Feeding Your Puppy
Proper nutrition for your new dog is key to helping him live a long, healthy life. Use the information in this section to
help you choose the right food and feed your new dog properly.
Selecting a Puppy Food
Dogs are as individual as people. Large, small, young or old, despite their differences, they all need a well-balanced
diet for good health. Yet dog's of
different ages and sizes have different nutritional needs. This is especially significant when it comes to puppies.
The energy requirements of a puppy can be nearly twice that of an adult dog, and a puppy may not have the stomach
capacity to eat enough food to meet his needs unless the food is specifically formulated to do so. Follow these
guidelines when choosing a food:
Provide a highly digestible, nutrient- dense, 100% complete and balanced premium formula for growth. High-quality
formulas contain such vitamins, minerals, protein, fat and carbohydrates your dog needs for sound and healthy
development. With a premium formula, you may see these results:
· Exceptional muscle tone
· Shiny, luxurious coat
· Healthy skin, bones and teeth
· Clear, bright eyes
· Small, firm stools
· Playfulnes
· A happy, healthy attitude
Feed a formula based on breed size. Puppies experience their most rapid period of growth during the first six months
of life, and because growth rates differ among breed sizes, you need to feed a formula designed to address the needs
of your puppy's breed or size.
Feed based on the recommended amounts for weight and age and feed this formula until your puppy is an adult.
Large-breed puppy nutrition
Although large-breed dogs have bigger bones than medium or small breeds, large-breed puppies do not need more
calcium. University studies and researchers at The Iams Company have shown that:
· Rapidly growing, large-breed pups are more inclined to exhibit developmental bone problems.
· Controlling the rate of growth is more beneficial than promoting rapid growth.
· Moderating calcium, phosphorus and calorie levels in their diet promotes normal skeletal development.
Overfeeding and weight gain can actually contribute to developmental bone problems. This makes managing food
intake very important. Research has shown that puppies are at increased risk for developmental bone problems if they
are overfed.
Controlling the rate of growth to promote normal development is another reason to feed a large-breed diet. A formula
with reduced fat and calories promotes optimum growth.
Medium-breed puppy nutrition
Medium-breed puppies have energy needs between those of large- and small-breed dogs. Medium breeds' nutritional
demands can be satisfied by feeding a 100% complete and balanced formula that features moderate amounts of all the
essential vitamins and nutrients.
Small-breed puppy nutrition
Small-breed puppies have unique needs due to their small mouths, small stomachs and their growth spurt to adult size
in a short period of time. That's why it's important to pack a lot of nutrition and energy into a small amount of food. A
poor-quality diet will fill a puppy's stomach before enough food can be eaten to satisfy his nutritional needs. The result
can be improper muscle and skeletal development and growth impairment. Our puppy foods are formulated to be
energy- and nutrient-dense to meet the needs of growing puppies.
Dry, canned and biscuits
Once you've decided on a premium formula, you have another choice to make: dry or canned. And what about
biscuits?
· Premium dry dog food gives you the best value and convenience while providing your dog with high-quality
nutrition. Premium dry foods come in a number of bag sizes and formulas suited to size, life stage and activity level.
Dry food also helps keep teeth clean and remains fresh for long periods if stored properly.
· Our canned foods are 100% complete and balanced. Puppy and adult biscuits make great treats and rewards
and can add taste variety to your new dog's diet.
Value of Premium Food
Low-cost food may be less expensive, but it isn't always a bargain and may not provide optimum nutrition. Premium
food makes sense both nutritionally (because of consistent, high-quality ingredients) and economically because it
provides:
· 100% complete, balanced nutrition
· High nutrient and energy density, which translates into smaller feeding portions
· A stable ingredient profile.
High nutrient and energy density
The investment in a premium food may initially cost more per bag, but because these high-quality formulas are high in
nutrient density, your dog may need less food, which can offset the higher cost per unit of weight. On a cost-per-
feeding basis, look at how much you feed each day as opposed to how much the bag costs, because nutrient and
energy density will generally be lower for a low-cost food compared with premium foods.
· Foods from The Iams Company are fixed-formula foods as opposed to least-cost formulas. Fixed formulas have
a "stable ingredient profile." That means the recipes formulated to be 100% complete and balanced do not change with
the cost of ingredients.
· With least-cost formulations, the emphasis is on production and ingredient costs. Two bags of the same least-
cost formulated food can have different ingredients and/or levels of ingredients. Plus, those ingredients may vary
significantly in digestibility—this means simply that you may need to feed more just to equal the nutrition offered by a
smaller amount of a premium dog food formula.
Nutrition, Skin, Coat
Feeding studies have shown that a dog's nutritional requirements are best met by high-quality animal proteins such as
those contained in chicken, fish, lamb and eggs. Our formulas are made with these highly digestible proteins, which
promote excellent skin and coat condition and enhance your dog's overall health and well-being. When your dog's
coat looks good, the rest of the body is likely to be well nourished, too.
