Thankfully, these are both easy to correct, simply use the methods mentioned earlier in the article to manipulate this equation into your favor. These numbers are estimates to give you an idea of how much a German Shepherd weighs month by month. A dog thats losing weight needs to go to the vet to see if there is a medical issue causing the weight loss. You can even buy healthy toppers that are easy to add. German shepherds (and other dogs) are naturally carnivores. Wilderness Salmon is one of 18 dry recipes analyzed in our review of the Blue Buffalo Wilderness product line. Fairly priced and highly recommended. Keep in mind that even grain-free kibbles with high-quality ingredients can have high levels of starchy carbs and bad carbs that contribute to the pet obesity epidemic. Start by feeding them the same amount spread out over more meals. You can also take their regular There are many reasons why your dog or puppy may not be gaining weight. GREAT NEWS!!! Two hours is the minimum and it should be provided in a variety of ways. To fatten up your German Shepherd, this type of dog food which is available in a variety of flavors can help. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Do not worry in the wild Dogs sometimes go without food for 2- 3 days. This type of feeding may help them eat more overall. . If your puppy's adult does not fall within the range of weights provided, it would be best to contact a veterinarian. It is important that German shepherds are not just gaining weight through eating and consuming high fat dog food. Offer your dog Brewers yeast tablets following the manufacturers instructions for dosing. Are you worried that your German Shepherd is thin and underweight and want to know how to bulk up a German Shepherd for safe weight-gain? Feeding your pet on a regular schedule, usually at least twice a day. In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. To put more weight on your German Shepherd, feed them more meat and fewer grains. Mouth Problems. Puppies will have different nutritional needs depending upon their size. It means that the weight and height are different for a male German Shepherd and a female German Shepherd. Recommended Reading: How To Keep German Shepherd Busy. If you dont want to try the wet dog food option, the next best thing to make their regular meals more palatable and tasty is to add plain meat broth. It also contains genuine fruits and . High-quality food and treats and adequate amounts of playtime are some of the most important things to keep your dog happy and at a healthy weight. Mixing adult and puppy food helps your dog gain weight in a controlled manner. Boosting their diet with fat and fiber will help your dogs digestion along with weight gain. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh salmon and chicken meal. Nutrition can directly affect their level of activity, mobility and conditions like arthritis. She owns a plush coat German Shepherd who was awarded Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Gold Award - the highest level of achievement. If you are concerned about your Shepherd being underweight, it may be worthwhile consulting your vet if the above tips are not working for you. By far, the most common reason for a skinny GSD is a caloric deficit or bad eating habits. Catherine Krasavin owns Shepherd Sense, a dog website aimed at German Shepherd owners and lovers. But since German Shepherds have long been a standardized breed, there are established growth milestones theyre expected to achieve for every month of puppyhood and for each year of adulthood until theyre about three years old. Calorie intake can range from 1,272 for a lower-activity German Shepherd to 2,100 or more for a highly active German Shepherd. Choose Foods with a Higher Protein and Fat Content. Keeping muscle mass is important to prevent wasting and help maintain their health and mobility, as well as their athletic appearance. Its safe to give your dog small amounts of cooked chicken or turkey mixed with steamed sliced carrots, unflavored Greek yogurt, or canned plain pumpkin every day in addition to their normal food. Its important to understand that the body uses fat to process protein. Thus, if they are gaining weight, there must be some of the other contributions of both dog and the owner. Slow and steady weight loss is key! Puppies under six months old should be fed three to four times a day. From their eighth week onward, a German Shepherd should be weaned and start feeding on solid food with a special puppy feed. But, we wanted to let you know that we are an affiliate for the products and services on this website. 12 weeks old: 1 to 2 cups of food spread over 4 meals daily. Owners who read about their German Shepherds health also found this post on training a GSD at home with manners helpful. If you are worried about your dog gaining too much weight, keep track of their weekly weight gain with simple note-taking or a Google sheet. Bring a book or do a quiet activity while they eat close to you. Check with your veterinarian, as other factors can play a part. 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. Choose Foods with a Higher Protein and Fat Content. If you treat it from the root, it is 100% sure that you will solve it. Theyre going to love that. Dogs In addition, it is vital that puppies have constant access to clean fresh water. Check with your vet to determine the right calorie content for your puppy. some contain extra calories with healthy ingredients that can help your German Feed your German Shepherd some home-made meals. bored. You could also try feeding it dry instead of wet food, since dry food is denser and contains more calories. Look for dry food with higher protein and fats to encourage weight gain in a healthy manner and go with one of the foods mentioned above for fat gain that is healthy. Unfortunately, sometimes, a German Shepherd's inability to gain weight is a sign of an underlying health condition. While larger dogs can take up to 1.5 years to reach their adult weight. Dont feed your dog only treats but do give your dog a few extra treats throughout the day. Try feeding them smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Every dog is different and they dont all grow at the same rate. Change to Puppy or High-Performance Food. For tips from our Veterinary co-author on how to supplement your dogs diet with treats, keep reading! As puppies, theyre expected to gain weight at the following rates: These guidelines are useful because they provide a measurable basis for any German Shepherds health. You can have confidence knowing exactly what is in your dogs bowl. If youre feeding your senior Shepherd adult food, you may consider changing to a more age-appropriate food with the correct nutrition made specifically for senior dogs. Talk to your vet before you make drastic changes to your dogs eating habits. 