Hi all
My friend has a Golden Retreiver pup (12wks) and currently feeds on JWB puppy performance. She has been told by the dog trainer at puppy class not to give complete food with high protein as this will cause rapid growth and strain on joints.

can anyone give advice on this as I have told my friend that high protein is what puppies require.

She has joined but cant get login to work!

thanks

JWB is an excellent food and indeed is the food (or one of 2) that the breeder of my 2 youngest Goldens (the youngest is 13 weeks) recommends and indeed my pup is fed on it.

Hi there

I understand what the trainer is saying as we are supposed to allow goldens to grow slowly, rapid growth can cause problems with their joints.

I feed raw so can't give much info on JWB but there is a school of thinking that advises not to give 'puppy food' to large breed puppies for the exact reason the trainer mentioned!

I'm sure there will be some experts on soon to give you their thoughts too!

Maria :)

I feed my Golden Retriever puppies on JWB puppy from the weaning stage. I change over to JWB Junior at about 5 months and then onto Adult by about 7 months. I have never had any joint problems and in fact have been very pleased with the results that I do get. One of the things she should be careful about is not supplementing the food (the food is balanced and needs nothing adding) and also be careful about the exercise that the puppy gets.

>One of the things she should be careful about is not supplementing the food (the food is balanced and needs nothing adding)

The food may be complete and balanced,and thats a big "MAY",as i really have never believed that one food has everything every dog needs,which is why i think it is so important to rotate between different commercial foods from an early age,not only to ensure the dog gets everything he needs but also to ensure a solid digestive system.If a dog is introduced to a variety of foods from the beginning it should not have problems in the future if a change of food is needed or if he gets into something he shouldnt because his tum is used to different foods.

As for not supplementing,do you mean with foods or actual supplements? I strongly believe that every dog,just as with humans, needs and deserves fresh foods on a daily basis.Living on nothing but a processed diet is no better for them than it would be for us or our children.... and i dont believe any dog will thrive to it's full potential on a diet of 'dead' food,eg enzyme deficient/void foods.

If you mean supplements,there are lots of safe and beneficial supps dogs should have,such as fish oil and vitE,which IMO every dog needs,(bar the ones with severe health problems like one member here has) as most commercial foods have excess Omega6 and nowhere near enough omega3 (which is evidenced by the epidemic of skin problems,joint problems,immune sytem related problems and the list goes on and on),which is where the fish oil comes in.Then there are places like Dorwest herbs that sell healthful supps like easy green,keepers mix,kelp etc etc

>give complete food with high protein as this will cause rapid growth and strain on joints.

This is a myth that doesnt seem to want to go away :rolleyes: High protein diets sometimes also contain high calcium levels,and therein lies the problem.You dont want to feed large breed pups food with high calcium to phos levels. I know plenty of Large breed pup owners who feed commercial foods with 36% protein who are thriving,but the calcium levels are at a good/lower level.Then you get foods with only 25-30% protein who's calcium levels are through the roof! This is where your friend needs to look,at the cal levels,not the protein.And remember the average raw diet,the canines natural,ultimate diet usually hovers around 32-36% protein.

One also has to look at the source of protein.If the food starts with a cereal and has corn gluten meal or maize near the top of the ingredient list followed by a meat source than the chances are high that the protein from that food is coming from the former and the dog isnt digesting half of it anyway.

I think many,many more problems are caused by diets too low in protein/fat rather than the other way around.Most of the diseases seen in today's dogs seem to be caused by deficiencies rather than excess.

Thank you very much I have forwarded on the replies to her. I too believe that a dog needs fresh food, dry food all the time has to be boring. what sort of calcium levels should she be looking for?

Lorri

>what sort of calcium levels should she be looking for?

CAL-   1.1 TO 1.5%
     
            TO

PHOS- O.8 TO 1.O%

The calcium to phosphorus ratio is important.

I love the way so many people think it causes problems HOWEVER so many dogs have been fine brough up on puppy food.

Keep the puppy on JWB, I'm sure he will be fine and if the food suits him then great! :D