Large breed puppy food is formulated to meet the dietary requirements of larger breeds. Since large breed puppies require a higher intake of protein and other nutrients, it's important to follow the feed standards, recommended for individual breeds. Although large breed puppies require higher food consumption, over feeding and improper feeding patterns can cause health related concerns such as orthopedic disorders.
Components of Healthy Puppy Food
Large breed puppies require a high protein intake in comparison to other pets. Commercially available food products contain animal sources of protein such as beef or chicken. Irrespective of the brand or type of protein content, pet owners should ensure that the components of food are of highest quality to ensure puppy growth and a strong immune system. In addition, the food should contain fats in moderation to prevent obesity and bone problems. Puppy food should also contain essential vitamins and minerals that promote good skin, tissue growth and healthy joints.
Commercially Available Puppy Food
- Hill's science diet large breed lamb meal and rice recipe puppy food
- Pro plan large breed puppy formula food
- Iams premium puppy food large breed formula
- Nutro natural choice large breed puppy food
- Innova large breed puppy dry puppy food
- Purina one large breed puppy formula
Diet for Puppy Growth
Large breed puppies grow at a faster rate than regular breeds. However, the calorie intake along with the calcium intake should be monitored to prevent health conditions. The right quality food should also be fed in the appropriate quantity to maintain optimal weight since large breed puppies are susceptible to excessive growth due to their genes. Pet owners should follow package instructions for feed guidelines. However, as a general guideline, puppies may be fed the amount of food they can consume within 10 minutes, as 3 meals in a day.
Feed
Apart from the general guideline for puppy feeds, pet owners should avoid free feeding in order to control excessive growth. The best solution is to feed the puppy at specific intervals, at least 3 times a day. In order to monitor the puppy's growth, pet owners should measure the pet's body condition score. An ideal score for large breed puppies is 4 on a scale of 1 to 9.
Calcium Intake
The calcium intake should be monitored to prevent skeletal malformation. Although excessive calcium leads to calcium retention in the bones, low calcium intake can also cause improper bone growth and brittle bones. Since most commercial pet food for larger breed puppies contain the necessary amount of calcium for the breed, it's best to avoid calcium supplementation to prevent bone related disease.
Recommendations
It's important to choose large breed puppy food that's tested and certified. Lean puppy formula is ideal for pets until they reach their optimal weight. Additional supplements aren't necessary if the puppy is in good health and if the diet plan includes essential vitamins and minerals. Pet owners should also vaccinate puppies in time and follow up with routine vet checks to monitor their growth.
Since the exercise or activity levels of individual puppies vary greatly, the diet should be altered to suit individual needs.