Blackwatch Puppy Feed Program, Care Guidelines

A word about prevention of Developmental Bone Disease, start with my article on Large/Giant breed Puppy Growth

For information on appropriate crates, toys, bedding, collars, shots, ear taping, vaccines, puppy health issues etc. Puppy Care Guidelines

For Common Sense Training: The Ultimate Puppy Toolkit

Blackwatch Feed Program for Large/Giant Breed Puppies

This program is comprehensive and consists of 6 major components and this is it in summary form. Detailed info to follow below.

Natural/Holistic Super Premium dog foods - kibble & canned
Dietary enzymes - which are missing in all kibbles
Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes - a combination product
Vitamin C
Joint Support Supplements
Fruits/vegetables/meat options

The Blackwatch Puppy Feed Program

Every component to this feed program has an important job to do, and is an integral part of keeping a dog healthy and helping to prevent vaccine reactions and growth problems.

Feeding Raw??

Can feed a raw (BARF) diet to a large breed puppy? Yes, but I do not promote raw diets on growing giant breeds because the nutrients and caloric intake are very difficult for a new pet owner to calculate, and they inevitably end up contacting me to try to "fix" their dogs growth problem.

So, I do not recommend feeding a raw diet to giant puppies until they are past the 12 month old stage and then if one wants to go this route I suggest using some good options like a holistic kibble that has been developed to be used with raw meats. See my raw feed programs. I do have "raw" components to my Puppy Feed Program and suggest the use of probiotics, dietary and digestive which provide what is often missing in commercial kibbles. See below......

Basic Diet

I have provided a list of better food and my criteria for selection, located at this website. But my preference is the Eagle Pack line of Natural/Holistic dog foods. I think the best food to use for your puppy is:

Eagle Natural 23% protein 12% fat OR
Eagle Large/Giant Puppy Formula 23% protein 12 %fat

*Note - Eagle Holistic Fish and Oatmeal is not suitable for growing dogs!

I do not ever recommend straight lamb rice diets for growth you need a multiple protein(meat) source in your foods.

After 10 - 12 months of age you can switch to :

Eagle Large/Giant Adult Formula 24% protein 14% fat
Eagle Original 25%protein 15% fat
Eagle Holistic Chicken 24% protein 14% fat

It is not necessary to switch, but some dogs need more calories at this age to hold weight.

I choose Eagle because all products are made with human grade/organic ingredients, a mult-iprotein source, not grain based, yogurt cultures (probiotics) digestive enzymes, prebiotics, glucosamine HCL for joint support, high quality sequestered minerals which are critical for proper growth and no bone diseases, no ethoxiquin, no BHA,BHT, only naturally preservative, vitamin C and yucca and balanced Omega 6:3 fatty acids.This is the ONLY dog foods ever tested on giant breeds and it was done on several litters before it became available to the public. It has the longest track record for giant breeds/Danes of any food on the market, 12 years. I directed the feed trials on this food 14 years ago as well as the Large and Giant Puppy food feed trials in 2002 so I know these foods work.

To purchase Eagle Dog Foods:

Go to their website http://www.eaglepack.com
Go to "Where to find us" and type in your zip code to find a distributor
Call Eagle - 800-255-5959 - they ship directly

TO PURCHASE EAGLE ONLINE

Petpals will ship Eagle - California based, but will ship anywhere in the US
http://www.epetpals.com/

VIP-Pets will ship Eagle - California based, but will ship anywhere in the US. The VIP phone number is 714-VIP-PETS (714-847-7387).
http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/

Waggin' Tails Pet Essentials has Eagle
http://www.waggintails.com/

REQUIRED FEEDING - Dietary Enzymes

Nzymes - A Dietary Enzyme in a chewable healthy pet treat or granular form. Nzymes put the "living component" back into a cooked, processed, stored dog food.

