deboned chicken, or high-quality chicken meal.
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How Many Cups Of Food Does A German Shepherd Need
Knowing how many cups of food to feed your German Shepherd becomes a bit trickier when you consider the vast differences in calories and energy-dense foods from each manufacturer.
While calories vary from brand to brand, you may use this chart to approximate the number of cups of food of dry kibble your adult German Shepherd needs.
Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Chicken
Top 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Dried Plain Beet Pulp
The Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Chicken is a veterinarian-approved dry dog food mix with a huge range of ingredients. It contains a great blend of farm-raised chicken, oatmeal and rice, as well as fruit and vegetables such as blueberries, carrots, apples and tomatoes.
This mix is suited to all stages of a German Shepherds life, from puppy to senior, and is a natural formula that contains both prebiotics and probiotics to assist with digestion and the absorption of food in your dogs stomach.
Vitamins A and B12 are included, as well as Taurine for optimal health. Although there arent any genetically modified inclusions in this food, some dogs who are very picky eaters have not enjoyed it. It is generally a quality choice for your German Shepherd though.
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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 (:
Identify The Reason For The Weight Loss
Before you can choose a food to help add weight to your pet, its critical to determine why your pet has lost weight. Some dogs are picky eaters, and others may be suffering from a medical condition. For a finicky dog, it might just be a matter of finding a brand that your dog enjoys and sticking with it. A medical condition is more serious and will likely require the advice of a veterinarian. In many cases, they will prescribe food, and you should follow their instructions.
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German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Guide
Knowing how much to feed a German Shepherd puppy helps you to keep track of their growth and habits. Its good to chart how much youre feeding them so that you can monitor their weight gain, growth, and appetite changes.
Follow this chart as a guide for how much food a German Shepherd puppy usually eats.
What Are The Best Meats For My German Shepherd
Here are the best meats for a German Shepherd:
Additionally, muscle meat and by-products such as hearts, livers, lungs, and kidneys are all good sources of protein, as well as the meat-meals made from them.
While you might turn your nose up at the thought of these animal organs, they contain essential nutrients your German Shepherd loves.
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Best Homemade Cooking Practices
With these tips, you can ensure that your German Shepherds meals are safe and nutritious.
- Never use unsafe or toxic ingredients for dogs
- Use only boneless meats
- Cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria
- Cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest
- Research every ingredient before using it for safety
- Follow recipes as instructed
- Add supplements to their diet if needed
- Run any questions by a vet nutritionist
NOTE: When in doubt, ALWAYS research an ingredient. You dont want to add food that is toxic to dogs.
Blue Buffalo Large Breed Puppy Food
Rating:
Large Breed Puppy is one of 21 dry recipes covered in our review of the Blue Buffalo Life Protection product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Profile: Growth
- Best for:German Shepherd Puppies
Blue Buffalo Large Breed Puppy gets most of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 17% fat and 46% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.
An exceptional formula with a wide variety of recipes you can use when its time to switch your puppy to an adult food. Highly recommended.
Sample buyer reviewSo far this has been a good dry puppy food for my 3 month old Doberman Pinscher pup. His coat is really shiny and so soft. He has a lot of energy and his stools are firm. I would recommend this for your large breed puppy for sure!
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What To Do If My German Shepherd Does Not Want To Eat
You are used to your German shepherd running to the kitchen upon hearing their food poured into the bowl but lately, they seem not interested or even not finish their food.
There are a few reasons that may be making your German Shepherd puppy not eat their food. These include dental problems, health conditions, or does not like the food.
How Much Should A German Shepherd Eat Per Day
An inactive German Shepherd weighing approximately 70lbs should eat around 1,272 calories, while a 90lb inactive German Shepherd should eat about 1,540 calories. On the other hand, active dogs need more fuel. A 70lb active GSD will need at least 1,740 calories a day, and a 90lb active German Shepherd needs 2,100 calories a day for their weight and activity levels.
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Problems With Changing Dog Foods
Think again about frequently changing your dogs food if they have stomach issues.
One of the biggest mistakes owners make is trying too many diets on their own before seeking veterinary attention. In haste to help your sick German Shepherd, you might think frequently changing foods is a good option.
And some dog owners might feed over a dozen diets, sometimes for only a couple of days at a time, before quickly switching foods again. This kind of feeding routine makes it much harder to get to the bottom of things.
Food changes take time to show effects and dont happen in just a few days. Stick with one food and note your dogs diarrhea, upset stomach, and other gastrointestinal issues for a couple of months to see an effect.
German Shepherd Nutritional Needs
German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs, so the best dog food for German Shepherds is generally formulated around those breed specific energy levels. Since they are so intelligent and a large breed with a lot of muscle mass, they are often used as police and military rescue dogs, farm and ranch helpers, therapy and seeing eye dogs, and guard dogs. So they require a lot of energy from their food.
A food that is rich in protein and amino acids is required to help them maintain a healthy weight and keep their muscles strong.