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. Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Dog Food. Contains Chicken meal, beef meal, Menhaden fish meal, iron amino acid complex, vitamins and Flax Seed etc. Another important nutrient for German Shepherds is fat. cup at a time is usually sufficient. There are some considerations you should do about Your German Shepherd Dog. When choosing a dry kibble for your German Shepherd, look for one thats high in protein and fat. German Shepherds need 1272 to 1550 calories daily, while the active ones need even more. The German Shepherd Dog breed (GSD), like most, is sexually dimorphic, meaning the male and female differ in both height and weight as they develop and grow. They may follow you around rather than eat when you offer their food bowl this may be especially true of Shepherds since they tend to get fixated on their caretaker. But these two exercises can be performed at a lower intensity so that even older dogs and puppies can enjoy their benefits (make sure your puppy can swim first). An adult German Shepherd with an active lifestyle needs around 1700 calories each day. "I love wikiHow. meals, then try mixing in some dry food with their wet food to help stimulate If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing! Quality of life: Due to the complications listed above and the additional toll obesity can take on your German Shepherd, being overweight can decrease your dog's quality of life. 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. While a multivitamin alone wont help an underweight German Shepherd with weight gain alone, you should include it to ensure their nutritional needs are getting met. According to the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia, GSD males reach peak growth at around 3-4 years old, which is when they should weigh between 79 and 88 pounds. Offer an Extra Meal to Their Normal Routine. Sweet potato and pumpkin are fantastic ways to help your dog put on weight in a healthy way. These are just an estimation of the GSD's average weight which means that there's room for some variation. This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog, and means your pup is likely still growing! Start by mixing the higher fat food with your dog's regular food. Recommended Reading: Where To Get A White German Shepherd. Then, look at the type and amount of food you are feeding your dog to make sure their nutritional needs are being met. Follow the manufacturers and your vets advice for dosing instructions. 1. For some dogs, the excitement of getting their food at certain times during the day makes them eat more than if it was available to them all the time. Coat length. He comes from a long line of small German Shepherds. Adults and seniors should eat about 20 to 25 percent of their daily calories from protein and 25 to 50 percent from fats. Several medical conditions can cause your dog to be underweight, so its important to rule them out first. German Shepherd puppies. You need to see this as a long term plan and not an overnight fix to get your German Shepherd fat (and by fat, I mean bulk-up not obese or overweight). A German Shepherd puppy has different dietary requirements to that of an adult dog, as they are growing at a considerable rate. 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%. Not only is this a good food for German Shepherd puppies but as well as for dogs who have dental problems. Despite being a wonderful dog, German Shepherds are notorious for developing food allergies and/or food hypersensitivities. Dont skip on your dogs exercise because you want them to gain more weight and think theyll burn too much fat. German Shepherd is a large breed and grows very quickly from newborn to adult puppy. Adult German Shepherds Here are even more ideas to improve your German Shepherds skin and coat that are healthy and may add additional calories for weight gain. They also need enough nutrients to grow and maintain a healthy weight. Plus, dry kibble is easy to digest, so your dog will be able to absorb all of the nutrients it needs. Talk to your vet about the right choice for your dog and have your puppy regularly dewormed. Before explaining the causes and solutions, its important to know the average weight ranges of healthy German shepherds. 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. 17 reasons why your German Shepherd is so skinny #1: Worms or parasites Health is wealth. The best dog food for a German Shepherd puppy is breed specific, but this may not be available everywhere. You should be able to feel the ribs of a healthy dog, but not see them. Recommended Reading: Can A Chihuahua And A German Shepherd Mate. At about a month, German Shepherd puppies will weigh 4.5-9 lbs. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. German Shepherds were originally bred for herding and are now often used as working dogs for the police and armed forces. Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents. Either way, being fat or overweight may affect your German Shepherd negatively, and thus it needs to be . If you bought your German Shepherd from a breeder, they should be able to give you a specific, estimated weight based on your puppys parents and past litters. Minimum cost (per month) 105. Reasons for excessive weight gain in German Shepherd dogs. German Shepherd puppies require at least 500 calories per day.. As they gain weight, the amount gradually increases. Underfeeding a German Shepherd puts your dog at a serious health risk. After that, you should switch back to something in the range of 12-15% fat. He needs only 3-4 cups of dry food per day. Regular vet appointments are especially important for your underweight German Shepherd. