- What are the best food for Australian Shepherd? Top 5 foods available on market reviewed. Including best option for Puppy, Senior dog too!
Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog breed. These dogs were initially bred as a herding breed. Along with time, they became excellent family companions. The Australian shepherd dogs grow up to a height of around 18 to 23 inches. The average weight of an Australian shepherd ranges between 35 to 65 pounds.
One of the most notable features that you will discover in Australian shepherd dogs is their high level of intelligence. Along with that, you will find it an easy task to train them as well. Australian Shepherd are very friendly and active dog. So, you will love to spend your time along with them.
If you are looking forward to welcoming an Australian shepherd dog to your family or if you already have a one, you should have a clear understanding of what kind of meal plan you should provide. This will allow you to keep the Australian Shepherd healthy and happy at all times.
Understanding an Australian Shepherd’s Diet Requirements
Before you locate the best dog food for the Australian Shepherd, you need to have a solid understanding of the dietary requirements. Then you can pick the ideal foods accordingly and move forward with them. Dogs, in general, don’t have any dietary requirements with regards to carbohydrates.
However, you should think about including digestible sources such as beans, vegetables, grains, and legumes. They are in a position to provide the nutrients that your dog need. Along with that, you need to provide fiber and supplements. Supplements will support the digestion of your Australian Shepherd. The supplements that include probiotics and prebiotic fibers hold a prominent place out of them.
Dietary Considerations for Australian Shepherd
Even though Australian Shepherd dogs are intelligent and smart, they are not the healthiest dog breed that you can find. Therefore, you can see them being subjected to a variety of health issues. The Australian Shepherd develop sensitive and allergies to the typical dog food ingredients such as beef, chicken, soy, corn, wheat, and pork. So, you need to observe your Australian Shepherd carefully to see if it’s allergic to any ingredients of food that you are choosing.
Australian Shepherd Feeding Chart
The Australian Shepherd is a medium sized dog breed. Therefore, you will need to provide around 20 to 30 calories for every pound in body weight. You will be able to stick to this at the time of following a feeding chart. Along with that, you can keep the energy levels of your Australian Shepherd high as well.
You should be providing around 1.5 to 2.5 cups of food per day. You should also make sure that you are only providing high-quality food to the dog at all times. We will also provide you with some of the best food recommendations for Australian Shepherd that you can follow. You can stick to them and make sure that your dog is provided with an appropriate meal.
Here are some more details on how to select the perfect diet for your Australian Shepherd dog depending on the age.
- Puppy
When you are providing food to your Australian Shepherd puppy, you need to offer at least 8% of fat and 22% of protein. That’s because your Australian Shepherd puppy will grow up pretty quickly. Giving a higher amount of fat will benefit the puppy, and it will put some excessive strain on the development of joints as well.
- Adult
While feeding your adult Australian Shepherd dog, you will need to provide a meal that contains at least 5% fat and 18% protein. Since you are providing a higher percentage of protein, you will be able to contribute effectively towards the development of lean muscle mass. Along with that, it can cater to the energy requirements of your dog as well.
- Senior
When your Australian Shepherd dog is getting older, he will slow down. Hence, you will need to introduce some changes to the meal plan as well. This is where you need to think about providing nutrients that support joints through food. You should be extra careful when finding food to be given for such an Australian Shepherd dog.
Best Dog Food for Australian Shepherd (Adult)
Here is a list of some of the best foods available for you to give to your Australian Shepherd. You can go through this list and spend your money to get the best ones out of them.
(Overall Best)
You need to make sure that you are providing grain-free dog food to the Australian Shepherd at all times. That’s where The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Grain Free Dog Food comes into play. It has been made with cage-free turkey. You will not be able to find any grain being added as an active ingredient.
On the other hand, this dog food has the ability to promote easy digestion for the Australian Shepherd as well. On top of that, The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Grain Free Dog Food provides a higher percentage of protein, which can contribute a lot towards the development of the dog. Since this dog food is made out of all-natural ingredients, you don’t need to worry about any side-effects at the time of giving it.
(Affordable)
Raw beef is the primary ingredient that you can see in Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Adult Canned Wet Dog Food. Hence, it has the ability to cater the protein requirements of the dog. In addition to beef, highly digestible rice has also been added. On top of that, you can see how 23 different essential vitamins and minerals have been added to this dog food to make it impressive. Hence, all the dog owners who provide Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Adult Canned Wet Dog Food to their Australian shepherd will be able to keep the companions healthy and happy.