The role of fatty acids
Fat also plays a key role in keeping your dog's skin and coat in top condition. Fat not only provides energy, it's a
source of essential fatty acids that are necessary for the skin's healthy structure. Fatty acids in the diet keep the skin
moist and supple. Fatty acids also contribute to a thick, lustrous and healthy coat.
Important types of fatty acids
Lack of fat and fatty acids, or the wrong balance of fatty acids, can result in dry, scaly skin and haircoat problems. A
proper balance of fatty acids is key to a healthy coat. Although there are many kinds of fatty acids, a few are important
to coat health and appearance:
· Linoleic acid is an essential omega-6 fatty acid for dogs and is necessary for healthy skin. It is found in beef,
pork, chicken and some vegetable oils.
· Omega-6 fatty acids, including linoleic acid, can be found in the fat or oils provided in ingredients such as
chicken and corn in your dog's food.
· Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold-water fish oils and in flax. Although not essential to a dog's diet, they have
been found to help nutritionally manage skin and coat conditions and promote a shiny coat.
A proper fatty-acid balance
An appropriate balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids helps maintain your dog's healthy skin and coat. An
optimal range of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty-acid ratios is between 5:1 and 10:1, to enhance skin and coat quality and
help nutritionally manage skin and coat conditions.
Feeding Instructions
Your new dog's first meals at home are very important. Find out what formula your dog has been eating and continue
feeding this food for a day or two after you bring him home. If you want to change his diet to a premium food,
gradually move him from the old food to the new formula and help avoid intestinal upsets by using the following steps:
Day 1: Fill your dog's bowl with 75 percent of his old food and 25 percent of the new premium formula..
Day 2: Mix the old food and the new premium formula in a 50/50 ratio.
Day 3: Feed your dog a mixture that's 75 percent new premium formula and 25 percent old food.
Day 4: Feed 100% of the new premium formula.
Feeding Tips
Use the following guidelines to feed your new dog properly:
· To feed a puppy from weaning to four months of age, offer a 100% complete and balanced premium puppy
formula. To determine each serving size, start with the daily amount recommended by the feeding guidelines on the pet
food label and divide that number by the number of times a day (usually 3 times) you plan to feed your puppy.
· Serve the food at room temperature and remove the bowl within 30 minutes after he's done eating.
· After four months, you can feed a puppy twice daily on a regular schedule.
· Always provide your dog with clean, fresh water.
· Discard uneaten wet food at the end of the day.
· Don't add nutritional supplements to your dog's diet. Adding commercial dietary supplements or "people food"
such as hamburger, eggs, cottage cheese or cow's milk is unnecessary and may even do more harm than good.
Feeding Tips for a Teething Puppy
Puppies grow quickly and have special nutritional needs. The most noticeable period is known as the rapid growth
stage, which occurs between two and six months of age. From about three to six months, most pups will lose their
puppy teeth (don't be alarmed if you occasionally find a tooth near his dish or on the floor).
During this phase, however, a puppy's mouth and gums may be very sensitive, which could cause him to be a bit picky
when it comes to eating. There's nothing you can do except to wait out this period, even if his appetite is affected for a
couple of days.
Helpful hints
Don't switch to a new formula to stimulate your puppy's appetite. Changing food at this time can cause additional
stress and intestinal upset. To help your puppy make the change, consider the following options:
· Mix his regular premium dry food with a premium canned puppy food to make his diet more appealing.
· Soak dry food in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
· Feeding a dry food and biscuits help loosen the teeth so pups can get through the teething process quicker.
If his appetite loss persists, see your veterinarian before you switch food.
Understanding Labels
Five sections of a dog food label reveal what is in the food you're buying. Here's what you need to know to
understand the information on a dog food label.
The name of the food
The name can tell you how much of an ingredient is in the food. Dog food names that have the animal protein source in
the title, such as beef formula, indicate that at least 25 percent of the diet is indeed the named ingredient. Names that
contain the word with (such as with chunky chicken) or flavor (such as turkey flavor) can contain as little as 3 percent
of that ingredient.
The ingredient panel
This section on the label lists all the ingredients that make up the product. The ingredients must be listed in descending
order according to weight before cooking. The first ingredient in dry food should be a source of high-quality animal-
based protein—chicken or lamb for example. Dogs thrive on animal proteins, but may not do as well on vegetable
proteins such as soybean meal. Manufacturers who use large amounts of vegetable proteins may be saving money at
the expense of a dog's overall well-being. Other ingredients to avoid are artificial colors and flavors, which offer no
nutritional benefits.
The guaranteed analysis
Near the ingredient panel should be a chart of percentages called the "guaranteed analysis." These figures reveal the
basic nutrient make-up of the dog food's formula, including protein content. The minimum percentages of protein and
fat and the maximum percentages of fiber and moisture (water) should be listed.
