Important Disclaimer
The information provided here is for general pet health education only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional veterinary advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately.
- Species & breed
- Dog · Australian Shepherd
- Age
- 7 months old
- Sex
- Male
- Color
- Merle
It's wonderful that you're putting so much thought into Bandit's meals — that kind of care really does make a difference, especially during these important growing months!
The honest answer is: it depends on the amounts, and that's something worth looking at carefully. Here's why:
The base kibble is the foundation. A 7-month-old Australian Shepherd is still growing fast and needs a puppy-formulated food as his main calorie source. The bag's feeding guide is a starting point, but it's based on kibble alone — every add-on you mix in contributes additional calories and nutrients on top of that.
Add-ons can stack up quickly. Each of the extras you're using — the supplement powder, broth bites, salmon oil, and pumpkin — adds something to the bowl. Salmon oil in particular is calorie-dense. If you're adding all of these daily without adjusting the kibble portion down, it's easy to go over what a growing pup actually needs.
Signs you might be overfeeding include:
- Soft or loose stools (the pumpkin can actually help firm things up, but too much fiber causes the opposite)
- Rapid, excessive weight gain
- A belly that looks rounder than his ribs suggest
- Leaving food behind consistently (his body may be telling him he's full)
A simple body condition check: Run your hands along Bandit's sides. You should be able to feel his ribs easily without pressing hard, but they shouldn't be visibly sticking out. If you have to press to find them, he may be carrying a little extra weight.
A few practical steps:
- Add up the daily calories from all sources, not just the kibble bag
- Check whether the supplement powder is designed to be used alongside a complete kibble — some powders are meant for homemade diets and can create nutrient imbalances with commercial food
- Treat the broth bites and salmon oil as part of his daily calorie budget, not extras on top of it
- Keep pumpkin to a small spoonful — it's great for digestion in small amounts
Australian Shepherds at 7 months are energetic and lean by nature, so it's worth making sure his diet is supporting that without tipping into excess.
When to see your vet: Schedule a visit soon — ideally at his next routine checkup — and bring a list of everything in his bowl with approximate daily amounts. Your vet can weigh him, assess his body condition score, and tell you exactly whether his current intake is on track. If you're noticing loose stools, rapid weight gain, or low energy now, don't wait — book an appointment this week.
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