9 weeks
2 cups Iams Large breed puppy or Ralston Purina Pro Plan large breed puppy ®. I add 1 tbsp plain yogurt. Also provide 250mg
Non-ascorbic Vitamin C (without Rose Hip form) twice a day with breakfast and dinner feeding. Add water, pour over food, and mix well. Always have clean water available. Puppies should be fed 3 times per day during this stage.
12 weeks
Starting now, feed twice per day. Continue this practice throughout your dog’s life. Do not use automatic feeders to avoid acute gastric dilatation (see below). Increase amounts of Puppy Chow® to between 3-4 cups for each feeding. During one of the puppy’s meals serve only dry Puppy Chow®. This helps to promote healthy the teeth and gums. Continue to add yogurt and Vitamin C to the diet.
4-10 months
Depending on the puppy’s growth rate at around 4-5 months of age, I switch to and adult dog food containing 21% or less protein and 10% or less fat. Dog food containing high percentages of fat, because they are far higher in calories, allow your puppy to consume less food. Because the dog is consuming less to reach a caloric level that satisfies its appetite, it will also consume less vitamins and minerals which are needed for maximum health. Pet food stores like to push high fat dog food because it produces fewer stools and a lovely coat. However, the tradeoff is not worth it. Increase Vitamin C intake to 500mg during the breakfast and dinner feedings.
A lot of fashionable dog foods also contain too much protein. This can cause kidney problems later in the pet’s life and it may cause your puppy to grow too rapidly. This can place stress on your pet’s bones. As a preventative measure against bone disorders, some of which may be caused an overly rapid rate of growth, don’t overfeed. Too much food will not make a larger pet, but rather produce a fat and unhealthy pet. I suggest that you keep your puppy slightly underweight until he or she is at least one year old. You should be able to see his first two ribs at a distance of 12 feet, and you should be able to see your dog’s “waist” if you stand over him and look down. Too much weight on young bones, muscles, and tendons can cause damage to your pet, especially during this rough ‘n’ tumble play phase. I use Adult Pro Plan® dog kibble. There are many good brands to choose from, as long as you keep the protein and fat below the recommended percentages, you should have no problem.
Your puppy is now eating Iams or Pro Plan® large breed puppy food. Feed your puppy according to the instructions on the chart. Please do not change this diet unless is it done gradually. Have fresh water available during the day. Do not feed your puppy any type of calcium supplement. Premium food like Iams®, Pro Plan®, Nutro-Max®, etc., are made and tested to provide a balanced nutrition.
My puppies and adult dogs have been on Iams® or Pro Plan® all their lives and they are proof you don’t need anything else. Remember the dog’s weight comes from bone size, not layers of fat.
Purina Pro Plan Adult®, or whatever brand your prefer under 21% protein and 13% fat. Try to buy non-expandable kibble. As an alternative to purchasing non-expandable kibble, some people prefer to let the kibble soak in warm water for 15 minutes before feeding. Add one half of a can of wet food to your kibble, each feeding. Adult male dogs, 200-225lbs, eat approximately 10 cups of dry food each day split into two feedings, along with wet food. If you add table scraps they should not exceed 10% of the meal. Adult bitches weighing approximately 150lbs eat about 6-8 cups of dry food split into two feedings and one half a can of wet food for each meal. Older, spayed or neutered dogs require about 20% less food.
Other Feeding Suggestions
Any change you make in feeding should be done gradually so as to avoid upsetting your pet’s system and encouraging loose bowels. A little brown rice and apple peel will firm up stool. Table scraps treats should never exceed 10% of the dog’s meal.
A.K.A “Bloat”
Signs of Bloat
Speed is the essence in dealing with bloat. Act quickly! Even if you are not sure, err on the side of safety and get your dog to a vet!
Described as a “silent killer”, bloat can strike an apparently healthy dog without warning. For this reason, a dog owner should be aware of the following warning signs of bloat.
Bloat is life threatening and emergency treatment must be obtained immediately!
As a safeguard, whenever a dog shows signs of illness, prompt veterinary treatment is recommended.
Based on current knowledge, the following strategies are suggested to help protect against bloat:
Disrupting a dog’s regular routine should be avoided or minimized as much as possible.
Treating Bloat
Many people swear by vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins are fairly safe because whatever the body doesn’t need is excreted. Oil soluble vitamins on the other hand can be dangerous because whatever is not used is stored in the liver and a build up can prove to be toxic.
Water- Soluble Vitamins
Most breeders believe that Vitamin C is necessary to keep the immune system in top condition. Many people use Brewers Yeast (Vitamin B) and garlic as a flea preventative.
Helpful Vitamin Supplements to Consider for Dogs 12 Months and Older
Some breeders give Vitamin E or Wheat Germ Oil at approximately one half the label’s recommended dosage. Others suggest Vitamin D in very small quantities. Vitamin D can be directly absorbed from sunlight, so if you allow your puppy to play outdoors for an hour each day he shouldn’t require the supplement and adding it will likely do more harm than good. Sea Kelp is another great supplement that is good for bones and thyroid. Mastiffs are historically island dogs, and for the most part lived near the sea. Thus, it is possible that seaweed may have been a staple in their diet for several centuries.
*Never give calcium or bone meal supplements. This will cause a calcium/phosphorus imbalance that will lead to porous and brittle bones.*
Exercising
Play is vital to a puppy’s development as it strengthens muscles, improves coordination, and promotes healthy mental growth.
The first six months of your puppy’s life should be kept to games, short walks, learning to follow, etc. As the puppy grows older you can go for longer walks.
Give your puppy quiet time after meals (one hour more or less), this is also very important in adulthood.
Socializing
It is very important to socialize your puppy to other people, places, noises and things. Include your puppy in your family outings, teach him there is nothing to be afraid of, he is with you, all these things build his confidence.
If you have children you should explain to them that dogs are not play toys and that there are good and bad ways of handling puppies.
Screaming around the pet, tug of war games, “siccing” the dog on others, tail yanking, ear pulling are all “no-no’s”! Some rough handling is inevitable with toddlers between puppies should be monitored.
Puppies are very susceptible to stress when they are small, so use common sense. Socialization should be done with other animals, but exposure should be limited until the vaccination series has been completed.
Basic obedience will help make your puppy a well-behaved companion for a lifetime.
Do not hesitate to contact me, I’m here to help you and I always make time to hear how my babies are doing!
Although Mastiffs are large dogs, they are at their best as house pets. It suits their temperament and character.
Try to avoid antibiotics when possible. If you must use them put a little yogurt in your dog’s food, to keep the intestinal flora up. I would also strongly suggest that you try to avoid steroids, as treatment for skin allergies, for dogs under two or breeding stock. If you must use them, use a relatively high dosage for a short duration.
Brush and bathe your pet, whenever you wish, using mild pet shampoo. Wash inside of your dog’s ears once a week with glycerin soap or a 10% vinegar/ 90% water solution. Keep claws short to avoid splayfeet. Each week you should be able to trim a sliver off. If your dog develops canine acne, under its chin, during adolescence, use Listerine acne scrub or medicated douche. I know this sounds strange, but it works. Also, Massengil® medicated powdered douche is effective if a skunk ever sprays your dog. Mix it double strength.
