Which Dog Food Is Best For German Shepherd Puppy

How Does Your Vet Play A Role In Your German Shepherds Nutrition

Melissa Smith notes that timing is everything when it comes to switching from puppy to adult food, and your vet will play a leading role.

One of the reasons why timing is so important is because the calorie content of puppy food is so high, which can make the young adult dog gain weight too quickly, in the wrong places, particularly the belly area, where fat can be dangerous.

A growth spurt after a year is possible in German Shepherds, particularly males, and your vet may have a good idea of when the growth will finish. However, what about Shepherds that are not purebred?

This question is very reasonable, as it is a little more difficult to guess when a mixed-breed is done growing. Weekly measurements can be an excellent way to track the dogs growth. Compare your measurements to popular GSD growth charts for reference.

Consider making sure your vet is on-board as you make the transition from puppy food to adult. Your vet will be able to spot any nutritional deficits that require addressing. Another advantage is being able to ensure the dog has proper bone growth.

Your dogs medical history will also be a factor in when the switch to adult food takes place. If your German Shepherd has needs that require a special diet, your vet will be able to provide valuable guidance about the appropriate timing.

If your dog is underweight, Amber King recommends a high-protein diet with a moderate amount of fat. Follow up with your vet to help uncover the cause of the low body weight.

When My Puppy Food For German Shepherd Has Been Acquired How Should It Be Used

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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.

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Hills Science Diet Dry Dog Food Puppy Large Breeds

Give your German Shepherd the best start in life so that he or she can grow to their full potential with balanced minerals that promote strong bones and strong teeth. Hills Science Diet Large Breed Puppy dry food has a delicious chicken flavor and is made with the optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth: a unique developmental need of large breed puppies. This dog food is made with natural ingredients and uses DHA from fish oil to support your large dogs eye development and brain function for a happy, healthy dog.

• High-quality protein helps your large dog build and maintain muscle.
• Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust
• Science Diet is the recipe #1 Veterinarian Recommended

Royal Canin Giant Junior Dry Dog Food

Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Chicken By-Product Meal, 2. Brewers Rice Flour, 3. Brewers Rice, 4. Corn, 5. Wheat Gluten

Offer only the best to your German Shepherd right from his first meal! This Royal Canin option is specially designed for your large-breed puppy with all the essential nutrients they need for excellent growth and development. The formula includes DHA and EPA for great joint health for you growing darling as well as digestible protein to ease digestive issues that are very common in pups. Your little baby will turn into a large dog soon. Make sure you provide him with the nutrition he requires!

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Background On German Shepherds

As might be expected, German Shepherds originated in Germany. The intelligent, obedient, and loyal companions were trained as shepherd dogs in the late 1800s.

While we use the term German Shepherd as an all-encompassing name for the breed, there are five varieties. These are the American, two West German, East German, and Czech lines.

German Shepherds have been loved by their owners for ages so its no surprise that they were the second most popular dog breed in 2019.

Earthborn Holistic Great Plains Feast Grain

Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Bison Meal, 2. Peas, 3. Pea Protein, 4. Tapioca, 5. Dried Egg

The holistic diet is a powerful blend of nutrition and great flavor. Earthborns recipe is formulated by animal nutrition experts to ensure your German Shepherd receives the best protein-rich food. The formula has an excellent flavor along with the perfect balance of nutrition your dog needs for weight maintenance and great health. Free from gluten and grains, the kibble is enriched with guaranteed levels of antioxidants for the optimal wellbeing of your dog.

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German Shepherd Puppy Diet Requirements

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs eating certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients. fda.gov

Large puppies like German Shepherds usually go to their new homes when they are between 8 and 10 weeks old. By this age they have been weaned and they are eating solid foods such as a good puppy food.

Puppies are growing fast in the first few months. They use up lots more calories than adult dogs because they are building muscle and bone, not to mention the fact that their brain is developing. Plus theres all that time spent in play. Play is undoubtedly fun for puppies but its also an important way to help muscles and bones grow and develop. And it burns up lots of calories.

