• Large breed puppies require special nutritional care.baby english mastiff image by Joy Fera from Fotolia.com
  
  Not all dog breeds require the same nutrition in puppyhood. While it may seem like bigger breeds, such as Great Danes and Mastiffs, would require more food, overfeeding can actually be bad for them. Large breed dogs are particularly susceptible to developmental problems if they don't get the right nutrition early in life. Maintaining the correct nutritional balance can help bigger puppies grow up to be healthier dogs.
  
  

Calcium

• Excess calcium in the diet may cause skeletal abnormalities in large breeds. Giant breeds, like the Great Dane, are particularly at risk. On the other hand, too little calcium can cause brittle, malformed bones. According to Newman Veterinary, the Association Of American Feed Control Officials recommends that calcium make up 1 to 2 1/2 percent of a dog's feed. Unfortunately, this number is an average of the needs for all types of dogs. Large breeds tend to need about 0.7 to 1.2 percent calcium, and giant breeds should receive food with percentages at the lower end of this range.
  
  

Calories

• Caloric restriction is also important for large breed puppies. While these animals have voracious appetites, allowing them food with too many calories allows them to grow too fast. The result is that their puppy skeletons have to support a mass more appropriate for an adult dog. This could lead to malformation of joints, degenerative skeletal conditions and chronic pain as they age. The appropriate amount varies for each dog, but owners should be able to easily feel, but not see, their puppy's ribs through the fur. Livestock Guardian Dogs suggests feeding the amount a young puppy can eat in 10 minutes, three times daily. According to Newman Veterinary, puppies over six months of age should be fed only twice daily. Owners may wish to feed a specialty large breed puppy food, such as those offered by many major dog food manufacturers.
  
  

Protein

• Excess protein is often linked with skeletal disorders in large breeds, but high protein levels do not cause as many problems as excess calories and excess calcium. According to Newman Veterinary, a protein concentration of between 15 and 27 percent on a dry weight basis is appropriate for large breed dogs. The exact protein percentage will vary depending on the individual dog and the quality of the protein source. Better-quality proteins assimilate more easily, so less is required.