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Great Dane Mailing List (GDML) Disclaimer:Much of what is contained in this FAQ is practical experience and not based on hard, scientific data. The ideas presented here are extracted from breeders and veterinarians who have experience with the breed. Where there are differing opinions among members of the Great Dane Mailing List, both sides of the issue are presented.
A. Protein LevelsThere are two schools of thought when it comes to the amount of protein Great Danes should receive. Both agree that dogs that are through growing should be kept on a low protein diet, such as a maintenance diet, at protein levels of 23% or below. However, one group believes that puppies need high protein to grow, and the other believes high protein causes greater cases of growth disorders that the dogs may be genetically predisposed to. 1. As the majority of breeders and vets who are knowledgeable about the breed are now leaning toward always feeding low protein, I will discuss that first. This group believes that Danes should not be fed above 25% total protein. The reasoning is that higher protein results in more rapid growth, and thus more developmental problems, such as canine hip displaysia (CHD), panosteitis (pano), osteochondrosis dessicans, and wobblers syndrome. Some believe that even 25% is too high, feeding 23% or 20% protein. Note that these numbers are for dry kibble, not for canned food. The percent protein for canned food must be adjusted to compensate for a high moisture level, as will be discussed in section D. Practical experience has shown fewer developmental problems, and the dogs on these low protein diets still achieve their full expected growth potential. 2. The other group of breeders and vets come from the more traditional school which want to make sure growing puppies have enough protein to build muscle and bone properly. Usually, these people will feed puppy foods which may contain 30% protein or more. The idea is that collagen deposition and muscle growth all require lots of protein. Both groups agree that high protein is bad for older dogs. The higher protein puts a greater load on the kidneys, and therefore may cause kidney problems that can be avoided. High protein diets in normal adults are not doing any good to the body except increasing the work load of the kidney. The body does not store protein, so protein which is not utilized is a waste. In addition, some believe that a diet that is too high in protein causes gas, which in Danes may cause bloat and torsion of the stomach.
B. Feeding SchedulesIt is very important that Danes be fed multiple times per day, as this will reduce the incidence of bloat and torsion.Puppies are generally fed three or four times per day until they are about 6 months old. Many dogs will let you know when they are ready to go down to two meals by not eating as much at mid-day. Dogs should never be fed less than two times per day. Free feeding is an alternative to feeding schedules, but can result in problems. Some dogs will eat whatever you leave out, so that destroys the purpose of free feeding. Other dogs will have house soiling problems. Dogs like to be on a schedule, and feeding your dog at certain times of the day will help him look up to you as the master. Also, be sure that the dog has not exercised for at least 30 minutes before eating and do not exercise him for one and one-half to two hours after eating. This will make sure his stomach is settled during the critical time around his meal during which he is very susceptible to bloat.
C. SupplementationSupplementation of Danes' food is discouraged, although there are exceptions. The two exceptions I know about are vitamins C and E. Calcium supplementation is too be avoided, along with most other minerals. Some vets tend to believe that just because these dogs get so big, their body needs extra calcium to build bones. But modern foods are balanced to provide the necessary level of calcium, and additional calcium could contribute to bone problems and bloat. Other minerals, such as phosperous may contribute to growing disorders such as Wobblers, if supplemented. Some breeders believe that high doses of Vitamin C may prevent the incidence of growing disorders, such as hip displaysia. The dosage is 1000 mg - 2000 mg per day of a Vitamin C salt. As excess Vitamin C is excreted in the urine, it is unlikely that this supplementation can do any harm. Vitamin E is often used as a preservative now, and is considered safer than other chemical preservatives, such as Ethoxyquin. Vitamin E is though to lead to a healthier coat. Foods that do not include Vitamin E may be supplemented. If you add "natural" foods to your Danes kibble, such as turkey, brown rice, other meats, etc. beware that you are throwing off the nutritional balance of the food. Your Dane will be eating less vitamins and minerals, and so supplementation may be recommended to balance the diet. However, calculating the correct supplementation is probably only for the very experienced, as will be explained in section D.
