[crazy4cats]

Hi Traci G-

Large breed puppies have special requirements due mostly to potential joint issues from growing too fast, being too chubby and/or too much/little calcium in their diets. Here is a link that will help you to choose a more healthy food for your pup: /best-dog-foods/best-large-breed-puppy-food/
Please try to find a 3,4 or 5 star that fits these guidelines. I wouldn’t feed Pedigree, in my opinion, it has some very questionable ingredients.

Here is a list from Oct. of 2013 that lists foods that are appropriate for large breed pups at that time. I’d make sure they still fit the guidelines before you decide to feed. This is not necessarily a complete list. There may be other brands and recipes at this time that are appropriate: https://docs.google.com/a/dogfoodadvisor.com/file/d/0BwApI_dhlbnFTXhUdi1KazFzSUk/edit?usp=sharing.

There are several articles in the library on the review side of this site that may be very interesting to you on how the food is rated and how to read a food label. I know I never read a guaranteed analysis or ingredient label before coming to this site.

I bet your puppy is adorable. Great Danes make great pets! My co-worker has one and shows me pictures of her trying to sit on her lap! She doesn’t realize how big she is!!

Best of luck to you! Write back if you have anymore questions.

[InkedMarie]

Cotons Mom: I feed prey model raw, in ground form. It is meat, bone, organs & some have tripe. I add a scoop of tripe to the ones that don’t have it. Prey model does not need anything else. I add supplements for specific purposes: ACV, Bug Off Garlic, salmon oil, eggs, joint supplement for one; no vitmins. Not needed.

I add the above to breakfast meal, nothing at dinner. Did I answer your question?

[InkedMarie]

Hi Kari,
pick a food from the list in the link that Dori shared. Both dogs may be able to eat the same thing; your lab is a bigger dog, may start in the coming years to have some joint issues/arthritis and grain free is best for that as grains can be inflammatory.

[Anonymous]

They don’t give a price? I saw it at http://www.entirelypets.com/ansalmonoiljoint16oz.html
but it’s been discontinued by the manufacturer, no explanation.
Plus, it doesn’t look like there is very much glucosamine in it…compared to the supplements I use.

I like GNC supplements, they also have some dog items I use.

[Sam Koch]

Try Alaska Naturals Salmon Oil with Glucosamine & Chondroitin. Just search on Google. Salmon oil is great for the coat while the Glucosamine helps with the joints.

http://www.allnaturalpethealth.com/customer/dogs/alaska-naturals-salmon-oil-glucosamine-chondroitin

I would read the disclaimers at the bottom and also ask your veterinarian if this would be a good choice. It’s 1/2 teaspoon for 10 lbs. We use 1/4 teaspoon for our 4 lb Chihuahuas and it works wonders.

Hope that helps!

Sam

[Stefanie K]

My dog is a 10.5 year old male chihuahua-mix, about 12lbs.

I’m considering adding a supplement to his diet. Our vet briefly mentioned we could add glucosamine to his diet, but I didn’t follow up on it.

Let me tell you more about my dog: I adopted him and his brother when he was 3. He was pretty fat, but over the years he’s gotten nice and trim. He was very active, we a lot walk every day (but not in winter!), and up until last summer he would come jogging and hiking with me. He always ate kibble, but usually the better quality “holistic”/”grain-free” kind. He was eating Acana the past couple of years. And then, just as I had switched to a “senior” formula, we found a bladder stone 🙁 Since his surgery a few months ago, he’s been on a vet prescription diet (Urinary S/O).

Though he’s made a great recovery, a couple weeks ago he injured his paw, and while the vet did not find anything serious, he suggested adding glucosamine to his diet. I’m scared of taking him hiking until I can be sure he’s not in any pain.

Issue number 2 is the shedding. This dog takes shedding to a whole new level. Its not caused by any health problems according to the vet, he just sheds. I’m wondering if omega-3 might help?

So- I’m looking for any recommendations for a supplement that might combine glucosamine and “joint-stuff” with omega-3 “fur-stuff”. And of course, it has to not interfere with his prescription diet which he needs to continue, so no food changes, just an additive. Does such a thing exist? Or will it have to be two separate products? Or maybe a product that has a lot of good things including glucosamine and omega-3?

[JeffreyT]

Check out Dr. Karen Becker’s articles on yeast. I do her povidine foot soak for itchy paws and it’s helped.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/05/03/eating-these-foods-can-make-your-dog-itch-like-crazy.aspx

The fresh and frozen raw are probably the healthiest and most cost effective but the bulk of my pups’ diet is a variety of freeze dried raw, with water added to rehydrate. They are Stella and Chewys, Primal, Orijen, and Stewarts Bison. Their favorites are Trudog, Only Natural Niblets and Vital Essentials…I soak these overnight.

For a quick meal I give the air dried raw from Real Meat Food Co or Ziwi Peak and rotate between brands and proteins.

Be prepared for a cleansing reaction, like loose stools, which could happen as you go to better foods. You may want to consider adding digestive enzymes and probioitics to help with potential digestive issues when changing…I use in most meals, it also supports the immune system and overall health.

Also consider having Perfect Form on hand from Honest Kitchen or canned pumpkin, and give during transition for stomach issues. But first check to see if it’s ok to give to yeasty dog, not sure.

Fish oil can help itchy skin and also good for heart, joints, brain, etc. Good brands for these supplements include Mercola Krill, Animal Essentials, Dr. Peter Tobias, Wholistic Pet Organics and Natures Farmacy.

Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Chloe K-
For sure he will be the most handsome boy at puppy school! Another thing that you will want to consider is the extremely important appropriate calcium levels for a large breed puppy. There is an article about it on the review side of this site. Have you checked it out?

I don’t want to “squash” your hopes of feeding him raw, as I know it can be the healthiest way to go. But, I’d be nervous about getting the calcium part right to keep the handsome little guys joints as healthy as possible.

