THE COMPLETE HEALTH & NUTRITION GUIDE FOR BULLY BREEDS
THE BEST FOOD, VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS
Let’s start this discussion by stating:
There is no supplement that will make your dog break through it’s genetic limits.
Repeat that out loud.
Exercise is great, but strapping weights on your dog (unless competing in weight pull or other athletic events) and over feeding and over using supplements will probably cause more harm than good.
That being said, a proper diet and correct use of supplements and vitamins CAN help your dog reach THEIR full potential.
You aren’t going to get there with food alone, and stop wasting money on Supplements thinking you’re going to bypass genetics.
Genetics>Food, working out, weights, running etc.
A dog gets it’s genetic makeup from it’s parents, grandparents etc. Don’t expect to bypass genetics with food and supplements.
A good gauge to use when determining what your new puppy’s adult build may be is by looking at the parents and grandparents in the pedigree.
But even then, genetics are tricky and you’re not guaranteed the build you desire.
Now, onto the best food to feed your dog..
Every dog is different, some may have food allergies or get dry itchy skin from a food your past dogs didn’t have any issue with.
We will start with the Top Dry Foods.
Raw can be an excellent choice and many prefer it, but raw feeding is another article entirely. When deciding on a food, look for one that has high quality, protein rich ingredients in the first couple ingredients listed.
Click below for a list of ingredients, review and overall rating. This should give you a good starting point to choose a solid food for your dog’s unique needs and one that fits within your budget. I usually add Fish Oil/Omega’s and a Multi vitamin. Order in bulk to save money.
Here are the Top Foods & Reviews of Ingredients in Each:
Five Star Dry Dog Foods
Best Wet Dog Foods
Best Raw Dog Foods
Best Dry Grain Free Dog Foods
Best Puppy Food
Best Low Fat Dog Food
Best Weight Loss Dog Foods
Hypoallergenic Dog Foods
Five Star Rated Dry Dog Foods we have personally had great results with: Castor & Pollux, Blue Buffalo, Diamond, Merrick Grain Free and Taste of the Wild, and the premium brands Evo & Orijen (For those with more to spend)
Dog Food Brands That We Use:
Dry Food
Personally, Taste of The Wild Grain Free is a favorite. There may be food options that you prefer, and if it works for your dogs great. As we mentioned earlier every dog is different, and you should feed what gives your dog the best results.
It’s the yellow bag. You can order from Amazon & have it delivered which is a lot better than having to haul several bags out to the car and then unloading when you get home if you have several dogs.
Hypoallergenic Foods For Sensitive Stomachs
If your dog has severe allergies (bumbs on skin, eye mucous, constantly itching face, scratching at tail) The #1 Veterinary Rated Food is Acana (I like the Lamb & Apple)
See the Top Hypoallergenic Dog Food Here
There are many other great brands as well as unbiased reviews and a complete ingredient analysis on the Dog Food Advisor’s Website.
Supplements We Actually Use & Aren’t Paid to Promote:
Overall Health, Coat, Nails
Having a lot of dogs will give you the opportunity to meet several vets. We’ve had the pleasure (and displeasure) of meeting several of the top vets, Dietitians and specialists over the years in multiple states. Most have different opinions and recommendations, we’ve tried several (if not all) of the most popular supplements.
This highly palatable, super concentrated powder provides added protein, essential amino and fatty acids, all vitamins and minerals, plus over 30 unique nutrients that improve the overall wellness in dogs of all ages. ProBalance helps increase activity, maintain optimum condition, recover from injury or surgery, and has been shown to push back the normal age-related diseases.
Out of all of the ones we have used, this has given us the best results with our dogs. It’s also great for pregnant females. When litters arrive, females who have been supplemented with this product have noticeably bigger and more developed puppies.
In addition to that, we use this supplement on all of our dogs. I swear by this stuff. Before two weeks I noticed a huge difference in our dogs coats, nails, stool and an increase in their energy levels.
This stuff is great, and provides a balanced nutrition to your dog without over doing it on any of the ingredients. It is sold out most places online, but you can get it here.
We are not a paid affiliate, and will not receive any benefit if you buy this product. It just really works.
