When it comes to owning an English Mastiff, knowing what to feed this giant breed is important for their ongoing health and happiness. So, what should you feed an English Mastiff?
When feeding an English Mastiff, you should avoid fillers at all times as these can cause your dog to become unhealthy. Due to their large size, English Mastiffs need an ample diet, with lots of raw food and high-quality proteins to ensure they are happy and healthy.
Stick around as we reveal everything you need to know about what to feed an English Mastiff!
As the largest of giant breeds, feeding an English Mastiff is no easy task. These dogs need plenty of nutrition and food intake, and not every type of food or brand of dog food can offer this. Thankfully, we have compiled 14 of our most helpful tips to help you feed your English Mastiff the right way!
When to Switch from Puppy Food to Adult Formula?
Puppies need a higher protein and fat diet than adults, but after six months to one year of age, they can switch to an adult formula.
The exact time will depend on the size and breed of your dog. Larger breeds like Mastiffs or Great Danes may require longer periods between puppy food and adult formula, while smaller breeds like Chihuahuas may be ready sooner.
When converting your English Mastiff from puppy to adult formula, it is recommended to wait until they are at least one year of age, and in some cases, even a few additional months. This will ensure you do not make the transition too early in your dog’s life!
The change in diet should occur gradually over a few weeks, so you don’t risk upsetting his stomach with too many changes at once.
One way to do this is by mixing increasing amounts of adult food into his regular puppy chow until he’s eating just the right amount of each type. Excessive growth around the 12-month mark is not uncommon, as many Adult Mastiff dogs can grow as heavy as 200 pounds in weight!
What is a Good Brand of Puppy Food?
When it comes to finding the best food for your English Mastiff puppy, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, it’s important to find food that is specifically designed for large breeds.
This is because large-breed puppies have different nutritional needs than smaller breeds.
Second, you’ll want to find a food that is best suited to large breeds. This is because large-breed puppies have different nutritional needs than smaller breeds.
Finally, you’ll want to find a food with high-quality protein and low in calories. This will help your puppy grow into a healthy, strong adult dog.
Some of the best brands of puppy food for English Mastiffs include Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy, and Purina Pro Plan Focus.
All of these brands offer high-quality ingredients and are specifically designed to meet the needs of large breed puppies.
So, if you’re looking for the best food for the growth of your English Mastiff puppy, be sure to check out one of these brands.
Always Feed Them Quality Food, Never Fillers!
While they are known as a gentle giant, the caloric requirement for an English Mastiff is higher than the requirements of most other breeds.
This means that you’ll need to feed your English mastiff food with a high-calorie count, not just corn or soybeans. It’s essential to ensure that your dog is getting quality food and not fillers!
“Fillers are ingredients used to keep the cost of manufacturing down or enhance specific characteristics of the end product.“
There are many different types of fillers in both dry dog food and wet food, but typically these products contain little nutritional value.
They’re either there for bulk (like corn) or because they can improve key aspects for humans, like taste or color, but have nothing to offer your pet.
If you give your dog any filler, he will most likely develop health problems in due time. Common health consequences vary depending on what type of filler was fed to him, ranging from digestive/stomach troubles to cancerous tumors in his skin!
A well-balanced diet with sufficient protein content and a good blend of vitamins is a far better alternative!
Knowing How Often to Feed an English Mastiff
When deciding on the best way to feed your English Mastiff, consider a few important things. Feeding time is usually twice a day – morning and evening.
The dog’s size will determine how much food he needs at each feeding. For example, small dogs may need one cup per meal, while large dogs might eat up to 3 cups!
It is possible to leave food out all day for your English Mastiff to nibble on as a puppy, although this isn’t necessary. As he grows older, you will want to be more aware of how much food you feed him. One way to do this is by measuring his daily intake in cups or portions.
The other important element of his diet is when to feed him. Ideally, as your Mastiff grows out of his puppy stage, you will want to keep their meals to twice per day, as mentioned previously.
Giving the Right Number of Treats
Many people believe that giving their dog treats is a way to show them love and appreciation. However, there are important considerations regarding how often you should feed your pup these delicious snacks. If you give him too many, he’ll become overweight or even obese.
It’s not as easy as “give treats whenever my dog looks bored.” For this reason, many people are looking for healthy alternatives to their pups’ favorite store-bought treats.
Not only that, but they want to make sure the chews or biscuits that they purchase are not made in China, as this is often a red flag in dog food.
This way, you can avoid giving your dog food with harmful chemicals and carcinogens.
The whole point of giving your dog a treat is to show him how much you care about him. The best treats are those that he enjoys without making his stomach upset or his hips hurt from excess weight gain.
As your English Mastiff grows older, these health risks become even greater and digestive health becomes even more critical!
Therefore, while a few treats per day will not hurt your dog, ensure you are only rewarding your dog with these treats when he deserves it, not just because he is bored or destructive.
Never Serve Your English Mastiff Table Scraps
Many owners give their English Mastiff table scraps, but they should not.
This is because of the risk of developing an upset stomach or digestive problems. It’s also important to note that most table scraps are high in carbohydrates and protein, leading to weight gain if given too often.
