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What Should You Feed A German Shepherd

How To Serve Raw Paws Pet Food

Should you feed ONLY raw meat to German Shepherds?

Raw Paws suggests serving a raw food diet out of stainless steel bowls rather than plastic or ceramic. Stainless is non-porous and will never trap food or bacteria.

You should feed your dogs on a floor or solid surface that is easy to clean and disinfect.

Once a portion is served, return any remaining food to the refrigerator. If your pet leaves any food over, place it back into the fridge.

If any food sits out for more than two hours, toss it.

Wash your dogs bowl after every feeding, and disinfect any surfaces that have come in contact with raw food.

Wash your hands often during the preparation and clean-up of raw food.

Home Preparations For Your New Arrival

Puppies eat anything interesting and are into everything as they explore!

Therefore, you must keep things they can chew out of the way.

Dont underestimate how quickly your GSD pup will find an ordinary item to bite, chew, or soil. Crawl around to get a puppys eye view of their surroundings before they arrive, and multiple times and as they grow.

Check the following items are stored, moved, covered, or put away :

The Other Nutritional Requirement For A German Shepherd Is Fat

The fat comes from the protein and gives flavor to the food of a dog . However, feeding too fatty foods will be detrimental to the dogs health . While on the other hand, if your German Shepherds diet is low in fat, it will create a lot of skin problems in your dog

The ideal content of fat in a dogs diet helps keep his skin healthy. As a German shepherd sheds a large amount of skin throughout the year, it is very important that you are given the correct amount of fat in your food. The fat content recommended by AAFCO for the German Shepherd is 5% -8%.

Individual needs in the diet of German shepherds depend on a number of factors, including age, sex, lifestyle and much more . The feeding requirements for a young dog do not have to match the diet of an adult.

Sometimes younger German shepherds require a high-energy diet to keep them active. This is the case of dogs that live both indoors and outdoors. These dogs also require a diet rich in protein to regulate their body temperature.

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Dog Food & Feeding Pattern For German Shepherds Age

A) For New Born

The average newborn German Shepherd puppy weighs around 370 600 grams during birth. To derive their nutrition, they are highly dependent on their mothers milk.

However, in a case where the mothers milk is unavailable, top quality powdered milk should be fed to the pups at regular intervals.

German Shepherd puppies almost double their weight when they complete 1 week. As the pups gradually start gaining weight and mobility, they crave more and more milk. Due to this reason, their feeding amount changes on a weekly basis.

Puppy Age

Nutritional Profile Of A Baby Dog Milk

  • Ultra-Digestible Protein: Supports faster growth and development.
  • Omega Fatty Acid: Optimizes brain and eye development.
  • Essential Vitamins: Boost metabolism in puppies.
  • Antioxidants: Build strong resistance against infections and diseases.

Which Baby Dog Milk Should I Feed My Newborn German Shepherd Puppy?

You can find various milk replacers in the market for puppies. Yet the one which stands out in terms of quality and nutrition is Royal Canin Baby Dog Milk which has a dietary profile similar to that of maternal milk. The benefits of Royal Canin Baby Dog Milk:

  • Offers high energy and protein levels.
  • DHA boosts cognitive skills and nervous functioning in pups.
  • Exclusive homogeneous formula of milk makes it easier to digest.

Best Starter Dog Foods For German Shepherd Newborns

1) Arden Grange With Chicken Weaning Puppy

2) Royal Canin Maxi Starter Food

B) For Puppy

Puppy Age
2 times a day

So What Is The Best Raw Food For German Shepherds

Feeding A German Shepherd Puppy The Right Way

Before you decide on the best raw food for your German Shepherd there are some tricks of the trade’ you’ll need to know about first.

Essentially there are 3 schools of thought in the raw feeding community.

If you can give you any advice, don’t get wrapped up in it. If you do, you’ll never make the change. Just stick to the facts and focus on the benefits.

BARF feeding or ratio feeding relies on feeding a wide variety of foods, some folks who subscribe to this style of feeding like to add plant matter to their dogs’ meals.

Prey Model Raw or Frankenprey feeding relies on feeding a whole prey animal or creating a Frankenstein style animal from various parts of different animals.

Both of the above feeding styles tend to be unbalanced in several nutrients and require heavy supplementation.

After years of studying canine nutrition and completing some of the best courses available, I no longer feed or encourage others to feed ratio or BARF diets or even exclusively PMR.

I followed my own advice and stuck to the facts as I learned more and more. From a personal perspective, I am comfortable admitting that I needed to improve on the way I was preparing my dog’s meals.

And the words of the famous American poet Maya Angelou, helped me overcome the guilt I felt once I realized I wasn’t doing the best I could.

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

I’ll be writing in more detail on balanced nutrition for dogs in future articles.