[Pitlove]

Linda- Rotties! i love them. we also have a Rottweiler along with our Pitbull a chocolate lab and an English springer spaniel. Sam, our Rottweiler (technically he is my boyfriends parents dog, so I dont get to control what he eats unfortunetly but i still think of him as my dog since I give him the most attention as hes the outside dog) is 2 probably almost 3 years old now. The bf’s parents have had all the dogs on Purina ONE lamb and rice since forever. The family dog has always been Rottweilers and unfortunely all but maybe one passed away at around 8 years old. Cancer, e-coli poisoning, you name it its happened to our Rottweilers. If it were up to me and I got to choose his food I would feed him the way I feed my Pitbull who is also prone to the problems that large breed dogs have as he is 66lbs at a year old. I do what is called a rotational diet with my dog. I certainly have him on Orijen’s Adult Dog and after that bag is through i’ve got EVO lined up next for him to try. I also feed him wet food. Now that your Rottie is far past the point where you have to worry about the calcium levels not being too high or too low to prevent rapid growth thus causing many different skeletal related disorders, you can kinda give him a nice variety of foods. If you are on a budget as someone who is retired and need to stick with kibbles, definitely go for the 5 star rated ones. I know a lot of people on here have issues with Taste of the Wild. I BELIEVE its manufacture by Diamond which has a long recall history and a terrible reputation. You want to make sure that the kibble is as species appropriate as you can get if you, like myself, can’t feed a raw diet, which would be the healthiest way for any dog to eat. Species appropriate for ANY dog of any breed being high in animal protein, at least 30% or more, moderate in fats, and low in carbs. Foods that I like and have and will use in my rotation for my pitbull are Orijen (all of them), Wellness CORE, Nature’s Variety, Merrick (GF only), EVO, Grandma Mae’s GF. I’m still working on my list but that is what I have so far.

As for raw, if it is something you are interested in, PLEASE make sure you do A LOT of research before feeding raw because it is possible to make your dog very unhealthy by not feeding a COMPLETE and BALANCED raw diet.

Also to help with the transitions to the food, you can add probiotics to their diet, like canned pumpkin and kefir. I also use a supplement thats premade in a power form made by a very great company called The Honest Kitchen. They use human grade ingredients and make their food in a human grade factory. Its called Perfect Form. Probiotics help build healthy flora(bacteria) in your dogs gut to make transitioning to a new food pain free for you and your dog. Just like with humans dogs should be able to eat a different food or protein every meal if not every couple months without digestive upset. Dogs whos stomachs are already sick and lacking those bacteria that make their gut strong due to being fed the same food day in and day out are the ones who get loose stool and vomitting when you switch their food. Instantly the owner blames the food and switches them back and never switches the food again under the claim that their dog has whats commonly called a “sensitive stomach”.

The joint supplements are a great idea. Glucosamine is a great supplement for joint and hip problems. Cancer, I feel, and I think others do too can have a lot to do with a poor diet. A lot of poor grade dogs foods do contain ingredients that are carcinogenic even for humans and without variety in their diet they are being fed those toxins for years and eventually is catches up with them. The rotational diet helps prevent that and the build up of allergies as well. If your Rottie is already allergic to a protein source like chicken, you are going to want to be very careful with the food you choose as many have chicken meal or chicken fat hidden in the list of ingredients. Its all about reading ingredients but more importantly HOW to read the ingredients and the GA, which is why this website is so helpful. But like many here including Dr. Mike will tell you, its a jumping off point. Once you find a good food, you want to look further into the company that makes it, the co-packers, the recall history etc and make sure that you’re not being fooled into thinking its a good food based on the ingredients. Also knowing where the company sources from is important, what with all the problems we have been having with China lately. Avoid China. Thailand on the other hand is ok.

I really hope that I’ve helped a little and that others will contribute or correct me if I’m wrong about any of my points. I love Rotties so I’m glad to be able to give you some direction with his health!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by Pitlove.

[Linda K]

Hi Jake’s Mom, Pitlove and InkedMarie. Thanks for your responses.

Pitlove, thanks so much for your follow-up questions. I have a Rotweiller who is 3.5 yrs old. I am very upset with myself for feeding him Purina Puppy Chow until he was a year old and feel I did not given him the best chance in his formative year to be as healthy as he could be over the course of his lifetime. But he seems to be healthy so far with just a few normal problems….allergies, gas, etc.

The things I am concerned about are bloat (one of the girls from his litter died from it), hip dysplasia, which I know is common to many large breeds, and in particular, I am concerned about cancer. I recently researched brands to change him off of Science Diet, which I moved him to after Purina, but it turns out that Science Diet is not very good either. I read some reviews about Taste of the Wild High Prairie Formula which gets 5 stars from DogFoodAdvisor. I also read some reviews for this brand and within the first 5 or 6, two of the people were Rotweiller owners and they both said it was excellent. One said that his Rotweillers usually die fairly early due to cancer, but this food has kept his new ones healthy. It really scared me because I did not realize that Rotties were genetically predisposed to certain types of cancer. So I got it immediately…..but I wanted to see if there might be anything even better since I apparently have not given him the benefits of great nourishment up to this point. I want to make up for lost time, and I will spare no expense (even though I am retired). So far, he seems to be doing well on the new food but has loose stools. I am doing it very gradually. I am also giving him a supplement for hips and joints that was recommended by his vet.

So, I guess in a nutshell, I wrote because I wanted to be sure I am doing all I can for him and have made a good choice this time.

Sorry this is so long. Thanks!

[JeffreyT]

Dori..I am very sorry to hear about your son.
I would consider Standard Process as my maltese gets older..especially after seeing how well your beautiful maltese is doing at 16 years…inspirational really.

And Lazaro, I feed mostly commercial raw and give a whole food multi every other day and give joint support on alternate days. I rotate between Mercola, Dr. Peter Tobias, Nature’s Farmacy, Animal Essentials and Wholistic Pet Organics. All these companies focus on whole foods, use a lot of certified organic ingredients and limit gmo’s.

I also give enzymes/probioitcs with meals, fish oil and ubiquinol most days, and bladder support every other day for my maltese prone to stones.

Here is Dr. Karen Becker explaining the importance of Spirugreen…Mercola’s pet multi.
http://products.mercola.com/healthypets/spirugreen/

[JeffreyT]

Hi Jakes Mom, the current companies in my rotation I trust are Mercola, Animal Essentials, Dr. Peter Tobias, Wholistic Pet Organics and Nature’s Farmacy. Mercola, Animal Essentials and Wholistic Pet Organics do 3rd party testing. Dr. Peter Tobias offers certified organic products and sells other companies products that do 3rd party testing. And Nature’s Farmacy has a Guaranteed Analysis label. All these companies focus on whole food supplements, use a lot of certified organic ingredients and limit gmo’s.

