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  • How to Choose the Best Dry Dog Food for a Great Dane

    How to Choose the Best Dry Dog Food for a Great Dane

    When it comes to choosing the best dry dog food for a Great Dane, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

    Not all dog foods are created equal, and some will be better for your pet than others! In this post we will discuss:

    • A list of the best foods for Great Danes, by brand, and handpicked to make your job easy!
    • How to read a dog food ingredients label
    • Deceptive marketing tricks to watch out for
    • What to look for in a Great Dane food
    • How to choose a dog food that is healthy for your pet
    • Information about dog food recalls

    This post does not cover raw, freeze-dried, or air-dried diets. We support balanced fresh feeding, however, that’s not the purpose of the post today.

    Here we will be covering kibble + wet dog food diets, which are the most popular ways to feed a Great Dane!

    The best food for any dog will of course be the one that they do best on.

    Keep in mind that a shiny coat and good stools are only minor indicators of health. A perfectly ‘healthy’ looking dog can suffer from congestive heart failure or other devastating disorders if the nutrition isn’t correct.

    That said, there are some important things to consider when you are on the search to find the best canine nutrition among the thousands of dog food options on the market today. Let’s dig in!

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    What to Look for in a Great Dane Dog Food

    Great Danes are not like other dogs. They are a giant breed with specific nutritional needs. Choosing dog food is even more overwhelming when we throw that aspect into the mix!

    In order to grow and develop properly, Great Danes need a diet that has the correct balance of calcium, phosphorus, and amino acids.

    Many health problems can arise when Great Danes are not offered the right dog food for their needs, especially when they are puppies and growing rapidly. The food you choose must be formulated for the dog’s life stage, which, for giant puppies means large or giant breed puppy food (more on this below!).

    When it comes to choosing the best dry dog food for a Great Dane, look for a food that meets the following criteria:

    Professionally Formulated Dog Food

    This key factor will help eliminate literally thousands of options, making it much easier to choose good dog food!

    Did you know that Fromm, a popular brand, is formulated by a chemical engineer? Victor, another popular brand, is formulated by somebody who has an online certificate in dairy cattle nutrition.

    These people are, unfortunately, not qualified to formulate dry dog food.

    While on paper these foods (and thousands of others like them) meet AAFCO bare minimums, they may be deficient in important amino acids and nutrients over the long term.

    We would never dream of buying baby formula that was created by people who were less than qualified to do so, especially if that food wasn’t also heavily tested and researched before being sold.

    This is an unfortunate reality, though, of many expensive pet foods.

    Your pet’s health is closely related to the quality and formulation of the ingredients in their food!

    This is not an area where you want to cut corners. Keep in mind, however, that a higher price does not necessarily mean higher quality.

    For an adult dog or definitely for a puppy, I recommend choosing dry kibble diets that were formulated by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists (DACVN), who are also directly employed by the actual brand itself for that purpose.

    Visit the Pet Nutrition Alliance HERE. ➡️

    Look up your brand and see! If they didn’t answer, refused to answer, or the food brand doesn’t directly employ a DACVN / ACVN or Veterinarian with a Master’s Degree in Nutrition, keep looking.

    Pro Tip: Having a ‘team’ does not count. Many times, what a statement like that actually means is that the brand pays an outside firm (consultants) to check boxes. Ask more questions.

    The Pet Nutrition Alliance has asked this question of hundreds of pet food manufacturers.

    Make sure that you verify that the name brand itself (Merrick, GO, or Earthborn, for example) has a qualified person formulating the brand of food, dedicated specifically to that brand, not the parent company.

    For example, Mars employs Veterinary Nutritionists that are dedicated to the Royal Canin brand, but not ones dedicated to the Nutro brand (also owned by Mars Pet care).

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    Meat Meal + Meat By-Product Meal to Reduce Bloat

    Meat meals are a nutrient-dense, high-protein, dehydrated form of organ meats and muscle, skin, and cartilage tissue that has been shown in studies to reduce the risk of bloat. Contrary to popular belief, they are a GOOD thing to see in your pets food!

    Bloat is a deadly condition in Great Danes and other large and giant breed dogs.

    Because meat meals are more likely to contain valuable nutrition such as liver, bone, skin, and cartilage, it makes sense that this ingredient can help keep your Great Dane healthy!

    Don’t be afraid of ‘By-Product Meal’. By-Products, such as liver, kidney, bone, and cartilage are commonly fed as part of a raw diet because they are SO nutritious.

    Animal byproducts are exactly what your dog needs in its diet. Not to mention, using the whole slaughtered animal is the ethical, economical, ecological, and responsible thing to do.

    Fresh ‘human grade’ meat, on the other hand, is roughly 70% water, so after it’s turned into kibble there may not be much meat or nutrition left. The nutritional value of muscle meat is much less than what is found in organ meats!

    Many pet owners have been misled by ‘fresh meat in kibble‘ marketing, and we think it’s time to change the narrative!

    It’s important to always choose dry food where meat meal (such as poultry meal) or meat by-product meal makes up the bulk of the nutrition.

    Grain-Inclusive vs. Grain-Free Diet

    Grain-free diets (kibble) replace grains and often some of the meat protein as well with ingredients such as lentils, peas, garbanzo beans, and potatoes.

    A grain-free kibble is NOT free of carbohydrates!

    While a ‘grain-free diet’ may sound healthier and may lead us to believe it has more meat, the truth is that it may have less meat, which could be devastating for your dog’s health.

    READ HERE for more information on how grain-free food and poorly formulated diets might cause sudden congestive heart failure in dogs.

    When choosing kibble, Great Danes should only be fed a professionally formulated grain-inclusive meat-based diet. Do not feed a grain-free diet to your dog without professional help from a board-certified veterinary canine nutritionist.

    You can find one HERE: https://acvn.org/directory/

    It’s important to note that many common grains used in premium dog food are good for a dog’s digestive system. They provide fiber which is great for reducing bloat risk and firming up stools!

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    Balanced Calcium + Phosphorus Ratios

    This is one of the most important factors to look for on a pet food label for Great Dane adult dogs and puppies, and one that is often overlooked!

    If the Calcium and Phosphorus levels are too high or too far apart from each other, it can cause nutrient imbalances that lead to weakness, tremors, heart palpitations, bone growth disorders (including knuckling, HOD, Pano, or Hip Dysplasia), or bone density issues.

    Studies show that giant breed puppies should NOT be fed excessive calcium. Many veterinary nutritionists (the experts on this topic) recommend keeping calcium at or below 1.2% and at 3.5g or less calcium per 1000kCal, especially for Danes under the age of two.

    This means that VICTOR foods are not safe or healthy to feed, as most formulas (Beef and Rice, Hi Pro, Professional) exceed this recommendation, often dangerously so!

    We recommend finding foods where the calcium and phosphorus are as close to a 1:1 or 1.3:1 ratio as possible, as well.

