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TTS Great
Danes
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The great debate over
feeding. . . debate all you want.
This is how we do it, what works for our dogs and what we recommend. We purposely do not name any brands. There are hundreds of brands many of which are not available in your area, so why name brands? |
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| So often I am asked what and how
to feed puppy and adult Great Danes, some breeders make it in to the
worlds biggest event. . . We feel feeding should be a part of life, not your entire existence. I have added many links below to articles that explain over nutrition and discuss the different methods of feeding. We follow a few simple guide lines. Pre release puppies: We feed a medium brand 26% dog food. We send the first bag home with owners and tell them when it is 3/4 empty to buy an adult brand that are with in the following recommendations: Protein levels for puppies and young adults between 21-24% Fat content for puppies and young adults between 11-16% Calcium: DO NOT SUPPLEMENT Fiber: as high of a fiber content as you can find. Food is to be switched very slowly, over the next few weeks. Any increase in amount need to come out of the new bag. When feeding we use body conditioning to determine when to raise the quantity for each dog. Ribs should be easy to palpate ( touch) not visible, but also no fat pads over the ribs. If they have fat pad you are feeding too much. We feed our puppies three times a day until they are 8 weeks of age and then switch to twice daily feeding. This aids in potty training and keeping body condition. Most owners also can not feed three times daily do to work schedule. Having the "biggest puppy" or the heaviest is not something to brag about. Genetically your dog will become what they will become. Forcing growth, keeping your puppy overweight and over feeding in general will only lead to problems later in life. Most every expert agree that Hip Dysplasia, HOD, Pano, OCD and other skeletal problems have several different components. We know hip dysplasia is poly genetic. This means it takes several genes to make problems. This is also why you can have 2 cleared parents and still see some puppies with hip dysplasia. With each generation the chances should lesson, but they will never entirely go away. #1 Genetics This is why we health test. We use 2 methods. . OFA and Pennhip. OFA is based on one xray and is an opinion. Pennhip is based on three different views and is much more scientific. Movement in the hips is graded using a curve that lists 50% as normal. Breed predisposition to other diseases mentioned is why we feed the way we do. #2 Feeding Nutrition is the keystone to any ones health. As listed above we have our recommendations. Over nutrition in young children and adults lead to 90% of the disease we die from, dogs are the same way. Most medical problems we see are either nutrition or environmental. Below are several links that discuss the correlation #3 Environment Trauma, over exercising, even living on concrete can effect growth. This is also why we recommend that owners do not "force" exercise on young dogs 9 under 18 months) Walks, ball play, running with other dogs, short hikes are fine. Running 3 miles a day on asphalt: BIG NO NO. Trauma is everything from hit by car to kicked by horse. . . it can be many many things. . .Hard substrate. . .there is discussion to weather large breed dogs housed in concrete runs or other hard surfaces might have an increase in hip and joint problems. Adult feeding: Our Adults are continued on the lighter diet until we are either ready to breed or preparing to show. Then they are put back on to the 26% food. The only additives we do are fatty acid supplements for better coat condition. This is it. Once a dog is spayed or neutered they live on the lighter food for life. AGAIN: monitor body condition and fed accordingly. NOTE: Supplementing Calcium in breeding animals CAUSES eclampsia! Supplementation can kill the bitch! |
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Links for Feeding related information
Skeletal Diseases
of Growing dogsGrowing pains: growth related skeletal problems Nutritional Influence & The Role of Diet (in Skeletal Disease) American College of Veterinarian Nutrition HD: Evaluating Dogs under 2 years of age CHD, etc: Resource Page for Hip/Elbow Dysplasia HOD Recognition and RX(Fred Lanting) Osteochondrosis--prevention & treatment VARGAS
SERIES Of CANINE
HEALTH (from hip dysplasia to thyroid disease & more) UPennLinks for CHD( Hip Dysplasia) Comparison of Various Hip Scoring Systems, Euro & USA The Importance of Good Hip Positioning (on Xrays) Canine Hip & Elbow Dysplasia Linx Resources
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