[marty0203]

I have recently adopted a 2-3 year old English mastiff and I currently have a 5 year old great dane/lab mix. Both dogs are over 100 lbs and I am currently looking for the best dry dog food to feed both of them. My head is spinning after trying to figure out how much calcium, phosphorus and other minerals are ideal for joint health, in addition to the correct amount of protein and fat. If anyone could give me a few suggestions, I would greatly appreciate your help. Also, if it helps, I live in Wyoming and sometimes the selection can be limited, which is why I need a few options. 🙂 Thanks!

[Cyndi]

Found this for you, hope it helps. I think there were other topics somewhere in the forum on the same subject. I’ll post more links if I can find any more…

/forums/topic/large-breed-dog-food-help/

[Cyndi]

This might help too

/forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/

& I’m sure if you have any other questions, the more knowledgeable people here would love to answer them… Good luck! 🙂

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

[marty0203]

Thanks Cyndi! I appreciate your help b/c most articles I’ve read up until this point only discuss puppies and I am in need of advice for adult dogs.

Thanks again!

[Cyndi]

Your welcome! There is a very knowledgeable woman on here, Hound Dog Mom, who owns 3 large breed dogs, bloodhounds. So, most of the information is from her I believe. Hopefully you find what you’re looking for.

[marty0203]

It looks like my options in this sprawling metropolis are 1. Wellness Core and 2. Infinia. From DFA’s review and ratings the two look pretty comparable. Does anyone have advice either way on these two specific brands for my Adult English Mastiff and Adult Great Dane/Lab?

Thanks!

[theBCnut]

There are a few places on line that you can order from and get free shipping. Look for Chewy dot com and Petflow dot com.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Thanks Cyndi 🙂

[Cyndi]

No problem! 🙂 Hope Gus is doing ok today! (& you too!)

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi Marty –

Calcium and phosphorus levels are really only a concern for joint health during the growth phase. Once large/giant breed dogs reach two years of age their joints are fully developed and at this point they’re either dysplastic or not dysplastic. Calcium and phosphorus levels obviously need to be in balance with each other (between a 1:1 and 2:1 ratio of C:P) but this is true for all dogs, not just large/giant breeds, and isn’t a concern as long as you’re feeding a balanced commercial food (where balancing C:P ratios come into play are with homemade diets). I personally feel that a diet high in protein, moderate in fat and low in carbohydrates is healthiest and most species-appropriate for healthy dogs. My three bloodhounds eat between 45% and 55% protein, 30% and 40% fat and <15% carbohydrates at each meal. If feeding a dry food, I would search for one with no less than 30% protein. I also would not limit yourself to only one brand – variety is important. I no longer feed dry dog food, but when I did I switched brands and protein sources at the end of every bag and I added different canned and/or fresh food toppers daily. I would recommend finding a minimum of three foods your dogs can eat (preferably different brands with different protein sources). Patty had a wonderful suggestion with online ordering if selection is limited where you live – some other sites that have a big selection and offer free shipping in addition to the two she posted are Wag.com, Doggiefood.com and NaturalK9Supplies.com. There are several supplements you can give your dogs that help to promote joint health and/or have anti-inflammatory properties. If your dogs don’t have any orthopedic conditions or arthritis a basic glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM supplement would be fine to start off with. Some other supplements good for joint maintenance are hyaluronic acid and esterfied fatty acids (like cetyl myristoleate). Some whole food supplements that are beneficial for the joints are eggshell membrane, velvet elk antler, sea cucumber, green lipped mussel and shark cartilage. Raw meaty bones (especially those high in cartilage such as trachea, chicken feet and gullets) are very rich in naturally occurring chondroitin. For dogs experiencing pain/arthritis some natural anti-inflammatories include high doses of omega 3 fatty acids (up to 300 mg. per 10 lbs.), turmeric, boswellia, tart cherry, yucca, bromelian and white willow. Generally human supplements are cheaper and higher quality than supplements marketed to dogs, adjust the dosage accordingly (a good rule of thumb is a 25 lb. dog would get about 1/4 of the recommended human dose, 1/2 the human dose for a 50 lb. dog, 3/4 the human dose for a 75 lb. dog and full human dose for dogs >100 lbs.). Also – as you may already know – the most important factor to maintaining healthy joints and staving off arthritis in large and giant breed dogs is maintaining a healthy body weight, it’s very important that large/giant breeds don’t become overweight as this adds a lot of stress to the joints.