    Here is a common and acceptable dry matter analysis:

    1.1% calcium

    0.8% phosphorus

    You can also learn more about giant breed nutrition at The Giant Dog Food Project which displays the nutrient levels of over 600 brands and formulas.

    https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/nutritional-requirements-of-large-and-giant-breed-puppies

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    Puppy Food vs. Adult Food for Great Dane Puppies

    Many people believe that Great Dane Puppies should never be fed puppy food, as it may cause them to grow too quickly.

    This is a truly odd practice, given the fact that giant breed dogs experience explosive growth and don’t mature until 2-3 years of age. If any dog should have puppy food, it’s a Great Dane!

    Thankfully, science and research have solved an age-old problem, and now Great Dane puppies should be fed a large or giant breed puppy food until age 2!

    “Adult only” is dated advice based on old, outdated, and poorly researched dog foods. Unfortunately, many teenage Danes are suffering from nutritional deficiencies that result from ‘adult’ foods, making them incredibly lanky.

    They often also have chronic loose stools (from overeating to compensate for the missed nutrition) and low muscle mass.

    Large or giant breed puppy foods are the way to go. Our dogs deserve to have the status quo changed on this one.

    Here are our favorite brands and formulas of food for Great Dane puppies. These have been well researched, properly formulated, and proven in feeding trials for slow, even growth:

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

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    How to Read a Dog Food Ingredients Label

    It may be tempting to choose your dog’s food based on the packaging or on appealing marketing claims, but it’s important to understand how to read the label and the ingredients.

    Below we’re sharing information about what you should be looking for on a dog food label!

    AAFCO Statement

    This statement simply indicates that the food meets the nutritional minimums required to be sold as balanced dog food.

    Being ‘AAFCO Approved’ is not a badge of honor, nor is it an indication of quality and health. It’s pretty easy to make a dog food meet minimums for certain nutrients.

    That said, the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) statement is important, as it will give you valuable insight on the dog food label into what the food is formulated for.

    For example, some dog foods are formulated for growth, puppies, adults, large breeds, small breeds, or seniors. Life stages are important to consider when choosing dog food!

    We like to see statements similar to the one below:

    “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of food) proves complete and balanced nutrition for (life stage).”

    https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/What-Is-AAFCO-and-What-Does-It-Do

    Guaranteed Analysis

    The guaranteed analysis is where you’ll find the minimum percentage of crude protein and fat, and the maximum percentages of fiber and moisture.

    You’ll notice that it’s slightly different with every single food.

    Contrary to popular belief, Great Danes can actually have food with higher protein levels. Too low protein can actually be detrimental to their muscle development and overall energy levels.

    The low-protein myth was debunked in studies, so you don’t have to worry anymore!

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    The Ingredients List

    Of course, you’ll want to look over the ingredients list too, but it’s not as important as some may have led you to believe. There are a lot of tricks companies use to make the ingredients list appealing and marketable, however, that doesn’t mean that the formulation is correct.

    Here are some things you want to look for:

    A food that contains a meat meal or meat by-product meal will almost always be the more nutritious choice.

    Watch out for ingredient splitting (see more below), which allows brands to tactfully, legally, and potentially dangerously reorganize the ingredients list to appeal to you and your wallet.

    Fancy additions such as spinach, blueberries, apples, or collard greens (for example) are there for marketing purposes and provide very little nutrition. If anything, they may be displacing meat.

    Fresh meat, deboned meat, and ‘raw’ meat in an ingredients list indicate ingredients that are roughly 70% water. Not only that, but once they are extruded (dried) into kibble they are no longer fresh and there isn’t much left, either. Think about this one for a moment.

    There is no such thing as fillers in dry dog food. (READ HERE)

    Logically, a company isn’t going to waste money on such things as it would increase shipping, manufacturing, sourcing, and formulation costs, not to mention kill dogs from malnutrition.

    Corn, for example, has a better nutrient profile than beef. Once it’s ground (for inclusion in kibble), it is 98% digestible and a fantastic source of linoleic acid (Omega 6).

    Of course, you want to choose a kibble with high-quality ingredients. This is where sourcing matters. Meat-based proteins from one company may not be held to the same standard as they are from another.

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    We recommend choosing a well-established dog food brand with solid and reliable quality control and sourcing practices.

    Recalls

    Recalls are actually a positive thing, indicating that a dog food company is willing to stand by their product and take it off the market if they find something wrong with it.

    Recently, Darwin’s pet food has been urged by the FDA to take some of its products off the shelves because of salmonella that was making pets sick. They refused...after all, recalls are bad for the marketing department.

    In another story, Victor pet food issued two recalls in 2023. Both of them were triggered by random 3rd party testing of their products, which is alarming. This is an indication that they weren’t testing for these things themselves. This has marred their “no recalls” record from the past, and caused many to realize that “no recalls” often means that the company is simply not looking for problems.

    I don’t know about you, but that’s not good.

    Just because dog food manufacturers claim “no recalls” doesn’t mean that they have a clean record. Ask more questions.

    https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-cautions-pet-owners-not-feed-certain-lots-darwins-natural-pet-products-due-salmonella

    Not only was Darwin’s caught avoiding recalls, Champion foods (the makers of Acana and Orijen) knowingly left food on the shelves that had been produced with contaminated beef tallow. The tallow tested positive for phenobarbitol (the euthanasia drug), and Champion chose not to recall the foods from that lot.

    “No recalls” is a shady marketing tactic. Don’t fall for it.

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    Deceptive Dog Food Marketing Tricks

    I’m going to outline some common deceptive marketing tricks that many dog food brands use to encourage you to make a purchase.

    I remember being very surprised by these the first time I’d heard them! After all, isn’t a fresh, holistic diet the better choice?

    Maybe not.

    The best dog food is not what you think. Read on…

    Ingredient Splitting

    With ingredient splitting, brands are able to effectively reorganize the ingredients list to be more appealing to you.

    The ingredient splitting trick makes it so that many foods can say ‘Real Chicken is the 1st Ingredient‘, even though the finished kibble is comprised mostly of peas.

    Yikes!

    I wrote a whole comprehensive blog post on ingredient splitting if you really want to dig in!

    Here are common ingredients that some dog food brands use, and how they might split them up.

    Pea Fiber, for example, on its own is ok. Where you want to be cautious is when you see 2 or more forms of the same ingredient:

    PEAS: Peas, Pea Fiber, Pea Protein, Pea Flour

    LENTILS: Green Lentils, Red Lentils, Yellow Lentils, Whole Lentils, Ground Lentils, Lentil Flour, Lentil Fiber

    POTATOES: Potatoes, Potato Flour, Potato Protein, Potato Fiber

    OATS: Oat, Oatmeal, Whole Oats, Oat Groats, Oat Fiber, Oat Flour

    The most nutritious dog food will be a meat-based diet focused on nutrients and amino acids, not one designed explicitly to sell you dog food at a premium price.

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    Unregulated Marketing Terms

    Many dog food companies are exceptional at marketing but don’t have qualified professionals or research to back up their claims.

