People say puppy dry food should not be fed to giant breed puppies. But others say it's ok. I'm confused.
Is this just a matter of opinion?
One breeder refuses to feed puppy food to her giant breed puppies because she thinks that feeding puppy food takes off a year of their life so you must feed dog food to puppies no matter how young it is.
Well the dog food seller said she's wrong and the puppies aren't getting the nutrients.
So who's right here? Or is it just a matter of opinion?
2007-08-05 02:54:55 · 13 answers · asked by Inferna Dragon 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Puppies need to have the correct nutrients when they are young especially. They are at an important growing stage where you need to make sure they are getting everything they need. To do this you need to make sure they are eating PUPPY FOOD! Puppy food is specially formulated to give them more of what they need at that age, than the regular food does. The breeder you mention must be on crack! If her dogs don't get the proper nutrients because she refuses to feed them puppy food, her dogs could end up with problems that will take a whole lot more than one year off their lives. Those dogs are good candidates for back problems, arthritis, joint issues, heart problems, etc.
I love animals, I have two dogs, and I have been doing this for a long time, but in my opinion, there are some breeders out there that should NOT be breeding animals, and they should not even own pets!
It is also my opinion that some breeders become very whacky over time. They tend to experiment, and they think that their experience as breeders makes them qualified vets, scientists, or even God! While there are many good breeders out there, you need to be very skeptical of some of the ones that become eccentric over time. Seriously! I know a breeder that once said that "she didn't believe in leaving water for her dogs when she left them to go to work for the day". She said "they don't need water while she's at work". I'm sorry, but dogs must certainly do need water to keep hydrated! And she's sometimes gone for 9-10 hours a day to go to work. See what I mean? Some breeders get very full of themselves and think they know better, when common sense should be dictating otherwise. Beware of stupid people!
2007-08-05 03:29:22 · answer #1 · answered by sportguy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No it is NOT just a matter of opinion...Great Dane puppies should NEVER, EVER be fed a puppy food of any kind even large breed (they are a giant breed not large). The protein levels and calcium levels in puppy foods are way too high for them. They need a good quality adult food with a protein level no higher then 24%. Anything higher can cause some very serious growth issues some of which can cripple the dog for life.
Good breeders know this and will make this recommendation and it is the wise giant breed puppy buyer who listens.
Vets aren't always a good source of info on the needs of giant breed puppies as many have no(or very little) knowledge or experience with them. Fortuantely for the Dane owners that are clients at our hospital all 4 vets are very knowledgable in giant breeds.
Also foods containing soy should be avoided since soy causes excess gas, something you don't want in a breed prone to bloat.
2007-08-05 10:07:41 · answer #2 · answered by Great Dane Lover 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In this situation, I would place more stock with the breeder. The people who sell dog food in the pet store usually know little or nothing about dog nutrition.
Puppy food has extra fat and protein to help puppies with their rapid growth. Large and giant breed puppies NEED to mature slowly...more slowly than smaller breeds. If they grow too fast, it can cause a lot of problems with their bones and muscles. So many people prefer not to feed puppy food at all to large breed puppies. Personally, I prefer to feed a quality all-life-stages food (one that is appropriate for dogs of ALL ages...like Canidae) rather than a puppy food to ANY breed.
2007-08-05 10:13:53 · answer #3 · answered by ainawgsd 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Puppy food is a scam that has been around for many years. Picture your dog in the wild, what kind of puppy food would it get? It would eat whatever everyone else was eating, or it would starve. I have been feeding Canidae for years now with excellent results. Why is it that one of the premier dog food companies out there does not make puppy food? No, there is no actual proof that feeding a puppy different food then what the adults eat, makes any difference at all.
2007-08-05 10:07:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No it's not a scam at all or a matter of opinion either.
Large breeds and Giant breed pups and dogs do not need puppy food. It is to high in protein and promotes to much growth to their bones. A protein level of 24% or lower is always recomended to large breed and giant breed dogs. Slow steady growth so bones grow at a slow but steady rate is always the right thing for these breeds.
People in pet food stores do not know what they are talking about when it come to proper nutrition where these breeds are concerned.
Listen to your breeder after all she know her breed a lot better than anyone in a pet store.
2007-08-05 10:15:48 · answer #5 · answered by ♥Golden gal♥ 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The reason that you shouldn't feed puppy food to your large breed puppy is because the pieces are so small and sometimes the puppies will not chew them up and they will swallow the piece whole. When they do this is can keep the food from digesting properly and can cause stomach problems and sometimes even a blockage. Just make sure if your puppy is actually crunching up the food as he eats. You can find food that will provide your puppy with enough nutrients and large enough pieces to crunch.
2007-08-05 10:06:59 · answer #6 · answered by hillbilly_coon 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Puppies need the extra nutrients found in puppy food. Adult dog food lacks the 'puppy' nutrients. They have puppy food for large breeds, just like they have puppy food for smaller breeds as well, but a puppy should always eat puppy food, even up to a year. If you're not sure speak to a vet, but I'm sure your vet will confirm everything I've just said.
2007-08-05 10:00:30 · answer #7 · answered by MMiles 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
go to the store like we did and stand ther for an hour and read every package....we asked questions at the pet store and vet. and of family and friends... did lots of research... this is what we found, puppies do need puppy food, nutrients for growth and such. there are formulas for laarge breed puppies... the vet has suggested IAMS for large breed puppies. she came to us on plain purina puppy chow.. went thru so much it was getting expensive.we switched to purina Beneful. the vet said its like mcdonalds for dogs... but had just bought a big bag. so when she finishes this bag we are going to get the iams...for large breed puppies.... we have also found some organic brands, not specific to large or small breed, but better ingredients, it costs a lot more...if we could afford the organic thats what she would get....
2007-08-05 10:11:11 · answer #8 · answered by smurfette 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Puppy food has more protein than adult food..Sometimes people feed puppy food to pregnant dogs.Too much protein can cause the runs.Dogs will eat anything,don't get caught up
in the sales pitch that they should only eat prescribed diets.Just remember that the kibble size matters,because it
swells in their stomachs.
2007-08-05 10:06:22 · answer #9 · answered by stones 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think the whole 'puppy food' thing is more marketing than anything else.
My Dachshund is 21 years old;
My Mini Bull is a multiple group 1st winner, BOB at Eukanuba, BOS at the Garden;
My Dobes never failed to serve me as demo dogs;
And my Rott was known to crush more than one Marberg.
All of them, through all stages of life, were fed the same thing.
2007-08-05 10:26:00 · answer #10 · answered by koehlerdogtraining © 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