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Why I Feed My Dogs A Raw Diet

That’s an easy question to answer

  • Simply because I want to control the ingredients that are going into my dog’s bodies.
  • Ingredients I can eat too not that I’ll ever eat green tripe though!
  • I want ingredients that promote the optimal health of my dogs.

And unfortunately, as you’ve seen, with kibble, that’s not always the case.

Now I want to move on to a positive note

A Complete List Of Everything A German Shepherd Can & Cant Eat

Heres a list of all the separate food categories Ive gone through further up in this article. Take a look below this list for the reasons your German Shepherd shouldnt be eating certain foods.

Food
X

AlcoholAs you might have guessed, alcohol has a very negative effect on the health of any dog. Just small amounts can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, comas, and can be fatal if its strong enough.

AvocadoNo part of the avocado is safe for dogs to eat. The flesh, skin, and seed contain a chemical called persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. If your dog gets a hold of one and eats the seed, it can lead to an intestinal blockage.

Black CurrantsWhen something is called a Black Currant as a way to describe a grape, it is not safe to eat. However, actual blackcurrants are berries and are okay to eat.

CaffeineCaffeine is a very potent stimulant for dogs. It causes them to become hyperactive and restless. If they manage to get enough caffeine, which could be very easy, they can get ill, develop an elevated heart rate, have a seizure, and it can even be fatal.

Cat FoodThe clue is in the name here. Cat food is specifically made for cats, not to feed dogs. Be sure not to feed your dog cat food if you run out of regular dog food as it wont be good for them. Cat food has different levels of nutrition in it, so its not good for your dogs overall health and can lead to issues like obesity and pancreatitis.

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Best Brand Of Dog Food For German Shepherd

Royal Canin German Shepherd Dog Food

Royal Canin has mastered themselves in formulating unique diet meals for German Shepherds. The main factor that makes them stand out among others is that they offer effective nutritional dog food from pure and original ingredients. Not just improving your pets body structure but also providing complete overall body development.

Natural Balance Dog Food

Natural Balance combination of love for pets plus their innovative knowledge of dog food formula makes them unique in creating premium dog food products. They are known to make products that meet the high nutritional, good taste, and clear all safety standards. Their innovative L.I.D is a hit with providing simple and specific nutritional formulated formula diet food for your pet.

Blue Buffalo Dog Food

Blue Buffalo has always indulged in producing dog food with the finest high-quality ingredients from the very beginning of its journey. None of their German Shepherd dog food contains soy, wheat, or corn. Blues every bite is rich in antioxidants that help improve your pets immune system. All of the pet food is slowly processed and not overcooked since overcooking may eliminate its nutritional value. We would recommend Blue Buffalo if you are looking out for a premium quality dog food product.

Purina Dog Food

Merrick Dog Food

The When: How Often Should You Feed Your German Shepherd

How much Should you Feed a German Shepherd Puppy in a day? | GSD Diet Plan |

If you have the added challenge of acquiring your Shepherd pup when theyre under six weeks of age, it may be worth preparing a mash of kibbles that can be given every few hours.

Once your puppy reaches six weeks old, you may still have to feed it a mash but can decrease meals to four per day.

German Shepherd puppies between the ages of 12 and 16 weeks can eat three to four times daily, while most dogs over four months of age decrease to a frequency of two to three times daily.

Although many owners are eager to decrease their pups mealtimes to one or two times daily for convenience, there are a couple of important reasons not to do this.

Bathroom Schedule

Itll require a few months to completely housetrain your puppy. Young puppies need to go to the potty pretty frequently. Centering a few potty breaks around meals that stimulate their intestinal tracts helps develop consistent habits.

GDV

Your German Shepherd puppy will begin to develop a deeper chest combined with significant size by four to six months of age. Both physical characteristics put your puppy at additional risk of gastric dilatation and volvulus compared to smaller breeds.

Four months is the age at which most pups will see a significant increase in their meal sizes. Studies have linked large meals with GDV, or bloat, life-threatening distension, and rotation of the stomach.

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Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken And Rice

Rating:

Large Breed Chicken and Rice is one of 13 dry recipes analyzed in our review of the Diamond Naturals product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley, ground white rice
  • Type: Grain-inclusive
  • Profile: Maintenance
  • Best for:Adult shepherds only

Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken and Rice derives most of its animal protein from fresh chicken and chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 26% protein, 14% fat and 52% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

The recipe contains multiple probiotics for better digestion and chelated minerals for improved absorption and healthy nutrition. Affordably priced and easy to recommend.

Sample buyer reviewWe have had our dogs on this food for some time and the vet is constantly saying how healthy they are . We searched for some time to find a quality food at an affordable price as we have 4 dogs . Have never had any issues with them or their digestive systems while on Diamond!

German Shepherd Puppy Diet: Newborn

For a German Shepherd puppy to develop and grow properly, it is imperative that they first nurse on their mother’s milk. The first milk they receive is a protein and antibody-rich type of milk known as colostrum. This gives the puppy’s immune and central nervous systems a boost. They then progress on to regular breast milk.