    Not only that, it’s important to keep in mind that many common pet food marketing terms are unregulated and have no legal definition.

    This means that anybody can start a dog food company, have a company manufacture it for them, and then promote the food with any of the following terms:

    • Holistic
    • Super-Premium
    • Family-Owned & Operated
    • Biologically Appropriate
    • Species Appropriate
    • Healthy & Nutritious
    • Perfectly Balanced
    • Scientifically Formulated
    • Vet Approved

    Just because a food is labeled as “holistic and super premium” does not mean, in any way, that it’s actually better for your pet.

    As a matter of fact, the opposite may be true! Of course, we want to feed our dogs a high-quality diet. However, educated pet owners know how to sort out facts from marketing.

    False Claims

    Some dog food brands and influencers will use dubious and often false, unverifiable, or inaccurate claims that are designed to be misleading and confusing.

    By misleading and alarming you, they can easily generate profits for whatever brand of food, supplements, or education (books, courses, etc.) they are selling.

    Here are some common examples:

    • “Your pet will live longer on this food”
    • “This food prevents cancer”
    • “This food will eliminate allergies”
    • “Dry dog food has no nutrients”
    • “Kibble causes cancer”
    • “Corn is bad for dogs”
    • “Most dogs are allergic to chicken”
    • “Contains ‘fresh’ or ‘raw’ meat” (not possible after extrusion)
    • “Grains are bad for dogs and cause allergies and cancer”
    • “Purina, Royal Canin, Hill’s, Eukanuba, and Iam’s are junk foods full of fillers and diseased animals. They are not high-quality food”
    • “Recalls are BAD!”
    • “Kibble is full of fillers”
    • “Feeding kibble is like feeding your dog french fries or cereal for every meal”

    No food company should be making claims that their food will increase lifespan or reduce the risk of cancer, however, such statements are common.

    There are 300-400 new dog food brands each year in the United States. It stands to reason that they will say anything they have to in order to get your attention.

    It’s time for the dog community to stand up and learn to separate fact (science) from marketing buzzwords.

    Unfortunately, the veterinary community is weary. They want to help our pets, not harm them.

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    The Best Dog Foods by Brand

    When choosing food for your dog, I believe the following options are among the best nutrition you can get when choosing a kibble dry food diet.

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

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    How to Feed a Great Dane

    When feeding your dog, we recommend the use of stainless or ceramic bowls which, unlike plastic bowls, will not harbor bacteria that can cause irritation and zits.

    For reference on how much to feed your dog, check out our Ultimate Great Dane Feeding Chart post!

    Small, Frequent Meals

    Studies have shown that feeding your dog smaller, more frequent meals may help reduce the risk of bloat (GDV).

    Large, single meals are not safe for large and giant breed dogs.

    We recommend feeding your dog at least 2, if not 3 meals each day. Encourage slow, stress-free eating!

    Wet Food or Fresh Food Toppers

    Studies have shown that adding fresh foods or canned wet food to dry kibble can help reduce the risk of bloat in large and giant breed dogs.

    I always add canned food to my dog’s diet! Not only do they absolutely love it, but I feel good knowing that they are getting some variety in their diet. Wet dog food tends to be lower in carbohydrates, as well.

    Extruded dry food is not bad, but there is some logic to giving dogs wet food containing moisture.

    Make sure you feed your dog quality canned food that matches your dog’s dry food. It should be a complete and balanced formula, not one created only for supplemental feeding.

    815VoWiiJSL. AC SL1500
    815VoWiiJSL. AC SL1500 1
    815VoWiiJSL. AC SL1500 2

    Supplements for Great Danes

    Don’t over-supplement your Great Dane!

    If you have chosen well-formulated dry food + canned wet food, you don’t need to go nuts with the expensive supplements.

    Here are some that you may need or want, depending on your dog’s needs!

    Esther C is commonly used for Great Dane puppies to help support their growth and reduce the chance of knuckling, HOD, or Panosteitis. While this is not well-researched, many people swear by it. Get Esther C HERE.

    Joint Support is ideal for dogs who are older (age 3+) or that are struggling with orthopedic issues, including poor structure, flat feet, arthritis, missing limbs, or dysplasia. I recommend GLYCOFLEX Stage III, get it HERE.

    Fish Oil can be helpful for dogs that struggle with dry or itchy skin and a dull coat.

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    Tips for Dogs with Allergies

    Some dogs have allergies. Most are environmental, but some are caused by a food allergy.

    The signs and symptoms of allergies and intolerances of any kind include:

    • Itching
    • Redness
    • Sore spots
    • Hair loss
    • Swollen paws
    • Hives

    These things can also be indications of other things, too. Not just allergies. Don’t immediately jump to food being the cause.

    All commercial dog food diets are likely to have been contaminated with grains or chicken, even if the ingredients list contains no grains or chicken. If your dog is truly allergic to those things, you need to feed your dog a hydrolyzed prescription diet from your veterinarian.

    Chances are, however, that your dog is not actually allergic to those things! Whole grains are very nutritious in dry dog food and don’t need to be avoided.

    Read HERE about how your Dane is not actually allergic to chicken.

    Blood and saliva allergy tests are NOT accurate and many times are nothing more than a money-grabbing scam. This is especially true of tests you can purchase and complete yourself.

    (Learn more about that here).

    A food trial elimination diet and careful monitoring of symptoms to identify triggers will be key. If blood or saliva tests are taken, repeat them with a different company for secondary results and use them as part of your treatment plan, not as the sole source of information.

    Many dogs with allergies actually have environmental intolerances. Constant food switching to ‘find something that works’ and bribery to encourage eating (which can unbalance the diet) will make these things worse.

    Instead, try this:

    • Talk to your veterinarian, have an open discussion
    • Choose a well-formulated food and stick with it for 4-6 months, minimum
    • Wipe dirt and dander from the fur and paws nightly using a damp towel
    • Ask about medicated wipes or shampoo
    • Talk about medications

    We recommend seeking veterinary advice for food allergies or anything related to your pet’s health for all dogs and pet owners.

    https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2017/01/food-allergies/
  • What are WSAVA Guidelines, and Why do they Matter?

    What are WSAVA Guidelines, and Why do they Matter?

    What is WSAVA, and what are WSAVA Guidelines? Why should I consider WSAVA recommendations and guidelines when choosing pet food? What are the WSAVA approved brands?

    This is a topic we recieve a lot of questions on, so I’m going to clear it up in one post! Before we begin, I want to make one thing very, very clear.

    WSAVA does not ‘approve’, ‘endorse’, or ‘recommend’ any brand of dog food. Any perception that they do is incorrect and likely misguided by other sources.

    What WSAVA does do, however, is provide pet owners with some easy to follow recommendations for choosing dog food.

    First, a little history:

    The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is a non-profit global veterinary association that was founded in 1994. It’s similar to the ADA as it related to toothpaste, for example.

    The mission of the WSAVA is to improve the health and welfare of small animals throughout the world.

