28% or 32% crude protein for a puppy? - Page 1

Which is better for the growth of a puppy? Feeding a certain brand of puppy food with 32% or with the 28% crude protein? Any help and info will be very much appreciated. Thanks

I assume your puppies are GSD? are you feeding a large breed formula?

In my opinion a crude protein level of 28% is better for slower tissue growth, but may still be a bit too high for a puppy that is past a certain age. For example, there is nothing wrong with feeding a puppy with a food that has a crude protein level of 24% once the puppy is sixteen (16) weeks old. The best growth rate is a slow growth rate; one that allows bones and joints to develop and mature parallel to that of the body tissue. Bob-O

32% is way too much for a GSD puppy, from what I've been told by both breeders and vets. The maximum should be 28%, and I've never used anything with more than 26%. You want steady growth, not explosive growth.

I feed 32% protein, either Eukanuba Small Breed (!) puppy formula or Royal Canin Max puppy (my preference, but not always available where I live). Been doing it for years with very good results... I don't believe any of that crap the dogfood companies try to feed us and the veterinary medical community. I think its all BS intended to sell food less expensive to make (protein is $$$!) for more money/higher profit. I have had terrible luck trying to feed Eaukanuba large breed puppy formula. Many of my youngster don't like the fish content. I wish we could still get Royal Canin's full product line here the US, so I could adjust my dogs' diets to suit each of their individual work/breeding status, energy levels, ages, metabolisms, etc., but I doubt we'll ever see anything like that here again... Too bad :(

I would highly suggest you stay away from ANY food with a protein content of 26% or more after the puppy is 12 weeks of age. The growth needs to be slowed down, or you risk opening the pup up to all sorts of problems--Panosteitis ("Pano", which is inflammation of the long bones, and often goes from leg to leg, and despite what vets say, that it will go away once the dog is through growing, this is not always the case. I know from personal experience. I have a male who every time he gets stressed out, begins to limp again. After a couple of weeks of complete rest and some pain meds, he's fine) and hip/elbow dysplasia from growing too quickly or putting too much weight on the newly forming joints--which you really don't want to put your puppy through. I would suggest Eagle Pack (you can get holistic Eagle Pack if your dog has allergies to the original adult, which 2 of mine have--the main ingredient is pork, not the greatest of main ingredients!), Solid Gold (I personally use the Mmillennium Beef/Barley when I do use this brand), Innova (NOT EVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), AvoDerm, and once your dog is an adult and FINISHED growing (20 months female, 24 months male), Royal Canin German Shepherd is a decent choice as well. Also something to keep in mind is what TREATS you are supplementing with, because say you go with a 28% protein food, you're also giving your dog raw hide chew treats, or pig ears, raw meat, (whatever) etc, which also contain protein, and suddenly you're feeding way too much protein again. Keep the treats for training time and go for a treat like a new toy that's not edible when you feel like "spoiling" your puppy. Hope this helps!

I am agree with Bob-O that is the best growth rate is a slow growth rate but if you include in dogs nutrition glucosamine and chondroitine you will have not got problems with joints with high protein level food. All quality dehydrate dog food for large breed and specialized for German Shepherd have G&C as a essential part of them. I will recommend Royal Canine German Shepherd Junior 30 Formula from 2-15 months If you feed your puppy with food which have not got G&C you can use for additional substitute Canine PetVital GAG formula or Arthro Tabs. Arthro extremely boost growing and is recommended in stage of fracture or in stage of problem with any abnormality in growing.

Well I'm with Shelly on this one, I too do not agree with the crap the dog food companies are trying to get us to beleive, Puppies need protein to PROPERLY GROW OUT, Less protein means that the body extracts it elsewhere to feed what organs need, Protein. Muscle tissue is often deteriorated to feed the need of an organ, Organs take prefference every time ! I will not hold protein from my pups and I also love the Eukanuba small breed puppy food. Also like Diamond. All is hard to get here so sometimes mixing is appropriate as sometimes Euk not avail. and sometimes Diamond not avail. I actually mix 3 feeds together so that dogs tummy's don't get upset when they leave here, or when feed is hard to get hands on, We live in very Rural. Anyway I love blending the feeds, and also supplement with Lean burger and Rice. and a few other things in the mix. Hope I don't get Blasted for this one... :-)

I just switched from Nutro Naturals to Diamond, it's just as good and cheaper to boot. I have been mixing food the past couple months, trying new stuff. Settled on Diamond this weekend. My dogs like it better than what we thought we were going to stick with. For a couple bucks more a bag, I'll take what my dogs more readily go for. Bonus I can find it close to home, rather than driving an hour and 15, just to buy dog food.

Question. If you mix several different brands of food aren't you throwing off the balance of each food?