If you’ve just brought home a new Great Dane puppy, you may be wondering how much it should eat for an optimum diet. There are several things to know about feeding a Great Dane puppy, and in this article, you will find the answers to all your questions.
A Great Dane puppy should be fed 3 times daily in equal amounts. The gender, age, and weight factors are considered when planning your Great Dane pup’s food intake, and as they mature, there are changes in how much they can eat. Male Great Dane puppies need more food than their female counterparts because males grow larger than females.
What Should a Great Dane Puppy Eat?
Before setting up a feeding schedule for your Great Dane Puppy, it’s best to find out what they were fed before you got her. This includes the brand and quantities of food she had been fed previously.
This is to ensure that your puppy’s tummy doesn’t become upset, as she needs to adapt to her new feeding lifestyle.
Hence, gradually (but steadily) introduce her to her new feeding schedule to avoid complications.
“Make sure you gain prior knowledge of your Great Dan’es feeding schedule before taking onwership.”
How Much Should a Great Dane Puppy Eat?
While feeding a Great Dane puppy, two primarily significant factors are considered. First, the “Age” (in months or weeks) and the gender (Male or Female) are very much essential in deciding how much a Great Dane puppy should eat to optimize their growth.
Although the meals they take per day (three) reduce to two after about 5 months, the cups they take per meal increase instead. Below is a table displaying how much a great Dane puppy should eat.
| Age {Months} | Food {Cups} female | Food {Cups} male | Meals {per day} |
| 2 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 3 |
| 3-6 | 3-6 | 4-8 | 3 |
| 8-12 | 5-8 | 6-10 | 2 |
| 12-24 | 8 | 9-15 | 2 |
| Adults | 6-8 | 8-10 | 2 |
Why Do Puppies Require High-Quality Protein and Fat in Their Diet?
Puppies need about twice the calories as needed by a grown dog.
This is very much needed for their healthy growth because, at this time, they are focused on building stronger muscles and bones, and to hit their target, they will need extra nutrients and energy.
Proteins help in building puppies’ tissue and developing their muscles, whereas fats are essential in developing healthy fur, skin, and brain function.
Should I Feed My Great Dane Puppy Treats?
Yes. You can feed your Great Dane Puppy treats. Your puppy wants to be rewarded for her gratifying intelligence and good behavior too, and what she wants from you is her beloved treats and praises.
But you need to be selective with the type of treats you would feed your adorable puppy to save her from future complications.
The typical pre-packaged dog treats are pretty good but not advisable as the sole treat. I mean, they are always stuffed with fillers and contain unhelpful calories. So instead, be innovative by feeding your puppy fruits (or vegetables) as treats.
Some types of treats you can feed your puppy are Pineapples, Apples, Green beans, Carrots, Blueberries, Bananas, Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkin, are good (and healthy treats) you can opt-in for.
When Should I Feed My Great Dane Puppy?
Your Great Dane Puppy is expected to feed three times a day. Therefore, the ideal time to provide your Great Dane Puppy breakfast is 7 a.m., and she should be fed her lunch by noontime. For hitch-free digestion and ease in egestion before bedtime, I’ll advise that you provide your Great Dane puppy her last meal by 5 p.m.
Ensure that your Great Dane puppy does not have access to food all the time (i.e., deny her access to Free feeding). Although, it is very much advisable that she has access to clean water at all times.
Is It Okay For My Great Dane to Skip One Meal Every Day?
It is okay if your Great Dane skips a meal out of three on a few occasions. Also, it is almost nothing to worry about if your Great Dane skips two meals in a day on infrequent occasions too. It is also best to switch your puppy’s meal from three to two meals each day once they are 5 months old.
What are the Signs of Hunger with Great Dane Puppies?
Sometimes, Great Dane Puppies (just like other dog breeds) tend to put you in a confused state of hunger. Just like humans, dogs can trick you into believing that they are starving so that you can give them their beloved treats.
When puppies “appear to be hungry,” it might be because your furry friend gets treats at a particular period each day, and it has become habitual, or because of her insatiable desire to munch on something. It might also be because your puppy is bored and needs something to toy with.
However, be mindful if you missed giving your canine friend a meal OR you’ve exercised her more than usual (or she has been active than her typical routine demands). Also watch out for her ribcage and make not if it is well-defined and visible. Your puppy may be starving which needs immediate attention.
What are the Signs of Overfeeding?
When you notice the following signs, you probably have been overfeeding your puppy, and you need to check on that.
- Your puppy has grown overweight (You can find this out by scoring the puppy’s body condition). An ideal body condition score is a four or five out of nine where the dog has an hourglass figure, and some of the ribs are visible. You should easily feel her ribs, spine, and hips and pull ribs in her ribcage. However, if the waist is not visible, or there’s a need for you to press her ribs to feel it. Then you have probably been overfeeding her (or there is too much fat in her treats).
- When your puppy farts a lot and releases an unusual smell, you have likely been feeding her too much.
- If your dog’s stool is expected in the morning and is followed by a soft stool in the day/evening, then your furry friend might have gone overboard with her meals/treats. Taking note of your puppy’s bowel movements is a critical and easy way to know if you are overfeeding her or not.
- If your dog has grown heavier than expected, it is a sign that you have been overfeeding her.
- If your dog shows signs of lethargy (Drowsiness, Prolonged sleep pattern, extreme fatigue, Sluggishness), it might be as a result of overfeeding her.
- Sometimes, when your dog scratches herself often, it might be a sign that you have been overfeeding her. Although “Itchiness” might be a symptom of another health complication, overfeeding also adds to the system’s toxic burden, which can also result in itching.
Be Aware That Quantity of Food Can Lead to Health Problems
Overfeeding or underfeeding dogs is hazardous to their health. It is essential to learn how to strike a balance. Your dog should not be overfed or underfed. Doing so may be detrimental to their health.
Overfeeding your dog can cause serious health problems and complications like diabetes, heart diseases, Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD), Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD), Panosteitis or “Pano,” and a reduction in lifespan.
Also, overfeeding your dog can result in obesity, leading to a condition like secondary osteoarthritis, while underfeeding your dog might result in stunted growth and other health risks.
What are the Best Foods for my Pups Diet?
Like humans, dogs need all the food classes for a balanced diet as follows:.
- Carbohydrates – a vital source of energy for your pup.
- Protein – helps to build your pup’s tissue and muscles
- Fat – helps to keep your pup’s skin healthy. Also, fat aids the absorption of vitamins.
- Vitamins – needed for a healthy metabolism.
- Minerals – aid the growth of your muscles and bones and help form red blood cells.
- Fiber – keeps your dog’s bowel movements the way it is expected to be.
- Water – is also essential for metabolism.
Ensure that your pup’s food has super premium-quality dog food, includes probiotics, and ascertain that the level of calories in your pup’s foods is moderate,
The best food to feed your pup is a high-quality commercial kibble specially designed for your pup.
When to Consult with your Veterinarian Regarding Your Puppy’s Diet?
You should consult your veterinarian if you realize that your puppy has an urgent need for a therapeutic diet. Therapeutic diets for dogs are administered by veterinarians to prevent, treat or combat specific health conditions in dogs.
Therapeutic diets are formulated to meet the specific nutritional needs of your puppy.
It isn’t unusual when your puppy skips a meal in a day. But, if you notice that your puppy hasn’t eaten in two days, you should know that it is a clear sign that you need to consult your veterinarian.
Once you notice that your puppy has been attempting to eat everything she grabs, you might need to visit your veterinarian. Although this might not be much of an emergency compared to the first case, it is also worth consulting your veterinarian.
