A German Shepherd puppy has different dietary requirements to that of an adult dog, as they are growing at a considerable rate. Of course, some German Shepherds may fall outside of these ranges but this is a good guide to start with. Providing a balanced diet with a good amount of protein and fat can help German Shepherds to gain weight. We love that youre enjoying all the great stuff here. You should be able to feel the ribs of a healthy dog, but not see them. When choosing a dry kibble for your German Shepherd, look for one thats high in protein and fat. Puppies can be hungry often because they are growing, so feed them small meals. A Quick Comparison of our Favorite Picks in 2022 The 6 Best Foods for German Shepherds to Gain Weight 1. The best dog food for a German Shepherd puppy is breed specific, but this may not be available everywhere. How can I get my German Shepherd to gain weight? Puppies under six months old should be fed three to four times a day. However, this is unlikely since German Shepherds were bred to be working dogs and it was not unusual for them to spend entire days working alongside their owners. Commonly Asked: Do GSDs Have Webbed Feet? German Shepherd Dogs large dogs and their weight is justified by their height, which at the shoulder is about 24 to 26 inches for males and 22 to 24 inches for females. If your dog is underweight due to a medical condition, follow your vets instructions regarding feeding, exercise, medication, and care very carefully. Too much fat is definitely associated with a greater risk of heart problems if nothing else. This helps you to decide if your weight gain plan is working or if you need to adjust your plan. Offer your dog Brewers yeast tablets following the manufacturers instructions for dosing. bored. food out for them all the time. In the end, Royal Canin ranks at the top of the top diets to feed German Shepherd puppies. The weight of a small female wolf is around 51 pounds and a big male wolf weighs around 180 pounds. 2. That's better than just letting them lay down all day and building up fat. Feed your German Shepherd some home-made meals. Young adult puppies need between 1500 and 1700 calories per day. You want to know if they are gaining weight, losing weight, or remaining the same. Dandelion is available in this 10-for-1 multivitamin, along with other herbal supplements to make your GSD gain weight. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Then, look at the type and amount of food you are feeding your dog to make sure their nutritional needs are being met. Wet foods may taste better to your dog, so mixing in the dry foods If your dogs decreased appetite is a behavior problem caused by pickiness or discomfort with mealtime, rather than the result of a medical condition, there are a number of things you can do to encourage your pet to eat. You may need to increase the amount and/or frequency that you feed your puppy to help them gain weight. Keep your puppy on a puppy-formulated food until theyve reached 80% of their adult weight. These items listed are all good foods for a German Shepherds diet when mixed in the appropriate amounts in a premium dry kibble. This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog, and means your pup is likely still growing! Just ensure the meat broth you use is a healthy option without a high salt content or artificial flavorings or additives. We think its best to do both of these things. The weight of a male German Shepherd is about 66 to 88 pounds. Your German Shepherd is not gaining weight because of two main reasons. Building muscle mass is important to maintaining proper dog weight and health. A full-grown female German Shepherd is between 20 and 22 inches tall and 50 to 75 pounds heavy. Ingredients: This multi-meat ingredient is popular with dog owners. An adult male German Shepherd is typically 24 to 26 inches tall, while adult female German Shepherds are 22 to 24 inches tall, according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard. Do you want to know how to fatten up a German Shepherd to make them gain weight in a healthy way? Do not worry in the wild Dogs sometimes go without food for 2- 3 days. Rice doesnt provide enough nutrition, protein, or fat to be the main component of their meal, but you can add it to their other foods to help them gain weight faster. The average German Shepherd puppy needs up to 2,000 calories a day, but it will vary from puppy to puppy, so you should keep an eye on how your puppy is growing. You literally just sprinkle them on top of your dogs food to entice them to eat and add extra calories. This approach should only be taken with dry food, as wet food can spoil if left out for more than a couple hours at a time. This amount varies depending on the activities your dog does each day, the quality and type of food youre feeding, and how sedentary your dog is. Some may have more calories than others. