Essay On Large Breed Dogs

Large or giant breed dogs are very popular and can be both excellent guard dogs, working dogs and companions, unfortunately they are also at a higher risk for certain diseases such as Developmental Orthopedic Disease. Since these size breeds are at a high risk it is the owners responsibility to be informed about the disease and the how to prevent it. In order to prevent diseases like this prevention must start when the large or giant breed dog is a puppy.

Developmental Orthopedic Disease occurs most commonly in young growing animals especially in giant breed dogs such as Mastiffs, Great Danes, Rottweiler’s and many other large to giant breed dogs. The key component of preventing this disease is proper nutrition. Some important nutritional factors of this disease to make sure and avoid are free choice feeding, excessive mineral intake at a young age, excessive calcium intake and an imbalance of vitamin D metabolites. Calcium and Phosphorus levels are a key component in avoiding D.O.D. If your puppy consumes excess amounts of phosphorus or calcium or if your dog is deficient that can also be a problem. Large breed puppies Calcium and Phosphorus ratios need to be on the lower end of the normal ratio for puppies, which is 1:1 to 2:1. Many pet owners do not realize the importance of feeding your dog the right food for their age and may
The ideal body condition score for a large breed puppy is from 2.5 to 3. It is essential to control the dog’s growth by feeding them the right amount of calories to keep them lean and at the right body condition score while they are growing. The volume of energy density of the feed must be the right amount for your puppy and if needed it should be restricted to make sure energy is not in excess. Depending on the level of activity your puppy is at will effect how energy dense the diet needs to