GSD/Akita???

Vets often don’t have a hole lot of knowledge on feeding dogs (or cats, for that matter). They seem to depend on whatever company’s salesperson gets through the office door first. Science Diet is not a very good food, and yet so many vets seem to recommend it and have huge displays in their waiting rooms (provided by that eager salesperson mentioned earlier).

With my large breed puppies, I start feeding them a high quality adult food at about 5 months.
Sheilah

I second putting her on a good adult diet to slow down growth.

I really dont understand the slowing the growth thing…I mean it seems to me like stunting?? Im just really confused why you wouldnt feed a puppy puppy food? Ive just never heard it before and Im really confused by it all

Puppy foods are designed to help them grow. Some large breed puppies can grow too fast. It can cause problems with joints, hips and bones etc. Slowing down her growth could hopefully prevent some of these issues. Switching to an adult food is a way to do this.

Horses with OCD`s are usually from over feeding and or rapid growth/development.

Also you wouldn’t be stunting her growth, just slowing it down to prevent issues later on.

[QUOTE=BlueEyedPaints;6952785]
I do agree but only partially. I do plan on getting a dna test done to see as well but…guessing is fun ;)[/QUOTE]

There was a study done on the accuracy of DNA tests and they are not accurate AT ALL! They tested known purebred dogs, known mixes and mutts, and the results were all over the place - purebred labs coming back as poodle/beagle mixes and things like that. Don’t waste your money! I will look for the abstract for you.

Well since I feed Nutro I found out they have a “young adult” food that you start at 6 months for large breeds so Im just gonna move to that this way Im sure she is getting what she needs but isnt getting to much. :slight_smile:

Also I was wrong about their not being any malamutes in SC. I just spoke to a vet tech yesterday at a vet nearby my house and she told me they certainly do have several that come through the vets office but 90% of them are military families…and Im less than a mile from the base out here…so…that is making even more sense. For those who dont know the military is VERY strict on the limit of pets. You can have 2 and thats it!! They dont care if its a hamster and a cat or 2 dogs but its only 2 pets. My guess is that someone has 2 dogs or even already at the 2 pet limit and their dog had pups and the pups started getting to big and they couldnt find homes so they had to get rid of them and they dumped them here hoping someone out here would take them. Its sad but it makes ALOT of sense.

Ive watched a few videos and looked up this mix (GSD/Mal) and its what my gut told me in the beginning…I should have stuck with it!! LOL

here is the puppy we found her with just for curiosity sakes for yall…