Large breed puppies are not supposed to eat puppy food?

[nymph]

Any truth in this? I checked and compared a few so called "controlled growth" puppy chows with regular puppy chows, the only difference is protein content: controlled growth is lower in protein, usually less than 24% as compared to at least 28%.

So would it be OK to just feed large breeds adult dog food? They'd grow up slower, but with stronger bones. Am I completely out to lunch?

[StaceyB]

Puppy foods are formulated for requirements of puppies. The growth period is the most important time. Like children they need more good fats for more than physical growth, they also need it for brain development. All puppies big and small should be on puppy formula until they are 1 yr. Any puppy that is a large breed or prone to growth abnormalities like displasia should be on the lb formula, to slow down growth w/o eliminating everything else the formula offers.

[nymph]

What's a lb formula?

[StaceyB]

lol, large breed

[nymph]

Gotcha. LOL

I did notice however that some of the better pet brands like Wellness or Solid Gold don't carry a "large breed puppy food" variety.

[StaceyB]

There are some brands that only offer puppy/ adult. I would go with puppy and watch for speed of growth.

[LL1]

Alot of large breed owners and breeders agree with this.I do too.

Originally Posted by nymph

So would it be OK to just feed large breeds adult dog food?

[Bearsmom]

When Bear was a youngun, we started him on a certain large breed puppy food, and about 6 weeks after starting the food, he stopped using his back legs. Numerous tests, x rays, etc later, turns out that the food was making his bones grow faster than the tendons and muscles could keep up, thus the pains he was having. We pulled him off of that food, and put him onto another brand where he did much better.

Kaos is also on a large breed puppy food, and doesn't seem to be having any problems.

I prefer to keep them on large breed puppy until they're about a year old, just a personal preference.

[StaceyB]

What kind of puppy do you have?
Call your vet, check up, you can even take your puppy in to get weighed n/c anytime you like. Even the vet tech can give you an idea of where they should be for their age.
Weight gain in puppies indicates growth. If you have noticed this is what your vet keeps a record of. If you do regular checks you will notice if there is a jump in weight. It tends to be the jumps that you want to avoid. Slow and steady is what you want.

[StaceyB]

Montana is turning 2 this month and still has to grow into his skin, his chest hasn't filled out yet. We figure he is going to contiue growing until he is around 3 yrs. He grows very slowly.

[pennynikkel]

Question on the exercise topic...my Max (5 1/2 month Boerboel) is taken to doggie daycare everyday. They tell me that he plays only for one hour and then he goes to his bed and sleeps the rest of the day, on his own volition. Later at night, I take him for walks for training time.

Does anyone think the doggie daycare is too much? He is playing on a rubber coated surface.