Like other dogs, German Shepherds need lots of nutrients to grow and blossom, including fats, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and water. So while picking out meals for your pet, you need to go for foods that contain these nutrients.
Because German Shepherds are active and agile dog breeds, they require foods with high-calorie content to keep them energized, strong, and healthy at all times. For both puppies and adults, proteins are a major nutritional requirement and source of calories and energy.
Beyond providing energy and regulating their body temperature, protein keeps the immune and musculoskeletal system healthy, builds and repairs muscles, etc. Growing German Shepherds need a minimum of 22% protein, while adult dogs require at least 18% protein in their diets for optimal growth.
Fat is another essential nutritional requirement for German Shepherds. The fat in dog meals comes from the protein and makes their meal tasty. Like proteins, it provides energy and contributes to the development of muscles, cells, nerves, and tissues.
Although fat is vital, feeding your dog with excess fat can make your dog obese. The thing is, obese dogs develop an increased risk for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. On the other hand, if your German Shepherd doesn’t take in enough fat, it will develop skin problems.
Again, the amount of fat recommended for puppies and adult German Shepherds are different. Growing puppies need up to eight percent (8%) fat content, while adults require up to five percent (5%) in their meals.
Your dog’s nutritional requirements may depend on factors such as age, activity levels, size, breed, and overall health conditions. For instance, my active German Shepherd that runs around the house will require a different meal plan from a similar dog breed that lies on the couch all day. Plus, pregnant German Shepherds will need more calories than dogs that aren’t pregnant.
Here’s another interesting example. A puppy will require twice as many calories as adult dogs. The same goes for middle-aged dogs, which may require 20 percent more calories than elderly dogs.
As you formulate your dog’s meal plan, it is best to stay off high carb foods. Instead, it would be best if you got high protein, grain-free foods with moderate fat content.