German Shepherd puppies need plenty of calorie-dense nutrition, especially in their early months. Foods formulated for puppies typically have more calories per ounce than adult dog foods for this reason.

Puppies need more protein than adult dogs. According to AAFCO , puppies need 22 percent protein in their diet compared to 18 percent for adult dogs. These are minimum nutritional requirements. Most good puppy foods will exceed this protein percentage.

Foods that have about 30 percent protein and 9 percent fat, by dry matter basis, are considered ideal for most large breed puppies.

Best Food For German Shepherd Puppy

German Shepherd puppies are intelligent, adorable, and energetic dogs. These athletic puppies require nutritious food for them to grow strong, healthy, and function well.

However, finding the best food for a German Shepherd puppy can be a difficult job because of the many dog food choices in the market.

Feeding your German Shepherd puppy high-quality food plays an important role in lowering the risk of certain health issues and in helping your puppy maintain a healthy weight.

This article will help you pick the perfect puppy food for German Shepherd and give you more information about their nutrition.

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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.

Merrick Real Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe

Top 5 Ingredients: Deboned Beef, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes

Caloric Content: 3,641 kcal/kg

There is also chondroitin and glucosamine, which assists with a German Shepherds mobility, as well as both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help with a shiny coat and healthy skin.

There has been some suggestion however that the kibble size is too small for some dogs, however this is not necessarily a negative for all dogs.

Additionally, this dry food is gluten free and does not contain any artificial colors, preservatives or flavors, as well as being poultry-free for any dogs that may have poultry allergies.

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Ingredients To Avoid Feeding German Shepherd

Chocolate

Keep chocolate bars and cocoa powder always out of your hounds reach. Weve studied that the toxic ingredient in chocolate is methylxanthines that could cause harm to your dog. At times if German Shepherds consume chocolate, it may lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or low blood pressure.

Grapes

Both types of grapes -fresh and dried ones are toxic to German Shepherds. Researchers have not yet concluded as to why so. But they have witnessed dogs having severe kidney failure symptoms, abdominal pain, and vomiting when consumed too many grapes.

Avocado

Avocado is not highly toxic for canines but is mildly harmful to German Shepherds bodies. Theres a toxic ingredient in avocado that is called persin, which increases the obesity of pets. The fat content can lead to pancreatitis that can malfunction the whelps pancreas and affect its digestive system.

Caffeine and alcohol

Caffeine or alcohol, also in small quantities, can harm your German Shepherd Dogs internal system. Consuming it may lead to dangerous complications in your dogs body such as increased hyper activeness and restlessness. Avoid foods such as raw yeast dough and baked goods with liquor.

Eukanuba Puppy Dry Dog Food

Eukanuba uses fish oil in this large breed puppy food* in order to boost brain function, making your pup smarter and more trainable. Theres also plenty of fiber derived from prebiotics and natural beet pulp to promote easy absorption of nutrients and a healthy digestion.

The protein sources used to make this food are animal-based, promoting the development of strong muscles. Optimal levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are included for healthy skin and a radiant coat.

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Royal Canin Gsd Puppy Formula

• Formulated for German Shepherd puppies.
• Made to improve skin and coat health.
• Vitamins support bone and joint development.
• Easy to chew kibble size & consistency.
• Helps maintain stool quality.

This kibble has been specifically designed with the German Shepherd puppy in mind. It has highly digestible proteins and specific fibers that maintains his digestive health, which will aid his soft stools.

Glucosamine and chondroitin also support healthy bones and joints as your puppy grows into a big boy. It has a variety of antioxidants and minerals, such as Vitamin E which help to develop his immune system, as well as Taurine which keeps his heart healthy.

We love that the biscuits are designed specifically for a German Shepherd pup, whose mouth is smaller than an adult, and the smaller shape encourages chewing and slows down his eating, and therefore he is less likely to experience bloat.

