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Practice Scenario
Meet TEDDY
A 4-month-old, male, Great Dane puppy
- Teddy is presented today for his final puppyhood vaccinations.
- When asked about Teddy's diet, his owner said Teddy eats a complete and balanced food that the breeder provided. Since the food is nearly gone, the owner wants to provide Teddy with a "more natural diet."
- Teddy’s owner plans to feed a grain-free dog food, possibly one that is also raw. The owner eats a gluten-free diet and feels "much healthier." Teddy’s owner wants a long, healthy life for Teddy, too.
- The owner also asks if Teddy needs a calcium supplement. His sire is a large, heavy dog; the owner believes Teddy will be similar in size and weight.
Puppy
Feeding Large and Giant Breed Puppies
Growing puppies have higher energy demands than adult dogs. Puppies up to 4 months of age require around twice the amount of energy per unit of body weight as an adult dog of the same breed. As puppies grow, their energy demands begin to decrease. With large and giant breeds (expected adult weight of >45 kg [100 lbs.] assuming the dog has an ideal body condition score) who achieve their adult weight much later (up to 24 months of age), the objective is to feed to ensure a relatively slow and steady rate of growth. Rapid growth rates can stress developing bones and joints resulting in skeletal malformations.
There is wide variation in caloric requirements among dogs. Pets should be fed as individuals to maintain normal growth and a lean, healthy body condition. Plump, heavy puppies are not healthy puppies. The puppy’s body condition (using the Purina Body Condition System) and weight should be continually monitored at home and at regular veterinary appointments.
Key Messages
"Large and giant breed puppies such as [dog's name] need a complete and balanced puppy food until they reach full skeletal maturity, which could take up to 24 months of age. Since puppies, like adult dogs, are individuals, it is important to monitor body condition and adjust the amount being fed accordingly. Feeding measured or weighed meals to your puppy, rather than free-choice feeding, is preferred for slow, healthy growth to reduce the risk of skeletal problems."
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
Additional Resources
Case, L. P., Daristotle, L., Hayek, M. G., & Raasch, M. F. (2011). Canine and feline nutrition (3rd ed.). Mosby. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-06619-8.10025-8
Linder, D. E. (2017). Diets for each life stage. Cliniciansbrief.com
Eisner, E. R. (2003, July 13). Professional and home dental care of the adult dog and cat. In Recent advances in dental health management [Symposium]. Proceedings of the 8th World Veterinary Dental Congress. Kyoto, Japan, 8–15.
Lawler, D. F. (2008). Neonatal and pediatric care of the puppy and kitten. Theriogenology, 70, 384–392.