Enzymes are heat sensitive and lost in processing/cooking of all commercial foods or making home cooked diets. As owners we must put dietary enzymes back into the diet, in order to maintain proper wellness and not deplete the body of this important resource. This can be done by the addition to your diet with a product called Nzymes, a chewable pet treat, or granular form which can be sprinkled on the food to replace what is lost. In other words, Nzymes provide the body with the right nutrients to allow the body to make the chemicals necessary to detoxify (clean out) the body and repair itself.

Nzymes helps with the following:

Allergic reactions
Natural anti-inflammatory ~ so you can avoid risky medicines like Rimadyl
Arthritis
Orthopedic problems ~ HOD, OCO, Pano, Wobblers, Hip Dysplasia, ACL
Epilepsy and Seizures - due to vaccine reactions
Vaccine reaction prevention
Cleanses residual toxins from medicines, flea and parasite preparations.
Boosting the immune system
Reduces shedding
Itchy ears
Yeast infections
Bladder infections
Hotspots
Reduces healing time from injury, surgery (cropping/bloat/c-sections)
Reduces recovery time from anesthesia.

Nzymes are from sprouts (food) so they do not conflict with diet or any medications. I have used the Nzymes for 20 years for my animals and I take the human product and have seen remarkable changes our health. By incorporating Nzymes into the diet, you are putting back the "living component" into the modern processed and cooked diets. This gives the body the tools it needs for repair and good health.

Website to order : http://www.nzymes.com/ - 877- 816- 6500 - 8:00-6:00 PST

REQUIRED FEEDING - Friendly bacteria/Digestive enzymes

First Choice Naturals 4 in 1 Probiotics - This is a combination friendly yogurt like good bacteria, 4 digestive enzymes, vegetation and Vitamin C . It fills the "holes in every diet", processed or raw.

First Choice Naturals 4 in 1 Probiotics contains:

Yogurt Cultures - friendly bacteria in the form of Acidophillus and other cultures
Fruits - Vitamin C in the form Ester C-50 - 500 mg per dose based on weight
Digestive enzymes, needed when using processed or raw diet.
Veggies - Barley Grass -your daily salad.

To order: 800-937-1104 Website: ~ http://www.firstchoicenaturals.com

If you are using the First Choice Naturals 4 in 1 Probiotics (listed above) do not use any additional Vitamin C supplementation.

REQUIRED FEEDING

Flexicose- Joint Supplementation

If you are looking for a high quality glucosamine joint support product,
Flexicose is the one I have used for some time. I find it an excellent and affordable product and they ship overseas too - Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom - more added daily so check with the company to see if they ship to your country.

I have used it with great success on my dogs and my elderly dogs respond well to joint nutritional supplementation. The amount of glucosamine in better dog foods is minimal, helpful nonetheless, but minimal, so a good joint supplement is ideal especially for any age or breed. I start my dogs during growth stages and continue throughout their adult life. With the large/giant breeds their joints have added stressed, so any thing that can help support them as they age is a positive thing in my opinion.

For more complete information and ordering go to this website: Flexicose

Growth Patterns - if you have written me specifically about uneven growth patterns or othhopedic disease - HOD, PANO....additional MSM is helpful and the source I recommend is the Vita-Flex MSM - the best price is through First Choice Naturals at 800-937-1104

RECOMMENDED - Meats

I use Eagle Holistic canned dog foods for variety (beef, chicken, liver, lamb, duck and fish).I mix a couple of tablespoons of canned meat with tepid temperature water and make a gravy. No grocery store brands they are full of preservatives and 4D meats (dead, diseased dying and disabled) and they give the dogs stinky gas.

Homemade veggie soups work well for variety too. The reason I suggest the use of a good canned dog food with kibble, rather than straight meat for growing puppies, is so you don’t disrupt the calcium and phosphorus ratio of the diet during growth period. NO additional rice or chicken rice combinations you make up at home, they are very unbalanced and can cause growth problems. Commercial chicken /rice canned foods are balanced and not a problem.