Nature’s Farmacy was started years ago by serious show people. They have an all in one product that combines joint support, multi vitamin, omegas, digestive enzymes and probioitcs for those who want easy. I also love their Cornucopia powder blend of organic veggies and fruits….great stuff for anti-cancer prevention, and can be given as part of the ground veggies in homemade diets or added to any pet food to increase nutrition.

I keep up with the peer reviewed studies in Mercola and Dr. Karen Becker’s newsletters..so I believe the supplements I give help prevent disease and increase vitality and energy. I think two of the most important ones are digestive enzymes and probiotics, given in most meals. Every day they get Mercola’s Ubiquinol for heart disease prevention and healthy gums and also fish oil every day..rotating bottles between Mercola Krill, Nordic Naturals Pet, Animal Essentials capsules and New Chapter.

They get a multi vitamin/mineral every other day, and on alternate days, light joint support, rotating brands.

My 5 year old maltese gets bladder support every other day because she is prone to stones.

As they get older I will add more of Mercola’s products like eye support, mushrooms and liver/kidney support, and Animal Essentials herbs like Cardiovascular support,etc….rotating them probably. I also wouldn’t hesitate to use Standard Process, Thorne or Orthomolecular Specialtes to target specific issues as they age.

I recently learned about a cleanse recommended on Dr. Peter Tobias’ website using Livton Medi-Herb…he suggests twice a year for two months…makes sense to me. His site is awesome. I learned about it on DFA…another awesome place for info.

[InkedMarie]

Boone is 9 with a knee problem (minor) so he gets a few joint supplement that I rotate: Liquid Gold K9 glucosamine, Swanson Vitamins joint mobility plus & green lipped mussel.

Ginger gets nothing specific.

Both get salmon oil 3x a week, eggs 2-3 times a week and Bug off Garlic daily.

[jakes mom]

No specific problems with any of them except one cat is hyperthyroid. Dog is getting the joint supplement just because he’s getting older, thought it might be a good idea, kind of a can’t hurt, might help thing. I guess that’s one of my questions, really. If there’s no issue you’re trying to improve, do you give some supplements routinely anyway, like some people take a multivitamin every day. Using coconut oil because the hyperthyroid kitty has dry skin. Everybody else gets it just because they like it. Another case of can’t hurt them, might help!

[jakes mom]

Could someone just speak generally about supplements, what they give their dog (or cats, I have both) and why? There’s so much info out there! If you’re not giving a medicine, supplement, etc for a specific problem ( and see an improvement) how do you know it’s helping and worth giving? Just believe the literature and hope it’s helping? Heartworm season is upon us, and I’ve been hearing about milk thistle after hw meds. I hear about supergreen capsules, coconut oil, fish oil, on and on. With no FDA oversight, how do I even know if it’s got what the company says it has and I’m not wasting money? I’d like to hear from people who regularly give their pets supplements, what kind and how much (per # of animal), and what companies you trust. Right now dog gets joint supplement and also RMBs and dog and cats all enjoy some coconut oil. They’re all seniors. What would you be giving them if you were me? Thanks in advance!

[crazy4cats]

Susie-
You posted in the correct place. Marie was just trying to let you know about a thread that discusses the special requirements for large breed pups that help with avoiding joint issues. That is a good idea, but I was wondering about your pup’s digestive issues. How often does your pup have diarrhea and is it yellow or greenish in color? Could you be feeding too much? Have you had a fecal test done recently? It is common for pups to have parasites or worms that could cause this.

You say he is rolling and sneezing. Could he have seasonal allergies? Which Science Diet recipe is he on?

Five month old golden, oh boy, I bet he’s a wonderful handful! Check out the review side of this site for the article on feeding large breed pups to learn about the latest information on the best calcium levels for them. Let us know more in order to help better!

[Ellen D]

InkedMarie – thanks for the suggestion. I have done some investigating into the company, and while I have good friends who feed BRB products to the dogs they breed (and are very pleased with the product), I am still on the fence about it. I was really just using it as an example. I am most likely going to order from My Pet Carnivore, since I can literally see one of their dropoff locations from my living room window. Very convenient. I’m just asking about how much I have to worry about the calcium/phosphorus if I’m using meat ground with bones and organs all together. I don’t want to ruin his joints.

[C4D]

Hi Andrea,
Everyone has given you great tips. Just a couple of foods that get good ratings and are reasonably priced are Earthborn and Whole Earth Farms. I also agree that adding some fresh or canned food is really one of the best things you can do for your dog. Dogs aren’t being picky when they want fresh food. You would never eat or feed your family completely dehydrated food (kibble). I always add canned when feeding kibble and there are some very good canned foods at very reasonable prices.
I’ve been through ACL/CCL surgery and rehab with 2 dogs. The most important thing you can do after surgery is some rehab and you will have to supplement for the rest of her life. We did not do it as rigorously with our first dog and he ended up with joint stiffness. We have done it with our current dog and she is doing very well 5 years later. We did rehab & supplements and she is very active in spite of arthritis in both knees. The arthritis is unavoidable regardless of surgery, so the more proactive you are, the better and more successful the recovery. Good Luck with her!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Andrea-
Hope your dog is recovering well from her surgery. I agree with everything that BDog recommended above. One of the foods she noted was Victor. I’d like to also second the recommendation for Victor. I feed my two large dogs the grain free joint health recipe just about every other bag. I think it is very similar to TOTW that you are currently feeding. The price for it varies greatly depending on where you live. Their website has a store locator button. I believe it is a little higher in calories than TOTW so you may need to feed a little less to avoid weight gain.
I also mix in either canned, fresh or Raw into my dogs’ kibble. If you don’t want to mess with cans, you could always try Fresh Pet Select. It comes in a roll and has to be refrigerated. It just needs to be sliced. It can be found in multiple grocery and pet food stores. I haven’t fed it for a while due to its cost, but my dogs do love it when i buy it. That would probably entice her to eat a little better. Plus it’s very healthy to add less processed food to the meals in my opinion. Let us know what works for you!