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 39,585 times. Excessive Exercise The best food for a German Shepherd to gain weight is this high protein red-meat adult formula dog food which contains 30% protein to bulk-up your German Shepherd and get them fat in a healthy manner. A fully grown female GSD is about 20 to 22 inches tall and weighs from 60 to 75 pounds. To help them gain weight, give them food with a high amount of calories. Your German Shepherd may start experiencing some health complications if you don't do anything about their excessive weight, and that's why you should know the acceptable weight limit for the dog. Now i know salmon is her favorite protein (: Also Check: Can A Chihuahua And A German Shepherd Mate. Obviously, if they're struggling to eat, then they're going to begin to lose weight. Ieave her food bowl full at all times she so can eat whenever she wants. This additional meal will store in your dogs body and converted into muscles and fat to make him more weigher than before. Full List of The Best Dog Foods For GSDs To Gain Weight: https://www.anythinggermanshepherd.com/best-food-for-german-shepherd-to-gain-weight/Get Your FREE Gu. Compare German Shepherd health insurance options before its too late. This is anywhere from 8 months to a year or longer. Change in Environment. Dogs love having variation in their food. B vitamins are natural appetite stimulants and are The best food for a German Shepherd to gain weight is this high protein red-meat adult formula dog food which contains 30% protein to bulk-up your German Shepherd and get them fat in a healthy manner. Remember to ask your veterinarian for that information. The rest of the calories should come from carbohydrates. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. You can get a GSD specific dog food on Amazon here and one for GSD puppies on Chewy here. If your German Shepherd is underweight for their age, there may be a serious medical reason. Fit German Shepherds may at first seem slightly underweight. Proper exercise is still important even when youre trying to fatten up your dog. Female dogs may be more prone to weight gain as they age and activity levels decrease, or with hormone changes such as after neutering. Different problems will require different treatments. On average, the height of wolves ranges from 26 inches to 32 inches while German Shepherds range from 22 inches to 26 inches. 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%. On the other hand, females are considered fully grown at 2-3 years old, weighing approximately 57 to 70 pounds. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Homemade dog food provides unsurpassed nutrition. German shepherds usually have the problem of gaining too much weight. We only recommend that you try this is your dog is really underweight as it often swings the pendulum and ends up with your dog being overweight. The female German Shepherds are slightly shorter and smaller than the male GSD. When looking up pictures of other German Shepherds, you see that yours looks much skinnier by comparison. On the other hand, according to our German . 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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. follow these tips and keep track of your German Shepherds body mass to make your German Shepherd gain weight in a HEALTHY WAY. This will enhance the flavor and beat most cases of fussy eating. Take your dog for a walk before mealtime. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. In this article, we will touch on the . Just puppy food may cause an adult dog to gain too much weight too fast. Protein should be supplemented with fats and carbohydrates for your dog to gain weight. Read Also: Why Are German Shepherds So Smart. Begin by feeding your dog a bit In kilograms, it is about 30 to 40 kg. Dry kibble is denser and contains more calories than wet food because the moisture has been removed from dry foods. This supplement is in a liquid form so it is easy to give to your pup directly or over top of their food. Track Your German Shepherd's Regular Exercise. As a result, it makes a dog to look and feel young by improving its health and strength. Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. At around 6 to 8 weeks old, a German Shepherd puppy should be given a little dry dog food with water, or unseasoned chicken stock between nursing sessions. For optimum nutrition, a healthy, full-grown adult German Shepherd's diet should have a guaranteed analysis of 20% - 25% protein, 10% - 15% fat, and 3% - 7% fiber. Read Also: German Shepherds Ears Stand Up. Your dog may be underweight if they have a drastic curve from their chest to their back legs, or if you can see their rib cage showing through their skin. In some cases, however, it could be due to medical conditions. Choose Foods with a Higher Protein and Fat Content. Make sure to keep an eye on your dog the first few days you put these additions in their diet to make sure their bowel movements arent irregular. Too much fat is definitely associated with a greater risk of heart problems if nothing else. You can easily add to up of additional food per meal to see the result. Your dog needs a high-protein diet to ensure he has the raw materials necessary to create more muscle . Male Adults: 65-90lbs Female Adults: 45-70lbs. Simply sit with them and enjoy your time together while they eat. This type of dog food is produced from real cooked food that underwent a process of removing almost all of its water content. The Ultimate German Shepherd Puppy Growth Chart by Height and Weight Look for dog foods that contain fish oil or other sources of omega fatty acids. Here are some of the things you need to think about when evaluating any kind of dog food. Most treats arent complete in their nutrition, but They may have tapeworm, which lives in the dog's intestines. By using our site, you agree to our, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d8\/Make-Your-German-Shepherd-Gain-Weight-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-German-Shepherd-Gain-Weight-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d8\/Make-Your-German-Shepherd-Gain-Weight-Step-1.jpg\/aid9243574-v4-728px-Make-Your-German-Shepherd-Gain-Weight-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"