Cannon bone growth questions.

[Cyn]

My husband took our Great Dane puppy to the vet today and she said his cannon bones were growing "out". She reccommended we buy Iam's puppy food for large dogs. I was told by the breeder to NEVER give puppy food to a great dane. The vet told my husband that she had and raised danes before and she knows all about them. I am going to contact to breeder, but wanted some input from all you "Dog Lover's" first.

[goombaya]

I dont have danes and ive read numerous articles by dane people urging buyers to not feed puppy food. I disagree with it , i do have large breed dogs and I would use a lareg breed puppy forumla as your vet recommended.

[HeartSong]

I've heard some of the controversy about whether large breed puppies should or shouldn't be on large breed formula. I believe the argument is something along the lines of the extra calcium in puppy food may cause the bones to out grow muscles. I don't think this is actually the case with Iams, though it might be with other brands. I don't know a lot about this, but would tend to believe the vet more than the breeder. You can always get a second opinion from another vet. You could also contact Iams and discuss with them how their food is formulated to regulate the growth of large breed dogs. You can go to www.Iam.com and then e-mail or call from there.

[Dax]

Did your breeder recommend adult dog food with supplements? Did your vet recommend IAMs by name or any large breed food.

I have heard that they want to slow down the growth of the large breeds so that the bulk of the weight gain happens slowly so the bone structure is not overly taxed.

I would contact both the breeder & vet again and see if the advice might have a common line or then go with whomever you trust more.

[goombaya]

Large breed adult dog food is formulated to slow down skelatal growth. Large breed dogs need to grow slow and not allowed to be overweight.

I dont know why you have been given advice to do otherwise or consult other opinions. Your dane already has a bone growth issue.

Please put it on a Large breed puppy food as quickly as you can. Take the advice of your vet. Ignore the breeder on this issue.

[lou3]

what goombaya said.
Totally 100% right.
Lou

[Cyn]

Bought Iam's Large breed puppy food. The vet DID reccommend that brand. I will take a pic of his legs and post it in a few min.Then you can tell me what you think.

[goombaya]

CYn the brand isnt too terribly important as is the protein/fat ration's and the calcium/phosphorous ratio's.

Protein and fat will develop tissue growth and energy .. calcium/phosphorous controls skelatal growth.

Ideally you want for your dog ( a dane) a fat content of around 12-14% Proetin in the area of 18-22% (not terribly important if its a bit higher)

Calcium phosphorous ration of around 1% calcium to 1.5% phosphorous. These are in the middle to lower realms of aafco recomendations. With a dane you kind of want to be on the lower side. Anything close to those numers will work out.

Iams is around 26% protein, 14% fat, and I think they're right smack in the middle on calcium to phosphorous so its not a bad choice really.

[Cyn]

It may be too hard to see in this picture. I had to put him in the kennel to take it. He was too excited and didn't want to sit still for the picture. He wanted to be too close to me. Can you see anything about his legs??

[goombaya]

Cyn i cant really see clearly from this. I kind of see some bulges near the front pasterns but it could just be the light.. he looks kind of easty west also.. (front feet point out) but that could be just how he happens to be standing. A picture isnt really going to help any im afraid.. just an xray.

Did your vet take an xray? Is the dog in pain?