Nutritional adequacy statement
If the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statement says "animal feeding tests using AAFCO
procedures," the food was actually fed to dogs at that same life stage and found to be adequate. If the AAFCO
statement refers to "meeting nutrient profiles," the dog food may not have been tested with dogs. Instead, the food was
analyzed in a laboratory and the results were compared to recognized industry standards.
The manufacturer's name and address
This information must be on the label by law. A toll-free number may also be listed. Manufacturers, such as The Iams
Company, who list a phone number, generally have a high-quality product and welcome consumer calls and questions.
Beware of products that read packed for or distributed by. These foods aren't made by the store whose name may be
on the front label, but are from a manufacturer whose quality and consistency controls may not be monitored
What Premium Foods Provide
High-quality, complete and balanced premium dog foods are the best you can buy. They are specifically designed to
provide your dog with a food that has:
· High-quality ingredients
· High total diet digestibility
· Balanced, optimal levels of protein, fat, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which make costly nutritional
supplements unnecessary
· A nutrient-dense formulation appropriate for a particular life stage
· Consistent, high-quality ingredient recipes that do not change with manufacturing costs
· Calibrated fatty-acid ratios to help maintain healthy skin and coat
· Great palatability—taste—based on feeding trials
· Product guarantees
Plus, with formulas from The Iams Company, you can be sure each variety has been specifically designed to enhance
the overall health and well-being of your dog.
The benefits of premium foods
When you feed your dog a premium food, you'll see these important indicators of good health:
· Exceptional muscle tone
· A shiny, luxurious coat
· Healthy skin, teeth and bones
· Clear, bright eyes
· Small, firm stools
· Playfulness
A happy, healthy attitude.
Proper nutrition for your new dog is key to helping him live a long, healthy life. Use the information in this section to
help you choose the right food and feed your new dog properly.
Selecting a Puppy Food
Dogs are as individual as people. Large, small, young or old, despite their differences, they all need a well-balanced
diet for good health. Yet dog's of
different ages and sizes have different nutritional needs. This is especially significant when it comes to puppies.
The energy requirements of a puppy can be nearly twice that of an adult dog, and a puppy may not have the stomach
capacity to eat enough food to meet his needs unless the food is specifically formulated to do so. Follow these
guidelines when choosing a food:
Provide a highly digestible, nutrient- dense, 100% complete and balanced premium formula for growth. High-quality
formulas contain such vitamins, minerals, protein, fat and carbohydrates your dog needs for sound and healthy
development. With a premium formula, you may see these results:
· Exceptional muscle tone
· Shiny, luxurious coat
· Healthy skin, bones and teeth
· Clear, bright eyes
· Small, firm stools
· Playfulnes
· A happy, healthy attitude
Feed a formula based on breed size. Puppies experience their most rapid period of growth during the first six months
of life, and because growth rates differ among breed sizes, you need to feed a formula designed to address the needs
of your puppy's breed or size.
Feed based on the recommended amounts for weight and age and feed this formula until your puppy is an adult.
Large-breed puppy nutrition
Although large-breed dogs have bigger bones than medium or small breeds, large-breed puppies do not need more
calcium. University studies and researchers at The Iams Company have shown that:
· Rapidly growing, large-breed pups are more inclined to exhibit developmental bone problems.
· Controlling the rate of growth is more beneficial than promoting rapid growth.
· Moderating calcium, phosphorus and calorie levels in their diet promotes normal skeletal development.
Overfeeding and weight gain can actually contribute to developmental bone problems. This makes managing food
intake very important. Research has shown that puppies are at increased risk for developmental bone problems if they
are overfed.
Controlling the rate of growth to promote normal development is another reason to feed a large-breed diet. A formula
with reduced fat and calories promotes optimum growth.
Medium-breed puppy nutrition
Medium-breed puppies have energy needs between those of large- and small-breed dogs. Medium breeds' nutritional
demands can be satisfied by feeding a 100% complete and balanced formula that features moderate amounts of all the
essential vitamins and nutrients.
Small-breed puppy nutrition
Small-breed puppies have unique needs due to their small mouths, small stomachs and their growth spurt to adult size
in a short period of time. That's why it's important to pack a lot of nutrition and energy into a small amount of food. A
poor-quality diet will fill a puppy's stomach before enough food can be eaten to satisfy his nutritional needs. The result
can be improper muscle and skeletal development and growth impairment. Our puppy foods are formulated to be
energy- and nutrient-dense to meet the needs of growing puppies.
Dry, canned and biscuits
Once you've decided on a premium formula, you have another choice to make: dry or canned. And what about
biscuits?
· Premium dry dog food gives you the best value and convenience while providing your dog with high-quality
nutrition. Premium dry foods come in a number of bag sizes and formulas suited to size, life stage and activity level.
Dry food also helps keep teeth clean and remains fresh for long periods if stored properly.
· Our canned foods are 100% complete and balanced. Puppy and adult biscuits make great treats and rewards
and can add taste variety to your new dog's diet.
