The Great Dane is a large breed of dog that requires a specific diet to stay healthy and active. As a rule, adult Great Danes should eat 6 to 10 cups of food a day, while puppies should eat 3 to 8 cups. The food should consist of a minimum of 23% protein and 12% fat. Veterinarians generally recommend feeding puppies 3-4 meals a day, and adult dogs should eat at least two meals a day, 12 hours apart.
If more than 12 hours pass between meals, the stomach may become hyperacid and cause nausea. If you're not sure what food to give your puppy, your Great Dane breeder should be able to recommend some. There are quite a few brands you can consider to meet these parameters, all of which will meet those needs for quantities and proportions, and will also be well made with quality ingredients to provide better, high-end nutrition for your Great Dane. Dogs with medical problems or dietary needs may require specialized feeding times or restrictions on what they eat.
Just make sure that the foods they eat are of high quality and that they are consuming the amount of calories they need to maintain a healthy weight. When your dog is used to eating at the same time every day, his body is conditioned to expect food at those times. As with most breeds, Great Dane puppies are full of energy and require specific amounts of food to maintain this energy. Most dogs only require two meals a day, but if you find your dog begging, an occasional healthy treat can help. Even then, you should wait two hours before walking your dog after eating, to reduce the risk of bowel twisting. Male Great Danes usually eat more than their female counterparts, and the general orientation is to feed them 8 to 10 cups of food each day.
Some great Danes will need more than 15 cups of dry kibble per day, but again, this depends on whether they are males or females and their size. In addition to advice on how much should a great Dane feed each day from an owner, there is also a feeding chart that offers guidance.
