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New EM puppy owner

Jburnisky

Member
Have you been weighing him? My BM grew at about 3 pounds a week. I would guess your EM should grow between 4-5 pounds a week. Personally I add stuff to his food. I heard vegetables prevent cancer so I always add some. I also add some kind of meat, not a lot, just enough to make it more appetizing. It can be scraps from dinner or half a can of sardines which I heard is very good for dogs because of the Omega 3's.
Yeah I weigh him every week. First week he did not gain any weight just added height. I have heard that mixing other stuff into his food can make him become a picky eater is the reason why I haven’t done it
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Can you post some pictures? From the top looking down and from the side? My EM was a small girl and a slow grower, but her body condition was good. I try not to worry too much about the number on the scale and go by body condition. Slow and steady growth is what you want.
 

Jburnisky

Member
Can you post some pictures? From the top looking down and from the side? My EM was a small girl and a slow grower, but her body condition was good. I try not to worry too much about the number on the scale and go by body condition. Slow and steady growth is what you want.

these were just taken.
 

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Jburnisky

Member
Can you post some pictures? From the top looking down and from the side? My EM was a small girl and a slow grower, but her body condition was good. I try not to worry too much about the number on the scale and go by body condition. Slow and steady growth is what you want.
 

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Jburnisky

Member
Can you post some pictures? From the top looking down and from the side? My EM was a small girl and a slow grower, but her body condition was good. I try not to worry too much about the number on the scale and go by body condition. Slow and steady growth is what you want.
 

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TylerDurden

Well-Known Member
Just to confirm, did you mean 2/3 of a cup three times a day or 2-3 cups three times a day?
At least to me the pictures do not look concerning. Actually typical for a growing EM (maybe other owners have a different opinion). Not sure if it has been discussed, what‘s the parents body type? Also, as other suggested, some grow a lot slower/faster than others.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
What Tyler said. I don't think your pup looks bad. Maybe a tiny bit thinner than some pups, but I think we're so used to seeing chubby puppies as healthy that we forget slender isn't a bad thing for our growing giants.

I will add that I've had dogs that just didn't like the flavor of a particular food and didn't eat it well. I have no problem changing from one food to another if my dogs just don't like what I'm giving them. If you end up wanting to switch, you can switch protein sources pretty easily without a lot of mixing. Switching brands or from grain free to grain inclusive requires more care.
 

Jburnisky

Member
Just to confirm, did you mean 2/3 of a cup three times a day or 2-3 cups three times a day?
At least to me the pictures do not look concerning. Actually typical for a growing EM (maybe other owners have a different opinion). Not sure if it has been discussed, what‘s the parents body type? Also, as other suggested, some grow a lot slower/faster than others.
2/3 of a cup so ends up being 2 cups total he eats per day
 

Jburnisky

Member
Just to confirm, did you mean 2/3 of a cup three times a day or 2-3 cups three times a day?
At least to me the pictures do not look concerning. Actually typical for a growing EM (maybe other owners have a different opinion). Not sure if it has been discussed, what‘s the parents body type? Also, as other suggested, some grow a lot slower/faster than others.

Both the mom and dad weren’t on the overweight side. They were more lean/healthier looking. And I’ve chalked it up that he’s a slow grower. But was just worried about him not eating enough
 

Jburnisky

Member
What Tyler said. I don't think your pup looks bad. Maybe a tiny bit thinner than some pups, but I think we're so used to seeing chubby puppies as healthy that we forget slender isn't a bad thing for our growing giants.

I will add that I've had dogs that just didn't like the flavor of a particular food and didn't eat it well. I have no problem changing from one food to another if my dogs just don't like what I'm giving them. If you end up wanting to switch, you can switch protein sources pretty easily without a lot of mixing. Switching brands or from grain free to grain inclusive requires more care.

I may get the earthborn coastal catch next to see if he likes it better. What’s your take on sardines mixed in? Or other additives
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
I may get the earthborn coastal catch next to see if he likes it better. What’s your take on sardines mixed in? Or other additives

Honestly? I know many people do it successfully, but I feel like most of them keep using additives. If you're feeding a high quality food - which you are - then no additives or supplementation should be necessary. I don't see anything inherently wrong with it if you don't mind possibly having to keep doing it. Personally, I wouldn't do it for a young puppy for a couple of reasons. If the pup isn't eating enough of the food then I'd change foods and find one that pup likes and keeps them in good body condition. I also worry about adding things that may give them too much of a good thing. Like calcium or phosphorus. I don't know how likely that is, but I'd want to make sure that anything I added was in keeping with the needs of a giant breed pup. Veggies wouldn't be a concern there, but some are better digested either cooked

With that being said, I'm not one of those people that thinks if you wait long enough a dog will eat. I've had dogs that just simply wouldn't eat certain foods and made themselves sick. I do prefer to stick with a brand and switch up the protein source. It's pretty easy to do with the wide selections we have available now. I also have a dog that it took a lot of trial and error to find a food that worked for him that he also liked. He needs a food with around 6% fat because of his gastroparesis. This same dog also gets a "topper" of low fat canned food because he has megaesophagus and I have to grind the dry and mix it with water. The texture is pretty gross without adding in some canned food. So do whatever works for you. Just make sure that your pup isn't getting too much calcium, etc. Just my opinion.
 