Value of Premium Food
Low-cost food may be less expensive, but it isn't always a bargain and may not provide optimum nutrition. Premium
food makes sense both nutritionally (because of consistent, high-quality ingredients) and economically because it
provides:
· 100% complete, balanced nutrition
· High nutrient and energy density, which translates into smaller feeding portions
· A stable ingredient profile.
High nutrient and energy density
The investment in a premium food may initially cost more per bag, but because these high-quality formulas are high in
nutrient density, your dog may need less food, which can offset the higher cost per unit of weight. On a cost-per-
feeding basis, look at how much you feed each day as opposed to how much the bag costs, because nutrient and
energy density will generally be lower for a low-cost food compared with premium foods.
· Foods from The Iams Company are fixed-formula foods as opposed to least-cost formulas. Fixed formulas have
a "stable ingredient profile." That means the recipes formulated to be 100% complete and balanced do not change with
the cost of ingredients.
· With least-cost formulations, the emphasis is on production and ingredient costs. Two bags of the same least-
cost formulated food can have different ingredients and/or levels of ingredients. Plus, those ingredients may vary
significantly in digestibility—this means simply that you may need to feed more just to equal the nutrition offered by a
smaller amount of a premium dog food formula.
Nutrition, Skin, Coat
Feeding studies have shown that a dog's nutritional requirements are best met by high-quality animal proteins such as
those contained in chicken, fish, lamb and eggs. Our formulas are made with these highly digestible proteins, which
promote excellent skin and coat condition and enhance your dog's overall health and well-being. When your dog's
coat looks good, the rest of the body is likely to be well nourished, too.
The role of fatty acids
Fat also plays a key role in keeping your dog's skin and coat in top condition. Fat not only provides energy, it's a
source of essential fatty acids that are necessary for the skin's healthy structure. Fatty acids in the diet keep the skin
moist and supple. Fatty acids also contribute to a thick, lustrous and healthy coat.
Important types of fatty acids
Lack of fat and fatty acids, or the wrong balance of fatty acids, can result in dry, scaly skin and haircoat problems. A
proper balance of fatty acids is key to a healthy coat. Although there are many kinds of fatty acids, a few are important
to coat health and appearance:
· Linoleic acid is an essential omega-6 fatty acid for dogs and is necessary for healthy skin. It is found in beef,
pork, chicken and some vegetable oils.
· Omega-6 fatty acids, including linoleic acid, can be found in the fat or oils provided in ingredients such as
chicken and corn in your dog's food.
· Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold-water fish oils and in flax. Although not essential to a dog's diet, they have
been found to help nutritionally manage skin and coat conditions and promote a shiny coat.
A proper fatty-acid balance
An appropriate balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids helps maintain your dog's healthy skin and coat. An
optimal range of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty-acid ratios is between 5:1 and 10:1, to enhance skin and coat quality and
help nutritionally manage skin and coat conditions.
Feeding Instructions
Your new dog's first meals at home are very important. Find out what formula your dog has been eating and continue
feeding this food for a day or two after you bring him home. If you want to change his diet to a premium food,
gradually move him from the old food to the new formula and help avoid intestinal upsets by using the following steps:
Day 1: Fill your dog's bowl with 75 percent of his old food and 25 percent of the new premium formula..
Day 2: Mix the old food and the new premium formula in a 50/50 ratio.
Day 3: Feed your dog a mixture that's 75 percent new premium formula and 25 percent old food.
Day 4: Feed 100% of the new premium formula.
Feeding Tips
Use the following guidelines to feed your new dog properly:
· To feed a puppy from weaning to four months of age, offer a 100% complete and balanced premium puppy
formula. To determine each serving size, start with the daily amount recommended by the feeding guidelines on the pet
food label and divide that number by the number of times a day (usually 3 times) you plan to feed your puppy.
· Serve the food at room temperature and remove the bowl within 30 minutes after he's done eating.
· After four months, you can feed a puppy twice daily on a regular schedule.
· Always provide your dog with clean, fresh water.
· Discard uneaten wet food at the end of the day.
· Don't add nutritional supplements to your dog's diet. Adding commercial dietary supplements or "people food"
such as hamburger, eggs, cottage cheese or cow's milk is unnecessary and may even do more harm than good.
Feeding Tips for a Teething Puppy
Puppies grow quickly and have special nutritional needs. The most noticeable period is known as the rapid growth
stage, which occurs between two and six months of age. From about three to six months, most pups will lose their
puppy teeth (don't be alarmed if you occasionally find a tooth near his dish or on the floor).
During this phase, however, a puppy's mouth and gums may be very sensitive, which could cause him to be a bit picky
when it comes to eating. There's nothing you can do except to wait out this period, even if his appetite is affected for a
couple of days.
Helpful hints
Don't switch to a new formula to stimulate your puppy's appetite. Changing food at this time can cause additional
stress and intestinal upset. To help your puppy make the change, consider the following options:
· Mix his regular premium dry food with a premium canned puppy food to make his diet more appealing.
· Soak dry food in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
· Feeding a dry food and biscuits help loosen the teeth so pups can get through the teething process quicker.
