PART XV
CARE AND FEEDING OF GREAT DANES
FEEDING YOUR PUPPY
Great Danes are classified as a giant breed. They reach their ultimate height usually by the age of two years, but are very close to it at a year. Because of this extremely fast growth rate, they are prone to many skeletal growth problems. Recent studies have found that if you can slow the rate of growth, especially through the age where it is fastest (2-8 months), you can help prevent problems such as hip dysplasia, wobblers syndrome, hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) etcetera.
To slow the growth on my dogs, I feed a dog food of 24% protein or less. Although you want to keep the protein levels around 24%, you must feed a premium food. Premium dog foods use meat as their protein source, lamb, chicken or beef. It is good to be aware of the terms used by dog food companies on their labels. Whole (chicken, lamb etc.) meal means that the entire animal is used. By-product meal is the least desirable as it usually means beaks, feathers and feet (in the case of chickens), which are entirely unusable protein sources for dogs. The first product listed on the ingredient label makes up the highest percentage of the food. The methods used in processing, packaging and storing foods are also very important. One preservative to avoid is ethoxyquin as it has been proven to cause cancer. Avoid artificial colorings and tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is the end product (mostly skin) after all the best parts of a tomato is used. This also contains the highest levels of pesticides of almost any dog food ingredient. For Danes, it's also nice to have a food that contains probiotics. These are natural digestive enzymes that may help prevent bloat, one of the common killers of Great Danes. I feed my Danes Innova dry and Eagle Brand canned foods. After doing a lot of research, Innova is the only food I recommend because all it’s ingredients are human grade, the first 2 being chicken and turkey. I’m sure there are probably a couple other good products around, but Innova is so good I have no reason to change products.
DO NOT FEED SUPPLEMENTS SUCH AS CALCIUM, COTTAGE CHEESE, HIGH PROTEIN MEAT or any additive that will throw off the balance of the food you're offering. Next to lower protein, a calcium/phosphorus/vitamin D balance is essential. Throw the balance off (already contained in the food), and your puppy is on its way to bone problems. You can add canned foods that are also complete and balanced. You can safely add just about anything as long as it's no more than 15% of the dry food.
Vitamin C is one supplement that you should definitely give. It is one of the few supplements that can do no harm and it is thought to be beneficial to growing dogs. Give 500 milligrams in the morning and evening meals for a total of 1000 mg per day. Your Dane should eat its food in two meals per day rather than one large one. Water should always be available.
Copyright 2002, Jill Swedlow. Sunnyside Danes. All rights reserved
CARE AND FEEDING OF GREAT DANES
FEEDING YOUR PUPPY
Great Danes are classified as a giant breed. They reach their ultimate height usually by the age of two years, but are very close to it at a year. Because of this extremely fast growth rate, they are prone to many skeletal growth problems. Recent studies have found that if you can slow the rate of growth, especially through the age where it is fastest (2-8 months), you can help prevent problems such as hip dysplasia, wobblers syndrome, hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) etcetera.
To slow the growth on my dogs, I feed a dog food of 24% protein or less. Although you want to keep the protein levels around 24%, you must feed a premium food. Premium dog foods use meat as their protein source, lamb, chicken or beef. It is good to be aware of the terms used by dog food companies on their labels. Whole (chicken, lamb etc.) meal means that the entire animal is used. By-product meal is the least desirable as it usually means beaks, feathers and feet (in the case of chickens), which are entirely unusable protein sources for dogs. The first product listed on the ingredient label makes up the highest percentage of the food. The methods used in processing, packaging and storing foods are also very important. One preservative to avoid is ethoxyquin as it has been proven to cause cancer. Avoid artificial colorings and tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is the end product (mostly skin) after all the best parts of a tomato is used. This also contains the highest levels of pesticides of almost any dog food ingredient. For Danes, it's also nice to have a food that contains probiotics. These are natural digestive enzymes that may help prevent bloat, one of the common killers of Great Danes. I feed my Danes Innova dry and Eagle Brand canned foods. After doing a lot of research, Innova is the only food I recommend because all it’s ingredients are human grade, the first 2 being chicken and turkey. I’m sure there are probably a couple other good products around, but Innova is so good I have no reason to change products.
DO NOT FEED SUPPLEMENTS SUCH AS CALCIUM, COTTAGE CHEESE, HIGH PROTEIN MEAT or any additive that will throw off the balance of the food you're offering. Next to lower protein, a calcium/phosphorus/vitamin D balance is essential. Throw the balance off (already contained in the food), and your puppy is on its way to bone problems. You can add canned foods that are also complete and balanced. You can safely add just about anything as long as it's no more than 15% of the dry food.
Vitamin C is one supplement that you should definitely give. It is one of the few supplements that can do no harm and it is thought to be beneficial to growing dogs. Give 500 milligrams in the morning and evening meals for a total of 1000 mg per day. Your Dane should eat its food in two meals per day rather than one large one. Water should always be available.
Copyright 2002, Jill Swedlow. Sunnyside Danes. All rights reserved
