What are the Benefits of Large Breed Puppy Foods?

At Pet Valu, we get a lot of questions from new pet owners who ask “what should I feed my new pet?” There are often lots of foods that could be great for your pet, and the variety of foods out there can make it confusing. Fortunately, many foods tell you right on the label if the food is a good match for your new pet.

One place where the type of food can make a big difference in your dog’s health is in foods designed for large-breed puppies. Many people think that all dogs can eat the same food – big dogs eat more food, small dogs eat less food, and everything just works out nutritionally. For adult dogs, this is usually true. One of the major differences that make small breed foods unique is that the kibble is smaller. There are some other changes in the formula that may offer some benefits for smaller or larger dogs, but the one of the main reasons that these foods exist is for smaller mouths to have smaller kibbles.

To be sold as appropriate for puppies, there are guidelines that must be adhered to. If you’ve ever had a puppy, you know how fast they grow up. The fast growth means they need more  calories and nutrition to support their bodies. Puppy foods are more nutrient-dense and digestible to give growing puppies all the nutrition they need to grow into healthy dogs.  Overfeeding small and mid-sized puppies is difficult to do because their stomachs are small. However it is much easier to overfeed large breed puppies, which can cause them to grow too fast.

For large or giant breed dogs, such as Great Danes, St. Bernards or Mastiffs, growing too fast can cause problems. Their young bones and joints may not be able to support the weight of a giant dog, which can cause joint problems, especially as the dog ages.

Young growing bones have more flexibility, and if too much weight is placed on them they can bend very slightly. This slight bending can alter the angle of the joint causing wear spots in the cartilage. Damage can occur while the dog is young, but often the effects of the damage do not show up until later in life. To prevent the damage, it’s important to help the puppy take longer to reach his full size. Only severely underfeeding would stunt the puppy’s growth, and growing faster won’t result in a larger dog. Controlling how fast the puppy grows will have no negative impact on his adult health.

This is why with a large breed puppy food, the calorie density is lower. Larger dogs (and larger puppies) have larger stomachs, which means they can eat more food than they actually need. You might think that a puppy would simply stop eating when he’s had enough calories, but, as with many people, some will continue to eat and take in more calories than they actually need, causing them to grow faster and weigh more. If your puppy doesn’t have a big appetite, you might find he does just fine on a regular puppy food, but if he always wants more food, a large breed puppy food might be a better option to help you satisfy his appetite.

Of course, this isn’t a free pass to feed the puppy as much as he’ll eat. Eating too much large breed food will have the same effect as too much regular food. You need to be responsible and make sure your puppy eats a reasonable amount for his size. Talk to your veterinarian if you’re concerned about how fast your puppy is growing.

Some sources may say to just feed your large breed puppy an adult food, but this isn’t necessarily the best course. Puppies need the extra protein in a puppy food to help their muscles develop. Proper muscle development helps maintain leg joints by helping to support the body weight. Feeding less protein can help reduce growth rate, but it doesn’t necessarily meet the other nutritional needs of the puppy. This is particularly true of dogs prone to hip dysplasia where the muscles can help hold the hip socket in place. A puppy formula will be designed for a young dog’s higher body metabolism. There is no need to supplement with minerals (particularly calcium) as these can result in even more leg growth problems in puppies, so a puppy food won’t have these supplements.

Make sure your large breed puppy gets some exercise, but not so much that his joints are put under too much stress. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to problems like hip dysplasia, but slowing the growth rate though reducing the calorie intake as a puppy can help reduce the problem. If you choose to get your puppy from a breeder, check to make sure that the breeder has bred responsibly to avoid inherited joint conditions.

Keeping your puppy active and on an appropriate diet will give him the best chance at a lifetime free from pain and joint disorders.

Editor’s Note:

Looking for a food for your large or giant breed puppy? Try these ones:

Wellness Complete Health Super5Mix Large Breed Puppy Food

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Large Breed Puppy Food Chicken and Rice Recipe

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Large Breed Puppy Food