D. Calculating Nutrient Levels in Moist Foods.This is one of the areas of the greatest misunderstanding in the dog world. Very few dog owners understand how to calculate the real amounts of nutrients their dogs receive, although for most people it is not important. The problem is that the foods we feed our dogs are not composed only of nutrients. In fact, some of the foods we feed them are composed almost entirely of something completely non-nutritive- WATER! That's right, water has no nutritional value, and yet may make up 75% or more of canned dog foods. Here is where the real problem is: Say Joe Dane Owner receives instructions from his pup's breeder to feed the dog 20% protein. So, he goes out and buys a bag of puppy food at 30% protein, 10% moisture, and some cans of puppy food at 10% protein, 75% moisture. If he mixes equal amounts of the two, he will get a (30% +10%) / 2 =20% protein food, right? WRONG! The percent protein compared to the nutrients in the dry food is (30% / 90%) *100= 33.3%. The nutritive percent protein of the canned food is (10% / 25%) *100 = 40%. By adding canned food to the dry, Joe will acutally be _increasing_ the protein content. But, Joe is still not giving the dog (33.3% + 40%) / 2 = 36.6% protein, because the equal weight of canned food has so much less nutritive material. In fact, the total nutritive percent protein will be ( .9 * 33.3 + .25 * 40) / (.9 +.25) = 34.75% protein. It is also important to note that these calculations involve the mass or weight of the food, and not the volume. These are the main reasons it is very hard to supply dogs with a homemade diet or a diet supplemented with meat, rice, or anything else. It is difficult to determine the actual nutrients the dog is getting, and thus difficult to ensure the dog is receiving the proper balanced diet.
E. Ingredients in Dog FoodsIts helpful to learn a bit about how to read and interpret the labels on dog foods. Poultry meal and poultry by-products are most definately not the same ingredient. Any ingredient which is designated as "by-products" is most likely stuff like beaks, feathers and feet, basically unusable protein sources for dogs. Poultry meal means that the whole chicken has been utilized. Also, protein levels can be misleading depending on the source of the protein. A dog food label can list 28% protein but if it's derived from leather dust, the dog will never be able to utilize it. The first ingredient listed on the label must be the highest percentage of the food. Therefore if you see poultry meal as the first ingredient, the chances are that it's a high quality food. If grains make up the bulk of the first ingredients, beware. This is not to say that just because grain is the first listed ingredient, that the food is no good. Many manufacturer's offer different types of foods for different stages of life. The "Senior" foods need to be lower in protein because of kidney problems as dogs age. This almost necessitates using lower protein ingredients such as grains as the bulk of the food. Soy is to be avoided in foods for Danes, as it can cause gas in dogs. In Danes, gas may contribute to bloat, so foods high in soy should not be used.
F. Weight Control and Feeding AmountsIt is considered very important to keep Danes weight low. Any excess weight, especially on growing dogs, may cause developmental problems such as growing pains and joint problems. Even though you feed the best diet in the world, you must also control the dogs weight. Puppies should be on the lean side. You should _always_ be able to feel his ribs. During the summer, ribs should be plainly visible. They should be less so during the winter. If he's rolly polly, has rolls of skin, he's too fat. At seven weeks most pups are consuming around 1 1/2 to 2 cups of kibble 3 times a day. This will increase from week to week as the puppy grows. Most pups top out at around 4 cups, twice daily by the time they're 4-6 months. However, dogs (males) will often eat more than bitches.
G. What CAN I Saftely Add to My Dog's FoodSome people add a little canned food, lean hamburger,cooked egg, cottage cheese, or yogurt occasionally. Others add some table scraps. The key is to keep the content of these foods low compared to the dogs balanced diet. Also, adding table scraps or other food which changes from day to day will probably tend to cause the dog more digestive problems (gas, loose stool) than feeding the same diet each day.
H. My Dog Likes Fruit and Vegetables.!That's fine, and fruit can be very good for him. Most fruits and vegetalbes are very high in moisture, so will have little contribution to his diet if not over fed. Many are good sources of fiber and vitamins, as well. So if he likes them,use them as treats. Dane owners have used apples, orange slices, grapes, berries, carrots, broccoli stalks, and many other fruits and vegetables as treats. There are some food items which can be bad for your Dane though. Onions have a blood thinner which make them poisonous to dogs. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs as well. Also, acorns have a high tannic acid content which make them poisionous to dogs. It is generally suggested to avoid giving your dog raw foods that you would not eat raw, such as eggs, poultry, and hamburger. In addition, some salmon contains a type of parasite that makes dogs sick.
I. Dog Biscuits (Cookies!) and Other TreatsMany dog owners use dog biscuits as treats, because they are good for your dogs teeth. In addition, the commercial brands are nutritionally balanced. For other treats, such as for training, you can use turkey dogs sliced thin and microwaved to remove the moisture. Most dogs love them, and you won't mind keeping them in your mouth as much as most other treats!
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