i have a 3 month old black lab/great dane mix. I was told that i should stop feeding him puppy food because it can cause his bones to be brittle. Does anyone know if this is true, or should I continue feeding him puppy food?
2006-12-19 13:03:08 · 15 answers · asked by cindy 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Not true, as long as you are using a good brand of puppy food, such as Purina Pro Plan or Science Diet. My vet advised me to feed my puppies puppy food until they were one year old. It provides nutrients found in their mother's milk to help with brain development.
2006-12-19 13:05:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
I would actually suggest feeding an all-life stages food. Canidae, Wellness and Merrick are some very good all-life stages foods you can feed. Dont feed anything like Iams, Purina, Eukanuba,or anything you can find in a grocery store (including Target, KMart, Walmart, etc) as they are mostly corn and by-products and are basicly crap. Corn is the number one allergen agent in dog food, wheat being #2.
Puppy food does benefit them, but like someone said, get a large breed formula, if you must feed puppy formula, because the lesser protein will not allow the dog to grow rapidly, putting stress on the hips and patellas potentially setting the dog up for an injury later. Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance has a WONDERFUL puppy formula, as does Merrick. Go to the pet store and tell them you want a GOOD food, nothing that has corn, or animal by-products. If you tell them one of the foods i listed here, it should be of some help to you in the pet store.
2006-12-19 13:15:04 · answer #2 · answered by Carrey 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That's not true puppy food doesn't make your dog bones brittle according to the puppies food can. The big dog can eat them too cause I've got a german shepherd and he's 8 weeks and I bought him cans of puppy food and it's says in the Daily feeding guide the 3 months to the 6 monhs can have 3 feed per day, So it's fine u can feed your dog with puppies food.What I do I mix my puppy's food with the dry food for puppies that will give them all the nutrients.Go to Woolworth and buy a puppy can food call Natures gift it's puppy formula,100% fresh complete&balanced dog food and 70% Real chicken with Rice&Vegetables.Always read the labels on the cans.
2006-12-19 13:46:18 · answer #3 · answered by Zexyana 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can, but it's not a good idea. It promotes fast tissue and bone growth, which is a strain on the pup's body and can lead to health issues. Better to feed them a lower protien diet and have them grow slower, then have 'em grow like bean poles and give them health problems. In reality, alot of puppy foods have too much protein for their life stage. It's probably best if you can find a all-stage food. Usually a good medium for pups. Just make sure it's a dog food your pup will eat, and is high-end and therefore extremely healthy. And if you're worried, there's alwasy the option of calling up the vet. They don't charge - I promise.
2016-03-13 08:43:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may continue to feed him puppy food for the first 8mos to 1 year by then he should be integrated to a mix of adult food with puppy food you can do this at a earlier age if he is gaining to much weight, his hair becomes dry, dull or flaky. If these things start to happen he could be getting to much protein. When you feed him put a cap of oil on his food this will help his fur, keep him regular and if he doesn't like a certain type of dog food it encourages them to eat it.
2006-12-19 13:55:27 · answer #5 · answered by idigmoose1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No this is not true, if anything it makes them stronger. Puppy food is needed for the extra nutrition and nutrients your pup needs.
BUT..............
I would consider feeding it a all natural puppy food instead of puppy chow or science diet puppy. some good foods are canidae, wellness, solid gold, california natural or innova. These are just a few but there are some very good puppy foods at your pet store that do not have all the corn and preservatives in them and the main thing you want is meat, meat, meat, Not meat by-products.
2006-12-19 14:43:37 · answer #6 · answered by badgirl41 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there is a reason for that. Puppy foods generally have too much protein in them for one. Danes need lower amounts of protein. Flint River Ranch makes a good dog food that is lower in protein, so does Nature's Recipe with their Venison and Rice brand, or their Fish or Vegetarian brands.
Dick Van Patten has a good food with Venison and potato.
Here's a link with info about why puppy food is not recommended:
http://www.daneangelnetwork.org/puppyfood.htm
2006-12-19 13:16:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No . Definately no problem. You should worry if you are feeding home made dog food. It might lack of nutritions needed by the puppy.
2006-12-22 17:24:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to be feeding large breed puppy food.
It has a lower protein in it so the bones do not grow to rapidly.
If the dogs gets to much protein the bones grow to fast and are not dense enough to support the adult weight of the dog.
Any large breed pup should be feed large breed puppy food.
2006-12-19 13:06:03 · answer #9 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I wouldnt think so especially in your case your dog is in fact still a puppy. I have a German Shepherd that I fed puppy food until she turned 1yr old. One thing that happened to me was finding a brand that didnt give her the runs. I ended up having to feed to her Iams. But you should always consult a vet before listening to us idiots and yahoo.
2006-12-19 13:08:42 · answer #10 · answered by That Guy 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not as much as feeding him table food I would think. Also, at 3 months I think he is still considered a puppy no matter his size.
2006-12-19 13:05:25 · answer #11 · answered by Frank R 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