    Today, the WSAVA has grown to include more than 200 member organizations in over 80 countries. Their collective efforts involve creating guidelines and recommendations that provide information, consistency, and standards between organizations and different countries.

    WSAVA is a non-profit organization that generates revenue from contributions, fundraising events, and activities. Anybody can contribute resources and financial support to help the cause.

    One way that they promote science and research is by developing guidelines for veterinarians and pet owners to follow. In this blog post, we will discuss what WSAVA is and how you can use their common sense guidelines to choose food for your dog!

    photo of person feeding dog outside
    Photo by Ricardo Esquivel on Pexels.com

    What are WSAVA Guidelines for Dog Food?

    The WSAVA has developed a set of guidelines to raise awareness for consumers who are looking to choose a quality, science-backed food for their pets. It’s important that I repeat this: the WSAVA does not endorse, certify, or recommend any single brand or formula of dog food.

    These common-sense WSAVA pet food guidelines offer pet owners a sense of security that they are making the right choice in pet food.

    Unfortunately, the pet food industry is complicated and many consumers have been misled by dubious marketing practices.

    I’m outlining the WSAVA Dog food recommendations below:

    #1 – Does the Dog Food Company Employ a Nutritionist?

    The most important thing to look for when choosing pet food is to find out if the company employs a legitimate nutritionist.

    You may be surprised to find out that the solid majority of pet food brands have NO nutritionist on staff at all! (More on this below).

    Appropriate qualifications for a dog food nutritionist are either a PhD in Animal Nutrition, or Board Certification by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) or the European College of Veterinary Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN).

    World Small Animal Veterinary Association

    It’s important to understand that not all nutritionists are created equal! There is a massive difference between somebody who took a short online course, and a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist (with a Ph.D. in animal nutrition).

    Somebody with an M.S. in Animal Nutrition or Animal Science is NOT qualified.

    When a company has no nutritionist on staff, they often rely on outdated recipes or consultants to formulate their food. Oftentimes, the company may even state that they “work with a team of nutritionists”. While this sounds great, it’s code for “we hired a consulting firm to look over our recipe”.

    Some people may be ok with this corner-cutting practice, but it’s been proven time and time again that having a qualified nutritionists on staff is necessary to ensure safe, reliable pet food formulations.

    So be sure to check what ‘kind’ of a nutritionist is on staff, if there is one at all!

    Author note: nutritionists who carry certificates from places such as DNU or DNMU (Dogs Naturally Magazine) or other online blogs and course platforms are not legitimate. These people often spread dangerous misinformation and may even be practicing veterinary medicine (such as treating and diagnosing allergies or stomach problems) without a license.

    To be clear, however, just because a company employs a qualified nutritionist, doesn’t mean that nutritionist is being used to formulate the diet your pet is eating, which brings us to the next point.

    (Read here for some common dog food marketing gimmicks)

    short coated tan dog
    Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels.com

    #2 – Who Formulates the Diet?

    Many consumers are surprised to learn that a lot of boutique dog foods are formulated by people with very few qualifications in small animal medicine and animal nutrition.

    When you are choosing puppy food or food for your adult or senior dog, verify that the company employs and is using a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DAVCN Diplomate) or a PhD in Animal Nutrition to formulate and test the food.

    Some companies employ a full team of DACVNs, who work in tandem with on staff companion animal veterinarians and professionals that have an M.S. or PhD in animal nutrition and related sciences.

    Other companies say they employ a “team of nutritionists” however what they really mean is that they only consult with people who don’t work for them. It’s important to read between the lines (read more about this HERE).

    Fromm family foods, for example, are formulated by a chemical engineer. It is only in 2023 that it seems they have hired somebody with an M.S. in Animal Nutrition (marginal qualification).

    Solid Gold “consults with” a nutritionist with a PhD (but doesn’t employ one).

    Diamond Naturals (also Kirkland/Costco, Taste of the Wild, Nutra Nuggest, and 4Health brand) “consults with” a nutritionist with an MS in animal nutrition (but doesn’t employ one).

    Victor Foods are formulated by somebody who has an online certificate in dairy cattle nutrition.

    When a company “consults with” or “works with” a nutritionist, what they are saying is that they have somebody only mildly qualified in their field being paid to formulate the food, or they are using a formulation software and then a consultant looks it over on paper.

    Many companies will respond to this question by indicating that they have a ‘team of highly qualified nutritionists‘. This is smoke and mirrors, as their ‘team’ is often comprised of off-site consultants who have no allegiance to the brand itself.

    Make sure the company actually has qualified people on staff and if they gloss over this answer? Look elsewhere…especially if the foods aren’t also being subjected to proper lab analysis and feeding trials to prove that they are safe, nutritious, and bioavailable.

    Fawnequin

    #3 – What is the quality control process for ingredients & the finished product?

    When it comes to quality control, not all companies are created equal.

    The best companies have a rigorous quality control process that starts with sourcing the highest quality ingredients from suppliers that they trust.

    They then test the ingredients upon arrival to ensure that they meet their high standards.

    After the food is manufactured, they test the finished product to ensure that it meets their nutritional specifications. This is assuming that when the diet was originally formulated, it was also subjected to a range of labs, testing, and feeding trials.

    Only then is the food sent out to be sold in stores.

    The best companies have a comprehensive food safety program in place that includes regular testing of ingredients and products, as well as sanitation protocols at their owned manufacturing facilities.

    They are also ready and willing to issue recalls if something goes wrong. When a company says ‘no recalls’, we get nervous! Companies without recalls may wish to uphold that term regardless of safety, and may not have been established long enough to yet have a recall (new and inexperienced) in the first place.

    Don’t be fooled by unregulated marketing terms such as ‘made in our kitchen’, ‘family oriented company’, and ‘human grade’. These things are NOT an indication of whether or not the food is manufactured with strict protocols.

    Many companies now like to gloss over their formulation practices and lack of feeding trials and nutritional lab results by putting a big emphasis on how they use a 3rd party lab to test for things such as aflatoxins and salmonella. Make no mistake, that’s important, but is that really all they are doing?

    What is WSAVA and What are WSAVA Guidelines?
    Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

    #4 – What kind of product research or nutrition studies have been conducted? Is it published in peer-reviewed journals?

    The best companies invest time and money into research and nutrition studies to ensure that their products are of the highest quality, and that our understanding of small animal health is always getting better.

    They also make sure that this research is published in peer-reviewed journals so that other experts can review it, verify its accuracy and learn from it.

    When a company says “we do our own research“, we get skeptical (and you should too).

    Any food brand can conduct ‘research’ by feeding a dog some food and making anecdotal judgments about their health. That’s not proper research, and there is a reason that many ’boutique’ food brands do not submit their research for peer review.

    Many dogs who appear robust, healthy, and shiny die suddenly from nutrition-related (secondary) DCM. The appearance of ‘health’ is not an indicator of actual health.

    Secondary DCM is a problem that is exclusive to untested, poorly formulated boutique food brands.

