Homemade dog food is free of preservatives and harsh chemical treatments. German Shepherd puppies. 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. Do you want to know how to fatten up a German Shepherd to make them gain weight in a healthy way? Dont skip on your dogs exercise because you want them to gain more weight and think theyll burn too much fat. Keep your puppy on a puppy-formulated food until theyve reached 80% of their adult weight. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing! Your dog needs a high-protein diet to ensure he has the raw materials necessary to create more muscle . You May Like: What Can German Shepherds Eat. With every passing month, a specific weight gain can be observed in a German Shepherd puppy until it becomes a Mature dog. Fat provides energy and helps keep their coats healthy and shiny. Some of the food you can give them are chicken, rice, egg, and vegetables such as pumpkin. Those are just the minimums, so if you arent feeding your German Shepherd this amount fix this issue immediately! Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dog Food Best Overall Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon The best overall food for German Shepherds for weight gain is Taste of the Wild Prairie grain-free dog food. Your German Shepherd is not likely to become overweight in the first 9 months of their lives because their growth rate easily matches their calory intake. If they still refuse the food, you may need to switch to a different dog food formula to gain weight. For a healthy diet, your German Shepherd needs more calories than a Maltese. 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. Thus, if they are gaining weight, there must be some of the other contributions of both dog and the owner. Genetics- My German Shepherd is small because of his genetics. At this stage, milk must be removed from the puppys diet as it could cause diarrhea. An adult German Shepherd with an active lifestyle needs around 1700 calories each day. Most males will be between 66 and 88 pounds, whereas most females will be between 49 and 71 pounds. Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents. Bring a book or do a quiet activity while they eat close to you. A dog that is too skinny is usually unwell and needs a vet check-up. A fully grown female GSD is about 20 to 22 inches tall and weighs from 60 to 75 pounds. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. In this article, we will touch on the . of B vitamins that not only helps increase appetite but also gives more energy Here are even more ideas to improve your German Shepherds skin and coat that are healthy and may add additional calories for weight gain. 2. A male German Shepherd is heavier than a female. Buy the highest quality food for your dog to keep them from losing any more weight and adjust your feeding plan by keeping track of your dogs weight loss and gain. He eats it enthusiastically and it has really helped him thrive! You can easily add to up of additional food per meal to see the result. 1. Be sure to write down the diet plans you use for your dog as well as how effective they were. When you care for a GSD, you need to monitor their weight regularly and use the breed standards chart to determine whether theyre underweight or overweight. They are also more sensitive than male GSDs and easier to train. Offer your dog Brewers yeast tablets following the manufacturers instructions for dosing. The cause of it being skinny could be that it has not been getting the right diet. Change to Puppy or High-Performance Food. This is the Reason WHY, Best Dog Foods For German Shepherds To Gain Weight: What To Look For, 5 Things You Must Never Do to Your German Shepherd, How Can I Get My German Shepherd To Gain Weight, What Does A German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Look Like, What Temperature Can German Shepherds Handle, Which Dog Food Is Best For German Shepherd Puppy, My German Shepherd Is Itching And Losing Hair, How To Tell If A German Shepherd Puppy Is Purebred, Already Trained German Shepherds For Sale, How Much Exercise Do German Shepherds Need A Day, Golden Retriever Mix With German Shepherd. Feed your German Shepherd a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Around day 42, your dog will enter the third stage of pregnancy. Simple. Add a quarter If they lose weight rapidly, they might be suffering from worms or parasites. Cheaper GSD puppy food lack quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog. In addition, it is vital that puppies have constant access to clean fresh water. Dry kibble is known to be one of the best types of food for German Shepherds. Walking and swimming are activities that build muscle and are lower impact and less intense on their joints and bones. Also Check: Why Does My German Shepherd Follow Me Everywhere. If your dog seems visually bigger than usual, get the weight checked. 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. Homemade dog food provides unsurpassed nutrition. One of the easiest ways to discover obesity is keeping a check on weight. 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. According to the AKC, the average German Shepherd male is 24 - 26 inches tall and weighs between 65 and 90lbs. Gradually transition between foods. Weight gain for your German Shepherd can be a tricky affair, but it can be done with the right steps. Another important nutrient for German Shepherds is fat. This is a "user error" that can be fixed fairly easily, but taking your dog to the veterinarian first is the best thing for the majority of dog owners. There are many reasons why your dog or puppy may not be gaining weight. This article has been viewed 39,585 times. Look for foods that have a higher percentage of fat and protein than your current food. They are large breed dogs with fast metabolisms that are active and energetic in their daily lives. Thats when you start questioning whether your beloved companion is sick. Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon derives the majority of its animal protein from fresh beef and lamb meal. Menhaden fish meal is source of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, which is vital for neural . This type of feeding may help them eat more overall. German Shepherds have a slight definition between their top and lower half of the body, at their waist. This is a proven, balanced design which makes this particular recipe a top option for growing Shepherd puppies. Simply sit with them and enjoy your time together while they eat. That way, youll give it time to digest its food so it can consume more. Read Also: Top Names For German Shepherds, Recommended Reading: Is My German Shepherd Too Skinny. