Why should Great Danes never have table scraps?

Posted in Dog Nutrition | By: Camille Goldin | 23 Feb 2010 12:56 pm    

Great Danes, need a nutritional and well balanced diet, this is essential for their health and growth. Quality premium dog food as well as the way you feed these dogs is the key to your Great Danes’ long and healthy life. For this breed, table scraps are not recommended as a substitute or supplement to their normal daily dietary requirements.

Great Danes need to be fed a few times a day in order to reduce the risk of bloating or torsion. Puppies may feed up to four times a day until they reach about 6 months of age. As these dogs reach maturity they will let you know when they are ready to reduce their meals to twice a day by eating less. This breed should always be fed at least twice a day, never less.

Adding natural foods to your Great Dane’s diet may reduce the nutritional content of their food. This may mean less vitamins and minerals that will ultimately cause health problems. Many owners don’t understand the importance of the types of foods we give to our Great Danes. Some foods we give them lack the required nutrients and contain something entirely different. Soy products are to be avoided as they can cause gas that may contribute towards bloat. Table scraps or other food that changes daily tend to cause digestive issues rather than the same diet each day.

Table scraps may also cause your Great Dane to gain too much weight which can cause developmental problems while they are young and still growing. Some human foods may also cause deficiencies in some much needed vitamins and minerals or contain too much protein. Selecting the right blend of vitamins and minerals in their diet is most important. Purchasing a food bowl tower has also aided in avoiding bloat and other bowel issues to this breed.

Maintaining a low weight for these gentle giants is extremely important. Most pups consume about 1½ to 2 cups of kibble 3 times a day. As they grow their food intake will increase up to 4 cups twice daily until they are about 4 – 6 months of age. Staying on this type of food will help keep your dog and tip top form without gaining excess weight.

The following is a list of suitable brands that are recommended by Breeders and Vets, as they cater to the dietary requirements of Great Danes. Try these, Eagle Pack, Solid Gold Wolf Cub, Canidae, Back to Basics, Wellness, Natures Variety, Innova, Pet Guard, Artemis and Spectrum are but a few well known brands suitable for maintaining a healthy and happy dog.

So when it comes down to feeding your Great Dane, make sure the product is of high quality and covers all the nutritional requirements. Homemade dog food and food bowl towers are also beneficial for your Great Dane’s health. Steer clear of table scraps to avoid any unnecessary health problems and you and your Dane will enjoy the company of each other for years to come.

Camille Goldin tells about why you should not give table scraps to Great Danes. Visit TrainPetDog.com to find out about healthy, homemade dog foods.

comments

Can you tell where to get the food which you have suggested in your blog, we are getting only Royal cannin and Ekenuba as premium foods in India

By: ckmanikandan | 28 Mar 2010

No food can replace the nutrional benefits of fresh food.
Imagine you eating a highly nutritous, well balanced, full of essential vitamins and minerals BISCUITS for the rest of your life - Can you do that, then how can you expect your dog to survive on a food which is not prepared in front of you and has all sort of preservatives so that it lasts for minimum period of 2 years.
Dogs at the end of the day are Carnivores, we can give them anything to eat and they will eat it but they need raw meat. I cannot afford raw meat for my dog everyday so I mix it with rice and some vegetables (beneficial for the health because not all vegetables are beneficials for dogs). You will see the difference of fresh food in your dog's health immediately.
If you can afford then you should give raw meat everyday to dogs in my opinion.

By: Prakash | 31 Mar 2010

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