Practice Scenario

Meet Herman, a young adult, large-breed dog with occasional hindlimb lameness and reluctance to play.

Meet HERMAN

A 15-month-old, intact male Weimaraner

  • Herman presents for hindlimb lameness. The owner reports the lameness typically occurs after long walks and games of fetch. Occasionally Herman will stop and refuse to walk or play any longer. He also seems stiff when rising from a down position and climbing in and out of the car.
  • Herman eats a mixture of dry puppy and adult food topped with a few bites of raw steak. The owner is unsure of the brand but says that the puppy and dog food are not labeled for large-breed dogs. The owner also gives Herman a calcium supplement daily.
  • Herman has a body condition score of 5-6/9, weighs 36 kg (79 pounds), and has normal muscle mass.
  • On exam, he appears to resist hip extension on both sides. However, he is very excitable and thus his reactions are somewhat difficult to interpret. He appears otherwise healthy.

Puppy

Large Breed Puppies: Rapid Growth Is Not Optimal Growth

Large and giant breed dogs have a higher growth rate than smaller dogs. Controlling their growth rate is critical as rapid growth rates can lead to reduced bone density and place stress on their developing bones and joints, resulting in irreversible skeletal malformations. 

A large breed puppy

Key Messages

  • Overfeeding large and giant breed puppies encourages undesirable rapid bone growth. Excess calories can also lead to excessive body weight which can further stress their immature, developing skeletons.  
  • Growth diets (puppy food) should be fed until puppies have stopped growing, which can take up to 18-24 months in large and giant breed dogs. Growth diets formulated specifically for large and giant breed dogs are less energy dense, and therefore help reduce the likelihood of overfeeding.  
  • Feeding puppies to maintain a lean, healthy weight can increase life span and delay the onset of signs of chronic disease, including hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. 
conversation starter background image

"Overfeeding a giant breed puppy can cause them to grow too quickly and puts stress on their developing bones. Feeding the correct amount of a complete and balanced puppy diet allows them to grow to their full potential but at a healthy, steady pace."

Related Tools and Content:

Definitions of Key Terms Regarding Commercial Pet Foods

This glossary defines the key phrases used to describe commercial pet foods and explains the roles of two important associations.​

Read Glossary Terms 1 min to 5 min

The Purina Body Condition System

The Purina Body Condition System is an easy and practical tool for assessing a pet's body composition.​

View Brief 1 min to 5 min

How to Perform a Body Condition Assessment - Dog

Assess a dog's Body Condition Score in just 3 simple steps.​

View Video 1 min to 5 min

To Share With Pet Owner:

Evaluating Your Dog’s Body Condition

Assess your dog's Body Condition in just 3 simple steps.​

View Video 1 min to 5 min

Puppy Growth Rates

Breed size affects the growth rate of puppies.

View Brief 1 min to 5 min

Additional Resources

Larsen, J. (2010). Feeding large-breed puppies. Compendium: Continuing Education for Veterinarians, 32(5), E1–E4. 

Kealy, R. D., Lawler, D. F., Ballam, J. M., Mantz, S. L., Biery, D. N., Greeley, E. H., Lust, G., Segre, M., Smith, G. K., & Stowe, H. D. (2002). Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 220(9), 1315–1320. doi:10.2460/javma.2002.220.1315