A good dog food for German Shepherds should also have a balance of complex carbohydrates and healthy fats to provide them the sustained, long-term energy they need to work long hours. German Shepherds also need more calories per day than other breeds. An adult German Shepherd at a healthy weight requires between 1700-2100 calories a day so you need a food that has a high kcal amount.
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Elbow And Hip Dysplasia
Unfortunately, the primary health concern for German Shepherds is hip dysplasia, which is a malformation of the joint. It is a condition that can get worse if your dog is overweight or obese, so keeping her at a healthy weight is imperative. If your dog is overweight*, you should choose a dog food that uses a weight management formula, which will be lower in fat.
Another thing that can help this condition is to look for dog foods that contain glucosamine and chondroitin , as they stimulate the body to repair damaged cartilage.
*Females can weigh up to 71 lb , while males usually weigh up to 88 .
What Causes A Sensitive Stomach And Diarrhea In German Shepherds
You might not always know what causes stomach sickness in your GSD.
There are multiple causes why German Shepherds can have diarrhea. This could range from eating something they should not to a sudden change of food.
If you are inclined to change your dogs food, remember to do it gradually over at least a seven to ten-day period. You can do the food switch by mixing a small amount of the new food with the original food. As each day passes continue to add more of the new food while including less of the original diet.
If at any point your German Shepherd gets upset to the stomach or has diarrhea, stop the new diet and let them have a few days of rest on their original normal diet before trying with the introduction of the new food again.
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Merrick Grain Free For Large Breed Adult Dogs
Top ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey MealType: Dry
With the first ingredient as deboned chicken, you know youre getting a high-quality feed.
Their recipe touts a 60% protein and fat inclusion, with the remaining 40% for fat, fiber, and other necessary ingredients which are both natural and beneficial to your adult dogs health.
Ingredients To Look For
The number one ingredient to look for is a healthy source of protein. The very first ingredient on the bag should be a source of proteinand one that your dog is not going to be allergic to.
Chicken, beef, and fish are all great choices for dog food, but there are dogs in the German Shepherd breed that are allergic to one of these three sources of protein, so always make sure to read the bag.
Additionally, there should be a healthy source of fat. Fish is another good option, but vegetable oils are primarily used as a healthy fat for dogs. In order to keep his energy up, you will want to look for carbohydrates like barley and rice. In short, you want the dog food to be dominated by real food with names that you know and recognize. Anything that contains by-products should go back on the shelf.
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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.
How To Avoid Bloat
One common condition that German Shepherds face is bloat. Bloat is a deadly problem where a dogs stomach fills with air and rotates on its axis. This can cut off blood flow to the intestines.
Half of all dogs that get bloat will die from it. Even with emergency surgery, 1 out of 3 dogs dies from bloat.
So how can you help your German Shepherd avoid bloat?
The best way to prevent bloat is to feed your German Shepherd at least twice a day. Gulping one giant meal is more likely to cause problems.
You should keep your dog calm for a while after they eat, too, as exercise can agitate the food in your dogs stomach and cause gas to build up.
If your German Shepherd likes to gulp their food, look for ways to slow them down. That may include putting a clean rock in their food bowl, buying a puzzle feeder, or giving some of their kibble in a treat ball.
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How Often Should You Feed Your German Shepherd
Puppies are often fed 4 times a day when they are 4 weeks old. When they reach 4 months of age, you can drop 1 2 meals so youll be feeding them only 2 3 meals a day.
Some wait till their GSDs are 9 months to a year old before making that switch because its better to keep them too long on puppy formula than to switch too soon.
German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart
6 Week Old German Shepherd
- At this age, it is crucial to ensure your puppy is receiving the same nutrients as if they were being fed by their mother
- Ideally, a 6 week old puppy should still be feeding from their mother
- It is tricky to replace the micro and macro nutrients that a puppy receives from their mothers milk, as well as any antibodies
- They are growing very fast, so they need enough nutrients to sustain their growth
10 Weeks Old
- As puppies are weaned off, the amount of puppy food they require increases
- They need to be fed at least 3 times a day
- To help their little bodies with the transition from mothers milk to puppy food, it is best to start with wet food
- Using wet food helps to prepare their digestive systems for whole food, which will be introduced to a puppys diet in time
- Again, they are growing very fast, so they need enough nutrients to sustain their growth
12 Weeks Old
- Around 12 weeks of age, the transition from wet to dry food begins
- Ensure the transition is in small steps, to avoid causing any upset to the puppy
- As a guide, start with a 10% dry food, 90% wet food mix and increase the dry food by 10-15% each week after that
- They need to be fed at least 3 times a day
3 Months Old
5 Months Old
- Additionally, around 4-5 months of age introduce some live animal products into their diet such as actual bone, raw eggs and liver
- They need to be fed at least 3 times a day
- As a guide, feed them a total of 1-2 cups of dry food a day
1 Year Old
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