What should great dane puppies eat

Finally, ending the month at 7 cups of food daily. Exclusive Bonus: Download our free meal plan reference chart for quick and easy access later. This will save you from trying to remember all these details down the road or find this page again. Many Great Danes will not reach their full size and weight until three years of age. There should be no rush to bulk them up early or have the biggest pup in town. The goal should be to keep them light and lean until they reach the age of two.

Also, note that these are general guidelines for your Dane. If you notice them getting too lean then increase the amount of food. Lean is good, but being too skinny will limit their development.

For a quick visual indicator, you should be able to see their last rib when are standing when they are at the correct weight. Hold off on increasing their food intake until they return to the proper body composition level. Puppy food or growth formulas are not necessary for Great Dane puppies. In fact, they can be bad for them if not properly balanced!

Most puppy formulas will only increase the chance of suffering one of the growth diseases or joint problems previously mentioned.

There are also large breed-specific dog foods available that help promote a normal growth rate. The dog should get food that contains up to 26 percent protein and between 12 and 20 percent fat for optimal health. This ensures that they receive the correct caloric balance to avoid negatively affecting their growth. As with most situations, there is a caveat for puppy food. Research indicates that in addition to the protein ratio, the micronutrient composition should also be considered.

Puppy food brands containing less than 1. The amount of phosphorus present should represent a ratio to that of calcium. The ideal range is considered to be a minimum of , but not more than 1. Consult with your veterinarian for assistance in selecting a brand the delivers all of the proper nutrients for your puppy. They will likely recommend brands that avoid corn-based fillers, include all-natural ingredients, and opt to include a variety of protein sources.

You can also reference our dedicated article on the best food for Great Danes here. The days of basic dog food are long past. The selection of high-quality premium food will go a long way in ensuring the health and longevity of your Great Dane. The Great Dane Puppy Handbook takes all of the need-to-know Great Dane info and packages it together into a single, concise resource. Save yourself time, money, and frustration by avoiding the most common mistakes made by Great Dane owners!

For more information about these specifics, make sure to take a look at my dedicated article on puppy food for Great Danes. An immediate change over between meals would be very tough on their stomachs leading to diarrhea, vomiting, or disruption of their growth pattern.

Look to transition them fully from the old to the new food in three meals. Pro Tip! You can further smooth the transition by sprinkling a probiotic powder on top of the food before giving it to them.

Great Danes can be notoriously picky eaters. They wolf down their food one day and prefer to sleep through breakfast the next. Their appetites can fluctuate as they go through growth spurts and their hormones are fluctuating. This is typically more common after they get past twelve months of age and the periods of peak growth have passed.

Simply remove the meal if they have not finished it within a reasonable amount of time and resume back on their normal feeding schedule. Continuous feeders should be avoided as they risk overfeeding your Great Dane and leading to possible orthopedic issues.

To lessen the risk of digestive issues it is recommended to use an elevated feeder. This should hold both their food and water bowls to reach an appropriate height.

For more information on this topic, take a look at our dedicated article on elevated feeders. Leveraging online services such as chewy. We have used Chewy for years and have thoroughly enjoyed their consistent shipping schedule and fair prices. This helps to prevent a scenario where you might accidentally run out of food and need to feed them a different brand temporarily that leads to intestinal distress for your Great Dane.

Unfortunately, this is not always an option as many only carry commercial dog foods. Once again, why our stalwart recommendation for many years stays with Chewy. Many Great Danes experience occasional diarrhea due to their sensitive stomachs. Luckily not every instance will require a trip to the vet, which could get pricey very quickly! Extended bouts of diarrhea or occurrence with other symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, or weight loss likely indicate something more serious.

Playtime should be limited for the hour preceding and following meal times to lessen the chances of bloat or GDV. It covers everything from A-Z that a busy Great Dane owner needs to know to feel confident about raising their dog. You can learn more about it here! We hope that you found this information helpful. Before you go, make sure to take a look at our favorite products for Great Danes! Hello, I was wondering if anybody can share some personal knowledge and experience with me.

I have a 3 month old Great Dane who weighs around 35 pounds. I was hoping someone can shed some light for me and let me know what has worked for them in the past. Thank you. It would be better if you have some healthy treats or snacks with you, so you can give it to them, if you notice that your dog is hungry. But keep in mind that not all protein and fats are the same.

You need to be sure that they come from quality ingredients. This statement holds true for the growing puppies. Ideally a dog food should have at least five meat proteins. Meat meals and whole meats are great sources of protein. But be careful because whole meat also contains moisture. If there is no moisture in the meat, it is assume that they have lower components in the ingredients.

But they are actually very good because it contains much protein as compared with the whole meat. Most premium products actually contain meat meals as compared with whole meats. But the fat content varies depending on the sources. Look for the products with named fat sources like chicken fat. It also helps keep their muscles lean to keep their ideal body weight.

It also enhanced joint and mobility support. In fact, it is one of the best-selling brands in major online stores. Many dog owners trust this brand because it is made of high quality ingredients at a reasonable price. It is specially designed for large breeds. The product also uses high quality meat sources that your Great Dane will surely love. See On Amazon. Read Reviews. When you are feeding your Great Dane, you may also give them canned foods if you like.

But try not to keep their diet mostly of canned food because of obvious reasons. Canned foods are more expensive than kibble. Hot Opinion. Most Read. About Us. Contact us. Advertise with Us. Terms Of Service. Privacy Policy. Subscriber Agreement. Nutro Wholesome Essentials also does a range of wet dog food, so if your dog loves the dry option, you can always mix things up a little!

This food has a blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals chosen by animal nutritionists to benefit our pups. This product claims to target brain and eye development, healthy muscle growth, strong bones, dental health, skin and coat health, and immune system development. It has a handy feeding guideline chart based on age and weight so you know how much to feed your pup.

If the cost is concerning to you, a final option you might want to try is Iams Proactive Health dry food for puppies. It has a formula specially tailored for large breeds and includes Omega-3 to promote a healthy brain. Really thanks to my deepest heart. I really love the great dane dogs, They are so good and thanks again to share this informative information. I have had every size dog for 30 years now.

Always at least 2 dogs. Only for one did we go to a breeder. Over a month ago we were blessed to adopt a 3 month young Great Dane puppy.