Whats The Best Dog Food For German Shepherds

Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition German Shepherd

• PROS

• Maintains and supports proper heart health.
• Supports stronger bones and joints.

• CONS

• Can be expensive for some depending on your budget.

There are different kinds of dog breeds depending on what your preferences are for every dog is not created equal. For German Shepherd pet owners I recommend Royal Canin Dog food.

Royal Canin is known for making a formula on specific breeds targeting its specific nutritional qualifications, requirements and issues.

It is formulated for GSDs needs and nutrient requirements. With its complex recipe of Vitamins and antioxidant all together they maintain a healthy immune system which will help your GSDs active lifestyle. This will avoid and prevent him for getting sick and fight immunity disorders.

It is highly picked digestible protein and specific fibers helps GSD maintain a proper and balanced intestinal fermentation. Protein sources plus soluble and insoluble fibers when combined helps food to move though the digestive tract for proper nutrition absorption and digestion.

The exact amount of glucosamine and chondroitin gives your GSD the healthy joints they need so experiencing hip dysplasia as they grow old can be avoided. Royal Canin also focuses especially on maintaining a healthy heart. Enriched with DHA for cognitive development and support.

For dogs like German Shepherd they have more sensitive coats exposing him easily to harmful radicals, Royal Canin dog food helps your GSDs skin healthy with Omega 3 and Omega 6.

Pedigree Choice Cuts In Gravy With Beef Canned Dog Food

Image courtesy Pedigree

Pedigree Choice Cuts in Gravy with Beef Canned Dog Food is a delicious, high-protein wet dog food. It’s made with real beef, vegetables, and fruit.

This recipe is grain-free and free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It’s also high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

Rotating Your German Shepherds Diet To Reduce Food Allergies: The Facts

Rotating your German Shepherds food can make food allergies difficult to pinpoint later.

A familiar misconception that continues to circulate is that rotating between several different diets will prevent food allergies in your German Shepherd from occurring. There is no evidence to support the practice of feeding different diets and switching up your dogs diet to prevent allergies.

In fact, this technique can backfire if a food allergy is suspected and the pet has been fed a large number of diets with a large variety of different ingredients.

Think Im exaggerating?

As part of treatment for food allergies, your veterinarian may ask you to place your dog on a diet with ingredients your GSD has never eaten.

If youve frequently changed your dogs diet, it can make food elimination diets overly difficult. And finding a suitable novel diet to use for a diet trial will not only take longer and cause you and your dog more stress but cost more money to sort out.

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For Optimum Antioxidant Ingredients: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula

• high-quality protein with real meat as one of the first ingredients
• packed with essential vitamins that protect the dental health and joint health of your dog
• No by-products

Cons:

• Not specifically formulated for large dogs

Blue Buffalos Life Protection Formula utilizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and real meat in this dry large breed puppy recipe. The scientists at Blue Buffalo also added LifeSource Bits, which include a host of antioxidant-rich ingredients. Calcium, as well as essential vitamins including phosphorus, have been included in this puppy food to promote joint and bone health as your pup grows. One penchant for this food is the intentional use of real meats rather than meat by-products, which means you can rest assured your dog is getting food made with quality ingredients. Blue Buffalo is also known for pleasing even the pickiest of eaters.

The wide range of ingredients makes this an excellent choice that offers complete nutrition with most essential nutrients. This will keep your dogs immune system nice and robust.

Understanding German Shepherd’s Needs

The German Shepherd Dog is a large-breed canine with a long back, erect ears and large eyes. They are one of the most recognizable breeds on the planet, are known for their excellence in military and are often fed like a canine athlete .

GSDs are jack of all trades. They excel as loyal family dogs, service dogs, and are the most famous police working dogs. On average, a German Shepherd dog lives about 12 years.

In order to extend their lifespan as long as possible, you need to pick the best dog food for German Shepherds that will cater to this canine’s individual needs, ensure preventative health care plan is in place, and have a general plan for their physical and mental stimulation.

There are a lot of best German Shepherd dog food reviews online, but the problem with some of those is that they do not address the specific requirements of this breed, which is mostly due to their resting metabolism and activity level as working dogs.

As with any breed, you’ll have to update your German Shepherd’s diet depending on his age, activity level and health condition. German Shepherd puppies require much different nutrients than senior dogs, and GSDs that are working dogs need to eat more calories per day with a specific protein to fat to carbohydrate ratio with added vitamins and minerals.

READ MORE: German Shepherd Dog Breed Profile

Read Also: How Much To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy

Best Dog Food For German Shepherd Puppies

Puppies need the best nutrition to help them reach their full potential. When choosing a puppy food for your GSD, you should keep an eye out for high protein.

They should be getting at least 22% protein from their daily meals.

To keep up with a growing pups caloric requirements, you should feed them a high-quality large-breed puppy formula.

This is because growing puppies usually need twice the amount of nutrients as adults of the same breed.

Here are our top picks for growing Shepherd puppies.

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 switching too soon.

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Best Dog Food For German Shepherds: Top Yummy Choices Your Gsd Will Adore

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This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Were used to seeing brands like Purina or Royal Canin advertised all over the place. But, with so much publicity, we cant help but wonder: Are they really THAT good?

Chances are, many of them are not even close to being good. The best dog food for German Shepherds must contain high-quality proteins without much fat content, grains, and by-products. Sadly, a lot of advertised dog kibble contains only by-products and no real proteins at all.

Were here to put an end to it. German Shepherds need protein to grow up and function normally. These large dogs are highly active, so they need a full energy bar. What better way to get that than with a bowl full of delicious, nutritious kibble?

