Nutrition for Large-Breed Adult Dogs
Choosing a Food for Overall Health
Guarding Against Weight Gain
Pregnancy
Switching to a Senior Diet
Healthy joints and proper weight are important for all large dogs. But not all large adult dogs have the same nutritional needs. Is your dog getting the right amount of exercise? Is she about to have puppies? Special conditions can dramatically affect your dog’s nutritional demands. Giving your dog a food specially formulated for his large size, life stage and activity level is the easiest way to make sure he’s getting the best possible nutrition.
Healthy Joints and Cartilage
Joint health is a big concern for owners of large-breed dogs. A large-breed formula that contains glucosamine can help. A naturally occurring compound, glucosamine promotes healthy joints and cartilage. Also, vitamins and minerals help promote the production of cartilage, and maintaining healthy weight in your dog will help lessen joint stress.
Choosing a Food for Overall Health
To address the special needs of your large-breed dog, look for these features:
- glucosamine to promote healthy joints and cartilage
- less fat to help maintain healthy weight levels for less joint stress
- vitamin-rich fish oils for healthy skin, shine and overall health
- essential vitamins and minerals to help support the immune system and help maintain good health
- high-quality, animal-based protein sources to help maintain muscles
- a moderately fermentable fibre source, such as beet pulp, to maintain intestinal health,
- enhance your dog’s ability to absorb nutrients and reduce stool volume
- a carbohydrate blend to help sustain energy by maintaining good energy levels.
Guarding Against Weight Gain
Dogs with lower activity levels or dogs who have been neutered or spayed can be prone to weight gain. Controlling your dog’s weight is an important step toward protecting against the health effects of excess weight, such as diabetes or joint health problems. If you do use a light diet, look for these characteristics:
- a low fat level that still offers essential nutrients for skin and coat health
- L-carnitine, a key nutrient that helps burn fat and maintain muscle mass during weight loss
- special carbohydrate sources that help maintain energy levels
- vitamin-rich fish oils for overall health.
Pregnancy
Pregnant dogs have substantial nutrition requirements. Starting in the seventh week of her pregnancy, a mother dog will need to increase her energy intake by 50% and increase it even more when she starts nursing her puppies. Because she may lose her appetite at times, it’s important that she eats a nutrient-dense food. A complete, balanced puppy formula can give her the extra nutrients she needs. But avoid puppy food created for large breeds since these formulas contain specially adjusted levels of energy and minerals which may not be sufficient for a pregnant or nursing dog.
Switching to a Senior Diet
Large dogs are considered mature at age 5-6, earlier than small-breed dogs. So it is critical to make a proactive transition to a specially formulated senior diet to help keep your dog healthy and active as he ages.
