Feeding a Neapolitan Mastiff

By

Lizzyanny

The recomendations from AAFCO via my local vet recommend the following for a large breed puppy. 27% protein (meat, eggs, fish, cottage cheese). 1 to 2.5% calcium, 9 to 12% fat. The remainder should be energy food (carbohydrates and vegetable matter) Puppies under 6 months should be fed 3 times a day, what they will eat in 10 minutes. Over 6 months, puppies should be fed 2 times a day. The diet you are preparing is not supplying enough protein or fat.
You mentioned you restrict protein because the climate is hot. Restricting your puppies protein does not have a large impact on his body temperature, but could really hurt his growth and health. Dogs and cats cannot be vegeterians. You would need to find another way to keep him cool. It sounds like you work hard at caring for your puppy. It might be easier to feed a prepared dog food; or be sure to add more protein and fat to his diet. While he is growing so rapidly he may remain thin (thin, not emaciated) until he is a year or so old, and then he will fill out. Good luck with your puppy.

By

latrtatr

Take him to a vet and have him checked out right away to see if he is healthy would be my best advice. Then take his or her advice on your breed of dog as to the best diet or check with your kennel club for advice.

Actually, dogs are carnivores. As far as the veggies are that's okay but he needs more protein. I don't know what is available in India but fish oil is good for them. I have fed my dogs sardines mixed in there food or omega 3 capsules once a day. I would leave the milk alone and mix the rice, veggies, chicken, liver or beef in your dog food. He needs more food then you are giving him. Is he on a parasite medicine? Check his stool for worms. You can buy Timberwolf organics lamb and venison. It is #1 and feed a 25 pound dog 4 cups per day.

By

mrs.story

I'm not an expert, but I suspect the dog needs much more protein. Wild dogs wouldn't be eating all those vegetables, so it seems logical to me that a domesticated dog would need a lot of meat. I don't understand . . . why do heat and humidity affect giving him meat? Also, one of the archived comments below mentions the amount of fat in their diet. Based on what you've told us, this large dog is getting all his fat from just one egg yolk a day.

Have you done an internet search on neapolitan mastiff? Here is what I got.
http://www.google.com/search?q=neapolitan+mastiff&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGIH_en

Please take a look. There are lots of websites, and I bet there is information and message boards with discussions about their diets. And it wouldn't hurt to consult with a veterinarian.

Like I said, I'm not an expert. It has been ages since I had a dog, but when I did they got a lot more protein than yours is getting (and they were smaller animals, too). Good luck with your dog!

I have a Neapolitan Mastiff and I am unsure on whether I'm feeding her the right amount of food. She has lost weight recently and does not look like the Mastiffs on the internet.

I have a 4 month and 20 days old Neopolitan Mastiff. He weighs around 27 kgs., but he looks very skinny and his hip bones are visible. I fed him Royal Canin (giant babydog) and lactol till now.