Feeding Guidelines for Great Danes

Feeding your Great Dane needn't be a matter of confusion, but you must pay careful attention to the diet and feeding schedule of your gentle giant. Great Danes are susceptible to certain diet-related diseases and conditions. You can avoid these by following certain guidelines. Always consult your veterinarian about feeding your dog if you suspect your dog may be ill or if he develops feeding problems.

  1. Types of Food

    • Most owners feed a premium, large-breed-dog, dry kibble, sometimes mixed with wet canned food, to their Great Danes. This has the advantage of easy preparation. Other owners favor a homemade dog food to avoid additives and to provide a custom blend to their animals. Still others feed raw food, also known as "barf," to their Danes, feeling that it is a more natural "ancestral" alternative. No matter what you decide, look for a balance of nutrients in the food to give your puppies and adults optimal nutrition while preventing possible medical problems.

    Feeding Puppies

    • Feed your puppies three times a day until they begin to lessen their intake at their second feedings. At that point they can go to a twice-a-day schedule. Consult your veterinarian or breeder about the amounts you need to feed. The puppy's food intake should increase slowly as he grows. Clemson University indicates that the current trend in feeding puppies is to feed a dry food blend with a 20 percent to 25 percent protein level and a 12 percent fat level to prevent too-rapid growth in puppies and the possibility of food-related bone overgrowth problems. The food should provide calcium levels at a minimum necessary for puppy growth and development. However, avoid using foods with enriched levels of calcium and do not supplement. This also prevents bone problems. Never fear. Your puppy will reach the expected growth levels in good time.

    Transitioning to Adulthood

    • Young adult animals benefit from a careful transition from puppy food.

      Puppies need a gentle transition from puppy food to adult food. In transitioning, you will mix small amounts of adult food into the puppy food over a period of time until your young adult Great Dane is eating only adult food. Breeders recommend transition periods of from 5 days to 2 weeks. Let your puppy be your guide. An upset stomach or diarrhea in your dog means that you need to reduce the amount of adult food you are feeding until it clears up. A gentle transition prevents gastric upset, and more seriously, bloating, which is a the number one killer of Great Danes.

    Feeding Adults

    • Adult Great Danes need lower protein levels than puppies do in their food to prevent strain on the kidneys. Feed adults at least twice daily to prevent bloat. Clemson University recommends not exercising your Great Dane for ½ hour before to 2 hours after feeding to prevent gastric upset and bloat. Consult your veterinarian or breeder for appropriate amounts for feeding.