[Ellen D]

Thank you.

So theoretically, if I skip RMB for the days he gets a higher calcium meal for lunch, it should balance out since he’s not getting another calcium source that day? I’m terrified of ruining his joints with my ignorance, especially since his breed is already prone to hip and joint problems. His parents were clear of problems, but I would assume this can be a recessive trait as well.

[Aj K]

My dog has hip dysplasia I her only back leg. I not only give Rimadyl plus a joint supplement, plus Adequan shots every 4 wks. She is 13 y/or & the only back leg that is sporting most of her back weight. The meds may be killing her kidneys & liver off but she gets around. We keep her on a lean diet as well!

[Aj K]

I make a home made stew of ground turkey, 85% lean, chopped frozen spinach, frozen or fresh green beans, frozen carrots & peas, Sw potato(occasionally)cook I low sodium broth until all is soft ( I cook turkey first & mash it up) . Then add 1 tsp of cinnamon & turmeric, those are both good spices that are anti-inflammatory. Then I add 1/2 c oatmeal for fiber. I have a part breed Rotty, 13 yrs old with bad teeth ( soft food needed) missing a back let and hip dysplasia in the other back leg. She doesn’t get much exercise, therefore, the oatmeal, for fiber. I also have grain-free kibble in the 4-5 star cat short from dog advisor.com,for the additionals vitamins and pro biotics. I mix it half & half. She also get Rimadyl & an maintainer joint supplement for her dysplasia. We freeze 3 containers and work out of one. I just have to make it once a week. Then get another container out and warm the portion (1/2 c) in microwave ( mixed with the 1/2 c of kibble) We feed her twice a day.
I also give her Adequan shots once a month.
I am a medical doctor, not a vet, but after much research, I believe the cheaper brand dog foods some are giving their pets are causing Cancer….. Just like the foods, you hear about that can cause cancer in humans.
My dog still gets around even though she has bone grinding on bone. We do all this to keep her lean, so she can ambulated better. She’s right at 47/50 lbs.
I wanted to get a cart for her, but she keeps living longer than we’ve expected. She was a rescue & had to have her back leg amputated. Hope this helps!

[InkedMarie]

if I remember correctly, they say, or used to say, that you had to add supplements, salmon oil is one. If I were you, I’d call the company & ask.

I buy my own grinds & I add salmon oil 3 times a week and eggs three times a week. The only other supplements are for fleas/ticks, joints…

[Tal R]

Thanks InkedMarie.

The reason for recommending the non-inflammatory food is because of the potential for inflammation due to the joint problems?

[Tal R]

Hi,

Basically, I would like to know the main differences between senior and regular dog foods and should an elderly dog that already gets joint support food supplements and doesn’t have a weight problem be given special or regular dog food?

In specific, my dog is a large (25 kg.) female elderly (14.5 y/o) mixed breed (probably mostly German Shepard).

She is in relatively good health, especially since i started giving her food supplements / drugs over the last 2 years to improve her joint problems (everything was done consulting the veterinarian of course). Her hind legs still show weakness but the condition has improved to a point that she even sometimes jumps now days.

Over time the list of supplements/drugs evolved to the following:

1/2 pill of Previcox (Firocoxib) every 2 days (56.75 mg per day on avg.).
1 pill of 20 mg. Omeprazole a day.
1 tablet of Glycoflex 3 (1000 mg Glucosamine, 1000 mg MSM) a day.
2 tablets of Power Supplements SAMe (400mg) a day.

I would appreciate any advice or tips.

If any additional information is required, let me know…

Thanks!
T.R.

[crazy4cats]

Ronald-
She sounds wonderful! You two were meant for each other! Yes, labs are notorious for getting chubby. I really have to watch it with one of mine. I think he has my metabolism. Lol! The lighter one I feed at least 100 more calories per day and he still is skinny. I guess he has my husband’s metabolism! I know it’s best for their joints to keep them lean. I’ve not fed mine the Wellness reduced fat, but it has been approved by many on this site. Just remember to carefully measure out the food and count all snacks and treats. Keep us updated!

[Beth F]

I’ve used the natural dog food company ever since they started out 10 years ago with my jack Russell.. he is now 17! and going strong.
No signs of muscle loss, weight gain or joint problems and I honestly believe it is because of the food. I use the turkey/senior one and he loves it.
I usually order on the phone and they are so friendly, there are very eager to give any advice you need and even sent me samples of all the different flavors so I could see which one he likes best before buying.
It is one of the more pricey ones however you don’t have to feed as much as others so it balances it out pretty much. And knowing that all the ingredients are uk based human-grade food is nice, as I know i’m giving him the best 🙂

[crazy4cats]

Hi Trevor’s puppy parent:

Congrats on your new addition! It is a little unusual for Labs to be picky. I have two very unpicky labs. LOL! I don’t know if you have checked out any of the various articles on this site, but there are a few that contain valuable information for feeding large breed pups. They have special requirements to help with keeping their joints healthy while they are growing. The biggest being calcium levels in food. Here is a link with helpful information:
/best-dog-foods/best-large-breed-puppy-food/

Here is another link with recommended foods for large breed puppies:
/forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/page/36/

Please write back with any other questions you may have. Thank you for rescuing a puppy and good luck!

[Akari_32]

Thanks! I’m glad she’s feeling better 🙂 For now, she’s still on JM for now. I tried to figure out the Balance It website, or to contact the vets the made up the home made liver diets, but I can’t manage either :/ There are concerns that the potatoes in the home made liver diet would be too inflammatory for her joint issues (even on JM she’s back to limping and being a bit stiff again, but still has spunk enough to goof off and go up and down steps, so I don’t think I’d even be able to combat the potatoes with suppliments, etc), so I’m pretty reluctant to take her off it. If she’s doing this well just 22 day into Denamarin and still on a “regular” food, I can only assume that she’ll continue to do better even longer like this. I don’t know enough about canine nutrition, medications and prescription diets to really say for sure though.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Madelon-
My pups had a rough start also. They both had a terrible case of giardia that was extremely difficult to get rid of. Is that what your pup had? They had several treatments to get rid of it and I believe due to that they developed either a leaky gut or colitis.

