How Long Should I Feed My German Shepherd Puppy Food?
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German Shepherds are one of the most prevalent breeds worldwide and a wonderful addition to many homes. They are famous for being active, strong, and athletic. They are highly intuitive and follow the directions of their owners. Due to their active nature, they need a highly nutritious diet.
Like other pooches, they have specific dietary requirements. Many people feed low-quality, dry kibble to this obedient dog, which is not good for them. And, the premium quality food is expensive. There is no surprise that many folks are deliberating what food I should feed him and how long I should feed my German shepherd puppy food.
If you have recently adopted a German shepherd, you need to make sure that the food you are providing him fulfills his nutritional needs. After all, his feeding plan will change almost daily as he grows bigger and powerful. The time frame of puppyhood is too short, but it is extremely important for his adult health, fitness, and strength.
Nutritional Needs Of A German Shepherd
They need multiple different types of nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and water to survive.
Protein
Their primary nutritional need is protein. It performs numerous functions, including producing and repairing muscles, renewing tissues, delivering energy to the body, keeping the immune system and muscles strong, and much more. Lack of protein in the diet could lead the puppies to delayed growth and development. Similarly, excessive protein is also not good for them. The ideal amount of protein required for adult canines is 4.5g and for puppies is 9g per one kilogram.
Fat
Fat is the second most important nutritional requirement of dogs. Fat comes from protein and gives taste to the food and energy to the body. It plays a significant role in the normal growth and operation of body cells, tissues, muscles, and nerves. The required amount of fat for adult pooches is 5% and for young puppies is 8%. Lack of fat leads them to skin aliments, impaired reproduction, and many other problems.
Vitamins
All the vitamins must be included in their daily diet. They need:
- Vitamin A 100 To 200 IE
- Vitamin C 1 To 1.5 MG
- Vitamin E 2 To 2.2 MG
- Vitamin D 7 To 20 IE
- Vitamin B2 0.04 To 0.09 MG
Remember, the minimum value is for puppies, and the maximum value is for adult German Shepherds. Due to the deficiency of all these vitamins, your four-legged buddy can suffer from various diseases. Therefore, you should add plant foods, milk, fish oil, fruits, and vegetables to their diet.
Minerals
Minerals are also an important element of a dog’s food. They need calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, and all other types of minerals. They need 264mg calcium, 11mg magnesium, 1.32mg iron, 0.16mg copper, and 0.11mg zinc per one kilogram. Small pooches need these components 2 times more. Lack of minerals could make them suffer from soft bones, loss of hunger, upset cardiac activity, anemia, and many other problems.
Water
Water is more important for a dog for survival than food. The adult mutts must drink at least 40 ml of water, and junior puppies must drink 80 to 120 ml of water every day. The water requirement is highly reliant on the season, activity, and feeding nature, etc. When they perform exercise or any other activity, the need for water enhances. Make sure the water you are giving to them is pure, odorless, and at room temperature.
How Long Should I Feed My German Shepherd Puppy Food?
2 Weeks Old Puppy
A newborn pup must be fed by his mother. At this age, he will be dependent on his mother’s milk and will sleep most of the time. You need to make sure the mother’s milk is enough for their growth and weight gain. If they don’t get enough milk, you should add a formula into their diet to help them gain weight.
3 Weeks Old Puppy
A 3 weeks old mutt will still be sleeping a lot, and after waking up, he will run clumsily and fall frequently. At this stage, you must feed him his mother’s milk.
4 Weeks Old Puppy
A one-month-old German shepherd will be curious and begin exploring everything around him. At this phase, you can give him a small quantity of dog food to observe if they would like to consume it or not. While introducing him to puppy food, add ¾ water to ¼ food. Bear in mind; their stomachs are very small, so they may not eat too much and will need their mother’s milk.
5 Weeks Old Puppy
You can give a kibble mixture to a 5 weeks old canine. During this phase, he will be more interested in eating dry and wet food. However, his stomach is still small, so he won’t be hungry much. He should also get plenty of his mother’s milk.
6 Weeks Old Puppy
At 6 weeks, you should transit him to puppy food. You can add more food to the water formula you prepared. Once he takes 25% food to 75% water, increase the food, so it is 50% food and 50% water. If he eats it happily, add 75% food and 25% water to his bowl.
10 Weeks Old Puppy
At this stage, he will be very hungry and experience swift growth, so you should give him two to three meals a day, but be careful about his weight. Excessive weight can put pressure on his bones and could lead him to many bone-related diseases.
14 Weeks Old Puppy
A 14 weeks old pup is still growing and developing quickly. He will start losing his teeth, so he will love eating everything. You should give him food thrice a day and continue following this routine until he is one year old.
5 Months Old Puppy
The ideal weight of a 5 months old pup is 35 to 49 pounds. At this age, you can start feeding him eggs, bones, and other things.
8 Months Old Dog
At the age of 8 months, you should give him live ingredients and increase their proportions by 10% every week.
1-Year-Old Dog
At this stage, they become adults and have a slower metabolism. So, you should feed them twice a day. If they leave food in the dish, you can reduce the quantity.
When Should I Switch My German Shepherd Puppy To Adult Food?
The optimal way to move your puppy to adult dog food is to pay attention to his size and age. When they are 1 year old, they are considered adults. Also, when he has accomplished 90% of his overall growth and development, it is the right time when you should shift them to dog food. Always make a gradual shift because rapid changes may be problematic for you and your furry fellow.
What To Feed A German Shepherd Puppy?
There are different types of diets that you can feed your pup.
- Good quality kibble diets
- Biologically appropriate raw foods (BARF diet)
- Homemade diet
Conclusion
The type and quantity of food are very important for the better growth and development of your German shepherd puppy. High-quality food will help him stay active and healthy for the long term. However, the cheap quality foods will put a bad impact on his health and growth. We hope after reading our article on how long I should feed my German shepherd puppy food, you are fully equipped to give your pooch a nourishing start in life.