    In addition to participation in the greater scientific nutrition and animal health community, food companies should also be participating in comprehensive lab analysis of the finished products and AAFCO feeding trials (or better) to prove their formulation in real life, not just on paper.

    If they did not substantiate their food in actual trials, YOUR dog is the guinea pig.

    (See below, the highly tested and researched Royal Canin Giant Breed line from Puppy through Adult)

    63276 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1530038530
    Feed until 8 months of age.
    63278 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1530030508
    Feed from 8-24 months of age.
    62058 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1592946427
    Adult formula from 24 months on.

    What to Look For on a Dog Food Label

    When you are looking at a dog food label, there are a few things that you should pay attention to:

    – The guaranteed analysis (GA)

    – The nutritional adequacy statement

    – The feeding instructions

    The guaranteed analysis is a set of minimums and maximums that must be met by law. We’ve included more information below!

    (Read about why you shouldn’t judge a pet food label by an ingredients list HERE)

    Many people look to the ingredients list when choosing a dog food, however, this is a practice that often results in owners choosing poorly researched low quality foods.

    What dog owners need to understand is that the ingredients list is used for marketing.

    If you ‘like’ the way an ingredients list reads, chances are, it’s been strategically developed to appeal to you. Tricks such as ingredient splitting and fairy dust (dried blueberries and spinach, for example) are often used.

    Not only that, but ‘real meat as the first ingredient‘ or ‘first 5 ingredients are meat’ are actually a marketing trick, and in many cases, meat may not actually be the predominant ingredient in the finished product.

    (Read more about ingredient splitting and by-product meat meals here).

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    Nutrition adequacy statement

    This is an important one to look for. This statement must be present on all pet food labels in the United States and it indicates that the food and its nutrient analysis have been formulated to meet, or substantiated in tests to meet AAFCO standards.

    For puppies, you want to see a statement that the food was ‘substantiated in feeding trials’ for growth, for example.

    ‘Animal feeding tests using AAFCO Procedures’ means that actual science and research (AAFCO feeding trials) went into proving the nutritional adequacy of the formulation.

    ‘Formulated to meet’ simply means the food meets the minimum standard, but was not subjected to AAFCO feeding trials.

    ‘Comparable in nutritional adequacy to foods substantiated in food trials’ is less common, but still occasionally seen from small ‘family’ food brands.

    Read more about AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements here.

    How many calories per gram or serving of food?

    This is another important piece of information that you’ll want to look for.

    You can use this information to determine how much food you should be feeding your dog based on their weight and activity level.

    Some foods are more nutrient-dense than others! A higher quality food will, in general, have more calories per serving.

    When you switch to a science-backed diet for your pet, you may find you have to feed much, much less, so watch your dog’s body condition!

    4 1

    Does the company provide contact information?

    You want to be able to reach the company if you have any questions or concerns about their food.

    A good company will have a customer service team that is ready and willing to help you with whatever you need.

    Look for signs that they are truly a science-based company, and not using fluffy marketing to make you ‘feel good’ about the food.

    Here are some unregulated, but common “feel good” marketing terms that can be used in misleading ways:

    • Holistic
    • Family-Owned & Operated
    • Super-Premium
    • No By-Products
    • Meat as the first ingredient
    • Home cooked
    • Fresh
    • Made in our ‘kitchen’
    • Tested in our ‘kitchens’
    • No Recalls
    • Ancient Grains
    • Formulated by veterinarians
    • We use a nutritionist
    • We have a team of ‘nutrition experts’ (but no DACVN or ACVN in sight)
    • Wholesome

    Who makes the food?

    The best companies will be upfront about who makes their food, and they should own and operate their own facilities, especially if they are producing prescription or specialty diets that require detailed protocols and strict attention to detail.

    Many boutique food companies use a co-packer and don’t own or operate their own manufacturing facilities.

    This is a red flag, as they won’t have as much say in quality control, testing, or nutrition protocols.

    There are a small handful of all-purpose, unbranded pet food manufacturing facilities in the United States. These companies make a huge amount of co-packed boutique pet food brands.

    It’s essentially a lot of the same food and same practices…with a different label on it.

    Ask questions. Boutique foods are one of the biggest marketing schemes in the pet industry right now, and many people are falling for it!

    photography of three dogs looking up
    Photo by Nancy Guth on Pexels.com

    What Dog Foods are Approved by WSAVA?

    The WSAVA does not approve or sponsor any dog food. However, they do have guidelines that they encourage companies to follow in order to ensure the safety and quality of their products.

    It is a myth that foods are ‘approved’ or ‘sponsored’ by the WSAVA.

    What Dog Foods Follow WSAVA Guidelines?

    Only a handful of dog and pet food companies actually meet and stringently follow all WSAVA guidelines.

    These manufacturers include and are limited to:

    • Purina Dog Chow, Purina One and Purina Pro Plan
    • Hills Science Diet
    • Royal Canin
    • Eukanuba
    • Iams

    Where most other companies fall short is in not owning their own manufacturing facilities, and not employing qualified nutrition professionals. There are a select few companies who DO come close to meeting guidelines, but aren’t on the list above.

    Boutique diets from companies who do not follow these simple guidelines have the smallest market share of pet food sales overall, but are responsible for 100% of diagnosed nutrition-related secondary DCM cases (an often silent killer).

    These are OUR favorite foods for large and giant breed ADULT dogs, that meet WSAVA Guidelines:

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    67519 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1649116932
    218811 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1649132230
    114165 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1605828408
    90755 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1635866247
    67470 MAIN. AC SL1200 V1649113309

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    Does WSAVA Receive Kickbacks?

    The WSAVA does not receive kickbacks from any companies, because they don’t specifically promote any particular company.

    In fact, they are a non-profit organization with the mission to “advance animal health and welfare worldwide.”

    Food companies of any type (both those that follow WSAVA guidelines and those that don’t) may contribute science, research, time and financial resources to the WSAVA.

    Ask questions about why boutique companies do not participate in research or the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and the global community this way!

    Additionally, food companies can choose to follow (or not follow) the established guidelines. These guidelines are common sense, so when a food company doesn’t follow them or spins their marketing to make you think that they do, we should be asking a lot of questions.

    Here is our list of science-backed large and giant breed puppy foods that meet WSAVA guidelines:

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    Do Veterinarians Receive Kickbacks from Dog Food Companies?

    This is a common myth, but it’s not true! In the United States, it is illegal for veterinarians to receive kickbacks from any companies, including pet food companies.

    If a food company gives a veterinarian a doormat with its logo on it, they cannot force the veterinarian to recommend that food. That would be unethical. Giving veterinarians sponsored items and asking them to promote the food are two different things.

    Some veterinarians might have a wholesale account to sell certain foods in their lobby. They will often do this so they can offer highly researched and scientifically formulated prescription diets to pets that need them.

    The question is not actually about whether or not veterinarians ‘receive kickbacks’ then, but truly about why veterinarians promote certain brands and not others.