I don’t think that RC is a terrible food. But I do think it is too expensive for what it is. Also, most that frequent this site believe that there is no perfect food and it is best to feed a variety. You don’t have to give up the RC, you can keep it in your rotation. So far, after my pup’s rough start, Victor grain free joint health, California Natural pork and peas and Merrick grain free duck have worked the best with their sensitive tummies. The Victor is budget friendly while the others need to be on sale for me to purchase!

Where do you typically buy your food? You could alway print off the list of 4 and 5 star food lists from the review side of this website and take it with you to the store or have it by you when you search for a food on the computer.

Once you get set on your kibble, I feel it is best to add a more species appropriate food to it, such as, canned or fresh foods that are less processed. I feed canned, eggs, sardines and lightly cooked meats to my dogs’ meals.

Good luck!

• This reply was modified 11 years ago by crazy4cats.

[crazy4cats]

Hi merleGDgirl!
How exciting a new giant puppy! I have two large breed dogs, but didn’t know about this site when they were small pups. Fortunately, their hips and joints seem fine so far at 3 1/2 years old. On this site, the creator and most participating members believe that it is OK to feed puppy food and higher protein to large and giant breed pups. It is the calcium level that is the major concern. Please check out the link that Dog Obsessed provided up above to help with the appropriate calcium levels.

I think that Wellness Core puppy food would be a great choice. It is a fan favorite on this site and better than that your very own sister has had good luck with it. You will probably want to feed your new pup whatever the breeder is feeding it for a while until everything gets settled down. There are already enough changes going on for that pup at first without changing that too!

I wish you well with your new adventure! Let us know how things go!

[Madelon H]

I have a 12 month old solid black pure breed GSD. He weighs about 90lbs and is gorgeous. After researching dog food I have decided I want to switch him to a high quality food – he’s currently on royal canine GSD puppy. He had trouble with diarrhea as a puppy and when I put him on the royal canin he did better. He’s been tested for the genetic disorder regarding his digestive system (name escapes me now) and doesn’t have it but I still worry about their sensitive stomachs. I’m thinking of blue buffalo grain free for large breed, merrick and wellness core – does it matter if it doesn’t specifically say large breed on the bag or are these foods so good it works for all. I was thinking the large breed formulas would have more nutrients for hips and joints. PLEASE help I’m driving myself crazy with research!

[Akari_32]

So mom and I were talking this morning, and she wants to put Ginger on the kidney prescription diet. I suppose since it’s her dog, it’s her choice, but ugh! That stuff looks so wrong! The two biggest things I’m worried about are that is has a very high fat to protein ratio (13% fat, while just 12% protein), and that is has sugar the 5th ingredient. The corn, I can handle. Sure, it’s not the best ingredient, but many dogs do fine on a diet rather high in corn. But Sugar? For real? I suppose at this point I’ll just go with it. We’ll get one bag, see how she does, and go from there. I hate to take her off the JM, because it’s actually a pretty decent food for a prescription diet, and it’s helped her joints so much, but the NF kidney food does have Omega’s and such in it, as well. I also plan to start her on turmeric (I will be having mom order the stuff off Amazon here soon), and probably ginger root, if I can find enough info on it.

Oh, and on that note, I just found out, not too long ago, that one of moms friends is a holist vet, with an office just under an hour away from us! I mentioned in passing that she could probably really help Ginger, with out pumping her full of medications and prescription diets. Maybe mom will consider it. I know she feels a sense of loyalty to our current vet, since we’ve been using him so about 15 years, but he’s a little too traditional (doesn’t even have three year cat rabies vaccines!) and laid back for my liking. I do like he lets me get away with not doing certain procedures, though…. lol

And if anyone would like to share in my heebie-jeebies, you go…

https://www.purinaveterinarydiets.com/pet-food-nutrition/canine/products/nf-kidney-function/

[DogFoodie]

Hi William,

It’s important to feed a large breed puppy a food with an appropriate level of Calcium. Here’s a list, which includes grain inclusive, grain free and raw, acceptable foods: https://docs.google.com/a/dogfoodadvisor.com/file/d/0BwApI_dhlbnFTXhUdi1KazFzSUk/edit?pli=1

If you haven’t already, take a look at this thread, especially the first few pages and read the articles that Hound Dog Mom shared: /forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/

In addition to appropriate Calicum levels, you should keep your pup lean during growth and avoid over-exercising him, which can stress growing joints.

How old is your pup and what breed?

[Kim M]

I have been going crazy researching foods that DO NOT have flaxseed or pea/pea meal in them. I have been told by many breeders that I need to get my bitch off the food I feed her (Annamaet Option) and on a food that has no flaxseed or pea/peal meal in it. Ha that has been a full time job. Along that same line I also need to get her off the Vet Formula MissingLink I give her for over all coat / joint supplement, it has Flaxseed in it.
I also have 2 dogs (uncle/niece) who have yeast issues. They are on a Probiotic and a rotation of Pollock and Salmon oil. So when addressing the above issue with my breeding bitch I also need a food that will not produce sugar that feeds the yeast.
Any help out there.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Tammy:
Large and giant breed dogs have special nutritional needs. Keep your puppy lean and avoid over exercising because his bones and joints are still developing. Check out this article:
/best-dog-foods/best-large-breed-puppy-food/

Here’s a link to the large and giant breed puppy forum. Read at least the first three or four pages (it’s a huge thread now) and the links to the articles posted on the first page.
/forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/

On this page you will find a link to a document of recommended foods. If you choose a food from this list I suggest calling the manufacturer to confirm the calcium % is still within the recommended parameters; the list has not been updated recently. Look for a post dated July 23, 2013 at 1:51 pm:
/forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/page/15/

For a current list of approved foods for large and giant breed puppies you can also join the Dog Food Advisors Editors Choice.

Good luck with your lucky puppy!

[crazy4cats]

I buy the Victor grain free joint health recipe in 50lb bags. I think it is the only one that comes in 50lbs, but I believe a few of their other recipes with grain come in 40lb bags. I have two large dogs, 80 and 85 pounds. I think it is a great company. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi William-
Your topic is just fine where you posted it. I agree with Diana. I think a food change would definitely help. I also have labs and have not ever had an ear infection (knock on wood). I regularly feed mine grain free Victor Joint Health with various toppers mixed in. I also give them probiotics which I believe would help with the ear infections because they help fight yeast infections.
Would you be open to switching food? If yes, choose a 3 or 4 star food and gradually transition over a period of 7 to 10 day period to avoid digestive upset. Please check back in with any questions or concerns. Good luck!

