Bringing a German Shepherd puppy into your home is an exciting time. These intelligent and active dogs need proper nutrition to support their rapid growth and development. If your German Shepherd puppy is underweight, it’s important to address this with a balanced approach that focuses on healthy weight gain, not just adding fat.
Is Your German Shepherd Puppy Underweight?
Before you start trying to fatten up your puppy, make sure they are actually underweight. A vet can help you assess your puppy’s body condition and determine if they need to gain weight. You should be able to feel your puppy’s ribs, but they shouldn’t be too prominent.
Key Strategies to Help Your German Shepherd Puppy Gain Weight
Here’s how to help your German Shepherd puppy gain weight in a healthy way:
- Choose the Right Food:
- Feeding the Right Amount:
- Puppy Food is Essential: Feed your puppy a food specifically formulated for growth and development until they reach physical maturity. Large and giant breeds may not mature until they are nearly 2 years old.
- High-Quality Ingredients: Look for puppy food with high-quality ingredients. The best food for a German Shepherd to gain weight is a high-protein, red-meat adult formula dog food.
- Protein and Fat Content: Ensure the food has an adequate amount of protein and fats. Adult dogs should get at least 20 to 25 percent of their daily calories from protein and 25 to 50 percent from fats, with the rest coming from carbs.
- Measured Portions: Puppies should be fed a measured amount of complete and balanced puppy food at each meal.
- Adjust as Needed: Adjust the amount of food as needed to maintain a lean body condition.
*The pet food label provides general guidelines to serve as a starting point.
- Feeding Schedule:
- Supplements:
- Healthy Treats:
- Exercise:
- Avoid empty calories:
- Monitor Your Puppy’s Progress:
- Fresh Water:
- Veterinary Check-ups:
- Caloric Density: Match the caloric density of the food to your puppy’s energy needs. If a puppy seems excessively hungry, a diet with lower energy density may help with satiety. If a puppy is unable to eat enough volume of food, a more caloric dense food may be beneficial.
- Regular Meals: Depending on your pet’s breed and size, you should feed your puppy three meals per day from two to six months of age.
- Avoid Overfeeding: Be sure to feed smaller servings more frequently, rather than too much all at once.
- Consult Your Vet: Talk to your vet before adding any supplements to your puppy’s diet.
- No Need to Supplement: There is no need to supplement a diet that is already labeled as complete and balanced.
- Limit Treats: Treats should not exceed 10 percent of the puppy’s daily caloric intake in order to prevent excessive weight gain and unbalancing nutrient intake.
- Nutritional Value: Stick to treats that offer some kind of nutritional benefit.
- Healthy Snack Options: Healthy snacks like bits of carrot, green beans, or bell peppers give your puppy something to crunch without many calories.
- Regular Exercise: Exercise is key to helping your German Shepherd gain weight the healthy way.
- Build Muscle: Exercise helps them build muscle, and muscle weighs more than fat.
- Limit Junk Food: Avoid treats that are basically doggy junk food.
- No Scraps: Do not feed dogs bones, table scraps, or people food.
- Filler Ingredients: Avoid foods that contain filler ingredients.
- Keep Track: Write down the diet plans you use for your dog as well as how effective they are.
- Weight Gain Chart: You can also try using a German Shepherd weight gain chart, writing down specific goals for your GSD, keeping track of their daily caloric intake and weekly progress, and tracking the amount of exercise they get on a daily basis.
- Always Available: Fresh water should be available to dogs at all times.
- Clean Daily: Food and water dishes should be cleaned daily.
- Regular Check-ups: Regular vet visits are crucial to rule out underlying health issues that may be preventing your puppy from gaining weight.
- Expert Advice: Make sure to talk to your vet about how much food is right for your dog.
Transitioning to Adult Food
Once puppies have reached 90% of their expected adult weight, they should switch from a growth diet to one that’s suitable for maintenance. Small breeds may finish growing by 9 to 12 months; for large breeds, expect 12 to 18 months. Excess weight gain can be caused by switching to adult dog food too early.
Important Considerations
- Healthy Weight Gain: Aim for muscle, not fat.
- Long-Term Plan: This isn’t a quick fix; it’s a long-term plan.
- Consult a Professional: Work with your veterinarian or a certified canine nutritionist to create a tailored plan for your puppy.
By following these guidelines, you can help your German Shepherd puppy achieve a healthy weight and thrive.