Dog Growth
My-Dog.info > Getting a Dog or Puppy
Dogs stop growing at different times depending on their
breed’s body size. Giant breeds of dogs mature much later
than small breed dogs. Major pet food manufacturers recommend
feeding puppy food until 1 year of age when for average breeds,
the growth curve levels off indicating the end of the puppy
growth spurt. For large and giant breeds, growth may continue for
another 6 to 12 months at a much slower pace than during the main
growth phase between birth and 1 year of age.
Puppies of different ages grow at different rates within the
breed. Early growth, between birth and sexual maturity, is much
faster than after sexual maturity. Between birth and 4-5 months
of age (5-6 months for giant breed dogs), about one half of the
adult body mass is attained.
Though puppy growth is finished for most dogs by 1 year of
age, they may continue to gain some weight in the next year or
so, but their body size will change very little, if at all,
except in the giant breed dogs.
Dogs should be fed to maintain a lean body weight throughout
their growth phase and for life since this has been shown to help
reduce bone and joint problems, reduce the incidence of chronic
disease, and increase longevity. Puppies should not be fed adult
dog food since these diets are not balanced for proper growth.
Cat food is not suitable for dogs and should not be fed to dogs
at any life stage.
Moderate exercise is important for proper development, but
extreme exercise should be avoided especially in larger breed
puppies since the stress on developing bones and joints may lead
to injury. If the breed is genetically predisposed to
musculoskeletal problems such as hip dysplasia, high stress on
immature joints may lead to weakened ligaments.
Consult your veterinarian to determine when you should expect
your dog to reach its adult body size, and for advice on proper
lifestyle and feeding practices suited to your puppy’s
needs.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
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