If his appetite loss persists, see your veterinarian before you switch food.
Understanding Labels
Five sections of a dog food label reveal what is in the food you're buying. Here's what you need to know to
understand the information on a dog food label.
The name of the food
The name can tell you how much of an ingredient is in the food. Dog food names that have the animal protein source in
the title, such as beef formula, indicate that at least 25 percent of the diet is indeed the named ingredient. Names that
contain the word with (such as with chunky chicken) or flavor (such as turkey flavor) can contain as little as 3 percent
of that ingredient.
The ingredient panel
This section on the label lists all the ingredients that make up the product. The ingredients must be listed in descending
order according to weight before cooking. The first ingredient in dry food should be a source of high-quality animal-
based protein—chicken or lamb for example. Dogs thrive on animal proteins, but may not do as well on vegetable
proteins such as soybean meal. Manufacturers who use large amounts of vegetable proteins may be saving money at
the expense of a dog's overall well-being. Other ingredients to avoid are artificial colors and flavors, which offer no
nutritional benefits.
The guaranteed analysis
Near the ingredient panel should be a chart of percentages called the "guaranteed analysis." These figures reveal the
basic nutrient make-up of the dog food's formula, including protein content. The minimum percentages of protein and
fat and the maximum percentages of fiber and moisture (water) should be listed.
Nutritional adequacy statement
If the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statement says "animal feeding tests using AAFCO
procedures," the food was actually fed to dogs at that same life stage and found to be adequate. If the AAFCO
statement refers to "meeting nutrient profiles," the dog food may not have been tested with dogs. Instead, the food was
analyzed in a laboratory and the results were compared to recognized industry standards.
The manufacturer's name and address
This information must be on the label by law. A toll-free number may also be listed. Manufacturers, such as The Iams
Company, who list a phone number, generally have a high-quality product and welcome consumer calls and questions.
Beware of products that read packed for or distributed by. These foods aren't made by the store whose name may be
on the front label, but are from a manufacturer whose quality and consistency controls may not be monitored
What Premium Foods Provide
High-quality, complete and balanced premium dog foods are the best you can buy. They are specifically designed to
provide your dog with a food that has:
· High-quality ingredients
· High total diet digestibility
· Balanced, optimal levels of protein, fat, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which make costly nutritional
supplements unnecessary
· A nutrient-dense formulation appropriate for a particular life stage
· Consistent, high-quality ingredient recipes that do not change with manufacturing costs
· Calibrated fatty-acid ratios to help maintain healthy skin and coat
· Great palatability—taste—based on feeding trials
· Product guarantees
Plus, with formulas from The Iams Company, you can be sure each variety has been specifically designed to enhance
the overall health and well-being of your dog.
The benefits of premium foods
When you feed your dog a premium food, you'll see these important indicators of good health:
· Exceptional muscle tone
· A shiny, luxurious coat
· Healthy skin, teeth and bones
· Clear, bright eyes
· Small, firm stools
· Playfulness
A happy, healthy attitude.
Puppy Nutrition for Large Breeds
Your puppy is undergoing some pretty dramatic changes. In fact, large-breed puppies generally grow
more rapidly than smaller-breed dogs. But your large-breed puppy is best fed a diet that supports
growth without allowing him to grow too quickly, a circumstance than can contribute to abnormal
skeletal development. To help give your puppy the right balance of nutrients, here are some key
points to keep in mind.
Feeding Your Puppy
From the time your puppy's weaned until 4 months of age, you should feed your puppy 2-3 meals a
day based on the guidelines of the food label. After 4 months of age, your puppy should be fed twice
a day on a regular schedule. Always have fresh water available.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Not all puppies have the same nutritional needs. Large-breed puppies actually have lower metabolic
rates per pound than smaller-breed puppies. And while his growth is more dramatic, your puppy will
reach his mature adult weight at 18-24 months?later than smaller breeds that reach adulthood as early
as 9 months. So large-breed puppies require less energy in their diets.
Large-breed puppies can also benefit from less calcium. Puppies who consume too many calories and
too much calcium grow too rapidly and can develop bone growth or joint problems. With your large-
breed puppy, the goal should be a moderate, healthy rate of growth. That's why it's important to
choose a diet with precisely balanced amounts of fat, calcium and phosphorus, designed specifically
for large-breed puppies.
Choosing Foods
To help your large-breed puppy grow at a healthy rate, look for these features:
· adjusted calcium and phosphorus levels to support healthy skeletal development
· reduced calories and fat to help maintain ideal growth rate
· vitamin-rich fish oils to support overall health
· essential vitamins and minerals to help support the immune system and help your puppy stay
healthy during this critical stage of growth
· high-quality, animal-based protein sources to help nourish growing muscles, vital organs and
skin and coat
· a fiber source that will help keep your puppy’s sensitive digestive system healthy, so more
nutrition stays in your puppy
These are important building blocks of nutrition. Look for them when you choose dry or canned dog
food and when you select treats.
