Question about Dog Diet...I fyou are having a large breed.....Help Me!?

Question

Well...How much do you feed your dog(large breed) everyday?! I have a golden retriever, he is 9mnths old- 68 pounds, and I feed him 2 cups a day..i.e 1 cup in the day and 1 in the night, also he gets two cups of milk (2%) along with his food...Is this a right amount or am I feeding him less. How much do you feed your dog and how many times a day?!

P.S: He is eating Eukanba food until now, but am gonna replace it with it Pedigree...coz it has more flavors!!

About the "Milk" part, I DID CHECK WITH MY VET AND SHE SAID IT IS NOTHING WRONG!

Answer 1

Hi, As a pet nutrition consultant I have a few suggestions for you and I have had more training/experience with pet nutrition then most vets so you can trust that my information is accurate.

-First, when it comes to the situation of milk there are a couple of things that your vet probably didn't mention. The general rule is that most dogs are intolerant to lactose so that is why people do not feed milk, however; if your dog seems to be doing okay with it there is no reason why you can't be feeding him milk. The biggest caution I would have is in the amount you are feeding. Dogs who are overdosed with calcium have significant growth problems, bad appetites and bone deformation. It also prevents the absorption of some of the other essential nutrients. So, the key is that if you wish to provide your dog with fresh milk, do it as a treat only and not as such a big part of its diet. Your puppy is still growing and you don't want to negatively impact that.

-The second things inthe amount of food that you are feeding. Generally the two cups is probably about right. As mentioned in other postings, the amount all depends on the size and activity level of the dog. Puppies in general do eat more then adult dogs because they are growing and have higher activity levels. Just keep and eye on your dog and do not over feed or you'll have an overweight dog which is dangerous to their health.

-the last thing that I strongly encourage you and others reading this to do is to stop and look at the food brands that you are feeding. The mass market and media have the majority of people convinced that Pedigree, Purina, Eukanuba, Science Diet and so on are great foods....well truth be told you would be disgusted to know what you are really feeding your dog.
Pedigree actually has NO meat in it. It is made of corn, animal by-products (feet, feathers, beaks, hooves, bones, etc) of dead or diseased animals (including pigs, horses, cows, poutry, cats, dogs, porcupines, and on). Pedigree gets its protein source from corn but corn is only about 35% digestible versus eggs 100% and chicken 80%. Corn and animal by-products offer no nutritional value and are cheap so the company can make a fortune. Eukanuba is the same way. Science Diet is the same and is even preserved with BHA/BHT which are chemical preservatives linked to cancer.

If you are going to go to the trouble of speding a lot of money on Eukanuba or Pedigree, why would you not spend the equivalent on a food that is of human grade like Innova, Wellness, Solid Golid, Canidae, Fromm, and others. These foods are actually made with whole fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains, which are just pressed and baked into a kibble. Not only are these foods more palatable to dogs but your dog will be so much healthier. The diet that you are currently feeding is the equivalent of taking yourself to McDonalds every day of your life. Everyone needs to understand that if we want healthy pets that aren't going to cost us a fortune at the vet's then we need to be more cautious about what we feed them. It's all about good food and exercise...

Just please stay away from the mass market food, you are just setting your dog up for future problems.

*Please note that this is not meant to sound rude. I am just very passionate about this issue and these huge companies make me irate because they get away with selling these disgusting, illness causing foods just so they can make more money. I really feel it's time that the public demands more from these companies.

Answer 2

#1 Cow's milk isn't good for a dog - your vet is incorrect. "Many puppies and dogs cannot efficiently digest the sugar, or lactose, which is present in milk and this can cause digestive upsets." That quote is from Pedigree's own website.
http://www.pedigree.com/dogsAndPuppies/adult+dogs/nutrition/puppies+to+older+dogs/feeding+your+dog.asp

#2 Two meals a day is perfect for a big dog, even when he's full grown. It will help prevent bloat, which can happen when he gets excited on a too-full stomach.

#3 Eukanuba is overpriced for the quality of the food - lots of by products (which are basically garbage!) Don't pick a food because it has more flavors - switching flavors can make your dog a very picky eater. He'll always be holding out for a better offer and you may end up trying to cook for him every day.