    For a number of reasons, most veterinarians promote science-backed brands such as Purina, Hills, and Royal Canin. They are approached often about promoting ’boutique’ food brands, but they tend to steer clear (because…science and well, laws).

    It is not, however, illegal for pet store employees, ‘nutritionists’ with weak credentials, influencers (us included) and brand reps to earn commissions and ‘kickbacks’.

    As a matter of fact, these people make TONS of money recommending dog food to you. Remind yourself that the next time a pushy Blue Buffalo rep at Petsmart is telling you about how ‘gross’ and ‘nasty’ Purina is.

    READ ABOUT SOME COMMON VETERINARY MYTHS HERE
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    Should I Feed My Great Dane Puppy or Adult Food?

    But, Veterinarians aren’t Nutritionists!

    No, they aren’t.

    But they did go to 4 years of undergraduate school, followed by 4 years of veterinary medicine where they studied companion animal health, surgery, nutrition, and welfare.

    They took upper-level nutrition classes, usually taught by veterinary nutritionists, and then went on to apply this knowledge to every facet of health from the endocrine system to healing, urinary health, thyroid disorders, diabetes, allergies, and liver and kidney function.

    That’s definitely more than most of us and definitely more than your dog trainer, an employee at a pet store, the ‘Dog Food Advisor’ (a human dentist), or somebody you met in a Facebook group who ‘read the ingredients list’.

    The information in those courses and textbooks are often coming from ‘the Big 5’ food brands (Hills, Purina, Eukanuba, Royal Canin, and Iams), because those food brands are the ones most dedicated to health sciences and research, and thus have a lot of important and relevant information to share.

    The Purina Institute, for example, has contributed an insane amount of peer-reviewed data that is helping animals all over the world with everything from bloat to hip dysplasia, cancer and diabetes.

    Some of the veterinarians go on to gain additional certifications in nutrition (MS or PhD). Most veterinarians then, as a result, tend to look up to the resources and information coming from their more educated veterinary peers.

    So when a veterinarian is giving advice about dog food brands, they are getting their advice from actual science.

    Pet store employees, on the flip side, are not veterinarians at all and receive the information they share from food companies that want them to sell their products for, you guessed it, kickbacks.

    We will say this often: look past the feel good marketing start asking big QUESTIONS about boutique dog foods! Have more questions about nutrition? Leave a comment below!

  • Great Dane Puppy Food

    Great Dane Puppy Food

    Welcome to the world of owning a Great Dane Puppy! Now you have to figure out what to feed it. Choosing the right Great Dane puppy food can be difficult and confusing. There is a lot of conflicting, misleading, and even dangerous information out there. We get it, because we’ve totally been there!

    Great Dane puppies grow extremely fast and unfortunately, the wrong dog food can be devastating for their health. Giant breed dogs are susceptible to a number of nutrition-related imbalances and orthopedic growth disorders.

    Many of these conditions are preventable with the right diet. Choosing the best puppy food for your Great Dane is key, and the right kibble may not be what you think!

    If you have a new Great Dane puppy and are confused about what to feed it, you’ve found the most scientific, up-to-date article! We are driven by current research and science, not outdated advice or clickbait.

    In this post you will find:

    • A list of the best foods to feed a Great Dane puppy (2023 update!)
    • Health problems caused by incorrect nutrition in puppyhood
    • How to choose food for a Great Dane puppy
    • Best practices for feeding Great Dane puppies
    • Supplements and health information

    Read on, Great Dane friends!

    10 4

    2023 Best Foods for Great Dane Puppies

    Before we dig into the WHY, please check out this list of foods that are the best and most well-researched options. You don’t need to flip endless bags to find the right one; choose from the list below and you WILL be making a solid choice.

    We know you are busy chasing that cute puppy around, so if you want the simple, already researched-for-you answer, here it is. Easy-peasy!

    The foods on the list below meet the following science-backed recommendations:

    • 1.2% or less calcium
    • 3.5g or less calcium per 1000kcal
    • Formulated by a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist who is on staff for the company (not a consultant)
    • Grain-inclusive
    • Contains Meat Meal as a top ingredient (reduces bloat risk)
    • Has the AAFCO Large Breed Growth Statement
    • Formulated correctly for the growth of large AND giant breed puppies (not “adult maintenance” diets)

    Click on any link below to view on Chewy.

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

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    Great Dane Puppy Growth Disorders Caused by Wrong Food

    If you are new to Great Danes, you may not be aware of how they are different than other dogs. They experience explosive growth from birth to 8 months of age, and then continue to grow and fill out until they are nearly 3 years old.

    Imagine going from 1 pound to 100 pounds in just 8 months!

    The wrong kibble formulation and unbalanced, untested foods from boutique companies or home cooking can cause:

    There is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there about what to feed a Great Dane Puppy.

    Today we are using science and modern knowledge to clear it up, once and for all!

    If you are looking for dog food for an older or adult Great Dane (18+ months), read HERE.

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    Great Dane Puppy Food – What You Need to Know

    We are going to cover some important need-to-know topics below. You may notice that we are going to dispel a LOT of myths about what to feed Dane puppies, too!

    Here are some common nutrition myths in the world of Danes. If you hear these, you are hearing information from people that are stuck in 1993.

    “Never feed puppy food!”

    “Great Dane puppies should only eat adult food!”

    “The protein level must be very low! Never feed a food with protein above 24%”

    “Add calcium to the diet so their bones can grow.”

    All of those statements are outdated and misleading! Let’s dig into this!

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    Should I feed puppy food or adult food to my Great Dane?

    This is the biggest and most important question you can ask yourself as a Great Dane Owner! Should Great Dane puppies eat adult food?

    Absolutely not! Get that idea out of your head right now.

    Story time!

    20 years ago we didn’t have an understanding about what causes growth disorders in large and giant breed puppies. Anecdotally, breeders found that if they fed adult food to their puppies, they experienced fewer growth problems.

    At one time, this concept did have merit. The problem here is that it’s now 2023 and we have much, much better choices.

    Adult food works to minimize growth disorders by literally starving the puppy of the nutrition that it needs to grow.

    Seriously. I don’t know about you, but I am not ok with that. We see a LOT of 8-18 month old Great Danes that have no muscle tone and are hopelessly lanky and skinny. This is why! They are being fed adult food and don’t receive enough nutrients to support their muscle, tendon, and brain development.

    Guess what?

    Through feeding trials and data research, dry dog food formulas have been modified and updated. Many large and giant breed PUPPY foods are now considered ideal for giant breed puppy dogs.

    A science-backed, properly formulated large-breed or giant-breed puppy food will have been designed, tested, and proven to encourage slow growth and healthy bone development. Veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists will repeat this.

    Great Dane puppies should be on a well-researched large or giant breed puppy formula until 18-24 months. Intake and body condition should be monitored. You should never, ever feed traditional puppy foods that are not made for large breed dogs! This is of key importance.