[GSDsForever]

I was advised by my vet to give a dose with a bare minimum 1500 EPA mg for a 76 lb young dog for dry itchy skin/coat, degenerative joint disease.

I prefer to use Grizzly’s Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, and that is about 5 pumps/day over food of a 16-32 Oz pump bottle in my fridge. I love this brand.

This is in addition to high Omega 3, low ratio Omega 3 to 6 food.

I tried another brand when it was donated to a dog as rescue foster, also wild Alaskan salmon, but the Omega 3 content was much lower as were the EPA & DHA. And it was smellier. My only *guess* for VERY different Omega 3 content was different varieties of wild salmon used.

[dana i]

Thanks!
The feed store by my house has the victor– I got the joint formula for $45 for a 40 pound bag and introduced it to the dogs today.

I read to mix the new food with the old food to introduce it to them without upsetting their tummies and slowly phasse them into the new food, but the dogs are somehow picking through the food and eating all the Victor and ignoring the regular/old food. Like dogfood ninjas. LOL

They both have a bit of gas, but I know that is from switching food. I’ll keep them on this for a while and see how it goes.

Once their tummies are settled, I’ll see about adding toppers, and maybe eventually alternating food like ya’ll suggested.
Thanks!

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
I also have two lab mix dogs. Both about 80lbs. They are brothers. My favorite budget friendly kibble for them so far is Victor grain free joint health formula. I cannot get it quite as cheap as some. But I found a store that I can order a 50lb bag for $75. However, it’s two main protein sources are beef and chicken. They do have a lamb and rice formula as well, but I have not tried it. I then rotate with something I can find on sale. Right now it is California Natural Pork and Sweet Potato. It was 30% off on PetFlow a few weeks ago.
Like Naturella said, if you start registering on websites, you will get many promotional deals! Most of my emails anymore are from somebody wanting me to buy pet food. Lol! I also have 4 cats.
I always mix in (top) something canned, fresh, dehydrated or freeze dried in their kibble every meal as I don’t think kibble is all that great on its own regardless of the brand or quality.
Neither one of my dogs have allergy symptoms, but have had some digestive issues. So if you need to keep feeding what you already are, maybe you could add some toppers to their meals to bump up the nutritional value such as eggs, sardines, and beef heart.
Good luck!

[Pam P]

I know this isn’t food related, but it seems your dog has some serious issues and it might not be all due to food. Pet healthcare is a lot like traditional healthcare or sickness care (as I call it)….it’s big business. Dogs are way over vaccinated, and traditional vaccines have mercury, formaldehyde and other toxic substances that can affect a dog’s health over time. Metal toxicity is a serious issue as they aren’t eliminated from the body. They are stored in the organs and joints. The core vaccines are usually good for life. A titer test can determine the antibody levels. A holistic vet uses vaccines that have no mercury or heavy metals. My holistic vet detoxifies the dog immediately after giving a vaccination. If a dog does need the 3 core vaccines, he does them in 2-3 week intervals so the dog isn’t overloaded all at once. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to do the kefir diet for 30 days or more to detoxify the dog and get all the junk out of their system, and then gradually get them back on a very clean, healthy food. I still give our Mastiff all the oils I mentioned previously; just no kibble or meat. I also give her a tsp of organic turmeric at each feeding. Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and there is obviously some serious inflammation going on with your dog. I mix it with the kefir and she downs it. I start with a small amount and build to a tsp each meal. Just like with humans, a detox diet can make them feel worse before they get better; as all the toxins are being released and coming out of the body, the dog can appear worse for a while. I detoxified the Mastiff gradually starting with Nature’s Logic, then raw, then kefir. She’s a senior dog so didn’t want to overload her system. The kidneys and liver are the detoxifying organs so didn’t want to take a chance to overload them. Just some more suggestions.

[Akari_32]

She’s not got a very strong urge to chew, so I don’t think she would eat a trachea, much less be able to actually chew it. I bought her some Halo dental chews and she can’t eat them very well because they are so hard (they last her days, and that’s with Bentley stealing them every chance he gets). She can chew the small/toy sized Denta Sticks, and I’m just at a point where if anything will help her mouth (like her joints and stomach), I give it to her. I’m at that “if it broke…” Sort of point with her… LOL

[crazy4cats]

Hi 10Vx3-
There are so many options! Like Naturella said, you just have to experiment. I regularly feed Victor grain free joint health to my dogs. I have two big guys. It is basically the same as the grain free ALS Victor with extra glucosamine added. Right now, I’m feeding California Natural grain free Pork kibble and the dogs are doing great with it. I also add a topper and water to every meal. I started out just adding canned. Then after coming to this site, I learned about adding eggs and sardines. Now I even add dehydrated, freeze dried and raw to their meals. It all happened fairly gradually. And unfortunately got,more expensive! I tend to stick to more basic budget friendly kibble so I can afford the extras to boost up the nutritional value. I just don’t think that over processed kibble can be all that healthy by itself. I feed both with and without grain kibble. I also buy kibble that is a little lower in fat as most of the toppers are a little higher in fat. Good luck!

[Akari_32]

Hey guys! I guess it’s been a while since I’ve updated this thread!

All in all, Ginger continues to do well on her new diet and with life in general. She’s been in much better spirits, and appears to be in less pain and is able to get around better.

I’ve also noticed, since starting her new diet, that she’s been learning things, particularly, she’s figuring out that the faster she gets to her cage (or some times Bentleys cage if hers isn’t around LOL in which case, I have to lure her out and into her bed), the faster she gets to eat. She’s also learning that when Bentley gets his harness on, we are going for a walk and that gets her all excited and she runs to door as fast as she can and scratches at it and rings the bell. These are just two examples. All that fish oil is good for the brain, I suppose lol

Today, however, she has been in a down right nasty mood. Not sure what her problem is. I was talking to mom on the phone on my way home from work, and she had both of them in her bed and she kept complaining that ginger was growling at her every time mom moved or tried to touch her or move her. Mom also said she was staring off into space, and had a hard time better her “back.” Then, a little bit ago, I went to get her out of moms bed to take her out and put her in her cage, and when I took the covers off her, she lunged at me tried to bite me. I had to scoop her up using my whole arm to support her body while holding her scruff as tightly as I could to keep her from turning around and biting me until she calmed down enough for me to release her onto the floor and put her leash on.