[Hound Dog Mom]

OMG I just posted this huge long detailed response and it disappeared…

[Hound Dog Mom]

Response #2:

Hi marty0203 –

Calcium and phosphorus levels really only affect the joint health of large and giant breed dogs during the growth phase. By the time a large or giant breed dog reaches two years of age it is either dysplastic or not dysplastic. For all dogs, calcium and phosphorus levels should be in balance with one another (between a 1:1 and 2:1 ratio of C:P) but this is really only a concern for those making homemade food, balanced commercial foods will have a proper ratio of calcium to phosphorus.

I strongly feel that a diet high in protein, moderate in fat and low in carbohydrates is best for most dogs. My three bloodhounds eat between 45% and 55% protein, 30% and 40% fat and <20% carbohydrates at each meal. If feeding a dry food I would search for one with no less than 30% protein.

I feel it’s important to feed a variety of foods. I no longer feed dry dog food, but when I did I switched to a new brand at the end of each bag and added a variety of canned and/or fresh food toppers daily. I would recommend finding at least 3 quality foods (preferable different brands with different protein sources) and switching every so often. If you can mix in canned or fresh food occasionally this is great too and canned and fresh foods are much more species-appropriate than dry food. Patty had a wonderful suggestion with recommending you check out online retailers. I live in a small area with a limited selection of quality pet products as well and, for this reason, do the majority of my shopping online. In addition to the sites she suggested, some others you may want to check out are wag.com, doggiefood.com and naturalk9supplies.com.

Some supplements that promote joint health are glucosmaine, chondroitin, MSM, esterified fatty acids (such as cetyl myristoleate) and hyaluronic acid. Some who foods supplements that promote joint health are sea cucumber, green lipped mussel, eggshell membrane, shark cartilage and velvet antler. Raw meaty bones (especially those high in cartilage such as trachea, gullet and chicken feet) and naturally rich in joint health promoting compounds such as chondroitin. Turmeric, tart cherry, boswellia, yucca, white willow, bromelian and high doses of omega 3 fatty acids (up to 300 mg. per 10 lbs.) all help to manage pain and inflammation. If your dogs don’t have any orthopedic issues, a basic glucosamine/chondroitin supplement would be fine for maintenance. If your dogs have any symptoms of pain and inflammation you may want to consider a combination of some of the joint health supplements listed in addition to one of the natural anti-inflammatories.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Looks like response #2 disappeared as well. I guess I’ll have to email Dr. Mike to see if they wound up in the junk folder. Grr..only happens to responses I put a lot of time into.

[theBCnut]

It baaaccckk!!

[InkedMarie]

For online places that usually have shipping: PetFlow.com, doggie food.com, wag.com, chewy.com

You can try petfooddirect.com as well but I’m not sure about shipping

[marty0203]

Wow, what a wealth of information! Pattyvaughn & InkedMarie, I really appreciate your suggestion of getting the food shipped. The idea of no S&H costs makes the idea much more appealable and opens up my options. Now I have the possibility of integrating Orijen into their dietary routine.

HDM – I had the benefit or viewing both posts – thank you! I appreciate you investing the time and going above and beyond with your post regarding my two pups’ nutritional needs. It appears that they are doing well on the Wellness Core and I will take your suggestion to rotate between a few different brands and adding toppers to their dishes.

Thanks again everyone!

