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
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.
Genetics determine the size of the adult dog. Encouraging a slower, more controlled growth rate will not affect the final adult body size.
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.
"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.
The Purina Body Condition System
The Purina Body Condition System is an easy and practical tool for assessing a pet's body composition.
How to Perform a Body Condition Assessment - Dog
Assess a dog's Body Condition Score in just 3 simple steps.
To Share With Pet Owner:
Evaluating Your Dog’s Body Condition
Assess your dog's Body Condition in just 3 simple steps.
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