Ask Guru
Ask Guru is similar to “Dear Abby” in that you write in with your questions, and I answer them. Have a question about dog food, canine nutrition in general, raw feeding? Want a review on a particular dog food that you didn’t find already on this site? Write me with your questions and requests and I will publish the answer as soon as humanly possible!
At what age should a giant breed puppy make the transision from commercial puppy food to their adult variety. The packageing is very vague with a stange combination of age/weigh/appetite.
It is eagle pack if that is relevant.
Hi,
Giant breeds, in my opinion, should ALWAYS be on adult formula in order to maintain slow, steady growth. Some people subscribe to the school of thought that puppies should be fed puppy formula until 4 months and then switched over to adult.
What are the main ingredients to stay away from?
I would have to say that foods containing corn, wheat or soy, or glutens derived from those, should be avoided. Foods containing Menadione, artificial colors or flavorings, BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, salt, sugar, byproducts…
I have my dog on a raw diet with excellent results, but he recently saw a veterinary ophthalmologist who warned me that this could subject him to toxoplasmosis infection and suggested that I change him to cooked food. What is toxoplasmosis and should I be concerned about my dog getting it from having a raw diet?
Toxoplasmosis is a single-celled parasite that can be found in raw meat. Generally speaking, it only causes problems in animals or people with weakened immune systems. Given that a dog’s digestive tract is so short and raw food moves through there quite rapidly, for healthy dogs fed human-grade fresh meats, it shouldn’t be a problem. Take normal precautions when handling meat, as you would for your own family to avoid infection. Some people (myself included) will freeze meats for a short period (10-14 days) prior to feeding to kill any lingering bacteria, or a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar will also help reduce the bacteria or chance of parasitic infection.
I have an English Mastiff who is 2 years old. We feed her 6 cups a day total. We divide it into 3 feedings a day. At every feeding she is inhalling her food and she is still hungry after she is all sone. She even trys to eat our other dogs fod. He is a boxer and is a little older so iit takes him a little longer to eat. Any suggestions so she is not so hungry all the time.
Depending on what she’s eating and how you are measuring the food, she may actually not be getting enough to eat. A lot of people just grab a regular measuring cup and scoop the food and by doing so, are actually either overfeeding or underfeeding. Look up how many oz are in each cup of food and try measuring it on a kitchen scale to make sure you are feeding the proper amount. If you are, and she still acts hungry, try adding some sweet potato or green beans to her meals to help fill her up.