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how much to feed

vinnie

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone I have a 13 week old female bullmastiff named Bella who weights 30# and I'm trying to figure out how much I should be feeding her she is eating earthborn holistics meadows feast but the feeding guidlines on the back I believe are set up for adult dogs already, I know adjustments will have to be made depending on how she looks but just a good starting place, I thought I was underfeeding at first then over because of how much other people feed but I heard people as low as 2 cups all the way up to 8 cups, just trying to figure out if it's more like 3 or 7
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Start with 1-2 cups three times a day. Adjust the food as you notice she's either loosing or gaining too much weight. You should be able to feel/see the last 3 ribs.

Slow and steady growth is best for a mastiff to prevent health issues later in life.
 

LLJohnson10

Well-Known Member
I have a Bullmastiff puppy also, I've been using this chart as a guideline to feed him. It was created by someone who has over 40 years experience owning and breeding large breed dogs. So far its working well for me.

On the chart below, start with the low end amounts (females) and on males use the mid-range amounts. They should not be fed at the high end amount until they are in the at least 1/2 way through the month. Example:
If your female puppy is 10 weeks old she would be on 3 cups a day of kibble divided into 2 feedings.
  1. GIANTS - start females on the low end amounts on chart and males on the mid range amounts.
  2. They should not be at the high amount until they are in the at least 1/2 way through to being another month older.
Example: a 17 week old female Dane should be eating approximately 4 cups a day divided into two meals - maximum 5 cups a day divided. A Dane male at 17 weeks should be eating 5 cups a day divided, maximum 6 cups a day divided.
2 months or 8 weeks = 2-4 cups per day - (divided into 3 meals daily)
3 months or 12 weeks = 3-5 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
4 months or 16 weeks = 4-6 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
5 months or 20 weeks = 5-7 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily
6 months or 24 weeks = 6-8 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
7 months 6-9 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
8 months..... 6-9 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
9 months..... 7-10 cups per day- (divided into 2 meals daily)
10 - 12 months....7-10 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)

12 -18 months males - 8-10 cups a day (divided into 2 meals daily)
12 -18 month females -6-9 cups a day (divided into w meals daily




 

River723

Active Member
I feed our 10 month old 85lbs bullmastiff the same food and she only eats 4 cups split into 2 meals a day and there is always alittle food left over when she is finished
 

LLJohnson10

Well-Known Member
Well sounds like this chart is off some. I hope my pup only eats 4 cups at 10 months, that will help me save.
 

Smokin45

Well-Known Member
It also depends on what youre feeding him? I started with Fromms LBP and was feeding my year old BM like 6 1/2 cups a day, but then switched to Origen LBP and now he is only getting 4 1/2. Not sure how that guy could make a generic chart like that without stating what brand to feed?
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Puppies are generally fed 3 times a day because they are so energetic and blow through the calories. As long as they are getting the recommended food, they should be ok. Adjust as necessary depending on pup's body mass.
 

LLJohnson10

Well-Known Member
It also depends on what youre feeding him? I started with Fromms LBP and was feeding my year old BM like 6 1/2 cups a day, but then switched to Origen LBP and now he is only getting 4 1/2. Not sure how that guy could make a generic chart like that without stating what brand to feed?

The food they feed at their kennel is called Precise Grain Free Chicken (http://precisepet.com/dog-formulas/precise-naturals-grain-free/grain-free-chicken-formula/). I'm not a fan of the ingredients, but it does appear to have the correct Calcium/Phosphorus ratio that everyone says is important.
 

BigMevy

Member
Interesting thread, I came here looking for just this advice. I've been following my vet's suggestion, basically 1 cup a meal 3 times a day and that's been more or less what I've fed him the whole time. He's 5 1/2 months now, and the last couple weeks I've upped it to about 1 1/3 cups 3 times a day. He's always licked the bowl clean and never left any behind.

I switched him from Eukanuba to the food my vet recommened called iVet. He swears by it (of course he also sells it) but the deciding factor for me was his recommendation combined with the fact that the large bag (37 pounds) is about $3 cheaper than the Eukanuba. So I figured if it was cheaper and higher recommended it was worth it. I also have to admit he gets regular treats, such as MilkBones and puppy crack, better known as small pieces of the Natural Balance dog food that they had us use in puppy training. I also give him a rawhide chip or one of those rawhide braids to chew on for a treat at night between dinner and bedtime.

That chart seems pretty crazy, but I'd be interested in seeing some other input from all of you.
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Check out dogfoodadvisor.com

Eukanuba Dog Food | Review and Rating

Natural Balance has a lot of dog food recalls.

Rawhides are not good for dogs because they are not easily digested. I had a dog die from eating a rawhide because it lodged in his intestines. He was too old to survive the surgery per the vet, he was 13 yrs old. The vet told me to never feed dogs rawhides especially the ones from China.

MilkBones are all grains. Generally, mastiffs are allergic to chicken and grains in dog food and treats.

I believe vets who push dog food that they are paid to push, really do not know what they are pushing onto their clients. It's all about the dollar.
 

Tunride

Well-Known Member
Mastiff have issues with chicken and grain. Chicken in biscuits and treats, chicken fat, or meal. If I do chicken in anything we get mush puddles instead of firm stool. I use the Earthborn Holistic Meadows Feast with great results. You can look under the Health section for food recommendations.
 

rcnd82

Well-Known Member
My 5 1/2 month old BM is eating 2 cups in the morning, i cup at noon and 2 cups at night. Fromm Gold Bag Adult. His weight gain seems fine as indicated on the growth chart thread. I will give some yogurt at mid-morning and mid-afternoon if I think about it. Thinking about going to feeding 2x per day. The amount of food in the post by LLJ above seems to be a lot of food, especially if you are trying to keep the weight reasonable.