Multi Vitamins
A multi purpose vitamin is sometimes recommended after 9 months of age. But when it comes to vitamins & supplements remember more is not always better!
Best Multi Vitamins
Zesty Paws Multivitamin for Dogs
Easily a top pick. With a 5-in-1 formula, this multivitamin covers all your dog’s needs no matter their age, breed, or size.
For all-around support and health, this multivitamin is a wonderful option.
Doggie Dailies
These chicken flavored soft chews are specially formulated to promote healthy joints, improve mobility, and ease discomfort from hip dysplasia and painful arthritis.
They’re loaded with essential vitamins like C and E, minerals, essential enzymes and powerful active ingredients including glucosamine, chondroitin with MSM, hyaluronic acid, energy-supporting co-enzyme Q10, yucca schidigera, plus salmon and cod oil for a healthy skin and coat.
The formula is independent lab tested for safety and efficacy, and is proudly made in the USA with no unnecessary additives or palm oil.
You do not need to over do it on the supplements. If your dog has the genetic make up to have a “bullier” build it will mature into that, if it doesn’t all the supplements and training in the world aren’t going to add on the muscle mass you desire.
Salmon Oil
DHA is one of a few supplements we add to our dogs’ diets on a daily basis. Salmon oil is a great source of DHA if it’s the right salmon oil.
Why Is Salmon Oil Good For Dogs
Salmon oil is very high in both EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are omega-3 fatty acids.
Benefits
EPA and DHA are helpful for your dog because if you have insufficient amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, you can develop deficiency based diseases, including:
Gout, Allergies, Poor immune system, Eczema, Poor coat: cracked hairs, Increased shedding, Poor wound healing, Poor growth, Poor renal function, Liver disorders, Dermatitis and other health problems.
Proven benefits from EPA and DHA include:
- Improves the coat and skin, making it soft and shiny.
- Reducing inflammation that can lead to conditions such as arthritis.
- Helps to prevent skin allergies.
- Helps with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
- Regulates the immune system.
- Calming overactive immune systems for dogs with allergies or autoimmune diseases.
- Aiding in mental development of fetuses and puppies.
- Improves cognitive function in older dogs.
- Lowers blood pressure and triglycerides.
- Provides support for dogs with kidney disease.
- Fights heart disease.
- Is preventative against cancer.
- Helps promote weight loss in overweight dogs.
- Helps in producing more collagen.
- Useful in the treatment of kidney problems (frequent urination, loss of appetite)
- The appearance of joint problems is lessened.
- Can help to slow cancer cell growth.
- Helps cachexic (the muscle wasting associated with some cancers)
Mobility & Joint Support
Best Supplements
TRP-Tri-COX Soft Chews Joint Support Dog Supplement
TRP-Tri-COX Soft Chews Joint Support Dog Supplement contains a unique blend of ingredients that target all aspects of joint health in dogs.
The unique blend of ingredients in TRP-Tri-COX helps maintain normal inflammatory and immune response in the joint. TRP-Tri-COX also provides the cartilage building blocks, antioxidants and muscle support that are necessary for proper joint function.
Key Benefits
- Unique blend of powerful ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, UC-11, EPA, and DHA support healthy joint function in dogs
- Helps maintain normal inflammatory and immune response in the joint
- Provides the cartilage building blocks, antioxidants and muscle support that are necessary for proper joint function
- Soft chews with a highly palatable liver flavor that makes administering to your dog easy and enjoyable
- Ideal for senior dogs with moderate to advanced joint aging. Also helpful for dogs recovering from surgery or injury
Consult with your veterinarian before using this product in animals with clotting disorders, being treated with anticoagulant medications; diabetes, or any other metabolic disorder causing hyperglycemia; history or urinary tract stones; known allergy to shellfish
Canine ArthraPro®
ArthraPro is a scientifically advanced joint care powder that provides a concentrated level of ingredients proven to support and maintain healthy hip and joint function.
The proprietary Alvia Joint Support Complex provides key nutrients that have demonstrated their ability to support joint health, maintain synovial fluid levels, repair damaged cartilage, and increased muscle, ligament, and tendon strength.
