The choice of dog breed is a responsible solution in which it is necessary to take into account many nuances. In particular, the size of an adult animal. Classification of rocks involves 5 varieties:
- Miniature,
- Small,
- Average,
- Large,
- Giant.
Features of a particular breed and the size of the dog determine the appropriate diet and conditions of detention, the nature of the walk, care for the pet. This article will talk about the proper feeding of large breed puppies. These include Risanshnutuers, Rottweilers, Senbert, German Dogs, Wolfhounds, Mastiffs, etc. Their weight during the maturity period exceeds 30 kg, and the height at the withers is more than 60 and even 75 cm.
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Why is it important to choose full-fledged food for large breed puppies
The first year of the life of puppies is the time when the foundation of their health is laid. During this period, the metabolism is especially fast, the skeleton is rapidly developing and strengthening, and the immune system learns to cope with various stimuli. A healthy genetic base is very important. But no beautiful genealogy will save if the puppy is fed incorrectly.
Proper nutrition, including all the nutrients necessary for the puppy, vitamins, micro- and macro elements, is the key to the health of the pet and the timely passage of all stages of development. Growing up, dogs comply with the standards of their breed, have a spectacular exterior and active behavior. On the contrary, the puppies, which were fed incorrectly, grow small, painful, lethargic, have health problems, suffer from vitamin deficiency, obesity, joint problems and other diseases. Under adverse conditions, the risk of developing heart diseases, deformation of the limbs and spine increases.
Therefore, responsible owners get acquainted in advance with the peculiarities of nutrition of large breed puppies. Before choosing a food, a consultation of a veterinarian, a veterinary nutritionist and an experienced breeder is required.
Features of the growth and development of large breed puppies
- From the moment of birth, puppies of large and giant breeds increase their body weight by 70–90 times. For comparison: small dogs increase their weight by 20 times. Therefore, it is especially important that the diet of a large-breed puppy contains components that contribute to the formation of a strong skeleton and healthy joints.
- Active growth continues up to 2 years, while small breed dogs become adults and fully formed individuals as early as 10 months after birth.
- Puppies of large breeds are prone to overeating and obesity. Dividing the daily portion into 3-4 meals will help control weight.
- Dogs of large breeds are prone to injuries of the musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular pathologies. Up to 3 months, do not allow the puppy to jump, climb furniture, go up and down stairs, because during this period of life, puppies have undeveloped bone tissue and a weak ligamentous apparatus.
A smooth transfer of puppies to self-feeding usually begins at 4 weeks. The consistency of the food should gradually change from soft to firm. After two months of age, puppies completely switch to a ready made diet (when choosing this type of food). For large and giant breed dogs, veterinarians may recommend supplements, especially those with calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D.
What food is suitable for large breed puppies
The easiest way to create a complete diet for your pet is to choose the right ready-made food designed specifically for puppies of large breeds. Its composition should include all the necessary components for growth and development. Dog foods for miniature, small and medium breeds are not suitable, as they do not contain enough nutrients, certain vitamins and minerals. When choosing, you should give preference to super-premium-class feed from reliable manufacturers. The basis of such diets is meat and meat products rich in protein, which is necessary for puppies during the period of rapid growth for the formation of tissues and organs. High-quality industrial feed contains the necessary set of nutrients, vitamins and minerals in the right proportion. They may also include other components, such asl-carnitine for muscle development, glucosamine and chondroitin for cartilage formation.
Independently cooking for a puppy is a laborious lesson, since you need to know the daily need for a growing dog and clearly monitor its provision. With natural feeding, it is very difficult to achieve the balance that is characteristic of ready-made high-quality feed. Although nothing is impossible for a competent breeder. If you bought a puppy from a responsible dog breeder who prefers natural feeding, it will give you recipes for suitable diets. But in any case, bioactive substances will have to be introduced additionally.
Various fodder additives, such as the Vitamin-Mineral complex “Drostin” for puppies, can be an addition to the basic diet. It is available in the form of tablets and contains the optimal ratio of vitamins, macro- and trace elements, as well as prebiotics to normalize digestive processes. The need to use the vitamin-mineral complex is determined by the veterinarian. Before using the drug, you need to study the instructions.
How to feed large breed puppies correctly
- Do not overfeed. Excess weight is extremely harmful to the growing organism, since it increases the load on the heart and the not completely formed musculoskeletal system. When the puppy refuses part of the food, it is not necessary to feed by force. Watch him: if there are no other alarming symptoms, reduce the portion.
- You can’t feed the puppy from your table. Meat and fish bones, potatoes and pasta, fatty meat, sausages and lard are categorically prohibited, citrus fruits, sweets, chocolate.
- If you plan to prepare the puppy food yourself, carefully study the daily norms (the need for nutrients, vitamins, micro- and macroelements), calorie content and consult a doctor to select a suitable vitamin-mineral complex to replenish the deficiency of useful substances coming from food. Be careful with additives containing calcium! The impaired balance of macro elements leads to improper bone growth.
- Try to decide on the type of food as soon as possible – an industrial specific brand or prepared at home. This will not injure the digestive system with sharp and frequent transitions from one type of food to another, from one finished feed to another. If for some reason the diet did not fit, you need to replace it gradually.
- The granules in dry stern should be large so that the puppy will absorb food more slowly and coach the muscles of the jaws. If this causes the dog difficulties, slightly soak the food in the water.
- Puppy feeding should occur at least 1-2 hours before a walk or physical activity or 1-2 hours after. Otherwise, there is a risk of guts.
- Follow the weight of the puppy. If the pet is too rapidly gaining kilograms, consult with the veterinarian and reduce the volume of food.
To choose a food suitable for your pet, seek advice to a veterinary nutritionist. It will help determine the optimal diet, taking into account the features of the breed and health status of a particular puppy.
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