Frequently Asked Questions
What supplements should I feed my dogs?
I do not go overboard on supplements, but I do believe every pet should have these 3 supplements added to their pet’s diet starting with puppy through geriatric.Fish Oil-Omega-3 fatty acids – This supplement has been encouraged for people to add to their daily diet and now we in the Veterinarian field are recommending it for dogs and cats. The benefits are to reduce inflammation of the skin and arthritis, boost the immune system and aid kidney function. This supplement is a gold standard for me and my pets.
Glucosamine/Chondroitin – Another gold standard for me and my Great Danes for lubing up the joints. I heard a recommendation that teens should start taking this supplement to prevent injuries later in life which is why I started Pickles on this supplement. I do not wait until my dogs are over 7 years of age, I feel with the training and exercise my dogs get from such a young age, they need all the help they can get from a good joint supplement.
Probiotics and Enzymes – My puppies are raised from the moment they start eating solid food to have probiotics and enzymes. Adding them to the food helps with digestion along with balancing the good and bad bacteria. Great Danes’ digestive systems can be delicate. Stress and medications can be hard on the digestive system, and probiotics and enzymes can help keep it in balance along with aiding in bloat prevention by breaking down the food faster (in theory). Here is a good link for more information:
Sam-e (S-adenosylmethionine) -This supplement I just started to use with Millie who turned 7 years old this year. It makes sense to me…Sam-e helps protect liver and brain function from oxidative damage. This may help reduce the liklihood that the older pet’s personality will change, in turn producing a happier geriatric dog. When it comes to giving your Great Dane supplements, most expensive is not bette. Find a product you trust which I find to be FDA approved and human (more regulations and cheaper) and be vigilant!!!
At what age should I start exercising my Great Dane?
Well this is a big debate among Great Dane breeders… If all is right I feel exercise is great for your pup; I start at 6 months a slow jog for 10 minutes every other day. I have used the bike, scooter, or skateboard but we keep it at a slow jog so the dog is reaching with their front legs developing their chest and strengthening their rear. My Danes love their jogs I have not had any problems with lameness. If I did I would stop. Another great way to exercise your Dane would be swimming if they like water. It is easy on the joints and great fun!! Just remember the growth plates are not closed until the dog is 18 months old so lameness in a Great Dane and exercise needs to be carefully monitored.What food do you feed your Great Dane?
I do not know enough about balancing diets to feed my dogs raw and be comfortable that they are getting a balanced diet for life. So I leave that in the hands of experts…I feed commercial; I do read labels and have found a diet that is 22% protein, 10% oils and 4% fiber. It is perfect for my dogs as pups to grow on and not grow too fast. I also feed it to my 7 year old Dane which keeps the fat off and easy on her kidneys with the low protein. It has not been involved in any of the past recalls and is made in the USA. This food is grain and gluten free. After doing my research on foods, I am very pleased with this company’s philosophy.Here is a link with additional information:
