Is this true???!!!

[Sir Max II]

Ihave four month old female. Differing views on how much and how long to feed puppy food versus adult food. Would like some guidance. THANKS

Date Reply Member 5/12/05 The traditional puppy foods can be a problem for Saint puppies...especially if it is the kind that promotes excessive growth. With Saint puppies, growing too fast is a bad thing - so bad that it can have repercussion for the rest of the dog's life. When Saint puppies are too heavy, their leg bones often develop crooked....they have weak pasterns, can be cowhocked and have flat feet to name a few things that can go wrong. We wean our puppies off Momma right on to an adult food. By the time our puppies are nine weeks old...they are completely on a premium adult kibble. Hope this might help. Brenda McWhorter
Twin Branch Saints 5/19/05 I agree with McWhorton of Twin Branch, much to the dismay of some vets. But I feel experience is sometimes the best educator. For example, I placed a puppy in a home, gave them a handbook I give to all the new puppy owners with excellent guidelines for feeding and bathing..and guess what: they call me at least once a month with questions and things that are happening with their puppy (now a teenager)...they didn't even glance at the handbook, and know they have problems. After weaning, a Saint puppy basically doubles its weight each week, and if you put them on a puppy food that has alot of growth inducers, you'll end up with problems in the legs, elbows, hips, not to mention respiratory problems with an obese puppy.

[Sir Max II]

So puppy food is bad for st's!!!!!!!!!!!

[HeartSong]

I think this is just for regular puppy food and the best thing would be to feed large breed puppy food. But I'm not positive on this so maybe some other members can add better comments.

[NiveK]

yes it is true to an extent, you are supposed to feed them the large breed puppy food and you can tell weather or not your dog is getting fat so adjust accordingly, each dog, even in the same breed, same litter, will grow at his/her own rate, but just make sure their nickname isn't "jabba" and you will do fine by them

[Sir Max II]

LOL thanks bunch

[lou3]

yes feed large breed puppy food and consult your vet regularly to make sure she is growing properly and at the right speed. Your vet may advise an early switch on to adult food if they feel your dog is growing too fast which may put a strain on her joints.
Lou

[tessa_s212]

I agree with everyone else..large breed. But you also have to feed a good quality food. No purina, pedigree, science diet, mainstay, ol' roy,..none of that. Good foods: Innova, Canidae, Solid Gold..etc.

[koni]

Originally Posted by tessa_s212

But you also have to feed a good quality food. No purina, pedigree, science diet, mainstay, ol' roy,..none of that. Good foods: Innova, Canidae, Solid Gold..etc.

I think tessa is referring to dog food that does not include any by-products. Sometimes it may cost a little more to get dog food that is natural or without any by-products.

[tessa_s212]

Yes, Konie. You are correct. It does cost a bit more, but your dog will be healthier, and won't need to be fed as much(and will also poop less! ). When you feed bad dog food you have to feed more because it is filled with fillers. It barely gets by the standards of what I dog NEEDS to live on. It usually has very little meat, and what meat it does have is of bad quality. Most companies like Purina spend all of their money on marketing instead of good ingredience(sp?). That is why you never hear of Innova, Solid Gold, and Canidae. They spend their money on good ingredience instead of marketing. ....Feeding your dogs Purina(most of them) is like you eating McDonalds every meal for the rest of your life. You will be unhealthy. So will the dog(most likely)