Jburnisky

Member
Honestly? I know many people do it successfully, but I feel like most of them keep using additives. If you're feeding a high quality food - which you are - then no additives or supplementation should be necessary. I don't see anything inherently wrong with it if you don't mind possibly having to keep doing it. Personally, I wouldn't do it for a young puppy for a couple of reasons. If the pup isn't eating enough of the food then I'd change foods and find one that pup likes and keeps them in good body condition. I also worry about adding things that may give them too much of a good thing. Like calcium or phosphorus. I don't know how likely that is, but I'd want to make sure that anything I added was in keeping with the needs of a giant breed pup. Veggies wouldn't be a concern there, but some are better digested either cooked

With that being said, I'm not one of those people that thinks if you wait long enough a dog will eat. I've had dogs that just simply wouldn't eat certain foods and made themselves sick. I do prefer to stick with a brand and switch up the protein source. It's pretty easy to do with the wide selections we have available now. I also have a dog that it took a lot of trial and error to find a food that worked for him that he also liked. He needs a food with around 6% fat because of his gastroparesis. This same dog also gets a "topper" of low fat canned food because he has megaesophagus and I have to grind the dry and mix it with water. The texture is pretty gross without adding in some canned food. So do whatever works for you. Just make sure that your pup isn't getting too much calcium, etc. Just my opinion.[/QUOTE

I’ve read people putting green tripe with kibble. Or I was just thinking of a meat source. Whether it be beef, fish etc. I weighed him and he did gain 2.4lbs in a week. But he’s been on the same amount of food which is crazy. I don’t want to make him over weight. Just keep him looking healthy
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Tripe is good. It was my go-to for my boy (adult) that didn't eat well. It has a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1:1, I believe. If you did choose to add some to his food, I think it would probably be in very small amounts that wouldn't mess with the total calcium intake, but I'm not positive about that. I just don't know that it's necessary. I forget. How long have you had him? How many times a day do you feed him? Are you looking to get him to eat more by adding something? If so, I'd probably be inclined to try a different food rather than go with a topper. That's just me though. I'm sure a little tripe wouldn't hurt anything, unless he turns finicky. Tripe is pretty high value, in my experience.
 

Jburnisky

Member
Tripe is good. It was my go-to for my boy (adult) that didn't eat well. It has a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1:1, I believe. If you did choose to add some to his food, I think it would probably be in very small amounts that wouldn't mess with the total calcium intake, but I'm not positive about that. I just don't know that it's necessary. I forget. How long have you had him? How many times a day do you feed him? Are you looking to get him to eat more by adding something? If so, I'd probably be inclined to try a different food rather than go with a topper. That's just me though. I'm sure a little tripe wouldn't hurt anything, unless he turns finicky. Tripe is pretty high value, in my experience.

I attempt to feed him 3 times a day. 6am, 12pm and 5-6pm. But usually he just eats a bit for lunch and doesn’t want anymore. I mean all of his signs show he’s eating enough for his body internally. Due to not being constipated and not having runny stools. But my concerns are me being able to count his rips from 10ft away. Everything I read is he should be eating 3-4 cups daily. And he’s only at 2. And that’s pushing it. But he’s quick to run if my daughter drops a cheerio on the floor from her high chair. So it may possibly be he doesn’t care for the flavor of this food and he only eat to not starve? I’ve never had a dog be a picky eater lol
 

Jburnisky

Member
Tripe is good. It was my go-to for my boy (adult) that didn't eat well. It has a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1:1, I believe. If you did choose to add some to his food, I think it would probably be in very small amounts that wouldn't mess with the total calcium intake, but I'm not positive about that. I just don't know that it's necessary. I forget. How long have you had him? How many times a day do you feed him? Are you looking to get him to eat more by adding something? If so, I'd probably be inclined to try a different food rather than go with a topper. That's just me though. I'm sure a little tripe wouldn't hurt anything, unless he turns finicky. Tripe is pretty high value, in my experience.

I guess I’ll have to maybe buy a small bag of coastal catch to see if he will eat that better
 

TylerDurden

Well-Known Member
2/3 of a cup so ends up being 2 cups total he eats per day

Thanks for the clarification. I have a few additional thoughts. Trying to include them all in one post to make it easier, while trying to avoid repetitions:

