Large Breed Puppy Food: What You Need to Know

Bringing a new puppy into your life is one of the most exciting times of dog ownership. And when it comes to large breed puppies, this excitement is super-sized. 

Not only will your large or giant breed dog stay in puppyhood longer, but they will also become larger than life as they grow and grow some more! However, large breed dogs come with a few unique dietary needs. Which is why so many owners ask, “‘What should I feed my puppy?”

Well, we’re here to help make heads and wagging tails of large breed puppy food knowledge. Because the better you feed your puppy now, the more years you will have with your best friend later!

What is a Large Breed Puppy?

In general, a large breed puppy is considered to be one that is expected to reach an adult weight of over 25 kilograms. Some large breeds may include, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Rottweiler Bernese Mountain Dog and Great Danes. 

These breeds, among others, typically fall into the category of large or giant breed puppies based on their expected adult size and weight. 

Essential Nutrients for a Large Breed Puppy

Large breed puppies require a diet rich in essential nutrients to support their rapid growth and unique developmental needs. Protein is crucial for muscle development, while controlled levels of calcium and phosphorus are vital for healthy bone growth and joint support.

These nutrients must be carefully balanced to prevent skeletal abnormalities. Additionally, fats provide the energy needed for their active lifestyle and help maintain a healthy coat and skin. Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin are important for joint health, helping to prevent common orthopaedic issues. Vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, are necessary for overall growth, immune function, and metabolic processes.

A balanced diet for large breed dogs should include:

• Protein: >56.3g / 1000Kcal: 
• Fat: >21.3g / 1000Kcal
• Calcium: 3-4.5g / 100Kcal
• Phosphorus: 2.5-4g / 1000Kcal
• Calcium : Phosphorus Ratio: 1.1:1 to 1.6:1
  
  

* Ensuring the correct balance of calcium and phosphorus in large breed puppy diets is crucial for healthy bone development, preventing orthopaedic diseases, and supporting controlled growth.

Do I Need To Feed My Large Breed Puppy A Special Diet? 

Yes and no. While large breed puppies do have specific nutritional requirements, you don't necessarily need a separate diet labelled specifically for large breed puppies if you choose a high-quality diet that caters to all life-stages. 

How All Life-Stage Diets are Suitable for Large and Giant Breed Puppies

1. Controlled Growth Rate

Large breed puppies grow rapidly, and managing this growth is crucial to prevent developmental bone and joint problems. All-life-stages diets that meet AAFCO standards are formulated to provide the balanced nutrition needed to support steady, controlled growth, ensuring your puppy doesn't grow too quickly and risk developing conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia.

2. Balanced Nutrient Ratios

All-life-stages diets are designed to meet the nutritional needs of dogs at every life stage, including the crucial growth phase of large breed puppies. These diets typically include carefully balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus to support healthy bone development, as well as the right amounts of protein and fat to promote muscle growth without excessive weight gain.

3. Joint Health Support

Since large breed puppies are prone to joint issues, an all-life-stages diet often includes added glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health. This proactive approach helps to ensure that your puppy’s joints develop properly and remain healthy as they grow.

4. Nutritional Density

High-quality all-life-stages diets are nutrient-dense, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids required for the optimal growth and overall health of large breed puppies. These diets ensure that your puppy receives the comprehensive nutrition needed during their rapid development phase.

5. Digestive Health

All-life-stages diets often contain easily digestible ingredients and added probiotics to support digestive health. This ensures that your large breed puppy can effectively absorb all the necessary nutrients, promoting a healthy digestive system and overall well-being.

What Makes Large Breed Puppy Food Unique

Large breed puppy food is uniquely formulated to support the specific needs of rapidly growing large breed puppies. These formulas typically contain controlled (and lower) levels of vitamin D,  fat, calcium and phosphorus to ensure proper bone development and prevent skeletal abnormalities. Lower levels of protein and fat can help to support healthy muscle growth without excessive weight gain. 

Preventing Orthopaedic Diseases in Large Breed Puppies Due to Rapid Growth and Poor Nutrition

Preventing orthopaedic diseases in large breed puppies is crucial, as their rapid growth makes them particularly susceptible to these conditions. Orthopaedic diseases, such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), often result from a combination of genetic factors, rapid growth, and improper nutrition.

Proper nutrition plays a vital role in managing this risk. Large breed puppies grow quickly, and managing this growth with a balanced diet is essential. Uncontrolled, rapid growth can stress developing bones and joints, leading to deformities and joint problems.

Ensure you choose a diet that suits their needs whether it be a large breed formulation of all life stages, and provides the right balance of calories, protein, and fat to support healthy development without encouraging excessive weight gain. Critical nutrients like calcium and phosphorus must be in correct proportions to support proper bone mineralisation and growth, preventing skeletal abnormalities.

The Risk of Overnutrition

One of the most common mistakes large breed puppy owners make is overfeeding and providing too many supplements. This often results in puppies growing too quickly, causing their bodies to become too large for their joints and bones to support properly, leading to strain and pain.

Shouldn’t Large Puppies Have More Calcium?

While calcium is essential for strong bones, it plays a more complex role in a dog's body, and puppies process food differently than adult dogs. Before reaching six months of age, a puppy's body cannot regulate how much calcium their intestines absorb. After six months, their bodies automatically regulate calcium absorption, but before this point, they absorb all the calcium that passes through their digestive system. Excess calcium can lead to abnormal bone and joint growth, increasing the risk of orthopaedic issues.

Watch Your Puppy’s Treat Intake

Between your dog’s adorable puppy eyes and going through training, it’s easy to overdo it when it comes to the number of treats your dog receives. Even the healthiest of dog treats do not account for all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional elements your dog needs. This is why it’s important to keep your dog’s treat levels to under 10% of their daily caloric intake.

Best Large Breed Puppy Food in Australia

When it comes to providing your beloved puppy with the best diet for their needs, it’s all about both quality and quantity of ingredients. Petzyo's Kibble and Raw options offer the perfect balance to meet your large breed puppies needs, carefully formulated by a canine nutritionist with Large Breed Puppy specific nutritional requirements in mind.

Be mindful of growth spurts and increase calories as your dog grows. Never hesitate to ask your vet if you have questions regarding your puppy’s diet or health.

As your large breed puppy transforms from a pup to an adult dog, Petzyo’s kibble and raw foods will provide your dog everything they need for an active, healthy life.