low protein food?

[mastiffmedic]

Mastiff puppies should never have over 1.8% calcium and even that is not ideal at all. It may seem like not that much of a difference to you but it is and they should not have anything over 2% until 2 years of age. That information by the way comes from a canine nutritionist who herself owns a mastiff and a large breed puppy.

I respect that totally but the food I feed my mastiff is fully supported by a giant breed nutrionalist and I have had nothing but praise for the company's reputation. I've exchanged emails with Linda Arndt or the great dane lady as she's known and she seems to know her stuff. I'm not arguing with you at all but we'll agree to disagree.

 

[Smart_Family]

Yea lets agree to disagree because in giant breed nutrition the Great Dane Lady is a pretty controversial figure.

 

[mastiffmedic]

just like vets, everyone has a different opinion and I'm not going to worry to much over .2% unless I see evidence that two tenths of a percent is causing my mastiff growth problems.

 

[Smart_Family]

.2% may not seem like a big deal (and it's really more like .4% because as I said 1.8 is really too high in itself) but over a week that .2% adds up to 1.4% which sure as heck makes a difference.

 

[mastiffmedic]

I'd be more than happy to read any links/articles you can send my way. I like to keep up on current studies and such.

 

[Smart_Family]

https://www.msu.edu/~silvar/hips.htm
http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/breeding/calcium.htm
http://www.vcaspecialtyvets.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/VCAASG_Breed Size Puppy.pdf
http://www.saxonygreatdanes.co.za/Puppy Food.htm
These are just a few things google pulled up. I'd like to add too that many specialists think that anything over 1.2 or 1.3% is high as well.

 

[mastiffmedic]

Good reads, some good info in there. They were saying that excess calcium >3% contributes and even been shown to cause bone disorders etc., and like you said ideally 1.4-1.8%. I agree with all that but I'm comfortable with a 2% level since I'm a fan of the food, its reputation and its meat sources. Sure excess minerals like calcium can cause serious issues but I don't consider 2% excessive. Thanks for the links.

 

[Smart_Family]

I thought you were feeding the Large Breed/Giant Breed Adult or am I wrong? The calciums fine in that one.

 

[mastiffmedic]

No I switched to the grain free a few months ago, I had him on the normal large/giant but I noticed he scratched or nibbled his paws more than usual. So I figured it was the food and to try grain free, he completely stopped doing all that once I switched. He's had the pork, but now on a bag of the lamb/turkey. When I made the switch I was aware of the higher calcium levels and knew I needed to watch his weight and other signs and make sure it didn't affect him. He's been slowing his weight gain actually and he's been doing great on it. I feel confident that it isn't affecting him and that its not excessive, on the higher end sure, but not excessive.

 

[aaronl]

Yea lets agree to disagree because in giant breed nutrition the Great Dane Lady is a pretty controversial figure.

Everyone can find issue with something and we can all interpret things differently. Cesar the trainer is controvercial. Clicker training is controvercial. Shock collars, prong colars, chockers, food, raw or not raw... The list is endless. Internet articles are controvercial. Vets and vet techs (smart famiy is a vet tech) even have varying opinions on care. It's called opinions and is what makes us all different. Each dog is different too. I for one do what i think is right and hope for the best. Do your research and take from it what you can.

 

[Smart_Family]

Everyone can find issue with something and we can all interpret things differently. Cesar the trainer is controvercial. Clicker training is controvercial. Shock collars, prong colars, chockers, food, raw or not raw... The list is endless. Internet articles are controvercial. Vets and vet techs (smart famiy is a vet tech) even have varying opinions on care. It's called opinions and is what makes us all different. Each dog is different too. I for one do what i think is right and hope for the best. Do your research and take from it what you can.

Exactly!