Not only that, but as soon as you feed your dog food from the table once, they will start expecting it and refuse to eat their regular dog food. This can also cause them to focus solely on their food while eating, which should be avoided.
Meat is Fine for English Mastiffs
In the wild, English mastiffs would eat a variety of meats. They often only consume one type of meat in captivity due to commercial convenience and cost-effectiveness.
It is important to note that some types of meat are higher in protein than others – beef contains more protein than chicken, for example – so it’s essential to feed your dog what he needs instead of simply feeding him what you want him to have!
Let’s explore this question: Can I feed my English mastiff meat like beef, chicken, or lamb? The answer is yes, but it’s vital that you closely monitor your dog’s weight and adjust their diet accordingly.
If done correctly, feeding an English Mastiff different kinds of meats can be a great idea and a delicious one for your dog!
Place Multiple Water Bowls Around Your House
Dogs are notorious for being thirsty creatures. It’s not uncommon to find a dog with his head in the water bowl, lapping up every last drop he can get.
The problem is that dogs often need to drink more than just once or twice a day, so it can be challenging to keep the bowls full at all times.
That is why it is often recommended to put down multiple bowls throughout the house, so there’s one near where your pet spends most of its time.
This can help avoid dehydration and is even more vital when your dog is feeling unwell.
They may not want to walk across the house to get some water; therefore, they may spend long periods without drinking, which is unsafe and unhealthy for your English Mastiff.
Always Read Food Labels
Look at the ingredients when buying dog food from the store. You want to make sure that you are not feeding your pup any of these unhealthy foods: corn, soy, wheat, beef by-products and bone meal.
These ingredients can cause a lot of health problems in dogs, so it is important to be aware of them when shopping for your pet’s food.
A word on organic vs. non-organic: Organic doesn’t always mean healthier or cleaner. In fact, some products labeled as “organic” may actually have more sugar and preservatives than their counterparts!
Always read labels before purchasing anything for your pup! You’ll be able to see if there are any harmful ingredients in what you’re about to buy and then decide accordingly whether or not you want to purchase it.
Avoid Foods That Are Bad for English Mastiffs
Although there are many foods that dogs will happily swallow in one bite, you, as the owner, should beware of certain foods that are toxic or unsafe for English Mastiffs.
Here are a few common foods to avoid, just to name a few:
- Chocolate– Chocolate contains caffeine which will make your dog hyperactive or even cause seizures if ingested by an animal with low blood sugar (which includes any dog).
- Grapes– while there isn’t solid evidence linking grapes to canine toxicity, your dog’s system may not be able to process it well (or at all), which could lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and other stomach problems.
- Macadamia Nuts– these nuts can cause your dog to develop weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia.
- Alcohol– Alcohol can result in severe dehydration or even fatal alcohol poisoning if ingested by a large breed like the English Mastiff.
- Raisins– raisins are reported to be toxic for dogs because their body cannot process the grapes’ chemicals; this causes kidney failure which usually results in death over time.
Buying Dog Food from the Right Place
Picking the right place to buy food for your dog can be a challenge. But it’s worth the research to find out what they need and want in their diet. With so many options on the market, you may not know where to start looking.
The best way to find out which brands are reputable is by asking around or doing some online research.
It would help if you also looked at reviews from other owners who have used these products before, as well as any awards or recognitions they’ve received over time. This will help you narrow down your search list considerably!
Consider a Raw Diet
A raw diet is one of the best ways to feed your English Mastiff. It’s a natural, healthy, and easy way to feed your pet as it doesn’t require any cooking or prep work. Most dogs love this type of food too!
Raw dog food and raw meats are often recommended to English Mastiff owners due to the fact that these dogs are prone to joint problems and other health concerns.
Elbow and Hip Dysplasia are common health problems to be aware of. By avoiding chemicals found in cheap dog food and common commercial dog food brands, raw food can be of major benefit to your dog’s joint health.
By doing so, you can help your dog live happily and healthily for even longer!
Knowing the Perfect Weight
An English Mastiff is a large breed of dog, and as such, their metabolism needs to be high enough to sustain the body.
A healthy weight for an English Mastiff is not just about appearance but also longevity. The level of activity is equally important as a balanced diet, and consistency is key!
Most veterinarians will recommend that you keep your English Mastiff around 65kg for female English Mastiffs once fully grown and around 75kg for male dogs of this breed.
Maintaining a balanced diet of high-quality food while ensuring their activity level is consistent should be the main focus areas for optimal health.
Exercise Frequency Affects Appetite
Similar to humans, English Mastiffs need exercise and physical activity. It is important for their physical well-being and mental health.
However, when your dog exercises heavily, he may not feel hungry as much because his energy levels will be high from the activity.
If you notice a decline in appetite or if your dog starts losing too much weight, then it might be time to take a break from running and go for more walks instead.
On the other hand, if your dog sleeps all day and rarely gets any exercise, it will likely eat more.
This can cause them to gain weight much faster. In this case, more exercise will be needed to keep their weight at bay.
Final thoughts
How you feed your English Mastiff is so important to their growth and development. The quality of their nutrition will also ensure they are happy and healthy for many years.
We hope that you found this article helpful in determining what food will work best for your dog, as well as how much of it they should eat.