RECOMMENDED- Whole Foods

I think it is important to incorporate some real foods into you dogs diet on a daily basis. Not only is this done for nutritional purposes, but because the dog gets bored eating the same thing day in, day out!! This is a list of recommended foods:

yogurt, fruits and veggies, not necessarily in large amounts, a little is better than none. Berries melons, apples, banana, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, oranges, squash, sweet potato, green beans, zucchini, garlic.

NO raw onions, spinach, grapes some say no garlic

They love frozen berries and melon balls. Pulverized fresh veggies are best for digestion.

OR THIS OPTION

RECOMMENDED-

Using Real Fresh Meat - Fruits and Veggies - and NO WORK!

I am excited to tell you about a product that you will like, it is an easy way to provide some real meat, (turkey or chicken) and fruits and veggies. This product is freeze dried and all you have to do is reconstitute it then incorporate into to your dog's diet.

It is not cost prohibitive for breeders with multiple dogs because a 10 lbs container makes 43lbs of fresh food. It is the answer to a prayer for us busy dog owners!

The food dehydration process takes place so the ingredient are still considered raw yet done at a temperature to kill any pathogenic bacteria. Enzymatic activity in dehydrated foods is simply suspended until the food is rehydrated.

The Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw dog food is available in two no grain formulas:

FORCE (21% protein - 14% fat) - Chicken, Flaxseed, Potatoes, Celery, Cabbage, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Green Beans, Apples, Honey, Alfalfa, Kelp,Yogurt, Bananas, Papayas, Basil and Rosemary.

EMBARK 29% protein - 16% fat - Turkey, Flaxseed, Potatoes, Celery, Spinach, Carrots, Coconut, Apples, Kelp, Eggs, Sesame Seeds, Bananas, Cranberries, Rosemary.

The Honest Kitchen dog food, like the Eagle Holistic line of kibble and canned food is endorsed in the Whole Dog Journal.

To order call 858-483-5995 ~ www.thehonestkitchen.com

Note: Since you are using this top dress your dog's food and not as the whole diet, you can use either one of these even for Great Dane puppies. Just use in reasonable amounts so you are not adding too many calories during growth stages.

HOW I MIX MY DOG FOOD

Put Eagle kibble in a bowl
add Nzymes (dietary enzyme) - AM only
add 4 in 1 Probiotic/Digestive enzyme - AM only
make gravy of filtered tepid temp (not hot) water and Eagle canned food
Adult Dane use 1 cup water + 3-4 tablespoons canned meat)
Top- dress the dog food with about 1/4 - 1/2 cup Honest Kitchen. (Large/Giant adults)
Small dogs or puppies use less.

Honest Kitchen dog food is organic freeze-dried meat, fruit and veggies.

USE TEPID TEMPERATURE WATER ON YOUR KIBBLE, IF IT IS TOO HOT IT WILL DESTROY THE INTEGRITY OF THE NUTRIENTS AND YOGURT LIKE CULTURES ON THE FOOD.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ADDITIONS

Oxy-Drops are a safe liquid to be used with with your kibble and raw meat. It will kill pathogens: bacteria, fungus and virus. When feeding raw meat it is particularly important to use Oxy-Drops to help prevent problems with the pathogens in raw foods. Oxy- Drops will not kill the good bacteria of the gut and helps to encourage the growth of friendly bacteria.

I believe Oxy-Drops is very important in helping to prevent bloat and systemic fungus infections. It can be use diluted (1 cup of distilled water + 1 teaspoon of Oxy-Drops) for a solution to clean out ears, eyes, to spray on skin or use as a colonic. It is very beneficial in systemic yeast infections as well.

1 drop per 20 lbs of body weight, added to some water (it must be diluted), stir into dog food.

To order: contact Stan at Nzymes.com 877-816-6500

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

Crop or Not to Crop Ears?