[Mikebevefit]

Po voi e match, es intenates contonent es cha payantesPSG-Baceone : qe pix po es deni paces ? Whatever decision is made, I am sure it will be for both consoles. Seon es indicates avanc茅s des notaies s es avant-contats, es pix devaient contine 脿 agmente 茅g猫ement po atteinde 8. Ths it can be detemined by a singe simation of the atte.
Is seait difficie de faie des cat茅goies de poids po n combat hommefemme, ca note poids est 茅pati diff茅emment et ne coespond pas ax m锚mes masses. Yo peut contacter cstome sevice assistants o visite Thei le site Intenet de GCCI. Tous les dimanches, j’ai l’habitude de me promener dans le quartier, de regarder les belles maisons et de r锚ver d’en avoir une un jour 禄 poursuit-il. ^^J’ai un groupe de Hip Hop, et je recherche une pas cher avec une caisse claire qui claque vraiment bien, mais qui ne raisonne pas du tout (non je suis pas exigent :p), et une grosse caisse avec un son grave et puissant.

nike tn requin
: “Le Feu tir茅 sur lEau, et les Illumina- / tions du Louure Po(ur) la Naissance de Mg. It’s a deep-wate habo once pized by piates. 芦Afin d’茅pagne a fondation de tot effet n茅gatif site 脿 a po茅miqe soev茅e s ma cai猫e spotive, je mets n teme 脿 ma p茅sidence禄, a ainsi expiq茅 ‘ancien coe dans n commniq茅 intene. Modeed dans le brevet AFTE propre du tuyau du designe dans Engand, additiona Stoes ouvert en Noth Ameica et aboad.
Des conseils d’autant plus justifi茅s que les cervpas cherx des enfants et des ados n’ont pas achev茅 leur maturation biolo颅gique et qu’ils sont donc plus vuln茅rables. Le d茅bt d Rossigno et a Rose, c’est cea : 芦 Ee a pomis de danse avec moi si je i appotais des oses oges 禄, s’茅cia e jene Etdiant ; 芦 mais i n’y a pas ne ose oge dans tot e jadin. La pratique d sport est extr mement b n fique pour le d veloppement harmonieux de l L physique lui permet en effet d rir une capacit respiratoire plus importante, un meilleur d veloppement du coeur et du syst me cardio-vasculaire. Ce denie avait d茅bt茅 comme potie 脿 ‘h么te Savoy de Londes et s’茅tait inspi茅 de son exp茅ience po ance ne igne de bagages et d’atices de voyages qi ont fait a fotne de a maqe dans es ann茅es 50, 60 et 70.

Depis sa fondation en 1985, Qacomm n’a cess茅 de tisse n maiage d’innovations, de bevets et de cops d’茅cats dans e domaine de a mobiit茅. Un 茅votionnaie hmaniste, qi efsa de pacifie a Vend茅e des choans et es Anties enfamm茅es pa Tossaint Lovete. Je cois qe ‘niqe sotion de a qestion d’Asace-Loaine, sans ‘aide de canons, seait d’aive 脿 n patage de ‘objet en itige, de fa莽on qe es Vos- ges foment a fonti猫e et qe a Lo- aine soit ende 脿 a Fance. Caton jane assi po a mod茅isation faciae des footbaes qi este ‘aspect techniqe e ps maheex d je.
Percorra le arcate costellate da negozi in direzione sud verso Piazza Maggiore o segua semplicemente l’istinto e si goda l’esperienza di passeggiare tra le vie di una citt cos facilmente navigabile. Certains articles quils en fo le stock ae Foida Aigato, Bffao, Pakistan, Astaia Cocodie, Shak dans Thaiand, Maaysia Lizad, et des boeufs, dee, le b艙uf, la ch猫vre et aond le WOD. et en ayant envie de tout plaquer pour continuer avancer dans le pas cher ? C’est ainsi q’i pogamme – ente ates – Yves Simon en pemi猫e patie d’n to de chant 脿 Bobino aos qe e pemie abm d chante n’est pas encoe soti.

[davidmiller]

InkedMarie has provided good websites. I usually go to http://www.amazon.com/ or http://dogfordog.com/ for buying dog food.

[InkedMarie]

I’ve never done Amazon, David & I’ve never seen your other link. I will take a look!

[Author]

Posts