All the dog food varieties offered by Blue Buffalo Life have earned a reputation because they use real meat. It applies to Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food as well. Therefore, you will be able to serve the protein requirements of your dog with the help of high-quality protein. You will be able to use this to build the muscles of your dog and maintain them in the long run. You will also notice that Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food has been specifically designed with a lower amount of calories. This can keep the dog away from frustrating health conditions such as obesity. In the meantime, you will be able to fulfill all the energy requirements of the dog effectively.
If you are searching for excellent grain-free dog food, Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is another excellent option to consider. The key ingredients that you can find in this dog food include omega fatty acids, salmon meals, and herring. Hence, you can offer much-needed support to the dog by maintaining good health. You can also find antioxidants, including nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. One of the most impressive features about Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is that it has balanced proportions of omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids.
This dog food is enriched with real smoked salmon. Hence, your dog will immediately fall in love with it. It can also provide adequate amounts of protein to the dog, which would help him with developing strong lean muscles. All the ingredients used for the development of this dog food are obtained from trusted sources. Hence, you don’t need to worry about the quality of this dog food. Taste of the Wild High Protein Real Meat Recipe Dry Dog Food can also be considered as one of the highly digestible dog food varieties available out there in the market for you to purchase as well.
Best Australian Shepherd Puppy Food
If you are still having an Australian shepherd puppy, you must think about providing appropriate dog foods. Here are a couple of options available for you to consider in such a situation.
(Best for Puppy)
You can give this food to your puppy without keeping any doubt in mind. In fact, it has uniquely been designed to cater to the dietary requirements of puppies aged up to 10 months. Your puppy has an elevated need to get more energy. By providing this dog food, you will be able to cater to all those energy requirements of the puppy. This can also provide excellent overall assistance to the immune system of the puppy. That’s because the dog food has been produced through the use of a rich blend of vitamins and antioxidants. On top of that, highly digestible probiotics and proteins have been used in this dog food as well.
Solid Gold – Love at First Bark Dog Food has also been designed for the puppies who are growing up. Natural chicken is the primary ingredient of this dog food. Hence, you can go ahead and provide it to your Australian shepherd puppy without thinking twice. Along with that, you can effectively cater to the requirement to get more proteins. Along with the natural chicken, a set of highly digestible ingredients have been added to Solid Gold – Love at First Bark Dog Food as well. You can also help the puppy to maintain gut health due to the presence of protected probiotics. This is a reputed brand with offering dog food as well.
Best Senior Australian Shepherd Food
People who have senior Australian Shepherd dogs will need to be extra careful with the dog foods that are being purchased. In fact, you need to provide support to the slowing down dog with the dog food that you buy. That’s where you need to think about going forward with these two options.
(Best for Senior Dog)
Nutro Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food is made with a variety of protein sources. They include salmon, lamb, and chicken. Hence, you can provide superior overall assistance to your senior dog at the end of the day. High-quality ingredients have been used to help you make sure that you are offering nothing but the best to your dog. Giving Nutro Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food is quite similar to providing 15 vibrant superfoods to the senior Australian shepherd dog. No artificial flavors have been added to this dog food, and you shouldn’t keep any doubts in mind at the time of buying it.
2. Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food has specifically been designed to provide much-needed support to the senior dogs. You will not be able to find any grain being included as an ingredient of this dog food. Therefore, it is a perfect option to be given for the Australian shepherd dog. On top of that, the senior formula of this dog food would tempt you to go ahead and invest your money to buy it. You will be able to find this dog food filled with delicious high-quality proteins. Both chicken and turkey are ingredients of Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. In addition to that, you can find how a variety of real vegetables have been used to offer essential minerals and vitamins to the users.
What You Should Avoid Feeding Your Australian Shepherd?
- Excessive nutrients/protein
- Artificial flavors and preservatives
- Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, Meat
It is better if you can go through customer reviews while you purchase dog food for the Australian Shepherd. Then you can get a better understanding of how your experience with the specific dog food would be. You should keep an eye on the reviews that were left by customers who purchased the dog food for Australian Shepherd. This will help you to get a better overall understanding of how the dog food would work.
Common Australian Shepherd Health Problems
As mentioned earlier, Australian Shepherd dogs are not the healthiest. Hence, you need to be mindful about the health conditions that they will be subjected to. Here are some of the most common health issues that your Australian Shepherd will be subjected to –
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Persistent pupillary membrane
- Hypothyroidism
- Hip dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Deafness
- Collie eye anomaly
- Cataracts
You will be able to group these health conditions into several categories as musculoskeletal issues, inherited diseases, and eye problems.