Read this: Does My Vet Understand Nutrition?

Crop Or Natural Ears?

If you have a puppy and intend to have have it cropped, make sure you read these articles.
Should I Crop My Dane Puppy? and Anesthesia Guidelines For Croping.

Vaccines

There are several articles and photos of vaccine reactions at this website. You need to know how to prevent vaccine reactions, because vaccine reactions in some breeds will kill your dog in a slow agonizing death known as Immuine Mediated Response, which is always misdiagnoised as HOD. So, here is info:

Prevention of Vaccine Reactions

Blackwatch Vaccine Schedule

Dr. Jean Dodd's Vaccine Protocals

Vaccine Reaction Photographs

Special Alert - Antibiotic Reactions in Great Danes and Other Breeds.

Sulfonamide Antibiotics
Based on information gained from the National Bone Survey, I do not recommend using Sulfonamide* antibiotics to my puppy buyers because these drugs can cause serious side-effects like sloughing of skin and internal bleeding and HOD-like symptoms including;fever, aching joints, swollen joints, lack of mobility, depression and anorexia. The following antibiotics are sulfonamides.

Ditrim

Primor

Tribrissin

Bactrim

TMZ

TMP/SDZ

Another commonly used, potentially troublesome antibiotics is Cephalexin (Keflex, Cefa-Tabs). This can also produces the same symptoms as HOD (fever,swollen/hot joints, immobility, anorexia) even in adult dogs. I will use Chephalexin, but with a watchful eye and if the dog starts acting lethargic and achy, we stop the antibiotic, since they are sensitive to it. Call the vet for an alternative antibiotic and make sure you are using a good Probiotic product to keep the digestive tract functioning properly.

I will not use Sulfonamides drugs on my dogs. A reaction can happen from 24 hours - 2 weeks of being on an antibiotic. If there is a reaction, my vet recommends Dexamethsone/Azium and discontinue use or antibiotic.

* Research references on Sulfonamides

Fleas - Heartworm

People ask me what I use for these problems. I use Interceptor as a heartworm preventative and for flea and tick problems I use a topical product- either Advantage, Advantix or Frontline products. I do rotate a different one each year. Because these are not systemic products, I feel a bit better about using them and because the dogs/cats and my self are also on Nzymes, which detoxifies the body, I am comfortable with using these products.

Heart Disease

If you have a breed (Danes, Dobes, Boxers etc.) that are prone to cardiomyopathy or other heart diseases, you may want to start supplementing these nutrients to your dogs diet as the start to grow - 12 weeks is what was recommended to me.These are nutritional substances from food sources and do not conflict with medications or each other and are good to use for heart disease.

1) Co-enzyme-Q-10 on puppies - 30 mgs daily. For Adults see my Adult Feed Program. I get mine from Dr. Eugene Wagner at First Choice Naturals because Gene, who is the Director for the Center for Medical Education at BSU for the IU Med Center, has done years of research on Co-q-10 with human heart patients. He will tell you not all sources of Co-Q-10 are viable, which is why I use his product since he knows where the good CoQ-10 comes from due to his research. His number 800-937-1104 or you can order online at www.firstchoicenaturals.com

2) Two amino Acids are critical to strengthen the heart - Taurine and L-Carnitine
You can get these from the health food store. Make sure you select a very good brand so they are usable by the body.

Taurine doses 100 mgs daily
L-Carnitine doses 200 mgs daily

At 12 months of age you can switch to the adult feed program at this website.

AMOUNTS TO FEED LARGE/GIANT PUPPIES

This chart is base the assumption that a dog may be crated or less active during the day while the owner is at work. Use this guideline to help prevent growth diseases. The most sensitive time for growth problems is from 3-6 months of age. Giants (Danes,Newfies, Pyers, Irish Wolfhounds etc.), fed low - mid range to start with - this is a guide- then increase, but I have found it is pretty accurate.