You want to give your puppy the very best nutrition during these months. Some people assume that
this can best be achieved by supplementing their puppy's diet. But this may lead to a variety of health
problems. Whether feeding vitamins, calcium tablets, table scraps, yogurt or meat, you could be
upsetting a balanced interaction of nutrients and minerals. That balance is important. Too much of one
mineral can affect a puppy's ability to absorb other minerals. And excess amounts of calcium may lead
to bone growth problems, especially in large-breed puppies. A high-quality pet food, carefully
formulated for life stage and breed size, will give your puppy complete and balanced nutrition? without
supplements.
The Switch to Adult Food
A large-breed puppy reaches adult weight by 18-24 months. You can begin feeding adult dog food at
this time. You can help ease the transition by gradually introducing the adult food. Try mixing 25% of
the new food with 75% of his puppy food then gradually change the proportions over the next three
days until he's eating 100% adult food.
Practical Nutrition for Large Breed
Puppies
Introduction
Large-breed puppies generally grow more rapidly than smaller-breed dogs in order to achieve their
adult weight of 50 pounds or more. Therefore, they need a diet that supports growth without allowing
them to grow too quickly, a circumstance that can contribute to abnormal skeletal development.
Nutrition can play a key role in promoting healthy skeletal development. Limiting calcium intake is
especially important in large breed puppies less than six months old. Studies show that large breed
puppies fed a high-calcium diet are more likely to develop poor conformation and early lameness, in
addition to other bone diseases. Research has also shown that dietary protein does not play an
important role in the development of skeletal abnormalities, but high dietary energy and calcium intake
can promote an excessive growth rate and an increased risk of developing skeletal problems.
How to select the right food for a large breed puppy
Look for ...
· Reduced calcium
Iams® Puppy Large Breed Formula (formulated specifically for large and giant breed puppies) has
0.83 grams of calcium per cup, compared with 1.26 grams per cup in Iams Puppy Original Formula,
a diet more suitable for small and medium breed puppies)
· Normal Calcium: Phosphorus Ratio (1.1:1 to 1.4:1)
Iams Puppy Large Breed Formula has 1.26:1 calcium:phosphorus ratio
· Reduced calories
Iams Puppy Large Breed Formula has 367 kcal of metabolizable energy/cup, compared with 428
kcal/cup for Iams Puppy Original Formula
· Normal amount of moderately fermentable fiber
Iams Puppy Large Breed Formula has no more than 5% of crude fiber (guaranteed analysis) and
contains beet pulp (a moderately fermentable fiber) for maintaining intestinal health
Application
· Our puppy large breed formulas are a complete and balanced diet formulated to meet the
unique nutritional needs of large-breed puppies.
· No supplements are necessary. In fact, feeding calcium, phosphorus or vitamin D supplements
will alter the critical balance of minerals in the diets and may lead to developmental bone problems.
· Our puppy large breed formulas should be fed from weaning up to 24 months, depending on
the breed/expected mature size of the dog. After that time, the dog can be switched to the
appropriate adult food.
Our puppy large breed formulas should not be fed to gestating or lactating bitches.
Our Large-Breed Puppy Formulas
Nutritional Objectives
Many large-breed puppies have a tendency to grow very quickly. Unfortunately, if this tendency is
encouraged by overfeeding, developmental bone problems can occur. To avoid these problems,
careful feeding management is necessary. This should include:
· optimal protein quantity and quality;
· restriction of the energy-containing fat; and
· careful control of the calcium and phosphorus levels
Our specially formulated large breed puppy formulas make feeding management easier because they
are designed for fast-growing, large-breed puppies (those with an expected adult weight of more than
50 pounds)..
Protein
A protein level approximating 26% in these formulas promotes healthy body condition and balances
the protein with the reduced number of calories in the food. Research has shown that
· Dietary protein levels from 15 to 32% have no adverse effect on skeletal development.1
· Body condition decreases as protein gets too low.
The protein in our large breed puppy formulas support normal skeletal and muscular growth.
Calories and Fat
Fat contributes over twice as many calories in a diet than either proteins or carbohydrates. As the fat
level increases, the energy content of the diet also increases making feeding management more difficult
for large-breed puppies. Several studies have shown increases in developmental bone problems when
a diet was overfed.2,3
By reducing the fat content of large-breed puppy formulas to about 14%, the metabolizable energy
(ME) of the diets can be kept to a low level of about 1,800 kilocalories per pound.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Our large-breed puppy formulas have adjusted calcium and phosphorus levels at a correct ratio to
match the needs of rapidly growing large-breed puppies. The rumors that large- and giant-breed
puppies need extra calcium are untrue! Excess calcium has been shown in several studies to increase
the chances of developmental bone problems.4,5,6 Plus, puppies cannot control intestinal absorption
of calcium as well from diets containing high levels.
Our large breed diets are formulated with 0.8 to 0.9% calcium and 0.7% phosphorus which is
deliberately less than the amounts in all of our other puppy foods.