#4 Personally, I like Nutro dog foods - it has no "by products" and is reasonably priced and my dogs have done fine on it for more than 10 years. They make canned and dry dog foods for puppies and adults. Any changes in diet should be made slowly to avoid diarrhea - gradually mix more new food in with what you've been using until he's switched over.

Answer 3

1) cut out the milk, dogs are usually lactose intolerant.
2) Feed a premium quality food. Pedigree is not. Read the ingredients list and learn what that stuff is and what it does (or does not do) to your dog. Pet food 101- If corn/corn and by products are on the ingredients list they are poor quality. California Natural, Solid Gold, Innova and Merrick are some of the best brands out there and I know Merrick has several flavors. Corn is a filler that does nothing for your dogs nutrition. It does however trigger skin problems in many dogs. (allergies, dry skin, itching, excessive shedding) By products is anything not for human consumption, including cancerous tissue.
3) As for the amount, it varies. Depending on your dogs weight and activity. My dog is a 50 pound Staffy. He gets three cups a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner and maintains his 50 pounds. Most bags will have a general guide, follow it. If the dog starts getting too heavy, cut back a little. If the dog starts getting too thin, add a little.

Answer 4

Cut out the milk your dog does not need it and it is nmot all that great for the dog.
Check out www.spoiled-rotten-pets.com
Rate the dog food you feed now and look at the one your are thinking of feeding. There are many good foods on the market and this web site has some of the very best available.
Prdigee is not one of them. The first ingredient in it is ground corn equals out to cheap dog food.
I feed my large breed dogs some what like the bag says but one gets more food as he is very active and get thin if I feed just what the bag says.

Answer 5

I have two Siberian Huskies - one weighs about 45-50 lbs., the other is larger and weighs about 65-70 lbs. My larger husky gets 2 cups of Authority dry dog food from PetSmart once a day. She is a good eater and would probably eat all day long if I let her. My smaller husky gets 1- 1/2 cups of the same food once a day. She is a picky eater, and does not like to eat in the morning, so I feed her at night. Also, I do not feed either of my dogs table scraps - they only get their regular dog food, milk bones and occasional dog treats. They also have rawhide bones to chew on. I would check with another vet and get a second opinion on the milk you are giving your dog. Good luck with your dog.

Answer 6

I have 5 dogs Extra-Large to Medium sized and I leave each of them a full bowl of dog food out at all times. If you cannot do this for your dog, there should be feeding instructions on the bag - I never give my dogs milk - when you switch foods, either introduce it slowly (mixed with the other food) or fast him 24 hours before feeding him the new food.

Answer 7

I too have large breeds, a bull mastiff and a lab, they are both on pedigree one for large breeds. it is formulated the same as the expensive brands, just cheaper. I feed 2 cups in am, 2cups in pm. they are not overweight, and get plenty of excersise. Milk is not good for dogs, since most are lactose intolerant. You can buy supplements if you feel your dog is not getting adequate nutrition, ask your vet, or go to drsfosterandsmith.com, they have tons. But if you feed a good quality food, you should not need them. I also give my dogs glucosomine chondritin supplements, to help their joints. Large breeds always have trouble with arthritis and joint problems, this seems to help, ask your vet.

Answer 8

I have a 3 year old Lab. I have always fed him Eukanuba. I started off with Puppy food and at 8 months switched him to Adult Low Fat Eukanuba. He normally gets 4 cups a day (breakfast and supper). He goes to work out in the bush 3 times a week and gets extra food on those days (extra cup). He currenlty weights 75 Lbs. He is not overweight, but with the low fat, he can can have a bit more. (As he is a Lab and is always hungry!) I also give him Glucosamine everyday, it's for his joints. he doesn't have any problems now, but takes it as a preventative. He also gets daily treats on top of his food. (i.e. a kong with cheese once in a while, cookies, weiners for training)

Answer 9

First off, milk is bad for dogs, stop giving him that. I feed my 57 lb Dalmatian 3 cups of Science Diet a day, if she wants it. I give her breakfast lunch and dinner if her bowl is empty, sometimes she eats all 3, some times she does not. She lets me know when she is hungry! And I use a measuring cup to measure it.

Answer 10

I have a large dog like that. I fill his bowl once a day with a ton of food and he just takes from it when he's hungry. Of course, he's a full grown 95-pound dog, and he has 2 1/2 to run around on. I use Purina dog food.