    Here is our list of appropriate foods to feed a Great Dane Puppy (more on why, below!):

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    16

    Calcium & Phosphorus Ratios in Great Dane Puppy Food

    In addition to being an appropriate grain-inclusive large or giant breed growth formula, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus is a key consideration when choosing food for your puppy.

    Calcium must be at or below 1.3% (1.2% is even better) and the Phosphorus should be CLOSE behind it.

    NOTE: However, even foods with correct calcium and phosphorus ratios may not be appropriate!

    There is a lot more to nutrition than just that. Amino acids, the source of those nutrients (meat vs. peas or legumes), and ultimate bioavailability and formulation of the finished product are incredibly important. It is also believed that vitamin D and zinc levels contribute, which is why it is difficult to compare foods in an informed manner. Two foods may appear to be very similar based on the limited information the label provides, however, they likely are not.

    A typical CA/PH analysis might look like this below, or similar. Do not feed food brands that don’t have this information easily accessible on the label!

    Calcium 1.2%
    Phosphorus 1.0%

    Look specifically for the AAFCO large breed growth statement on the bag of food. This is a requirement to find in addition to seeing the calcium levels at or below 1.2%!

    The AAFCO large breed growth statement will contain something that looks like this:

    “including growth of large-size dogs (70 pounds or more as an adult)“

    If it says “excluding growth of large-size dogs”, do NOT feed it. If it does not have a statement about the growth of large-size dogs, don’t feed that either.

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    What is the Best Protein Level for Great Dane puppy food?

    Many people believe that protein is the most important thing to look at. This is fairly dated information, based again on old observations. Some people believe you should keep protein levels less than 24%.

    Many Great Danes are being starved of protein in the name of this. Protein provides amino acids that are necessary for health. Protein must come primarily from a meat source. Meat meals and meat by-product meals are ideal, as they offer a concentrated source of amino acids and protein!

    Food brands that use ‘fresh deboned meat’ and no meat meals will be deficient and likely heavy in starches; don’t fall for marketing that is designed to appeal to your tastes. Foods that are extremely heavy in peas, lentils, garbanzo beans, potatoes, or derivatives of them are not safe to feed.

    Meat meals (or by-product meals) contain biologically appropriate meat tissue, bone, cartilage, and organ. These ingredients have also been shown to reduce the risk of bloat by 53%!

    Some of the best foods will have protein levels up to 32%! Royal Canin Giant Breed Puppy, for example, which has been scientifically proven for growth.

    Here are other considerations:

    AAFCO Food Guidelines for Puppy Foods

    The food you choose for your Dane puppy should have an AAFCO statement on the bag with only small variations to the following statement.

    This statement should indicate that the food is formulated for the growth of large-sized dogs AND that food trials were used to prove that the formulation is correct for growth:

    Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [THIS FORMULA] provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages, including growth of large sized dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

    ***Note: In dog food, ‘Large Sized Dogs’ is a simplified term that INCLUDES giant breeds.

    Here is some additional information on AAFCO statements.

    If the nutrition statement says “formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles”, it means that the food wasn’t substantiated in food trials. It was only seen to meet certain minimums on paper.

    It’s important to understand that MANY food companies can use a computer program to spit out recipes, send it to their marketing department to make adjustments that appeal to you (ingredient splitting), and have it signed off by a consulting company that it meets AAFCO minimums.

    Use your best judgment here. Ask questions and look past the marketing.

    Best Food Brands for Great Danes

    The following food brands are recommended for these reasons:

    • They meet the highest standards for analysis, formulation, testing, science, nutrition, and ethics
    • Formulated by on-staff board-certified veterinary nutritionists
    • They use biologically correct ingredients such as meat by-product meals
    • Subjected to millions of dollars in research, testing and feeding trials
    • Balanced protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus ratios
    • Proven
    • Science-based, not marketing-based

    All of the items below are links to this product on Chewy. We recommend placing your choice on autoship!

    Large Breed Puppy foods from these brands are ideal for Great Dane Puppies:

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    This list is not exhaustive, and it is up to you to do your own research. It is important to note that the Great Dane community is full of anecdotal stories and dated advice.

    Our blog is focused on science and we update it often with the most current recommendations.

    We no longer recommend brands that do not meet WSAVA guidelines. See our FAQ for more information.

    My great dane is not eating, now what?

    Signs that your Great Dane puppy food may not be the right choice:

    • You’ve chosen a food from a boutique ‘feel good’ company that doesn’t employ a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DACVN) to formulate and test the food
    • Your puppy is knuckling
    • Your pup has developed flat feet
    • Your dog is experiencing panosteitis, HOD or wobblers
    • You notice that your puppy has swollen joints, pain or limping
    • You see your puppy suffering from lethargy and general weakness, unrelated to disease
    • Your puppy is not developing muscle tone
    • Your puppy is experiencing excess gas and loose stools that aren’t related to parasites or frequent dietary changes
    • You’ve chosen a brand from an MLM scheme

    We do not recommend Life’s Abundance or similar foods or supplements (including NuVet) where breeders receive commissions (‘kickbacks’) when you purchase from them.

    These foods are not formulated by boarded, professional Veterinary Nutritionists. The high pricing is reflective of the commission scheme underneath the brand, not of the actual quality.

    Choose science, instead:

    The Ultimate Great Dane Feeding Chart

    What is DCM in Great Danes?

    Royal Canin Giant Breed Dog Food Review

    Is Large Breed Dog Food Necessary?

    Large Breed Adult vs. Puppy Food

    Red Flag Dog Foods

    Here is our list of dog foods and supplements we would never feed for any reason. These brands made this list because of extra-shady marketing tactics, having a bad reputation among the veterinary and veterinary nutritionist community, having high rates of harm caused by unbalanced nutrition, extreme ingredient splitting, and/or because they are MLM.

    • Orijen
    • Acana
    • Gentle Giants
    • Life’s Abundance
    • Paw Tree
    • NuVet
    • Most grain-free kibbles, especially 4Health, Acana/Orijen, Zignature, Fromm, etc.
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    When should my Great Dane puppy switch to adult food?

    As long as you are feeding one of our recommended formulas, you should follow the manufacturers recommendation.

    Pro Plan, for example, has foods that encourage you to feed them until 18-24 months. Royal Canin does as well.

    We believe that Great Dane puppies should have puppy food until 18-24 months.

    Puppy Food Q&A

    What are WSAVA Guidelines?

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    The WSAVA is a non-profit, worldwide organization dedicated to supporting veterinarians, health, science, and nutrition. Any food brand can sponsor these important efforts, however, most boutique brands do not.

    The WSAVA has released a set of common-sense guidelines to consider when choosing food for your dog. These guidelines are simply a set of recommendations. There is no such thing as ‘WSAVA Approved’, and the WSAVA does not make ‘kickbacks’ or money from food brands.

    See the guide HERE.

    Is Large Breed Dog Food ok for Great Danes?

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    Some science-backed food companies (including Royal Canin and Purina) make ‘Giant Breed’ specific formulas, and those are fantastic!

    The Royal Canin Giant Breed line is perfect.