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? Read Also: Dog Diapers For German Shepherds. Though every German Shepherd is different, as a rule of thumb, an adult should ideally eat two times a day. These are just an estimation of the GSD's average weight which means that there's room for some variation. Obviously, if they're struggling to eat, then they're going to begin to lose weight. German Shepherds are a working breed and, as such, require a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates. There are some considerations you should do about Your German Shepherd Dog. Add a scoop of wet or canned food to his dry kibble to boost flavor and moistureand some extra calories. Ensure their dog food is made of animal proteins including eggs. All changes to your dog's diet should be made gradually, ideally over the course of several weeks. Miniature German Shepherd or Mini Shepherd is a small or medium-size dog breed, weighing about 50 pounds and a height of 15 to 20 inches. An obese German Shepherd may have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis and other joint maladies because the excess weight puts more strain on their joints, bone structure, and back . Also, increasing the number of feeding by splitting regular and extra food into several feeding times allows your Shepherd to eat more. On the other hand, according to our German . Mixing adult and puppy food helps your dog gain weight in a controlled manner. Create a journal and keep track of their meals, treats, exercise, and weight changes. He comes from a long line of small German Shepherds. This type of dog food is produced from real cooked food that underwent a process of removing almost all of its water content. You could use a notepad or try to find an app thatll help you keep track of your companions weight. These food formulas are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. To put weight in, increase the calories in, to lose weight, increase the calories out. Like dogs, male wolves grow longer, heavier, and taller than females. Crave High Protein Chicken Dry Dog Food- Best Overall Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Crave High Protein Chicken Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is our pick as the best overall food for a German Shepherd to gain weight. If this does not help them gain weight, you may need to give them more food, adding a quarter to half a cup per meal. A working dog can need as much as 2400 calories per day. Nutrition can directly affect their level of activity, mobility and conditions like arthritis. They are very loyal, intelligent and love to be kept active, so can be easy to train. But if you see their ribs protruding or their hip bones raised and easily felt when petting, this is a sign of being underweight. Talk to your vet about the right choice for your dog and have your puppy regularly dewormed. The Honest Kitchen recommends that because it'll help your German Shepherd gain muscle. Every dog is different and they dont all grow at the same rate. , How to Fatten Up a German Shepherd (15 Bulk-Up Tips), high protein red-meat adult formula dog food, Victor Active Dog & Puppy Grain-Free dog food, this list of the best German Shepherd treats, what amount to feed a German Shepherd puppy, ideas to improve your German Shepherds skin and coat, Are German Shepherds Good With Kids? We cant make our dogs live forever but we can ensure that the care we provide gives them the ability to enjoy each day to the fullest. Sweet potato and pumpkin are fantastic ways to help your dog put on weight in a healthy way. Adding these foods into their regular kibble may also entice them to eat more of their dry dog food, which can help an underweight puppy or adult. Be sure to make good notes regarding what your feeding plan is and how your dogs weight fluctuates. B vitamins are natural appetite stimulants and are Warning: Dont buy dog foods that are made of filler ingredients. To avoid excessive protein in your dogs diet while helping him gain weight, consider adding sweet potato and pumpkin to his food. . Reasons for excessive weight gain in German Shepherd dogs. Sprints build muscle and cardio fitness. When your Germans Shepherd reaches 9 months, growth slows down significantly, and you made need to adjust their food quantities to account for this sudden reduction in calorie requirements. 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. 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? Young adult puppies need between 1500 and 1700 calories per day. Dont Miss: How To Get A German Shepherds Ears Up. 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. He is energetic, has a gorgeous coat, and devours his meals! Female dogs may be more prone to weight gain as they age and activity levels decrease, or with hormone changes such as after neutering. We love that youre enjoying all the great stuff here. Do you want to know how to fatten up a German Shepherd to make them gain weight in a healthy way? So, you have to put your eye on that and buy wisely. Of course, the large amount of water aids the successful digestion of the nutrients. It is likely that each of the different reasons will come with some clues. A German Shepherd puppy should eat at least 3 times a day. These numbers are estimates to give you an idea of how much a German Shepherd weighs month by month. Change in Environment. There are a variety of reasons why your German Shepherd could be fat or overweight. readily available over the counter and online. The average size for an adult male GSD is around 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between 85-100 pounds. When looking for way on how to make your German Shepherd gain weight stay away from just giving them junk food or lots of fatty products. German Shepherds need 1272 to 1550 calories daily, while the active ones need even more. Some may have more calories than others. Here are some tips which will help you to make your German shepherd puppy gain weight: Start with a small amount of food: If you have a puppy who weighs less than 20 pounds, then he will need a smaller portion of food. Veterinarians recommend annual checkups twice a year for older pets. Look for foods that have a higher percentage of fat and protein than your current food. An overweight German Shepherd can experience heart problems, respiratory problems, joint and muscle injuries, and difficulty carrying out other normal organ functions. Chronic allergic reactions are accompanied by excessive scratching, itching, and biting2. If youre struggling to get your dog to eat enough to gain weight, add an extra mealtime to its daily routine. A male adult German Shepherd should weigh around 79 - 88 lbs (36 - 40 kg) when fully grown, whereas females will be about 66 - 70 lbs (29 - 31 kg). While a senior GSD may eat significantly fewer calories, if they are losing weight or underweight and a vet has been consulted, they may need extra feedings or food to help them gain the weight back. If your German Shepherd is underweight for their age, there may be a serious medical reason. Puppies will have different nutritional needs depending upon their size. Calorie intake can range from 1,272 for a lower-activity German Shepherd to 2,100 or more for a highly active German Shepherd. 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":"