I do not feed rawhides but have been using cow tails, until this past weekend when he swallowed it whole and threw up the 4 inch spine the next day.
 

LLJohnson10

Well-Known Member
I do feed Compressed Rawhide, even though i've heard all of the warnings and the bad things that could happen. I probably shouldn't keep tempting fate, but every dog that i've ever owned have loved the compressed rawhide.

I've never had any luck with Kong's or anything similar. Rawhide is the only thing i've used (that i've been comfortable with) that has been able to hold my dogs' attention for at least 15 mins. I've had similar success with Bully sticks, but they smell awful.

Today, i'm going to check out some YouTube videos to see what I can do to Kongs to make them more interesting, without causing any stomach upset. My GSD has a very sensitive stomach.

I would also like to hear more about how much others feed their Bullmastiffs and their ages. Of course i'm a first time Mastiff owner and I want to do everything right when it comes to feeding, exercise, mental stimulation, training, ect. (even though its not likely).
 

BigMevy

Member
It never even occurred to me, but apparently on the side of my dog food it has a feeding chart. It seems I'm pretty much right on as far as what it recommends. So I'd suggest also checking what the dog food manufacturer recommends.

As per the suggestions, I stopped with the rawhide, even though he loved them. I did get a couple bully sticks to try, they do smell awful. I got a couple natural pork femur bones, he destroyed the first one I gave him. I had to steal the remainder as it had gotten to splintering and looked like it could be harmful at that point.
 

Sinnister

Well-Known Member
My 6 month old girl had horrible mud puddles until about 5 months of age if I gave her anything other than her Wellness puppy 5. I recently switched to another Wellness Puppy food and she seems ok except that she is very hungry now it seems. Not sure if there is less nutrients per kibble or what but I also don't like that her coat is looking a little more dull.

Not sure what to do at this point. I dont want to switch her kibble brand and have her stomach upset all the time.

Treats? What do you all recommend? She seems to tolerate dehydrated Liver and Cheese but not much else.

Chews/Bones: she can eat the beef knuckle bone without issues. So I bought the cow tail and she had such horrible diarrhea it got bloody. Took her to the vet for tests and everything. It was horrible. Never tried rawhide but not sure what else I can give her as a chew. She ignores Kongs for the most part. Prefers my furniture.
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
My 6 month old girl had horrible mud puddles until about 5 months of age if I gave her anything other than her Wellness puppy 5. I recently switched to another Wellness Puppy food and she seems ok except that she is very hungry now it seems. Not sure if there is less nutrients per kibble or what but I also don't like that her coat is looking a little more dull.

Not sure what to do at this point. I dont want to switch her kibble brand and have her stomach upset all the time.

Treats? What do you all recommend? She seems to tolerate dehydrated Liver and Cheese but not much else.

Chews/Bones: she can eat the beef knuckle bone without issues. So I bought the cow tail and she had such horrible diarrhea it got bloody. Took her to the vet for tests and everything. It was horrible. Never tried rawhide but not sure what else I can give her as a chew. She ignores Kongs for the most part. Prefers my furniture.
How much and how often are you feeding her?

Re: Treats. Dehydrated liver can also cause diarrhea if given too much of the meat. I buy Titan Freshpet Dog Joy Turkey Treats and I also boil chicken breasts and cut them into small pieces.

Re: Chew bones. Stay away from rawhides, they can cause major issues with their digestive system. They can lodge inside their digestive system and have to be removed surgically. :( Try frozen washcloths or hand towels, ropes, deer antlers or freeze plain yogurt in the kong. Avoid bones that are weight-bearing bones or smoked bones. Smoked bones can cause diarrhea. Avoid any bones made in China. In face, avoid anything for the dog that is made in China.

I've read where some members have sprayed bitter apple spray on their furniture and it can stop the pup from chewing your furniture. I've never used it but they swear by it.

Hope that helps.
 

Sinnister

Well-Known Member
Awesome advice.

Was feeding 1.5 cups 3 times a day up until 4 months. For the last two months I've been feeding 2 cups X2 per day. And switched foods about 2 weeks ago. Seems like she's always hungry on the new food.

I'll try that deer antlers. Tried a Nylabone but she was bored with it.

Will keep monitoring. She's 63 pounds at 6 months so will probably be a little small anyway.
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
Awesome advice.

Was feeding 1.5 cups 3 times a day up until 4 months. For the last two months I've been feeding 2 cups X2 per day. And switched foods about 2 weeks ago. Seems like she's always hungry on the new food.

I'll try that deer antlers. Tried a Nylabone but she was bored with it.

Will keep monitoring. She's 63 pounds at 6 months so will probably be a little small anyway.

You decreased the amount she gets? (1.5x3=4.5 vs 2x2=4)
Chances are the new food is less calorie dense than what she was eating. I found out the hard way not to go by the recommended amount on the bag of a new brand of food when switching foods for Kryten. Instead I calculate how many calories he was getting from the old food and then use that total to figure out how much of the new food he needs.
 

Sinnister

Well-Known Member
You decreased the amount she gets? (1.5x3=4.5 vs 2x2=4)
Chances are the new food is less calorie dense than what she was eating. I found out the hard way not to go by the recommended amount on the bag of a new brand of food when switching foods for Kryten. Instead I calculate how many calories he was getting from the old food and then use that total to figure out how much of the new food he needs.

Yes, decreased the amount of intake based on recommendation from a trainer. But I think you're right about the caloric intake being reduced. I don't think she's getting as much calories per feeding now. I will adjust accordingly.