hey new puppy owner here also 8), the breeder told me to get royal canin.
But I’m reading thru posts and hopefully I find the right food for my dog also.
For giant breeds the recommended levels of dietary calcium is 0.7 to 1.2% DM, and of phosphorus is 0.6% to 1.1% DM.
For smaller breeds the recommended levels of dietary calcium is 0.7 to 1.7% DM, and of phosphorus is 0.6% to 1.3% DM.
The lower levels of calcium and phosphorus for giant breeds reflect their sensitivity to these minerals for skeletal growth and development.
I have entered digestible matter so that each food can be worked back to what the dog actually gets out of the food.
1 Like
Quick reply as off out but I breed labs and would never bring them up on Akela or any other ‘any age’ food because of the calcium/phosphorus/vitamin D ratios. The vitamin D is important as calcium can’t be processed without it.
I start them off on raw minced beef but soon switch them to a large breed puppy food with the correct ratios, I usually look for one that has 1.2/1 ratio or very close. I used to bring them up solely on raw but it took a lot of work making sure it was right and when they left me I had nightmares that their new families wouldn’t do it properly so I don’t anymore as it’s not worth the stress! Not much point getting bva X-rays done on mum and choosing the healthiest stud when it can all be undone by bad feeding during their growth period!
It’s still important for smaller breeds just not ‘as’ important as the growth rate will be slower as they don’t eat as much, lab pups for example go from an average of 454g at birth to 6 or even 7kg at 8 weeks!
Must get going xx
1 Like