How Much Dog Food To Feed A German Shepherd

Since German Shepherds are a larger breed of dogs, they require a large amount of food to fill their tummy. For adult German Shepherds, you can feed them about 2.5 to 3.5 cups of quality kibble a day and slowly feed it twice a day. Modify the feed according to your dogs size, weight, age, and day-to-day activity involvement. Feeding your dog high protein food will build its muscle mass. If accompanied by vitamins and minerals, then that will improve your fuzz mates mental health. Feeding our pets with the right food will influence their physical growth only if you have blended in vitamins and minerals in a sufficient amount.

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Can You Free Feed A German Shepherd Puppy

Free feeding is leaving food out for your German Shepherd puppy to eat at whatever time they want. The following are reasons why free-feeding is not good for your puppy:

• It puts your puppy at risk of becoming overweight Puppies typically cannot control their eating. When they are bored, they can overeat which leads to obesity causing serious health issues.
• Free feeding allows the dog to access food all the time, making him find the food less appealing.
• Free feeding prevents you from keeping track of the amount of food you are feeding your dog.

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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Seinor German Shepherd Foods

Large breeds typically start to show symptoms of aging at five years or older. Whether your dog is losing muscle strength or experiencing joint pain, the right formula can help keep an aging German Shepherd active and healthy.

Nutro Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food

Nutro calls this formula a nutritional powerhouse, and wed have to agree. Containing premium-quality protein, fruits, and vegetables, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin to promote joint health, this dog food has everything an aging German Shepherd needs to remain healthy.

Main Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Rice Bran, Lamb Meal, Salmon Meal

• Protein: 26%

Diamond Naturals Adult Dog Beef Meal & Rice Formula

The Adult Dog Beef Meal & Rice Formula by Diamond Naturals uses pasture-raised beef as its main protein source. This is enhanced by superfoods like quinoa and chia seeds, which are not only rich in protein but also offer several health benefits.

Additionally, it is enriched with the proprietary K9 Strain probiotics, which is incredibly beneficial to your German Shepherds gut health and immune system.

This dry dog food is also rich in omega fatty acids, thanks to its addition of flaxseeds and coconut. These help your dog maintain healthy skin and a shiny, luxurious coat.

Lastly, it is rich in fruits and vegetables like blueberries, papaya, spinach, and kale. These arent just a healthy source of fiber but are also powerful antioxidants that keep your dog young and energetic.

• Maintains healthy skin and coat

Potential Cons:

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Do You Have A Favorite German Shepherd Puppy Food

Once youve found the perfect food for your German Shepherd puppy, why not tell us about it in the comments section below? Wed be particularly interested to hear if you chose one of our top products!

Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.

Best Foods For Adult German Shepherds

Just like our puppy food recommendations above, the below choices for your adult German Shepherd are based on natural dry food ingredients, with the best overall nutritional content that follows the AAFCO guidelines.

Your Adult German Shepherd will need a higher calorie count than they did as a puppy, but the food shouldnt be as nutrient-dense. If you continue the puppy formula as an adult, youll be likely to have an overweight pup on your hand. As your Adult graduates, below are some of our favorite foods for your German Shepherd Adult.

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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.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

The Life Protection Formula line of dog food contains LifeSource Bits, which is Blue Buffalos proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Apart from boosting your dogs immune system, this formula is enriched with everything your dog needs for healthy skin, coat, bones, and joints. Its antioxidant properties mainly come from blueberries, cranberries, and barley grass.

This dry dog food also doesnt contain any filler carbohydrates. Rather than wheat, corn, or soy, it uses barley, brown rice, and oatmeal. It is also enriched with taurine, which is essential for both eye and cardiovascular health.

Additionally, it contains L-Lysine and L-Carnitine to boost their metabolism and enhance the absorption of nutrients, especially calcium and protein.

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