How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Great Danes
The Great Dane is truly a gentle giant. A dog of immense size, the Great Dane is soft of heart and a wonderful family companion.
A breed originally intended to hunt wild boar, today’s Great Dane is equally at ease cuddling on the couch with its family and renowned for being exceptionally good with children.
Great Danes can suffer from some serious health issues including arthritis, hip dysplasia, and heart conditions.
To ensure the Great Dane’s body is in good condition, it is vitally important to maintain a healthy weight as a precautionary measure against the development of some of these problems.
The best dog food for Great Danes should be carefully measured and the dog’s weight monitored to prevent this breed from becoming overweight. Adult Great Danes should receive four meals per day and should be fed only the right amount of food for their weight and age.
A high-quality adult food for Great Danes should consist of proteins and carbohydrates, such as whole-grain brown rice. High-fiber vegetables are also beneficial, as they help to keep weight gain in check.
Bloat is another ailment that can affect the Great Dane. Though it is not known exactly what causes this problem in dogs, experts recommend feeding a diet that is designed with large breeds in mind.
These types of food typically contain large pieces of kibble that encourage dogs to chew and swallow each piece, an important help in combatting bloat which is believed to be influenced by eating too much or too quickly.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Great Danes
Great Danes require a high-quality diet that is nutritionally balanced to meet the needs of a dog their size.
As a general rule, the best foods for the Great Dane should ideally contain a minimum of 23 percent protein and 9 percent fat.
Great Danes who are only moderately active will thrive on a diet of 2,200-2,500 calories per day. However, larger dogs that are exceptionally energetic and kept busy will require more calories to fuel their activity.
These dogs should be fed approximately 3,000 calories daily. The individual calorie count will also vary depending on factors like whether the dog is spayed or neutered.
The Pet Nutrition Alliance calorie calculator is an excellent guide but remembers to consult your veterinarian for more detailed nutritional information.
When selecting wet dog food brands to meet the needs of your Great Dane, it is important to consider the ingredients. Canned food that contains grain, such as grain brown rice, is a great source of complex carbs and vitamins.
In addition, wet food formulas should include high-quality proteins like chicken, fish, and lamb as well as omega oils for skin, coat, and joint health.
Dietary Requirements for Great Dane Dog Foods
Great Danes thrive on a meat-based diet. Whole meats are preferable; however, meat meals also offer all of the nutrition the breed needs to support optimal health.
Great Danes are not particularly known to suffer from allergies. As a result, most dogs can enjoy foods that are grain inclusive.
Any puppy food selected for the Great Dane should contain carbohydrates that are easy to digest and full of fiber. These can be selected from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables.
Healthy fats are an important part of any food for the Great Dane. These fats help to keep the dog’s coat and hair in good condition and also provide the dog with vital energy to maintain its active lifestyle.
The best sources of healthy fats include chicken fat or oily fish such as mackerel, herring, anchovies, or salmon. Chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, and brown rice are not recommended in dog foods for Great Danes.
The best dog foods for Giant breed dog food should be properly nutritionally balanced and optimized with the correct vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to support the dietary needs of large breeds.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Great Danes
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Great Dane:
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Whole proteins heading up the ingredients list
Great Danes thrive on a meat-based diet. Any food that is best suited to this breed’s nutritional needs should contain meat, preferably in its whole form, as one of its primary ingredients.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Since no food is complete on its own, the addition of probiotics and supplements can help it to become more well-rounded. The most important supplements to look for in food for the Great Dane include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Great Dane should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.