Comparing with Our Other Puppy Foods
Our large breed puppy formulas are made specifically for growing puppies with expected adult
weights of 50 pounds or more. These puppy foods are unique because they are formulated with:
· Less fat for fewer calories to optimally reduce growth rate of large-breed puppies and helps
safeguard against over consumption of energy;
· A lower level of protein to ensure a proper balance of protein with energy content; and
· Reduced calcium and phosphorus levels with a normal calcium- to phosphorus-ratio to promote
proper bone development in rapidly growing large breed puppies.
1 Nap, et al. Growth and skeletal development in Great Dane pups fed different levels of protein
intake. J Nutr 1991; 121:S107-S113.
2 Hedhammer, et al. Over nutrition and skeletal disease: an experimental study in growing Great Dane
dogs. Cornell Vet 1974; 64:1-159.
3 Lavelle. The effect of overfeeding of a balanced complete commercial diet to a group of growing
Great Danes. In: Nutrition of the dog and cat. Burger and Rivers (eds). Cambridge Univ Press, 1989:
303-316.
4 Hazewinkel, et al. Influences of chronic calcium excess on the skeletal development of growing
Great Danes, J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1985; 21:377-391.
5 Goedegebuure, Hazewinkel. Morphological findings in young dogs chronically fed a diet containing
excess calcium. Vet Pathol 1986; 23:594-605.
6 Hazewinkel, et al. Calcium metabolism in Great Dane dogs fed diets with various calcium and
phosphorus levels. J Nutr 1991; 121:S99-S106.
Your puppy is undergoing some pretty dramatic changes. In fact, large-breed puppies generally grow
more rapidly than smaller-breed dogs. But your large-breed puppy is best fed a diet that supports
growth without allowing him to grow too quickly, a circumstance than can contribute to abnormal
skeletal development. To help give your puppy the right balance of nutrients, here are some key
points to keep in mind.
Feeding Your Puppy
From the time your puppy's weaned until 4 months of age, you should feed your puppy 2-3 meals a
day based on the guidelines of the food label. After 4 months of age, your puppy should be fed twice
a day on a regular schedule. Always have fresh water available.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Not all puppies have the same nutritional needs. Large-breed puppies actually have lower metabolic
rates per pound than smaller-breed puppies. And while his growth is more dramatic, your puppy will
reach his mature adult weight at 18-24 months?later than smaller breeds that reach adulthood as early
as 9 months. So large-breed puppies require less energy in their diets.
Large-breed puppies can also benefit from less calcium. Puppies who consume too many calories and
too much calcium grow too rapidly and can develop bone growth or joint problems. With your large-
breed puppy, the goal should be a moderate, healthy rate of growth. That's why it's important to
choose a diet with precisely balanced amounts of fat, calcium and phosphorus, designed specifically
for large-breed puppies.
Choosing Foods
To help your large-breed puppy grow at a healthy rate, look for these features:
· adjusted calcium and phosphorus levels to support healthy skeletal development
· reduced calories and fat to help maintain ideal growth rate
· vitamin-rich fish oils to support overall health
· essential vitamins and minerals to help support the immune system and help your puppy stay
healthy during this critical stage of growth
· high-quality, animal-based protein sources to help nourish growing muscles, vital organs and
skin and coat
· a fiber source that will help keep your puppy’s sensitive digestive system healthy, so more
nutrition stays in your puppy
These are important building blocks of nutrition. Look for them when you choose dry or canned dog
food and when you select treats.
You want to give your puppy the very best nutrition during these months. Some people assume that
this can best be achieved by supplementing their puppy's diet. But this may lead to a variety of health
problems. Whether feeding vitamins, calcium tablets, table scraps, yogurt or meat, you could be
upsetting a balanced interaction of nutrients and minerals. That balance is important. Too much of one
mineral can affect a puppy's ability to absorb other minerals. And excess amounts of calcium may lead
to bone growth problems, especially in large-breed puppies. A high-quality pet food, carefully
formulated for life stage and breed size, will give your puppy complete and balanced nutrition? without
supplements.
The Switch to Adult Food
A large-breed puppy reaches adult weight by 18-24 months. You can begin feeding adult dog food at
this time. You can help ease the transition by gradually introducing the adult food. Try mixing 25% of
the new food with 75% of his puppy food then gradually change the proportions over the next three
days until he's eating 100% adult food.
Practical Nutrition for Large Breed
Puppies
Introduction
Large-breed puppies generally grow more rapidly than smaller-breed dogs in order to achieve their
adult weight of 50 pounds or more. Therefore, they need a diet that supports growth without allowing
them to grow too quickly, a circumstance that can contribute to abnormal skeletal development.
Nutrition can play a key role in promoting healthy skeletal development. Limiting calcium intake is
especially important in large breed puppies less than six months old. Studies show that large breed
puppies fed a high-calcium diet are more likely to develop poor conformation and early lameness, in
addition to other bone diseases. Research has also shown that dietary protein does not play an
important role in the development of skeletal abnormalities, but high dietary energy and calcium intake
can promote an excessive growth rate and an increased risk of developing skeletal problems.
