Great Dane Diet and Nutrition - The basics

It seems that when it comes to the nutrition of giant breeds, many veterinarians give some extremely poor advice.

The three options of feeding are

Raw or BARF
http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/health/nutritionarticle23.htm

Grain inclusive kibble

Great Dane puppies should be fed the highest quality of food possible.  The issue that I have with grain inclusive kibble is that dogs are simply not built to digest corns and grains.  So not only are these useless ingredients that you are paying for, but also if not digested and absorbed by the body...more poop.  And as we all know, big dogs equal big poop.

But more importantly grains and corn are a major cause of allergies on dogs and can cause all types of skin conditions, excess shedding, goopy eyes, and yeasty ears amongst other things in Great Danes.

Yeast lives on glucose, so if your dog has an excess amount of glucose in his blood, it will also be in his skin, creating an ideal breeding ground for yeasts, especially in the ears, mouth, between the toes, in the wrinkles, in the excretory orifices, and under the arms. Dogs don't even have to be

diabetic to have trouble with blood sugar. Their bodies aren't meant to eat lots of high glycemic index foods.

In addition, dogs can't digest meat byproducts. These can include hair, teeth, feet and other indigestible animal parts that your dog's body can't use as a protein source. The parts your dogs doesn't digest then turn into sugar in their system, causing your dog to have more nervous energy than he would on a healthy diet.
Though higher quality foods are more expensive, owners feed less because their dogs need to eat less to receive the same nutrients. In addition, a healthier dog means lower veterinary bills. 

A Great Dane puppy or any giant breed dog should never be fed Large Breed kibble if grain inclusive as the protein level is far too high with the wrong sources of protein.  this could in turn cause problems such as HOD http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/hod.html

 Buy nothing less than a 5 star brand for any growing Great Dane (under age two). Just be sure the protein level is 22-24% and fat 11-13%.  A calcium to phosphorus ratio of  1.2-0.8.

The other issue with grain inclusive kibble is the links that are being found in regards to it being a contributing factor in bloat.  The issue is believed to be that the undigested corn and grains can ferment in the stomach producing excess gas. http://www.gdca.org/great-dane-health-welfare.html
 
Now we discuss a better option in kibble....

Grain Free Kibble 

When talking grain free the protein levels are much higher BUT SAFELY SO for a Great Dane puppy.  many people state that the protein level is too high.  But, what they fail to be educated about is the fact that these proteins are from a completely different source than in a grain inclusive kibble. A very high percentage of that protein is derived from meat sources rather than plant sources.

There can be concern over the ash content in some grain-free foods. Not all the meat sources used in these foods are necessarily low in bone, and with higher bone content comes a higher level of ash. This can lead to foods with higher levels of calcium and phosphorus, and they may also contain higher levels of sodium and magnesium.

Are higher ash levels harmful? The biggest nutritional concern is kidney health. Unfortunately few of these foods include the ash level as part of the guaranteed analysis or nutrient profile they provide. Some may include the calcium, phosphorus, and/or sodium level. In the chart provided I have had to use a calculated (estimated) ash level in many cases which may be slightly off the actual level. For senior pets, I recommend ash levels lowers than 8.5% for a dog food.
 
Grain-free foods are different from holistic and super-premium dry foods..Unlike a scientific or veterinarian food which is formulated to treat a specific ailment, the exact nutritional reason to feed grain-free food is not as obvious. While good results from a grain-free food do not automatically indicate a food allergy, animals may be developing sensitivities to grains after a lifetime of eating traditional foods. Grain-free foods aren’t a panacea for all problems, but they are the logical next choice when a pet’s present food does not give satisfactory results.

 dogfoodanalysis.com

 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.






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