So, on one hand, Ginger is happy and doing great, and is associating walks and dinner time with certain routines, but at the same time, she’s showing some sever symptoms of dementia, and they’re quite sudden and dramatic. Walks are definitely keeping her in a better mood over all, and her food is helping with cognitive function to a certain degree, as well as helping her joints and pain, but I’m still fighting a losing battle with dementia. I really hope these bad mood swings do not lead to a safety issue with the other animals in the house, not to mention the effect they could lead to with her over all quality of life. We all know where both of those lead, and thays a one way ticket….

For now, they’re just short phases. I’m not going to get myself down about it just yet. She’s a happy little dog 95% of the time, so long as that keeps up, I’m happy for her enough to make up that 5%, then some 🙂 Not a day goes by that I see her running at the end of her leash and think “How could anyone give up on this dog? How could anyone not want her?”

[Dog_Obsessed]

Hi mountainhound,
While I am not usually in favor of feeding prescription foods, I completely support Akari’s decision to do so. Since Ginger was on low-quality food for most of her life, tolerating a high-quality food was extremely hard for her, and gave her frequent bouts of loose stools. The prescription food, while better than many prescription foods, she is able to tolerate. It has also helped her joints tremendously, though I know this is not the case for all dogs. While raw food can be a great thing for some dogs, it is not the right thing for all dogs in all situations.

[mountainhound]

I would never feed any prescription food to a dog with joint issues, the bulk of those ingredients are highly inflammatory and will cause more harm than good. Feed a good quality raw diet (even premade raw will probably be cheaper than Hills), raw food contains natural sources of glucosamine/chondroitin from ground up cartilage. Lack of carbs will help with inflammation and pain reduction. You can also give her treats like tracheas and duck feet since those are good sources of glucosamine. I’ve had good results with a supplement called Liquid Health, its tasteless and easy to mix with ground raw food.

[Naturella]

@Oleanderz, I will answer a couple of the questions you had to Dori, if both of you don’t mind – dogs can eat plain yoghurt, plain Greek yoghurt, and plain kefir. None of the fruity stuff – just too much sugar and other additives. Pumpkin doesn’t necessarily help with digestion per se, but it provides a lot of fiber, which helps calm the tummy, balance the stool and the bowel movements, and is overall a pretty good tummy additive when switching foods if problems occur. We tend to use canned plain pumpkin from the grocery store as it is already conveniently cooked and pureed in a can, but if you want to go through the trouble of peeling pumpkin, boiling/baking it, and pureeing/mushing it up, you also can. At the grocery store make sure you get plain (100%) pumpkin (and not pumpkin pie filling) cans.

Ok, now to my questions, lol:
When my roommate’s dog had her spaying surgery, he also lived in an apartment and his dog (Casey) was already pretty big, but for the day of the surgery he carried her up and down 3 floors for her to go potty. He didn’t want her stretching and pulling stitches and what not. I don’t know how feasible that will be with Lucille… Or if it’s even necessary, that’s just what he did. You may want to talk to the vet about that and see if she can stay overnight at least for the first day so that she doesn’t have to go up and down steps so much. We also carried Bruno on his surgery day, but he was small (still is), and by the next day he just ran out the door, perky and happy like he didn’t just lose his balls, lol. But talk to the vet about that, or maybe some of the pros will be able to answer. When she is healed, you can exercise her as normal, but not while healing.

Hm, I will look at chewy.com for small Dr. Tim’s – I have fed Kinesis GF, but I really wanted to try Momentum, Pursuit, and RPM… Haven’t seen them in small bags though.

Lucille is a German Shepherd, right? I would probably rotate her every large (not medium) bag for now, just to let her tummy get used to switching slowly, i.e. – you do the rotation, then she has a good amount of time to get used to the new food, then you rotate again, time of “rest” from the switch. If in a few bags all rotations go well, just rotate as you prefer – you can start rotating every medium bag, or just keep it at every large bag. It really is up to you how often you want to rotate, and how she’s taking it. I like to switch up every month or so, and luckily, a small bag lasts us just the right amount of time for that. I have, however, used larger bags even for Bruno (yes, that’s him in the picture, my cutie patootie) – 15 lb Dr. Tim’s Kinesis GF and 3 14-lb bags of Earthborn Holistic GF (Coastal Catch, Great Plains Feast, Primitive Natural), but after Coastal Catch, which lasted like 3 months, I decided to half them and put a different food in between them, as you can see from Bruno’s menu list, lol. Your rotation plan sounds good, I would also switch up the protein with every bag, for example:

EB CC – Dr. Tim’s Momentum – Nulo FS Lamb – Victor High Pro GF –
EB PN – Dr. Tim’s RPM GF – Nulo FS Turkey – Victor Yukon Salmon GF –
EB GPF – Dr. Tim’s Pursuit – Nulo FS Trim Cod – Victor Joint Health –
EB MF – Dr. Tim’s Kinesis GF – Nulo FS Salmon – Victor Ultra Pro – repeat!

