However, overfeeding can result in an oversupply of certain nutrients and a rate of weight gain that the developing skeletal system cannot adequately support. Such additional stress has been linked to bone abnormalities and orthopaedic conditions, which may persist into adulthood.

Naturally, a puppy’s stomach is smaller than that of an adult dog. It is therefore advisable to divide feeding into a minimum of three or four meals per day. This approach helps maintain energy levels over a prolonged period and ensures that a sufficient quantity of food is consumed. Similarly, free feeding is not recommended because it is difficult to monitor individual consumption. When feeding several puppies from a litter, it is impossible to account for one puppy gorging while another under-eats.

Large breed owners may also wish to consider the kibble size of dry feeds. With a larger puppy comes a bigger mouth and dentition capable of handling larger kibble sizes. This can help slow down consumption compared to the small kibble sizes often found in commercial puppy feeds. Moreover, smaller meal sizes combined with a slower rate of consumption are preferable eating habits to instil in large breed puppies in order to reduce the risk of gastric dilatation–volvulus (GDV), a concern often associated with large breeds.

Vitamin D influences skeletal development, either indirectly by enhancing intestinal calcium absorption or directly by stimulating bone mineralisation. Evidence of disturbed bone formation in Great Dane puppies fed diets containing elevated vitamin D levels has led to a maximum nutritional limit of 320 IU per 100 g DM in the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines, although a lower legal maximum of 227 IU per 100 g DM overrides this in the UK and Europe.

It is important that owners understand there is no need to supplement additional vitamins or minerals if a complete and balanced diet is fed. Supplementation through meal toppers or tablets can result in an oversupply that may be detrimental to health.

References

1. FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) (2020) Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs.
2. <Salt, C., et al. (2017) ‘Growth standard charts for monitoring body weight in dogs of different sizes’, PLOS ONE, 12, pp. 1–28.
3. Hawthorne, A.J., Booles, D., Nugent, P., Gettinby, G. and Wilkinson, J. (2004) ‘Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds’, in Waltham International Science Symposium: Nature, Nurture, and the Case for Nutrition, vol. 134, pp. 2072S–2030S.
4. Case, L.P., Daristotle, L., Hayek, M.G. and Ruff, M.F.R. (2011) ‘Nutrient needs during growth’, in: Canine and Feline Nutrition: A Resource for Companion Animal Professionals, ed. H. Pohlam, Elsevier Mosby, pp. 232–233.
5. Lauten, S.D. (2006) ‘Nutritional risks to large‐breed dogs: From weaning to the geriatric years’, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 36, pp. 1345–1359.
6. Schoenmakers, I., Hazewinkel, H.A.W., Voorhout, G., Carlson, C.S. and Richardson, D. (2000) ‘Effect of diets with different calcium and phosphorus contents on the skeletal development and blood chemistry of growing Great Danes’, Veterinary Record, 147, pp. 652–660.
7. Tryfonidou, M.A., Van Den Broek, J., Van Den Brom, W.E. and Hazewinkel, H.A.W. (2002) ‘Intestinal calcium absorption in growing dogs is influenced by calcium intake and age but not by growth rate’, Journal of Nutrition, 132, pp. 3363–3368.