Knowing the Life Stages of Your Large Dog

tags
Published by
20 min read

Find food that fits your pet’s needs

Shop All Dog Food Shop All Cat Food

Find a dog food that fits your pet’s needs

Shop All Dog Food

Find a cat food that fits your pet’s needs

Shop All Cat Food
Dog image

Knowing that your large breed dog becomes an adult at 1 year and a mature adult at 5 years is important. Dogs’ needs change as they age. How old do you think your dog is in human years?

Large or giant breed dogs weigh more than 55 pounds as adults and have a more compressed life span. Half of all dogs are considered large breed. Is your dog among them?

Mature adult dogs need food that can maintain and improve their quality of life and decrease the risk of chronic disease. Issues that are more prevalent in older dogs include dental disease, obesity, kidney disease and arthritis.

Knowing the age of your dog is particularly important in large and giant breed dogs because they can be more susceptible than other breeds to developmental bone and joint disease.

Lifestage nutrition is the practice of feeding pets food designed to meet their optimal nutritional needs at a specific age or physiologic state.

Lifestage categories include:

  • Growth — for puppies to 12 months of age
  • Maintenance — the adult lifestage — for dogs from 12 months to 7 years (small and medium breeds) or around 5 and 6 years for giant and large breeds
  • Mature adult — for smaller dogs 7 years and older, large breed dogs 6 years and older, and giant breed dogs 5 years and older
  • Reproduction — for pregnant and/or nursing dogs.

Be sure to ask your veterinarian if the right nutrition can help manage any conditions your dog might have and if there is a food that can help keep him active and more comfortable.

Related Articles

  • Pet Food Storage Tips

    Where you store your cat and dog food can make a big difference in the quality and freshness once it is opened. Here are some common questions and recommendations for optimal storage for all of Hill’s dry and canned cat and dog food.

  • Pet Food Labels Provide Limited Nutritional Information

    Dogs running Pet food labels provide basic and limited information on ingredients and nutrient levels. We believe other considerations must be recognized when deciding on which food to feed your pet.

  • Pet Food Labels, Simplified

    Dogs running Pet food labels can be confusing so you must be educated about packaging claims and opt for trusted pet food brands to ensure pets get the right nutrition.

  • Understand Your Pet's Body Condition Score

    Dogs running Monitoring your pet’s body condition score (BCS) can help you help your pet maintain proper growth and weight for a long, healthy life.

Related products