Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Dr. Julie
Questions about the best puppy food for Rottweilers are a common question in my veterinary practice with good reason. There are some easily preventable health and growth issues that can be prevented by simply feeding the right diet to your puppy. Asking the right questions at the start can be the basis of a long and healthy life for your Rottweiler.
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Do I Need To Feed My Rottweiler Puppy A Puppy Food Diet?
There is no definitive answer when it comes to this question. Ask 10 Rottweiler breeders or veterainarians and you’re likely to get several different answers.
When it comes to feeding a Rottweiler puppy, there are two main objectives:
- Whatever you feed, do not let them be overweight!!! Starting off their life with an unhealthy weight sets them up for so many joint issues in the future!
- Their growth as a puppy needs to be controlled. If you give your puppy unlimited quanities of anything, not only will they likely get overweight but they will likely also get “growing pains” as a result of growing too fast.
What Growth Problems Can Rottweiler Puppies Have?
Bones grow faster than cartilage does. Cartilage is the primary tissue found in all joints. If you give too many calories to your puppy, the bones will outgrow the joint growth. Not only can this cause pain in your puppy, but it can also set them up for other issues like hip dysplasia, OCD (osteochondritis dissecans), and panosteitis.
While there are some genetic components that can predispose certain Rottweilers to hip dysplasia more than others, overfeeding them can rapidly worsen the condition in puppies that are already starting to develop it.
OCD happens when the cartilage of a joint doesn’t attach properly to its associated bone. It’s most common in Rottweilers in the shoulders (although it can happen in the elbows as well). This is a completely preventable disease in most dogs by feeing them properly as puppies.
What Is The Proper Growth Rate For A Rottweiler Puppy?
The general recommendation I give to owners is 4 lbs per week of growth. It’s a general recommendation because the best answer is that each puppy is different because of their genetics and how big their parents were.
When I see the puppy in my office for their typical wellness/vaccine appointments at 8, 12, and 16 weeks old, I can better monitor how much food they should get. It’s pretty easy to tell when a puppy is too fat or too skinny. If you can literally feel a layer of fat over their ribs or if their abdomen is wider than their rib cage, they are getting too many calories.
If the puppy comes in with ribs showing easily through their skin (or if you can also pick out the tops of their backbones easily by just looking at them), then they need more food. The nice thing about puppies is that you can quicly correct any growth problem by adjusting their diet. They tend to equalize within 7-10 days in most cases.
What Is The Best Type Of Diet For Rottweiler Puppies?
I almost always recommend Large-Breed Puppy food to owners of Rottweilers. The big difference between this diet and normal puppy food is that it doesn’t contain as many calories in the form of carbs and fats. It will still contain a higher calcium level than adult foods, so your Rottie will still grow as large as it was meant to be.
You don’t need to spend all your money on puppy food! Feeding a Rottweiler puppy will be expensive simply because they need a lot more food than a tiny little teacup chihuahua!
Personally, what I ususally recommend to my clients who don’t want to break the bank when buying dog food is selecting the Purina One line. The ingredients are good and the taste is fantastic. Here is my favorite budget-friendly large-breed puppy food: (less than $1.75 per pound):
[amazon box=”B0098B7I4S” template=”horizontal”]If you are looking for another option, I would also recommend this particular brand of food. It’s what I fed to my dogs for years before I switched them to Purina Proplan.
[amazon box=”B00C3HSSWU” template=”horizontal”]Now, if money is no object, the following dog foods are what I would feed. I don’t get hung up on brands. Some dog “experts” will tell you that the large dog food makers (Hills, Purina, Iams) make terrible food that will cause your dog all sorts of problems. However, in my vast experience seeing thousands of dogs over my career, I can tell you that when I see a dog with a food-associated issues it’s usually a niche dog food that doesn’t have the same level of testing behind it.
[amazon box=”B09NWF1TD8,B002OY0Q9K,B0BX1D5VS4″ grid=”3″]What About Grain-Free Food For My Rottweiler Puppy?
No. Just no. Grain-free diets for dogs were an irresponsible fad that caused many health issues in dogs. You’ll notice now that finding a grain-free food in most locations is a lot more difficult. Your dog needs grains for a complete diet.
What About Feeding My Rottweiler Puppy Canned Food?
You can certainly give them a little wet/canned food in their bowl if you’re trying to encourage them to eat or want to give them a little treat. However, canned food is more likely to cause digestive issues (diarrhea, lots of diarrhea) because of the relative lack of fiber and the increased water content of the food.
Is Feeding A Rottweiler Puppy Complicated?
No, not at all. To summarize, all you really need is a good quality large-breed puppy diet. The ones listed in this article are my favorites, but you should also ask your veterinarian what they recommend.