Breeder vs. Owner - Who Knows Best?
by admin ~ June 5th, 2008Q: Our breeder is concerned because we are not feeding our great dane puppy the food she recommended. What do you think?
A: Typically, when a breeder has strong opinions about nutrition or growth, it’s because they’ve been breeding for years and have worked out the kinks to establish what works best for their bloodlines. My recommendation would be to take all the advice you can get from your breeder as it sounds like she only wants to help you raise a happy, healthy puppy.
Sometimes pet food labels can be deceiving, especially if you don’t know what to look for. Every brand wants to market their food as the best, so rather than assuming a food is OK because the front of the bag says it has vegetables in it, check out the back of the bag to see what you’re really getting. Avoid foods with by-products, sugar, preservatives, artificial colors, chemicals, and high levels of salt. Other considerations should include the type and amount of grain, whether the meats are measured before or after dehydration (ie: “chicken” vs. “chicken meal”) and what grade of ingredients are used.
Feeding giant breeds, like great danes, is tricky since their rapid growth can be dramatically effected by the wrong mix of ingredients, potentially causing several nutrition-related diseases. Breeders that strive to improve their breed will usually be well informed on nutrition and how to avoid growth problems, and have probably spent some time researching foods to find a brand that includes some of the “extras” that many brands don’t.
There are exceptions to the rule, so if you have a reason to believe the food your breeder is suggesting is not a good quality food, check it out for yourself. Most companies have a guaranteed analysis and ingredient list available online. Look for Omega3 and Omega6 fatty acids, DHA for brain development, glucosamine/condroitin for joint health, pre-biotics & pro-biotics for digestive health, and human-grade or high-quality meats. Check the percentages of protein, fat, calcuim and phosphorus and compare with the levels giant breed nutrition experts recommend. Even a small change of one or two percent can have an effect on your puppy’s growth.
More Great Dane & Mastiff Nutrition Information>
