Pit Bull Diet Tips

The dogs many people commonly think of as pit bulls are actually one of three breeds: the American pit bull terrier, the American Staffordshire terrier, and the Staffordshire bull terrier. These breeds are prone to joint problems, so feeding them properly is important to avoid the dogs becoming overweight and stressing their joints.

  1. Avoid Free Feeding

    • In free feeding, the owner leaves the dog food out in the bowl all day long and lets the dog decide when and how much he wants to eat. Free feeding is an unhealthy approach for pit bulls, because they may eat after exercise, which they should not do Some pit bulls may overeat if the food is readily available all the time. Instead, set small amounts of food out at the same times every day to make sure your dog is getting the right amount of healthy food.

    Provide a Variety of Foods

    • The best food for pit bulls offers a variety in terms of ingredients and textures while still supplying all the dog's nutritional needs. Don't limit your pit bull to a diet of just dry dog food or even just canned dog food. Too much canned food can harm your pit bull's teeth and lead to irritable bowels. As you add different types of food to your pit bull's diet, deep the veggie to meat ratio about 15 percent to 85 percent, and don't forget to include organ meats.

    Feed Your Pit Bull Raw Meat

    • Introduce a raw meat diet gradually to your pit bull. Begin with the raw meat as a treat, and slowly increase the amounts until he is eating primarily raw meat as the staple portion of his diet. Raw food improves pit bulls' digestive systems and leads to healthier coats, teeth, and skin. Avoid raw pork and raw salmon, however, as both can contain parasites that can damage your dog's digestive system. Choose inexpensive meats such as chicken backs and turkey necks, or find a co-op where you can buy raw meat in bulk. Raw eggs will help your pit bull's coat shine.

    Add Raw Vegetables to Your Pit Bull's Diet

    • Add some vegetables to your dog's diet for variety and nutrition. Mix together vegetables of different colors, using veggies like kale, Brussels sprouts and Swiss chard for green vegetables, and yellow peppers, yellow squash and yams for yellow vegetables. Vegetables need to be puréed before pit bulls can digest them. You'll save time if you purée a lot of veggies all at once and freeze them in meal-sized portions.

    Feed on a Regular Schedule

    • Make sure your dog's feeding routine matches well with your own daily routine, so feeding him will be easy for you. Give him a cup of healthy food two to four times a day. If he doesn't eat, remove the food to get him used to the idea that he will now be eating on a regular schedule. Place the food before him again at his next regularly scheduled feeding time until he becomes accustomed to the schedule. Feed puppies more often, because they burn a lot of energy as they grow. A quarter of a cup of food six times a day should keep a pit bull puppy healthy.

    Minimize Treats

    • It's easy to think of doggie treats as something separate from your pit bull's regular diet, but calories from treats add up the same way your dog's full meals do. Minimize treats to one a day or less, and deduct a little from your pit bull's regular food allowance whenever you give him a treat. Meat treats like dried liver are great for pit bulls.