    However, many ‘giant breed’ formulas have been phased out or are hard to find.

    Large Breed foods from Purina, Hills, Science Diet and Royal Canin are formulated and tested for dogs over 70+lbs, and this includes our giant breed dogs.

    Therefore, both giant and large breed formulas are ideal and can be correct for Great Danes!

    Meat Meal and Meat By-Products? YUCK, right!?

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    Many people see ‘Meat Meal’ or ‘Meat By Product Meal’ on the ingredients list and immediately believe that it must mean the food is full of cheap protein and junk.

    Meal and Meat By-Product Meals are a concentrated form of whole-prey meat, not junk as you may have been led to believe.

    Dogs don’t eat nicely cut and trimmed steak and chicken filets like us humans do.

    They eat the WHOLE animal! Bone, organs, muscle, tendons and more. There is absolutely nothing wrong with meat meals and meat by product meals.

    “By Product” simply means that the food is a rendering left over from some other process. Us humans don’t eat a lot of organ meat. Therefore, organ is ‘by product’.

    Dogs NEED organ, bone and other ‘yucky’ things in their diet.

    Whole prey model raw diets rely heavily on bone, organ and other tissues.

    It’s not junk, it’s necessary nutrition.

    What are Boutique Food Brands?

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    A boutique food brand is a dog food from a company that:

    -Does not employ a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DACVN) to formulate and test foods
    -Does not regularly utilize ongoing AAFCO food trials to test and substantiate their formulas
    -Does not participate in or contribute to veterinary-level research and nutrition science
    -Does not support ongoing veterinary health efforts (WSAVA, for example)

    Boutique food brands often:

    -Use marketing to make you ‘feel good’ about the food

    -Rely on generic, unregulated terms such as ‘holistic’, ‘farm fresh’, ‘family-owned’ and ‘human grade’ to guide you so that you look past deficiencies in their scientific practices

    -Will intentionally misrepresent science-backed and heavily-researched foods as ‘trash’, ‘garbage’, ‘fast food’ or ‘horrible’ so that you feel emotional or worried about food and buy their brand instead

    Boutique food brands are linked to secondary DCM, a devastating heart condition that can cause sudden death in ‘healthy’ looking dogs.

    I don’t see a popular food recommended here, why not?

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    Popular foods seen in the Great Dane community include Victor, 4Health, Diamond Naturals, Costco, Fromm, Zignature, Nulo, Nutro, Solid Gold, Orijen, Acana, The Farmer’s Dog, Honest Kitchen, Canine Caviar, Liberty, and Holistic Select (among others).

    These are all ’boutique’ foods. We will not recommend them.

    They do not employ DACVN Board-Certified veterinary nutritionists to formulate their foods. They do not participate in well-run nutrition research and food trials for their brand or for the greater good of dogs.

    For example, Fromm foods are formulated by a chemical engineer.
    Victor foods are formulated by a guy with an online certificate in dairy cattle feeding.

    Contrary to popular belief, boutique food brands are not inherently ‘higher-quality’.

    Marketing is what makes you believe that it is.

    Boutique food brands are linked to secondary DCM, and should be fed with caution.

    Many dogs that suffer from nutritional DCM have healthy coats and good stools! They die suddenly, often without warning because their heart enlarges and eventually gives out.

    It is believed that a majority of nutritional DCM cases go undiagnosed, because of this.

    Nutritional (Secondary) DCM is caused by unbalanced nutrition.

    We recommend sticking with science at this time and feeding only the highest quality, heavily researched diets that were substantiated in actual feeding trials, not just looked over by a ‘nutritionist’ on paper.

    Don’t vets get a kickback on food?

    Brindle Great Dane

    Many people believe that the only reason their veterinarian recommends Purina, Hill’s or Royal Canin is because their vet is receiving kickbacks and took all of their nutrition education from those companies.

    Considering that those companies are the ones spearheading and funding most, if not all of our existing canine nutrition research, those are the companies that should be educating veterinarians!

    Veterinarians that sell foods in their lobby mostly offer the prescription formulas to pets who need them and yes, they do receive a nominal amount of money for this, which covers the costs associated with stocking the food.

    Keep in mind that the pet store who is trying to sell you the pricier boutique food brand with the higher margin is ALSO receiving a ‘kickback’ to promote the foods they sell. As a matter of fact, these kickbacks can be both high-pressure and HUGE. Influencers, bloggers (yes, even us here at Hello Danes), and brand reps all make money selling food brands to you.

    No matter what food you buy, somebody somewhere stands to make money on the deal. Veterinarians are approached by ’boutique’ food brands OFTEN and absolutely could sell those options in their lobbies.

    But they don’t, because veterinarians believe in science and research. Not marketing and woo.

    My trainer/breeder/nutritionist recommended something else

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    Your trainer and breeder are not nutritionists. They are subject to the same marketing as you, which was created to make you feel nervous and guilty about choosing food for your dog. Follow the money here!

    ‘Nutritionist’ is an unregulated term. Anybody can take an online course and obtain that as a ‘title’. There are many ‘nutritionists’ out there, many of whom charge money for their services.

    The only legitimate nutritionists are veterinarians who have obtained additional credentials, study, degrees, and board certifications in the field of animal nutrition. Read more about DACVN at https://acvn.org/

    What about fresh foods?

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    We believe in fresh foods!

    As a matter of fact, studies have shown that feeding a dry-kibble-only diet may increase the risk of bloat.

    We recommend supplementing a healthy, well-formulated science-backed kibble with up to 10% raw or fresh foods. Purina One or Pro Plan Canned, balanced raw, Olewo Carrots, fresh fruits and vegetables, or Dr. Harvey’s are some of our favorites.

    What about raw feeding?

    Raw feeding can be done right!

    We recommend working with a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist and learning a lot about raw feeding before getting started. www.perfectlyrawsome.com is a great resource.

    Formulating your own raw dog food at home is rewarding, but you have to do it correctly. There are many misconceptions and myths about raw feeding and the truth is that most owners are not educated or equipped enough to do it correctly. Each meal must be perfectly balanced, and care must be taken to ensure food safety.

    We do not recommend raw-feeding giant breed puppies during their extreme growth phase (birth to 9 months) without professional veterinary nutritionist support. https://acvn.org/

    What about home-cooked diets?

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    Meat, veggies, and rice is NOT a balanced diet and may be extremely dangerous, despite the fact that it makes you feel like you are doing something ‘healthy’ for your pet.

    If you do make a home-cooked stew, use it as a topper for an already balanced, science-backed commercial food.

    Studies show that over 94% of home cooked diets are not correctly balanced (leading to nutrient deficiency or worse, toxicity). https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/homemade-dog-food-recipes-can-be-risky-business-study-finds

    To feed a full home cooked diet, work with a veterinary nutritionist and utilize BALANCE IT to view what nutrients are missing from your recipe.

    You can hire a DACVN HERE.

    We do not recommend home-cooking for Dane puppies under the age of 1 year, if ever at all.