Ask Me Help Desk - GSD needs to gain weight

I have a aprox. 9 month old GSD. I feed her 2 times a day, and she's been growing bigger, but she hasn't really put on any weight...
I know I'm not feeding her the best of the best dog food, I feed her purina lamb and rice currently and plan on switching her to blue buffalo since I've heard great things about it.

She's almost 51 pounds, and about 5ft tall (when standing on her hind legs). She looks on the little bit too skinny side to me and a few other people who have noticed it.

I've read about "satin balls" and a few other products, but they're high in FAT. I'd rather not have her gain weight through a fatty source, but would prefer to feed her a more protein enriched diet. To help keep mucles strong, but to also help the weight gain issue.

I just wanted to get other peoples opinions on what I should do, if I should go with a fatty source, or maybe I'm just freaking out and think she might be too skinny, or should I go with a protein enriched diet?

Thanks for any and all help!

You are expecting too much at 9 months. She won't be mature until 2 years old and at that time should have bulked up by then to approx. 75 lbs. which is normal for a GSD female full grown.

They are a lovely breed.

You have her on a calorie reduced diet I see, lamb and rice, so a good idea to switch to something better, I don't know of this blue buffalo brand, or whatever it is. But you have to realize too, this is a dog that is active, a working dog. She will expect to be walked and run quite a bit which is a healthy lifestyle for a GSD.

I would give her as much protein as she can handle now for development of healthy bones, teeth, etc. And yes you are freaking out. Its fine to put weight on her, but not overdo it seeing as they are prone to hip displaysia.

I don't know if you have had german shepherds before and know the breed, but if you haven't, you will never regret your choice.

Tick

Puppies are gangly and skinny while growing. Feed her more. Her body is using it and needs more. Give her a bigger helping at each feeding. Definitely get her off the Purina food. Purina anything doesn't have any nutritional value to it at all. It basically fills the tummy so the dog doesn't go hungery

I tried to feed Blue Buffalo.. My dogs hated it. They only ate it because they were hungry. Your dog may react differently. However; I have come across a supreme food that provide all the right stuff your pup needs... Innova. Innova carries an "alternative to the raw diet" formula. Its called Evo. I fed my Pit Bull that while she was growing. She was getting skinny on the food I had everyone one, which was Natural Balance. I switched her to the Evo and she bulked up real nice. I fed the Red Meat formula, but they have a chicken formula as well. Once she turned a year, I put her on Innovas maintenance forumla. With this brand, it can be used as an all stages type of food. So you can put your 9 mo on the Evo without the dog missing out on any of the needed nutrients for growing.

I really like Innova. My dogs love to eat it and it really does make them look nice. I will recommend Innova to anyone who will ask. I think this brand of food really outweighs everything else. It really is worth the price.

Here's Innova's website. Listed is both Innova, Evo and the other brands of food that Natura Pet Foods makes.

The Healthiest Pet Foods in the World – Natural & Organic Pet Food – Natura Pet Products

I really like this website also. It grades the foods on what is top notch and what is bottom of the barrel and its not based on opinion. Dog Food Analysis - Reviews of kibble

Quote:

Originally Posted by tickle

You are expecting too much at 9 mos. She wont be mature until 2 years old and at that time should have bulked up by then to approx. 75 lbs. which is normal for a GSD female full grown.

They are a lovely breed.

You have her on a calorie reduced diet I see, lamb and rice, so a good idea to switch to something better, I dont know of this blue buffalo brand, or whatever it is. But you have to realize too, this is a dog that is active, a working dog. She will expect to be walked and run quite a bit which is a healthy lifestyle for a GSD.

I would give her as much protein as she can handle now for development of healthy bones, teeth, etc. And yes you are freaking out. Its fine to put weight on her, but not overdo it seeing as they are prone to hip displaysia.

I dont know if you have had german shepherds before and know the breed, but if you havent, you will never regret your choice.

tick

I understand she will not be fully mature until about 2 years old, she just looks a bit on the skinny side, no ribs showing, but her hip bones are rather noticeable.

:P My GSD currently is active and we're slowling working towards competetive obidience. We get plenty of excersice but never too much to over exert ourselves. Though if I let her she'd play all day and never stop.

GSD are amazing dogs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky098

Puppies are gangly and skinny while growing. Feed her more. Her body is using it and needs more. Give her a bigger helping at each feeding. Definately get her off of the Purina food. Purina anything doesnt have any nutritional value to it at all. It basically fills the tummy so the dog doesnt go hungery

I tried to feed Blue Buffalo.. My dogs hated it. They only ate it because they were hungry. Your dog may react differently. However; I have come accross a supreme food that provide all the right stuff your pup needs.... Innova. Innova carries an "alternative to the raw diet" formula. Its called Evo. I fed my Pit Bull that while she was growing. She was getting skinny on the food I had everyone one, which was Natural Balance. I switched her to the Evo and she bulked up real nice. I fed the Red Meat formula, but they have a chicken formula as well. Once she turned a year, I put her on Innovas maintenance forumla. With this brand, it can be used as an all stages type of food. So you can put your 9 mo on the Evo without the dog missing out on any of the needed nutrients for growing.

I really like Innova. My dogs love to eat it and it really does make them look nice. I will recommend Innova to anyone who will ask. I think this brand of food really outweighs everything else. It really is worth the price.

Here's Innova's website. Listed is both Innova, Evo and the other brands of food that Natura Pet Foods makes.

The Healthiest Pet Foods in the World – Natural & Organic Pet Food – Natura Pet Products

I really like this website also. It grades the foods on what is top notch and what is bottom of the barrel and its not based on personal opinion. Dog Food Analysis - Reviews of kibble

Thanks for the advice! I'll look into this brand!

I recommend Blue Wilderness - next best to BARF.

Hip bones showing is not a sign of being under weight! If you want to introduce some more protein to her diet, you can try eggs, scrambled or boiled. Liver, heart or kidneys. All are high in protein. But like mentioned GSD's are prone to hip dysplasia and if they gain weight too quickly can cause torn ligaments during regular play time.
The lamb and rice is a low cal diet. If you are looking for a new dog food, try and choose something for large breed puppy’s until she is at least 12 months. What does your vet say about her current weight?