*** EDIT *** – Don’t forget that Dr. Tim’s formulas Momentum and Pursuit are not GF! Everything else is. So you can switch between RPM and Kinesis GF to keep it all GF. Does Lucille have a grain allergy, or do you just like the idea of a food being GF? I used to think GF was better until I learned that dogs/wolves in the wild do consume a bit of the stomach content of the prey they kill, which is, often times, grains, fruits, vegetables, and greens, hence those foods contain those ingredients as well. But it is the meat content that matters most, so I still think that Dr. Tim’s grain-inclusive foods are a really good choice. The grain-inclusive Kinesis is the the only one rated 4 stars, all the rest are 5 stars. But you can use the GF Kinesis instead of the GI one. 🙂

This schedule provides diverse recipes and protein sources and if you choose to use bags that last Lucille about a month each, she will be set for about 16 months before a single recipe is repeated! Or 12 months, if you don’t use Victor. Feel free to use the above “meal plan” if you want, I hope it helps in giving you an idea of meal rotation and protein diversification. Or, you can switch the list up, or not use it at all, whatever works for your dog. 🙂

As for my lists, lol, thank you! Feel free to use them as templates anytime, lol, they are NOT proprietary information, lol! I made them for hubby’s ease in feeding Bru when/if I’m gone. And it did take me about an hour to look at all my foods, their expiration dates, and sort them out by dates and also by protein variety, which warranted the freezing of some foods and refrigeration of others… I did scrap some papers in the process, lol, but eventually made it work! So yeah. The toppers were easier to figure out as I only put a bit of each, and they are things I normally have around the house, except for the THK stuff – I mean, I do have it in the house, but it’s not like people-food. Eggs, yoghurt, coconut oil, sardines, and RMBs are though, so yeah.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 1 month ago by Naturella.

[Naturella]

@Oleanderz, you are on the right track and in good hands with the pros of this forum! 🙂

So, about exercising – obviously not while she’s recovering from the surgery, but anytime she’s well, appropriate exercise depending on health conditions (joint and bone health, any other underlying conditions, etc.) – usually good long walks/jogs/runs, depending on what Lucille can physically do/endure will be good. Fetch sessions, swims, etc. are other ways to exercise that seem like a game.

Yes, Dr. Tim’s does have big bags! Unfortunately, only big bags… I really wish he packaged in 4-5 lb bags cause I have fed 15-lb bag of his Kinesis GF, but it lasts a while, and I like to rotate more often. One day when we get another dog in addition to Bruno, I will so get 15-lb bags and be cool with it! 🙂 Victor has 30-lb bags of the GF formulas and 40-lb bags of the grain-inclusive formulas.

I am very happy with using THK as a topper and would continue to use it! It makes it so easy to make my dog flavorful, nutritious, extra-hydrating “soups”. I probably would do one topper at a time, so either EB’s tub, or some THK, etc. Treats are still ok to be given, but I’ll get to that in a second. I usually still add a tiny bit of water even when I add canned. IDK about the EB tubs’ consistency, but I like pate style canned, so when I add water, it becomes nice and mushy with the kibble. But that’s just me. Like Dori said, you don’t have to ALWAYS add water, I just choose to do so and Bruno doesn’t seem to mind at all. And he still drinks his water from the water bowl too. Also, once you get Lucille accustomed to rotation, you can totally mix brands, for example using Victor or Annamaet kibble with Earthborn tubs, or Nulo canned, etc. Nulo is also pretty good, and if you email/Facebook the company, they will send you coupons for it. Annamaet sent me samples, and so did Dr. Tim’s. At sportdogfood.com you used to be able to purchase Victor samples for 33 cents/piece, and get up to 3 samples per recipe. So you can totally try them out first before buying, but I really think that all of these are high-quality foods.

Now, I second Dori on everything – free feeding is not a great practice, nor is treat “overloading” while trying to establish good eating habits. So do as she recommends, if you want – cut treats out, pick up food after 20min if not eaten. Try again at the next meal time. I have a feeling though, that once you start rotating and adding toppers, she will be pretty excited to eat her varying meals.

Also, like Dori said – most fruits and veggies are just fine, EXCEPT for onions, grapes, and raisins. I feed Bruno the same things Dori listed, and more, and he’s doing fine. Again, no seeds or pits cause they may be toxic. If you read the ingredient lists of many of those foods, they include a wide array of fruits and veggies that are safe for doggies to eat. So don’t stress it TOO much, but if you ever decide to add broth instead of water to Lucille’s meals, just make sure it has no onions in it.

Ok, so below you will find Bruno’s meal setup for the year – food lineup and toppers per meal. I am now out of the Sojo’s for the weekend toppers, but have a few cans laying around, so that will be the topper/meal instead of Sojo’s. We are currently on the second food in the food list – Wysong.

[Oleanderz]

@Naturella- Thank you!! ( ; w;) I’m trying to be, I’ll do my best!
Right, so absolutely wait until recovery time is up. That’ll give me a bit more time to think about it, but I think I have some sort of idea.
Alright exercise at all times! Of course no food is perfect, that would make things too easy. (T w T )
That’s the same method I used when I transfered her from Beneful when she was a puppy. Ok good to know a change in flavors matter in diversifying her pallet. I was exicted when I saw that Dr. Tim’s has even larger bags of food than Earthborn on Chewy. The 44-lb bag will last her a while if I keep it stored in the vault! Pumpkin helps with digestion? I never would’ve known. Is that why it’s in all of her fruitables??
I was just looking up reviews on THK’s GF dehydrated food itself, I was contemplating on adding it to a future rotation, not sure yet, but it looks like it’s produced by a fine company! I’ll pick up some THK perfect form before I start with the rotating process.
If I mix it with kibble and wet food, would I still have to add water? Dori said that is weight loss becomes a problem I can just mix her Earthborn tubs with the EB:GF.
She’s used to snacking on Stella & Chewy’s salmon or beef dehydrated bits, it won’t be too much on her belly if I put in the EB:GF, EB tubs, THK:pf and the topper? Maybe I’d have to add in water then. Oh yeah, I’m definitely familiar with fruit scares; one time when she was s puppy, I was playing MK6 with friends and eating a banana. It was like the 2nd lap when she nibbled a chunk off of it. We shared everything she was allowed to eat back then, except bacon. My mom never let her have any. Anyway, she bites my banana and I freak out and throw my controller and try to stop her from swallowing it. I took her up to my room and cried like a baby, but she wasn’t the slightest bit concerned for her well being she just ate EVERYTHING when she was little.
Thanks for more suggestions! I’m certain I’ll keep Earthborn in her future rotation, but for now I’m considering Dr. Tim’s, Nulo Freestyle(<–I’ve been looking up retainers and reviews all evening) and Victor’s Yukon River or Joint health! I really need to figure something out and how many I can incorporate into a rotation and which ones would be best for my pup. Do you think it would be alright to stick with the Earthborn tubs and continue to mix the food as she transitions or should I stick with the same brands when tranisitioning? Thank you so much for all of your input!!