Food and Diet

As an American Bulldog owner, the choice you make concerning your puppy’s food and the quantity of that food is critically important to your dog’s health and quality of life.

 

Please keep in mind that an American Bulldog can grow from the weight of 1 lb to well over 100 lbs in just the first 12 months. The stresses on joints, ligaments, muscles, and bones during this growth period are extreme. As a result of improper diet, your puppy could develop hip or elbow dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, or other related problems. It is important to avoid unintentionally complicating your puppy’s development by feeding it milk, yogurt, or any other calcium-rich foods. We like to stick to large breed puppy dry kibble and occasional boneless raw beef.

 

Reading the actual scientific research on the subject of dog food diet as it concerns large breeds will dispel many unfounded myths that tend to get repeated on the internet.

 

Contrary to popular belief, protein content on its own appears to have no effect on bone/joint development based on studies conducted. Claims that large breed puppy food will cause accelerated rate of growth are scientifically unfounded. In fact, the ingredients specifically unique to large breed puppy food such as glucosamine and chondroitin help modulate (slow down) the rate of growth.

 

There is scientific research consensus that bone/joint development problems in large breeds are caused by genetics, overfeeding, and elevated calcium intake. 

 

1. “Nutritional Risks to Large and Giant Breed Dogs: From Weaning to the Geriatric Years” by Susan D. Lauten, PhD

https://www.grandfuturekennel.com/research/Racas_grandes.pdf

 

2. “Growth and Skeletal Development of Great Dane Pups Fed Different Levels of Protein Intake” Nap, Hazewinkel, Voorhout, Van Den Brom, Goedegebuure and Van ‘T Klooster

https://www.grandfuturekennel.com/research/Effects_of_protein_on_large_breeds_hip_dysplasia.pdf

 

3. “Dietary Mineral Levels Affect Bone Development in Great Dane Pups” by Henry J. Baker DVM

https://www.grandfuturekennel.com/research/NB_DevelopmentalBoneDisease.pdf

 

4. “Feeding Large Breed Puppies” by Jennifer Larsen DVM, PhD, DACVN

https://www.grandfuturekennel.com/research/growth_large breed_final_july2014.pdf

 

5. “Why Overgowing Your Large Breed Puppy is Dangerous” Dr. Karen Becker DVM

https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/04/09/slow-growth-diets-for-giant-breed-puppy.aspx

 

Glucosamine and chondroitin are important for proper joint, ligament, and cartilage development in large breeds.