Feeding Great Danes

Choosing a Quality Kibble

We have had a lot of positive benefits from feeding raw and feel it is the healthiest way to feed. However, we realize that raw diets are not for everyone, so have included this page about kibble.

Dane puppies should not be fed puppy food. The high calories and protein levels of puppy food encourage rapid growth spurts, which is linked to growth related problems (i.e. Pano, HOD) in giant breeds.

In general, when feeding kibble, pay attention to the protein level for still-growing Danes. The recommended guideline is 21-24%.

Just like puppy food, calcium supplements are a no-no. The supplementation causes a calcium/phosphorus upset, which is can lead to skeletal issues.

There are various supplements that are good to use. For general use, Vitamins C & E and Glucosamine. These are not canine specific, so you can pick them up anywhere. For Vit C, start out slowly and work up to desired amount to build bowel tolerance (can cause loose stools when starting on Vit C).

Be sure to always feed out of clean, stainless steal bowls. That helps reduce acne problems.

Most giant breed owners feed two meals a day, as well as feeding out of elevated bowls. The raised bowls are merely for the dog's comfort, it neither prevents or causes bloat.

Choose a quality diet, don't look for bargain foods as your vet bills will likely make up the difference. Here are some food choices to consider:
Back to Basics
Wysong
Eagle
Innova / Cal Natural
Canidae
Flint River Ranch
Natural Balance
Timberwolf Organics

Whenever switching foods, do it gradually by mixing the old and new foods together, increasing the new food a little each meal. This helps avoid loose stools.

For additional choices, visit Linda Arndt's List of Better Foods. Her website also has information on dealing with growth related issues.

See our page about how we feed and raw diets