Puppies will nurse for at least 6 to 8 weeks, gradually being weaned on to solid food at about 4 weeks. We cannot overemphasize the importance of a puppys first milk, as it provides them with 90% of its natural defenses. In addition, a puppys first feeding contributes to proper blood flow and helps oxygenate the puppy’s organs.

If, for any reason, the puppy cannot suckle its mother, don’t give them cow or goat milk. These milks are very poor quality in comparison to a puppy’s mother’s milk. If your German shepherd puppy has to be prematurely weaned, a veterinarian will be able to prescribe specific infant formula and establish the appropriate dosage for your puppy.

A dogs breed type does however influence this feed. For example, a Chihuahua and a German Shepherd should not be fed the same food. This is because hese breeds have different nutritional needs. Take a look here to find out more about the diet for a prematurely weaned puppy.

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Best Dry Food For German Shepherd Puppies

Today, many puppies are weaned directly onto softened kibble, or transitioned from wet food to dry food at around 12 weeks. So they are likely to be already eating dry food by the time they come home with you. In fact they will probably arrive with a bag of the kibble they were weaned onto. These are our picks of the best dry dog food for German Shepherd puppies.

German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Amount

Can German Shepherd Puppies Eat Raw Meat? Pros and Cons of ...

How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors that you have control over. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat.

Consider the following factors for how much to feed German Shepherd puppies:

  • number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer
  • the daily energy expenditure of your pup
  • how sedentary or active your GSD pup is

Refer to the following charts as a starting point. Adjust how much you feed your GSD based on your pups energy needs and growth.

These formulas are only recommendations and when in doubt check with your vet.

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German Shepherd Feeding Guide: Senior Years

Large breed dogs, such as the German Shepherd, age faster than most smaller breed dogs. This is evident by the fast decline in health, joint flexibility, and energy in older large breed dogs compared to same-age smaller breeds.

Because of this, its important for your dogs longevity and happiness to pay attention to signs of aging. When your GSD moves from the adult life stage to senior, you need to adjust her diet.

Large breeds reach the older stage around half of their assumed life expectancy. A German Shepherds life expectancy is anywhere from 10 to 15 years, which means theyd be considered older and borderline senior at around 5 or 6.

This is a good time to ask your vet if you should make any changes to her diet or if its okay to continue with her normal adult meals.

Inevitably, your GSD will need to switch over to a senior diet. Older large breed dogs have lower energy needs. They move slower or less overall and therefore wont need as many calories each day.

Older dogs also tend to slow down their digestion, so an increase in fiber might be a good choice for your senior GSD.

Since the calories in senior-specific dog food have already been adjusted, youll likely still be feeding the same measured amount based on your GSDs weight.

Do be sure to confirm this with your vet, however. Not all foods are created equal.

How Often Should I Feed My German Shepherd

German Shepherds have different nutritional requirements at different stages of their lives. Although most food brands recommend feeding frequencies based on their meal formulation, here’s the average number of times you should feed your pet daily.

If your puppies are between six to 12 weeks old, you should feed them four meals daily. Puppies between the age of 12 to 24 weeks should eat at least three meals a day.

When your German Shepherds are six months old, you can reduce their meals to twice a day. Also, you can further reduce their meal to once a day when they are one year old.

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German Shepherd Dog Feeding Chart

It is important that German Shepherd owners know the amount of food that their dog requires on a daily basis. Feeding too much or too little can cause health problems in GSDs. If you feed a lot of fat to your pup, it will develop hip dyslexia.

Depending on how youre deciding to feed your puppy either a natural, real meat / bone / vegetable diet, or if youre giving them off-the-shelf dog food, youll want to follow the recommendations below to help ensure they properly develop their internal systems, and maintain their energy levels.

Your German Shepherd is going to grow rapidly over their first 12 months of life, so youre going to want to increase the amount of food they have as they get older. Ensuring they have the proper amount of nutrition, in the proper ratios is critical to them developing into healthy adults.

Feeding Guidelines By Weight

Should you free feed your dog??? German Shepherd Man explains

German shepherds can be of different weight ranges. Thats why the feeding plan of your dog can be complicated. Fortunately, theres a calculation for the feeding amount of German shepherds according to weight.

  • Inactive German Shepherds: For every 1 kilogram your dog weighs, theyll need 40 calories a day.An average weighted German shepherd will then need 1400 calories per day. This only applies to German shepherds that do not exercise or inactive.
  • Active German Shepherds: In the case of active German shepherds that exercise regularly, every 1 kilogram equals to 55 calories per day.So an average weighted German shepherd will require 1925 calories per day to be able to function properly.

Take note, however, that this calculation may be affected if the German shepherd has a health disorder concerned with metabolism or digestion.

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