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. As you may know, dog foods are not equal. Catherine Krasavin owns Shepherd Sense, a dog website aimed at German Shepherd owners and lovers. your German Shepherd is picky about when they eat, then it may help to leave Be sure to make good notes regarding what your feeding plan is and how your dogs weight fluctuates. On average, the height of wolves ranges from 26 inches to 32 inches while German Shepherds range from 22 inches to 26 inches. So when choosing their dog food, check the labels for calories. German Shepherds have a slight definition between their top and lower half of the body, at their waist. Weight gain and weight loss go by the simple equation of calories in vs calories out. "More knowledge of what I can feed a puppy. A professional will take into consideration a puppys feeding pattern, size and health status. A fully grown female GSD is about 20 to 22 inches tall and weighs from 60 to 75 pounds. to half a cup of extra food per meal. Compared to a wet canned dog food which is almost 80% water, this one has around 65%. Those are just the minimums, so if you arent feeding your German Shepherd this amount fix this issue immediately! Recommended Reading: What Does A German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Look Like. As a general guideline, here's how much you should feed your German Shepherd puppy daily by their age and cups of food: 8 weeks old: 1 to 1 cups of food spread over 4 meals daily. They have a body shape that tucks in at the waist and their ribs arent visible. ), 9 Best Dog Foods for German Shepherds with Sensitive Stomachs. It is essential to know that some German Shepherd puppies are very active and has high energy levels so they can need more protein in the Diet. Do take note that the puppy weight chart is just an estimate. In kilograms, it is about 30 to 40 kg. The reason why your German Shepherd is skinny could be that it is in its genes. This will enhance the flavor and beat most cases of fussy eating. Make mealtime fun, such as letting her play with a food dispenser or rewarding your dog with food for doing a trick. Dont use intense exercises when your Shepherd is losing weight, as this can make matters worse! This will ensure that your puppy gets the nutrition it needs to gain weight. To put weight in, increase the calories in, to lose weight, increase the calories out. Its necessary to keep a consistent feeding schedule with suitable foods that maintain their ideal body weight and sustain their energy needs. After that, you should switch back to something in the range of 12-15% fat. It's step by step and can pretty much give you a solution for anything, or at least set you in the. For example, switch to a mixture of half normal dog food and half puppy food to give it more calories. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Before explaining the causes and solutions, its important to know the average weight ranges of healthy German shepherds. And, if youre feeding a puppy adult food then thats not usually appropriate, so buy appropriate puppy food. Dont let your dog stay too skinny any longeruse these helpful tips to get your dog to its athletic ideal weight. Its full of nutrients and calories that can help your dog gain weight. Due to this, gram for gram, a puppies food contain more calories than a food designed for an adult dog. This is anywhere from 8 months to a year or longer. The average size for an adult male GSD is around 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between 85-100 pounds. If required, your pet will be vaccinated and undergo an extensive physical examination and tests to follow any concerns. Sweet potato and pumpkin are fantastic ways to help your dog put on weight in a healthy way. Unfortunately, a lot of German Shepherd allergies arise from commercial dog food. Southwest Canyon is one of 9 dry recipes included in our review of the Taste of the Wild product line. Is your German Shepherd Skinny? Puppies required a higher calorie content in their food to help them grow at a healthy rate and have all the energy a puppy needs to play. Look for foods that have a good balance of fat and protein. You need to make sure they get enough food for their age and energy needs. A sudden change in your German shepherd's environment, such as remodeling the house, moving to a new location, or even bringing a new baby into the family home, can cause stress and anxiety, which can decrease their appetites. 