Nutramax Cosequin Maximum Strength (DS)
This joint support supplement is formulated for adult dogs and contains glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and MSM.
These tasty chewable tablets are easy to administer and can even be disguised in your furry friend’s favorite food.
Best of all, Nutramax is a number one veterinarian-recommended brand, so you can feel confident giving this joint supplement to your pal.
All 3 of these joint supplements work, and they work well unlike many of the options marketed as the top joint supplements.
Diarrhea/Upset Stomachs
Benefits of FortiFlora Dog Probiotic
- Contains a probiotic proven to promote normal intestinal microflora
- Increases levels of beneficial bacteria
- Promotes a strong immune system
- Helps reduce flatulence in dogs
- Contains a guaranteed level of live microorganisms
Convenient single packets, easily sprinkled on your dog’s food
Weight Gain/Adding Mass
Adding Mass Before A Show or For Use On a Dog That is Underweight
Satin balls are a great way to quickly add on weight for an underweight dog, or for an upcoming show or event in cases where your Stud has lost weight due to breeding, being around females in heat (many are not interested in food when that’s present) or losing weight due to other reasons.
Again this isn’t going to make your dog look like the dog to the left (only genetics will do that) but it can help in the situations mentioned.
A lot of breeders will feed Satin Balls in the few weeks leading up into a show. If you laughed at the term “satin balls” grow up..
Just kidding, I still can’t say that without a shit eating grin on my face.. As ridiculous as it sounds satin balls are unbelievable at adding weight and mass to your dog.
“Satin Balls” are a total canine diet. But be careful, it will put weight on a dog fast, if you feed enough. It can be feed by itself, but because it is so rich and high in calories, I only feed as a supplement.
So, if you have a sick dog needing to be built up or an underweight dog dog with little or no appetite, they may do very well on “Satin Balls” as a supplement.
Don’t mix or hide Satin Balls in with kibble. your dog will make a mess trying to get to the Satin Balls. It is perfectly fine to freeze Satin Balls in pre-formed and weighed portions.
When mixing the ingredients, it is a gooey mess. There are many sites with recipes for “Satin Balls”, but I chose the following, because it breaks the recipe down into various sizes.
SATIN BALLS RECIPE:
- 10 lbs cheap hamburger (high fat %)
- 1 large box Total cereal (about 12 cups cereal)
- 1 large box uncooked oatmeal (about 15 cups oats)
- 10 raw eggs
- 1 15oz jar wheat germ
- 10 packages Knox unflavored gelatin
- 1 and 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 and 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
- Pinch of salt
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, food allergies, or reacts poorly to raw food it is ok to cook
“Whole Wheat Total” cereal (blue box) comes in large 1 lb 2 oz size (about 12 cups settled) and a smaller 12 oz size (about 8 cups cereal), which would work in Little Dog or Half Recipe. But in the long run, the large size is more economical. Don’t get Raisin Total or Lo Carb. Total.
Uncooked Oatmeal like “Quaker Old Fashioned Oats” and less expensive supermarket house brand, come in large 2 lb 10oz size (15 cups oats) or smaller 18 oz size (about 7 cups oats).
15oz jar of wheat germ is about 4 cups. Some stores only carry a 12oz jar of wheat germ, which contains about 3 and 1/4 cups of it.
Vegetable oil/coconut oil-but use a good one. I use olive oil.
Last but not least is fresh water! Always make sure your Bully has access to fresh water at all times. We recommend replacing the water ever 4–6 hours.
Dog Food Recalls
Get Notified by email of recalls that could affect your pet.
If you want to keep updated with recent dog food recalls to prevent harm to your dog, you can find them here: Dog Food Recalls
Footnotes
Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (1999), Canine Life Stages and Lifestyles, The Waltham Course on Dog and Cat Nutrition, p. 14
ME (kcal/day) = 110 (body weight in kilograms)0.75 to maintain a typical adult dog
Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (1999), Canine Life Stages and Lifestyles, The Waltham Course on Dog and Cat Nutrition, p. 4
Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition (1999), Canine Life Stages and Lifestyles, The Waltham Course on Dog and Cat Nutrition, p. 16
Source: Dog Food Advisor
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