How to select the right food for a large breed puppy
Look for ...
· Reduced calcium
Iams® Puppy Large Breed Formula (formulated specifically for large and giant breed puppies) has
0.83 grams of calcium per cup, compared with 1.26 grams per cup in Iams Puppy Original Formula,
a diet more suitable for small and medium breed puppies)
· Normal Calcium: Phosphorus Ratio (1.1:1 to 1.4:1)
Iams Puppy Large Breed Formula has 1.26:1 calcium:phosphorus ratio
· Reduced calories
Iams Puppy Large Breed Formula has 367 kcal of metabolizable energy/cup, compared with 428
kcal/cup for Iams Puppy Original Formula
· Normal amount of moderately fermentable fiber
Iams Puppy Large Breed Formula has no more than 5% of crude fiber (guaranteed analysis) and
contains beet pulp (a moderately fermentable fiber) for maintaining intestinal health
Application
· Our puppy large breed formulas are a complete and balanced diet formulated to meet the
unique nutritional needs of large-breed puppies.
· No supplements are necessary. In fact, feeding calcium, phosphorus or vitamin D supplements
will alter the critical balance of minerals in the diets and may lead to developmental bone problems.
· Our puppy large breed formulas should be fed from weaning up to 24 months, depending on
the breed/expected mature size of the dog. After that time, the dog can be switched to the
appropriate adult food.
Our puppy large breed formulas should not be fed to gestating or lactating bitches.
Our Large-Breed Puppy Formulas
Nutritional Objectives
Many large-breed puppies have a tendency to grow very quickly. Unfortunately, if this tendency is
encouraged by overfeeding, developmental bone problems can occur. To avoid these problems,
careful feeding management is necessary. This should include:
· optimal protein quantity and quality;
· restriction of the energy-containing fat; and
· careful control of the calcium and phosphorus levels
Our specially formulated large breed puppy formulas make feeding management easier because they
are designed for fast-growing, large-breed puppies (those with an expected adult weight of more than
50 pounds)..
Protein
A protein level approximating 26% in these formulas promotes healthy body condition and balances
the protein with the reduced number of calories in the food. Research has shown that
· Dietary protein levels from 15 to 32% have no adverse effect on skeletal development.1
· Body condition decreases as protein gets too low.
The protein in our large breed puppy formulas support normal skeletal and muscular growth.
Calories and Fat
Fat contributes over twice as many calories in a diet than either proteins or carbohydrates. As the fat
level increases, the energy content of the diet also increases making feeding management more difficult
for large-breed puppies. Several studies have shown increases in developmental bone problems when
a diet was overfed.2,3
By reducing the fat content of large-breed puppy formulas to about 14%, the metabolizable energy
(ME) of the diets can be kept to a low level of about 1,800 kilocalories per pound.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Our large-breed puppy formulas have adjusted calcium and phosphorus levels at a correct ratio to
match the needs of rapidly growing large-breed puppies. The rumors that large- and giant-breed
puppies need extra calcium are untrue! Excess calcium has been shown in several studies to increase
the chances of developmental bone problems.4,5,6 Plus, puppies cannot control intestinal absorption
of calcium as well from diets containing high levels.
Our large breed diets are formulated with 0.8 to 0.9% calcium and 0.7% phosphorus which is
deliberately less than the amounts in all of our other puppy foods.
Comparing with Our Other Puppy Foods
Our large breed puppy formulas are made specifically for growing puppies with expected adult
weights of 50 pounds or more. These puppy foods are unique because they are formulated with:
· Less fat for fewer calories to optimally reduce growth rate of large-breed puppies and helps
safeguard against over consumption of energy;
· A lower level of protein to ensure a proper balance of protein with energy content; and
· Reduced calcium and phosphorus levels with a normal calcium- to phosphorus-ratio to promote
proper bone development in rapidly growing large breed puppies.
1 Nap, et al. Growth and skeletal development in Great Dane pups fed different levels of protein
intake. J Nutr 1991; 121:S107-S113.
2 Hedhammer, et al. Over nutrition and skeletal disease: an experimental study in growing Great Dane
dogs. Cornell Vet 1974; 64:1-159.
3 Lavelle. The effect of overfeeding of a balanced complete commercial diet to a group of growing
Great Danes. In: Nutrition of the dog and cat. Burger and Rivers (eds). Cambridge Univ Press, 1989:
303-316.
4 Hazewinkel, et al. Influences of chronic calcium excess on the skeletal development of growing
Great Danes, J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1985; 21:377-391.
5 Goedegebuure, Hazewinkel. Morphological findings in young dogs chronically fed a diet containing
excess calcium. Vet Pathol 1986; 23:594-605.
6 Hazewinkel, et al. Calcium metabolism in Great Dane dogs fed diets with various calcium and
phosphorus levels. J Nutr 1991; 121:S99-S106.
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