3 month old German Shepherd puppy When they reach three months, your pup should be about 17-31 lbs. of B vitamins that not only helps increase appetite but also gives more energy In this case, it would not be something to worry about unless it has been showing signs of the cause being due to one of the things mentioned below. You could use a notepad or try to find an app thatll help you keep track of your companions weight. German Shepherd Dogs large dogs and their weight is justified by their height, which at the shoulder is about 24 to 26 inches for males and 22 to 24 inches for females. Seek vet treatment if your dog doesnt gain weight or their condition worsens. In these cases, your veterinarian can create a proper food plan for your German Shepherd puppy. This is the Reason WHY, How To Get My German Shepherd To Gain Weight, My German Shepherd Is Shedding Like Crazy, Can A Chihuahua And A German Shepherd Mate, high protein red-meat adult formula dog food, the best puppy food for german shepherd puppies, Visit our Best Large Breed Puppy Food page, Why Does My German Shepherd Follow Me Everywhere, How Much Is A German Shepherd Akita Corgi Mix, Is A German Shepherd A Hypoallergenic Dog, How To Groom A German Shepherd For Summer, How Much Do German Shepherd Puppies Sleep, Why Is My German Shepherd Puppy Biting Me, How To Train A German Shepherd To Protect, How Much Exercise Do German Shepherds Need A Day, Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Food, Dr. Garys Best Breed Holistic German Dog Food, Ideal for underweight and lactating mothers, Provides sustained energy for a day full of activity, Designed just for German Shepherd puppies, Formulated to bulk up pups while supporting optimal health, Kibble sizes are small enough for little teeth to chew, Formulated just for large breeds like German Shepherds. Thankfully, these are both easy to correct, simply use the methods mentioned earlier in the article to manipulate this equation into your favor. Dogs Remember to ask your veterinarian for that information. This type of dog food is produced from real cooked food that underwent a process of removing almost all of its water content. He eats it enthusiastically and it has really helped him thrive! Sometimes, dental problems also lead to being underweight. If by any chance your dog or puppy is suffering from a bad stomach, we recommend taking a look at our article on what to do if yourt dog has diarrhea. You just need to refrigerate this type of dog food. When the amount of calories consumed from food is less than the number of calories the body needs to maintain basic functions, this condition occurs. The estimated full-size varies significantly between sexes. The german shepherd is too skinny because they are not consuming enough calories. For an underweight dog, you should switch to a high-fat, high-protein diet. Add a scoop of wet or canned food to his dry kibble to boost flavor and moistureand some extra calories. This is the Current Price of these Victor Classic - Hi-Pro Plus available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 17% fat and 38% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%. That way, youll give it time to digest its food so it can consume more. You could also try feeding it dry instead of wet food, since dry food is denser and contains more calories. Shepherds is caused by a lack of protein, fat, and carbohydrates in the diet. The main causes of a German shepherd being too skinny or losing weight are: Obviously, you need to take your dog to a vet in order to find out what is causing the weight loss or lack of weight gain. Feeding your pet on a regular schedule, usually at least twice a day. Our post on the best puppy food for german shepherd puppies is perfect for helping you make your mind up on a product. If Theyre also healthy and natural. If your dogs loss of appetite is caused by illness, the vet may recommend a prescription diet to meet your pets nutritional needs while the underlying disease is being addressed. Weigh your dog weekly to keep an eye on their weight changes and how your new routine is working. Expect both the fetus and your German Shepherd to gain weight. Walking and swimming are activities that build muscle and are lower impact and less intense on their joints and bones. Depending on your dogs age you may need to switch foods. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 17% fat and 43% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%. How to Make Your German Shepherd Gain Weight, https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/2_5/features/Nutrient-Levels-in-Dog-Food_5206-1.html, https://www.k9ofmine.com/best-dog-food-for-weight-gain/, https://www.vetinfo.com/how-to-make-your-dog-gain-weight.html, http://dogtime.com/dog-health/dog-dental-care/1132-choosing-dog-treats-aaha, http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/human-foods-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/, http://itsdogornothing.com/help-dog-gain-weight/, https://www.petcarerx.com/article/healthy-eating-for-a-german-shepherd/506. But dogs with certain kidney problems shouldnt eat a high protein diet which is why its best to check with your vet first. Test out a mixture of half of your dogs regular food combined with half of the puppy or high-performance food to help with weight gain. Adults and seniors should eat about 20 to 25 percent of their daily calories from protein and 25 to 50 percent from fats. 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