What should I look for in a
commercial food for my Great Dane puppy (or adult)?
- Be sure the
ingredients are human grade. This goes for the grains as well as the
meat sources
- The food should
be naturally preserved, the most commonly used is mixed natural
tocopherols (a form of vitamin E)
- The food must
list meat meal/ poultry as the first ingredient
- The food must
have more than on source of protein (meats, poultry/fish), which are a
must for balanced amino acids which effect the development of the
muscles
- Protein range of
22% - 25% maximum.
- Fat content of
12% - 15% maximum
- Balanced Omega 3
and Omega 6 Fatty acids
- Digestive
enzymes (Probiotics), these can safely be supplemented if it’s not
already in the food
- Chelated or
sequestered minerals are important for proper bone growth and aide in
preventing growth diseases
- Vitamin C, this
can also be safely supplemented if not in the kibble
Over feeding a Dane
puppy should be avoided. This means that both the quantity and the calories fed
are important to monitor. The growth of a Dane puppy should be moderate and
steady. If they are fed high protein/ high fat diets, they can gain weight and
grow too rapidly for their developing bones and bodies to handle leading to
growth development diseases (Developmental Orthopedic Diseases).