Dr. Jazz
| Health and Nutrition |
Many people think it is too much work and/or too difficult to cook for their dogs, but I have found that
it is quite easy and in many cases less expensive than commercial food. I make 1 batch of Canine
Casserole every Saturday and serve it to my dogs all week. I buy chicken leg quarters in bulk, and
freeze in packs of 4 legs for convenience. Once it is made, I just scoop out, add warm water, then add to
dry food and serve. Click on Mainely Danes Recipes at the top of this page to see how easy it is.
it is quite easy and in many cases less expensive than commercial food. I make 1 batch of Canine
Casserole every Saturday and serve it to my dogs all week. I buy chicken leg quarters in bulk, and
freeze in packs of 4 legs for convenience. Once it is made, I just scoop out, add warm water, then add to
dry food and serve. Click on Mainely Danes Recipes at the top of this page to see how easy it is.
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How to feed a Growing Dane (8 weeks to two years):
Great Danes need to eat a high quality dog food throughout their lives. During their growing years
(first 2 years), protein levels should be never be more than 22-24. %, and approximately 12% fat..
Great Danes grow very rapidly during their first year, often gaining 100 lbs or more from birth to age
one. If they eat food too high in protein or are overfed, they can develop HOD (hypertrophic
osteodystrophy) and other painful joint deforming problems. Remember, Great Danes are a "Giant"
breed, not a "Large" breed. Avoid most Large Breed puppy formulas, as many of them have protein
levels of 27- 29&%. Two notable exceptions are Eagle Pack and Innova Large/Giant Breed Puppy.
Either would be a good choice for a growing Dane pup.
The main thing to remember is to choose a food made with high quality ingredients and protein levels
of 22-24%, and do NOT overfeed your puppy. It is normal for them to eat a lot, but they should never
get chunky They should have a well defined waist, and be lean but not ribby.
Never give Calcium supplements to GROWING Danes. Dane pups grow at a phenomenal rate. They
will grow to 85-90% of their adult weight in their first year alone. Too much calcium could have
devastating results.
Feed probiotics on a regular basis. The simplest way to do this is to add some plain live-culture
yogurt to their food once or twice a week, or add powdered acidophilus from a natural food store.
Growing Danes should be fed three times a day and their food should always be moistened avoid
bloat. If you do use a dry food, always mix with warm water before serving.
At this point, I do not recommend feeding homemade diets to GROWING Great Danes. It is too
difficult to judge the critical protein and calcium levels. After the first year you can begin to add in
some homemade food, but the majority of their diet should still be a good quality commercial food
until they are two years old.
Great Danes need to eat a high quality dog food throughout their lives. During their growing years
(first 2 years), protein levels should be never be more than 22-24. %, and approximately 12% fat..
Great Danes grow very rapidly during their first year, often gaining 100 lbs or more from birth to age
one. If they eat food too high in protein or are overfed, they can develop HOD (hypertrophic
osteodystrophy) and other painful joint deforming problems. Remember, Great Danes are a "Giant"
breed, not a "Large" breed. Avoid most Large Breed puppy formulas, as many of them have protein
levels of 27- 29&%. Two notable exceptions are Eagle Pack and Innova Large/Giant Breed Puppy.
Either would be a good choice for a growing Dane pup.
The main thing to remember is to choose a food made with high quality ingredients and protein levels
of 22-24%, and do NOT overfeed your puppy. It is normal for them to eat a lot, but they should never
get chunky They should have a well defined waist, and be lean but not ribby.
Never give Calcium supplements to GROWING Danes. Dane pups grow at a phenomenal rate. They
will grow to 85-90% of their adult weight in their first year alone. Too much calcium could have
devastating results.
Feed probiotics on a regular basis. The simplest way to do this is to add some plain live-culture
yogurt to their food once or twice a week, or add powdered acidophilus from a natural food store.
Growing Danes should be fed three times a day and their food should always be moistened avoid
bloat. If you do use a dry food, always mix with warm water before serving.
At this point, I do not recommend feeding homemade diets to GROWING Great Danes. It is too
difficult to judge the critical protein and calcium levels. After the first year you can begin to add in
some homemade food, but the majority of their diet should still be a good quality commercial food
until they are two years old.
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I am currently feeding my adult Danes a diet of Canidae All Life Stages dry, alternated with Canidae
Beef and Fish dry. Both are fed with a variety of homemade foods from my recipe section. I feed
approximately 75% kibble with 25% homemade. I switch foods frequently because I believe that protein
from a variety of sources provides the best nutritional balance for my dogs. And if one food is lacking
in something, the other probably has it.
If you are going to feed any more than 25% homemade food, you will need to add a good quality
vitamin/mineral supplement.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to choose a commercial food. There are so many manufacturers
and so many formulas it gets overwhelming very quickly. A good resource is www.dogfoodanalysis.com
They are not associated with any manufacturer, and provide complete and unbiased information on
ingredients and nutritional analysis for almost every food on the market. Many of the foods are
reviewed, but even those not reviewed are given a rating from 1 star to 6 stars. I would recommend
buying nothing less than a 5 star brand for any Great Dane. Just be sure the protein level is 22-24%
and fat 11-13%. Most of the 6 star foods are grain-free and have far to much protein and fat for a
Great Dane, especially a growing one. The reason I chose Canidae is that it is a 5 star food with a 3
star price. I have confidence in the company and the quality of the ingredients, and my dogs love the
taste. They are healthy and have beautiful coats.
There are many good foods available, and your choice will be based on local availability, price, and
personal preference. Don't ever choose a name brand just because you recognize the name and have
heard it is a good food. A couple of examples would be Eukanuba, Science Diet, and Iams. All three
received only a 1 star rating on dogfoodanalysis.com, and they cost more than some of the foods that
received a 5 star rating. It takes a little effort, but it is worth your while to do your homework and
choose a food that is right for your dog.
Beef and Fish dry. Both are fed with a variety of homemade foods from my recipe section. I feed
approximately 75% kibble with 25% homemade. I switch foods frequently because I believe that protein
from a variety of sources provides the best nutritional balance for my dogs. And if one food is lacking
in something, the other probably has it.
If you are going to feed any more than 25% homemade food, you will need to add a good quality
vitamin/mineral supplement.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to choose a commercial food. There are so many manufacturers
and so many formulas it gets overwhelming very quickly. A good resource is www.dogfoodanalysis.com
They are not associated with any manufacturer, and provide complete and unbiased information on
ingredients and nutritional analysis for almost every food on the market. Many of the foods are
reviewed, but even those not reviewed are given a rating from 1 star to 6 stars. I would recommend
buying nothing less than a 5 star brand for any Great Dane. Just be sure the protein level is 22-24%
and fat 11-13%. Most of the 6 star foods are grain-free and have far to much protein and fat for a
Great Dane, especially a growing one. The reason I chose Canidae is that it is a 5 star food with a 3
star price. I have confidence in the company and the quality of the ingredients, and my dogs love the
taste. They are healthy and have beautiful coats.
There are many good foods available, and your choice will be based on local availability, price, and
personal preference. Don't ever choose a name brand just because you recognize the name and have
heard it is a good food. A couple of examples would be Eukanuba, Science Diet, and Iams. All three
received only a 1 star rating on dogfoodanalysis.com, and they cost more than some of the foods that
received a 5 star rating. It takes a little effort, but it is worth your while to do your homework and
choose a food that is right for your dog.
Mainely Danes Recipes:
Choosing the best food for your Great Dane