Note: Large breeds (Labs, Boxers, Collies, Goldens, Shepherds, Dobes, Rotties etc.), should be fed the low end amounts on chart up to 5 months, then at 5 months and up they tend to hold around 5-7 cups of food, unlike the giant breeds - so hold in this range of 5-7 cups -increase or decrease according to activity levels. You want them well covered, but with the last rib showing slightly.

2 months 2-4 cups per day - (divided into 3 meals daily)
3 months 3-5 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
4 months 4-6 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
5 months 5-7 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily
6 months 6-8 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
7 months 7-9 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
8 months 8-10 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily
9 months 9-11 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)

These amounts based on a moderate caloric food (320-350 Kcal per cup). This is only a general guideline so they do not consume too many calories before 6 months of age, disrupting their growth patterns causing accelerated growth and potential bone problems. Keep the puppy lean, but not skinny. If he is too lean, feed 1 cup more per day.

Young adult male great danes may eat as much as 12- 14 cups per day until mature. If this is so, you should switch up to a higher protein for example use a 25% protein 15% Fat and they will have to process less food.

I feed my mature bitches approximately 6 cups per day and mature males approximately 7-10 cups per day. Older dogs and bitches approximately 5-6 cups per day. Remember this is based on a moderate protein food and in my case the Eagle Natural Formula and Eagle Large and Giant Breed Puppy 23% protein/12% fat is considered moderate.

NOTE: If your puppies seems absolutely starved on these amounts you can add a homemade veggie soup component to the diet and it will not add too many calories and act as a filler.

Linda's Very Veggie Soup

2 large cans of chicken or beef broth - (low sodium or homemade) - NO MEAT . Add LOTS of veggies - carrots, green beans, wax beans, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and couple cloves of garlic. The idea is to use this as the filler so you want it to be hearty and filling.

Lite or Low Protein Diets Older dogs and growing puppies should NEVER be placed on Low Protein or a lite or restricted protein/fat diet. The only time an animal should be fed a restricted protein or fat diet is due to a specific disease. Cut back the amount you feed rather than switch to a lower protein and lower fat. They need the nutrients and their brains, organ
functions and coats will suffer dramatically.

Click Here for Puppy Care Guidelines

Special Alert:

For Collie/Sheltie/Aussie and Sighthound Owners

For those people who own Collies, Shelties, Sighthounds, Aussies, Border Collies, any breeds with Collie background or mixed breeds with any of these dogs in them, it is critical that you know there are certain medications your dogs CAN'T take. Do not leave it up to your vet to know this..YOU must print this out and know it - it is a matter of life or death.

These dogs have a sensitivity to Ivermectin (Heartguard Heartworm medication. Only use Interceptor. Other related drugs you can not use on these breeds or there will be neurological damage.

Other related drugs you can NOT use:

Metronidazole (which is used for diarreah and giardia)
Flagyl
Torbutol
Butorphanol
Morphine
Acepromazine
Ivermectin - Heart Guard

Here is the link for more drug information

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/

A Word About Barf

A word about BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) and the giant breed puppies.

The BARF diet seems to be difficult diet to manage during the growth stages of the giant breeds. Therefore, I suggest one stick to a high quality kibble, and other supplements I suggest. That combined with fresh fruits and veggies makes for a very high quality diet and does not compromise the animal in any way, yet avoids growth problems in the long run.

See info on Feeding Raw and Doing It Right, at this site. If you are going to incorporate meat into a diet, remember not all kibbles are calculated in their calcium/phosphorus ratio to be able to handle meat added to the diet.

Only Eagle, PHD and Wysong are appropriate kibbles to be used with raw meats. Also if using raw meats, on growing puppies, use only 10% meat to 90% Eagle, PHD or Wysong. To kill pathogens in raw meat, see information above about use of Oxy-Drops.

Blackwatch Large / Giant Breed Puppy Feed Program