The eye problems that your Australian Shepherd dog can get include collie eye anomaly, distichiasis, and cataracts. Likewise, the Australian Shepherd dog will be subjected to many inherited health conditions such as elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia. You will need to provide medical treatments to help your Australian Shepherd dog with overcoming these health conditions.
The Australian Shepherd dogs are being subjected to a large number of musculoskeletal health problems as well. Elbow dysplasia is a perfect example to prove the fact mentioned above. Along with that, these dogs are being subjected to osteochondritis dissecans as well. This can lead them towards the painful stiffening of the joints.
Another major health issue that your Australian Shepherd dog will have to deal with include food allergies. Therefore, you need to be extra mindful of the foods that you are providing. Along with that, they are vulnerable to allergies caused by dust, pollen, and mold, as well. Even certain chemicals can increase the risk factor of subjecting Australian Shepherd to allergies.
Also Read: Human Food To Avoid For Dog
FAQ on Australian Shepherd Feeding
You will come across a series of questions at the time of purchasing food for the Australian Shepherd dog. Here are answers to some of the most prominent questions out of them. When you go through these questions and answers, you will be able to clarify all the doubts that you had in your mind about Australian Shepherd dog food. So, you can even make informed decisions at the time of purchasing dog food.
How much food should I feed my Australian Shepherd?
You need to provide around 1.5 to 2.5 cups of dog food each time to the Australian Shepherd. However, the specific amount of dog food that you should provide would vary depending on the weight, age, and activity level. As the dog owner, you will have a better understanding of these factors. Hence, you can go ahead and provide the dog foods accordingly.
How many times a day should I feed my Australian Shepherd?
You need to feed your Australian Shepherd dog three times a day. They should be three small meals. Then you will be able to keep the energy levels of the dog high at all times. In the meantime, you will also be able to provide excellent support to the overall development of the dog as well. If your adult Australian Shepherd dog is not much active, it would even be enough for you to provide just two meals per day. But if your dog is active or you exercise it regularly, you need to feed it at least 3 times a day.
What kind of food do Australian Shepherd eat?
The Australian Shepherd dogs love to enjoy foods that are made out of wholesome natural ingredients. You need to focus more on getting these from the market. Some of the key ingredients that should be included in the diet of your Australian Shepherd include healthy fats, premium animal proteins, and digestible carbohydrates.
What vegetables are good in an Australian Shepherd food?
A variety of vegetables are available for you to give to your Australian Shepherd. In fact, vegetables are in a position to contribute immensely towards the overall health and well being of the Australian Shepherd. Here are some of the vegetables that you can think about providing to your Australian Shepherd.
- Zucchini
- Sweet potatoes
- Spinach
- Pumpkin
- Peas
- Green beans
- Cucumber
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Brussels sprouts
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
You need to think about getting your hands on fresh vegetables as much as possible. You can provide them throughout the day as a healthy snack. You should also be careful enough to clean the vegetables properly before you give them to the Australian Shepherd dog. Then you will be able to ensure that your dog doesn’t end up with an upset stomach.
Do Australian Shepherd need grain-free dog food?
Yes, the Australian Shepherd should be provided with a grain-free meal at all times. That’s because this dog breed is allergic to grains.
Australian Shepherd dogs are vulnerable to food allergies. When you give grains to the Australian Shepherd dog, there is a high possibility for an allergy to take place. It can lead your Australian Shepherd dog to a lot of difficulties. So, you need to refrain from giving Australian Shepherd to your companion as much as possible. Even when you are purchasing commercially available dog food, you need to double-check the ingredients and make sure that no grains are included.
What foods are Aussies allergic to?
Australian shepherd dogs are vulnerable to food allergies. In fact, they are allergic to grains. Therefore, you should make sure that you are not including grains in the food that is given to the Australian Shepherd. You can find plenty of dog food, which comes with grain-free recipes. Like The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Food. You can stick to them at all times and keep your Australian Shepherd happy.
Conclusion
Now you have a clear overall understanding of what the best dog foods available for you to give to your Australian Shepherd are. You can keep these facts in your mind and proceed with purchasing appropriate dog food. You should also be aware of the traits of your Australian Shepherd and make sure that you purchase appropriate dog food.
In general, you need to make sure that you are purchasing high-quality dog food, which is made out of the best quality natural ingredients available. Then you can contribute towards the development of your Australian Shepherd dog while catering to all the nutrient requirements. In addition to that, you will be able to keep your Australian Shepherd dog away from health issues that would take place. On top of everything, you will be able to make sure that your Australian Shepherd dog can enjoy his time with enhanced energy levels.
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