• Rich in omega fatty acids, antioxidants, ARA, and DHA acids
• No fillers or artificial flavors
• Only nutrient-dense ingredients used in the process

A good start is always important. Thats why we suggest investing in good dog gear and high-quality dog food to all future German Shepherd owners. Puppies are growing creatures. They need nutrients to become the mighty German Shepherds we all know. What better kick start than with the American Journey Active Life formula?

American Journey kibble is rich in antioxidants that support a healthy immune system. Omega fatty acids are also added, ensuring good coat and skin health.

Iams Proactive Health Large Breed

Rating:

Large Breed Chicken and Whole Grains is one of 12 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!

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Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain

When looking for a limited ingredient and grain-free food for your German Shepherds delicate stomach, you dont have to choose between flavorful taste and your dogs sensitivities. Thats because Blue Buffalos Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Formula is a scrumptious, limited-ingredient diet made with fewer ingredients for food sensitivities in dogs.

This tasty formula contains a single animal protein source, real salmon, and incorporates pumpkin and easily digested carbohydrates for a simple, yet mouthwatering, meal.

And, dont forget, it also has BLUEs exclusive LifeSource Bitsa combination of handpicked antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. These select pieces reinforce your dogs overall health and wellness.

Best Wet Dog Food For German Shepherd: Pedigree Choice Cuts In Gravy With Beef

Most of the recommended food in this review are dry foods. However, some dogs adore wet food and prefer it over dry food. This is because wet food is generally easy to absorb and digest for many of them. The Pedigree Choice Cuts in Gravy With Beef Canned Dog Food is the best-wet dog food in this review. It is affordable, nutritious, and very tasty for dogs. It provides a well-balanced diet for your GSD and contains many essential oils and minerals.

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Purina Beyond Natural Grain Free Ground Wet Dog Food

Image courtesy Purina

Purina Beyond Natural Grain Free Ground Wet Dog Food is a delicious and nutritious wet dog food. It’s made with real meat, vegetables, and fruit.

This recipe is grain-free and free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It’s also high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

Choosing The Best Dog Food For Your German Shepherds Can Prevent Illnesses

As a medium to large breed dog, Germans are predisposed to hip dysplasia.

Having the appropriate nutrients as a puppy can help prevent the joints from growing too quickly and malforming.

Obesity can exacerbate this problem, so you should try to keep your GSD at an optimum weight.

Bloat or stomach twists usually affect dogs with deep barrel chests. The German Shepherd falls in this category.

Certain kibble helps prevent this by making them into a doughnut shape as this will force dogs to slow down when they are eating.

There are also slow feeders that you can use but its advisable to feed Germans 2 3 small meals a day to prevent them from scarfing their meals just because they are hungry.

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Our 2022 German Shepherds Feeding Guide

Puppy

Average Weight Approximately 10lb to 30lb

Recommended Daily Food Intake 1-2 cups a day

Adult Dog

Average Weight Approximately 60lb to 90lb

Recommended Daily Food Intake 3-5 cups a day

Senior Dog

Average Weight Approximately 60lb to 90lb

Recommended Daily Food Intake When it comes to feeding your senior German Shepherd , you must consult your vet as to the suggested amount and type of food. There are a range of factors that can affect feeding, so ensure you have spoken to a professional.

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.

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

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Best Food For German Shepherds With Skin Allergies: Taste Of The Wild High Prairie

If your beloved fur baby is allergic to grains, we highly recommend the Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. This food is specially formulated for GSDs with skin allergies and does not contain any ingredients that could cause flare-ups or stomach irritations. It has a high protein content from rich natural sources like venison, buffalo, and bison made to mimic the diet of wild wolves.

• Balanced diet for German Shepherds
• Rich in probiotics & antioxidants

Eagle Pack Power Adult Dog Food

Rating:

Eagle Pack Power is one of 7 dry recipes included in our review of the Eagle Pack product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, pork meal, ground brown rice, peas, chicken fat
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult shepherds only

Power Adult derives the majority of its animal protein from fresh chicken and pork meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 21% fat and 38% estimated carbs which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.

A time-proven, grain-inclusive design free of any legume concentrates. Contains safe, natural antioxidant preservatives. No BHT or ethoxyquin. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewIf you have a dog that is extremely active this is a GREAT dog food. My Shepherd and Retrievers were skinny because they are highly active dogs. I switched to this food because of the nutrition and calories that it intails. My dogs are bulked backed up and love the taste!

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What Are Some Common Health Problems German Shepherds Face

Some common health problems German Shepherds face include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and allergies. This breed of dog is also susceptible to obesity, so it is important to choose a food that will help them maintain a healthy weight.

German Shepherds are also prone to joint problems, so a food that is rich in glucosamine and chondroitin is important for this breed of dog.

The 8 Best Dog Food For German Shepherds In 2022

• OnApril 10, 2022

PS: This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

This is our review of the best dog food for German Shepherds in 2022.

German Shepherds are among my favorite patients, I have a special love for this breed. They are smart and loyal, and they can be easily trained.

Sadly, they are prone to some health problems such as hip dysplasia, crippling at an early age if they were fed dog food that contains more calcium than they need, plus you need to take care of that thick coat.

All this means that youll need to be more careful with what you feed your furry friend. Thats why I reviewed 8 dog foods I believe are the best dog food for German Shepherds.

My favorite dog food and the one I always recommend for most German Shepherds is Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food, it contains high-quality protein, Glucosamine to support the hips and joints health, and the Omega-fatty acids necessary for German Shepherds to maintain a healthy thick coat.

But, every dogs condition is different, thats why Ive included 7 more dog food that I believe can be the best pick for a German Shepherd.

Keep reading.

• Purina ONE SmartBlend Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Dog Food

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