1. As Boxergirl said, I don‘t think you would cause any harm by adding toppers as long everything stays nutritionally balanced (especially for a growing giant breed puppy). Watching the calcium and phosphorus ratios is probably key.
2. I‘d suggest changing his "main" food first before experimenting with toppers. In case he really doesn‘t like his main food too much, even the best toppers won‘t do much in the long-term.
3. It‘s probably a good idea to formally track growth. I used a simple Excel sheet including a table and line chart. x-axis = time (weeks), y-axis = weight and/or height. You should probably see somewhat of a straight line while they are young and growing fast. It doesn‘t have to scientifically exact/perfect, but can help with identifying certain trends or to answer questions the vet or breeder may have.
4. Are Mastiffs generally picky eaters? I don‘t have the data to proof it, however, my EM is probably one of the pickiest eaters ever. I‘ve heard similar story from other Mastiff owners, so it may be a thing.
5. Who is slow at growing today can be very fast at growing tomorrow. They just go through so many cycles in development. Some Mastiffs seem to be gaining most of their height and weight in the first year, while others take much longer.
6. Enjoy the time with him. I know finding and choosing the right food can be stressful. When in doubt, you definitely want him to be on the leaner side (maybe that‘s what his genetic body type is anyway). Nothing worse than an overweight, growing giant breed puppy.
 

Jburnisky

Member
Thanks for the clarification. I have a few additional thoughts. Trying to include them all in one post to make it easier, while trying to avoid repetitions:

1. As Boxergirl said, I don‘t think you would cause any harm by adding toppers as long everything stays nutritionally balanced (especially for a growing giant breed puppy). Watching the calcium and phosphorus ratios is probably key.
2. I‘d suggest changing his "main" food first before experimenting with toppers. In case he really doesn‘t like his main food too much, even the best toppers won‘t do much in the long-term.
3. It‘s probably a good idea to formally track growth. I used a simple Excel sheet including a table and line chart. x-axis = time (weeks), y-axis = weight and/or height. You should probably see somewhat of a straight line while they are young and growing fast. It doesn‘t have to scientifically exact/perfect, but can help with identifying certain trends or to answer questions the vet or breeder may have.
4. Are Mastiffs generally picky eaters? I don‘t have the data to proof it, however, my EM is probably one of the pickiest eaters ever. I‘ve heard similar story from other Mastiff owners, so it may be a thing.
5. Who is slow at growing today can be very fast at growing tomorrow. They just go through so many cycles in development. Some Mastiffs seem to be gaining most of their height and weight in the first year, while others take much longer.
6. Enjoy the time with him. I know finding and choosing the right food can be stressful. When in doubt, you definitely want him to be on the leaner side (maybe that‘s what his genetic body type is anyway). Nothing worse than an overweight, growing giant breed puppy.


Thank you for the reply. I have no doubt they’re picky eaters. I see he can be stubborn at times as well now lol. I’m going to give either the coastal catch a try or Great Plains feast to see if he likes that flavor better first before attempting to change to another brand of food. Do you think there’s a possibility that he may just get full faster from earthborn? Cause I’m the mornings he eats pretty good. Not necessarily cleaning the bowl. Then around dinner time he will go to where his bowl should be to look for food.
 

TylerDurden

Well-Known Member
Thank you for the reply. I have no doubt they’re picky eaters. I see he can be stubborn at times as well now lol. I’m going to give either the coastal catch a try or Great Plains feast to see if he likes that flavor better first before attempting to change to another brand of food. Do you think there’s a possibility that he may just get full faster from earthborn? Cause I’m the mornings he eats pretty good. Not necessarily cleaning the bowl. Then around dinner time he will go to where his bowl should be to look for food.

It‘s definitely possible. You‘d have to take a look at the calorie count, ingredients etc. There are big differences. High calories overall and high in carbs would make him full faster. I don‘t have Earthborn numbers in front of me, but it‘s easy to check. Also, the recommended amounts per meal never really worked for us. He would either eat a lot more than suggested or a lot less. I understand the suggested amounts have to be somewhat generic but they are probably not geared towards giant breeds.
 

Loverboy Skyline

Well-Known Member
Thank you for the reply. I have no doubt they’re picky eaters. I see he can be stubborn at times as well now lol. I’m going to give either the coastal catch a try or Great Plains feast to see if he likes that flavor better first before attempting to change to another brand of food. Do you think there’s a possibility that he may just get full faster from earthborn? Cause I’m the mornings he eats pretty good. Not necessarily cleaning the bowl. Then around dinner time he will go to where his bowl should be to look for food.
Digestibility is going to determine whether he gets full faster on another food. Since you're sticking to Earthborn it's probably not going to change a whole lot, and I'm guessing it's highly digestible because it's a super premium kibble. I see that the Great Plains and Coastal Catch both have more protein than the Meadow Feast. I'll be interested to know if you see any change in the stools. My BM seems to get softer stools with higher protein, which I suppose is ok with me because the lower protein foods are cheaper anyway. lol
 

Jburnisky

Member
It‘s definitely possible. You‘d have to take a look at the calorie count, ingredients etc. There are big differences. High calories overall and high in carbs would make him full faster. I don‘t have Earthborn numbers in front of me, but it‘s easy to check. Also, the recommended amounts per meal never really worked for us. He would either eat a lot more than suggested or a lot less. I understand the suggested amounts have to be somewhat generic but they are probably not geared towards giant breeds.


Calories are 370 per cup. And has 36% carbs. And for his weight according to their chart it says 1- 1.25 cups per day