How does diet affect the health of growing Shepherds?
Recently it has come to light that a proper diet for puppies does more than prevent malnutrition. As part of this proper diet, there are many things that should never be fed to German Shepherds.
Many orthopedic problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia have a strong hereditary component. However, people often discount the role of diet in bone developmental issues.
There’s a clear link between obesity in puppies and the resulting exacerbation of hip, elbow, and back problems.
However, your German Shepherd pup doesn’t have to be overweight to suffer a myriad of health challenges.
Merely creating an oversized puppy, as is often the case for show animals and people fixated on large dogs, can lead to several painful disorders:
Overnutrition and over-supplementation of certain vitamins and minerals lead to paradoxical malnutrition of the bone, and subsequently improper development.
Nutritional experts have modified their recommendations regarding the diets of large-breed dogs.
Many nutritionists and veterinarians advocate feeding German Shepherds and other large-breed puppies an adult or professionally-formulated homemade diet to limit the occurrence and severity of developmental problems.
Pet food manufacturers have caught onto the concept of overnutrition in puppies, and most carry special diets for large-breed puppies.
Some argue for additional vitamin and mineral supplementation for puppies – we recommend working with a professional to formulate a diet that limits the growth rate and your puppy’s size during the early months.
Also, do not supplement your puppy with vitamins, minerals, or proteins without veterinarian direction – their excessive use will disrupt bone and cartilage growth and harm the growth plates.
Limiting calories and slowing your puppy’s growth rate in the first eight months of their life will not affect their mature size in any way.
Why Do You Feed Your German Shepherd Puppy?
The two most obvious goals of feeding your German Shepherd are for health and growth.
Nutritional Needs of German Shepherds
All dogs deserve healthy, nutritious, and satisfying food, but generic “dog food” isn’t going to be right for most of them. Every breed has its own special dietary needs.
Small dogs, for example, need something totally different than our big, hard-working GSDs.
For maximum health and energy, keep these things in mind when deciding what to feed your German Shepherd.
How much Should you Feed a German Shepherd Puppy in a day? | GSD Diet Plan |
Like all dogs, German Shepherds have specific nutritional needs. While it’s possible to feed them the cheap, dry kibble found in your local grocery store, that’s not the best diet for this loyal, graceful, obedient breed.
With all these options to choose from and enough slick marketing to make your head spin, how do you pick the right food?
Below, we’ll cover the different types of diets available, the specific nutritional needs of the German Shepherd, and what you can do to ensure your GSD gets the delicious and nutritious food they need at every stage of life.