What to feed a pit bull: the right diet for a muscular athlete

To stay in “athletic” shape, a pit bull needs to eat a balanced diet. It is not recommended to feed this breed with cereals - they provoke excess weight gain. In addition, animals are prone to allergic reactions, so not all types of food are suitable for them.

A properly designed menu will help you control your pet’s diet and avoid many health problems.

Basic diet for a pit bull

The diet of a pit bull should consist of protein foods of animal origin:

• lean meat - beef, rabbit, turkey;
• offal – heart, tripe, liver, udder.

Protein is one of the most important nutrients for animals. Its deficiency is fraught with stunting and exhaustion of the pit bull, disruption of vital functions in the body, and deterioration of the condition of the skin and coat.

However, excess protein is harmful because it creates additional stress on the kidneys and liver and leads to allergic reactions. Food of animal origin must be supplemented with other healthy products.

If the pit bull's diet is balanced and varied, the dog will have excellent health.

What you should absolutely not give to a pit bull

Wishing the pet well and health, a caring owner will not feed it from his table. The animal’s diet should also not contain foods such as bread, buns, sweets, potatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, grapes, fatty meat (for example, pork), fried and salty foods. It is not recommended to give your dog bones, since chewing them can lead to damage to the oral cavity, broken teeth, and getting into the esophagus, trachea, or stomach.

It is not recommended to give milk to an old pit bull that already has any diseases. Otherwise, problems with the digestive system are possible. It is better to increase the amount of fruits in your diet, which contain vitamin C, and treat a family member to an apple or a piece of cheese.

What type of food to choose

There are 2 approaches to feeding pit bulls at home: natural products and ready-made food. Each of them has its supporters.

Important. It is undesirable to mix different types of food - this is fraught with disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. In an emergency, you can give your pit bull dry kibble at one feeding and “natural” kibble at another.

Ready-made dog food

Pit bulls are suitable for premium and super premium food or holistic food containing 25% protein. They have a balanced composition and fully satisfy the needs of the dog’s body.

Feeding a pit bull with economy-class products sold in any supermarket is extremely undesirable. Such foods do not contain natural meat, but contain harmful flavoring and aromatic additives.

Food for a pit bull is chosen in accordance with the age and characteristics of a particular pet. Manufacturers produce separate lines for puppies, sick, elderly, and sterilized dogs.

The following brands of food are suitable for pit bulls:

• ProPac;
• Royal Canin;
• Monge;
• 1st Choice;
• Hills;
• Bosch;
• Advance;
• Orijen;
• Acana;
• Pro Plan;
• GO! NATURAL Holistic;
• Happy Dog.

You can periodically treat your pit bull with canned food from the same manufacturer as dry food. This will add variety to the daily menu.

Using this calculator, you can find out the daily food intake depending on the condition, activity level and weight of your pet. Read more.

Natural products

Some owners feed their pets exclusively home-cooked natural food, which guarantees its freshness and quality.

Porridge is given only to puppies during the period of active growth.

Grains contain a lot of carbohydrates, which cause your pit bull to gain weight quickly. Dog experts advise replacing them with vegetables and dairy products.

Vegetables are rich in nutrients and dietary fiber.

You can feed a pit bull:

• cauliflower;
• zucchini;
• pumpkin;
• tomatoes;
• carrots.

Beets are given in small portions as they can cause diarrhea. White cabbage is pre-stewed or boiled - in its raw form it provokes bloating.

Vegetables are chopped, seasoned with sour cream or vegetable oil - you get a real vitamin cocktail. It is allowed to give them along with meat.

Fruits are used as a reward. A pit bull will not refuse a tasty piece of apple, pear, banana or peach.

Every day dogs are fed fermented milk products with low fat content:

• kefir;
• curdled milk;
• unsweetened yogurt;
• bifidocom;
• cottage cheese.

3-4 times a week the pit bull is fed boiled chicken or quail eggs. These are sources of protein, folic acid, amino acids and minerals.

If there is no allergy, the pit bull is given fillets of sea fish - mackerel, pollock, flounder, capelin - once a week. If the dog has gained excess weight, this product is used to replace meat. The dog is kept on a diet until its condition returns to normal.

For your information. After eating, the animal should not actively move. In order for food to be well digested, the pit bull needs to rest for 30-40 minutes.

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Holistic class food without grains, allergic substances. Contains different types of meat, fish - 55%. It contains eggs, medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, fermentation products, vitamin and mineral supplements. Does not contain GMOs.

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Source

What not to feed

Pit bulls are predisposed to cardiovascular diseases, so they should not be fed any fatty and fried foods, sweets and fast food.

These products provoke the formation of plaques on the walls of the arteries, which leads to impaired blood circulation and heart rhythm disturbances.

It is also prohibited to feed pit bulls the following foods:

• sausages and smoked meats;
• river fish;
• tubular bones;
• bakery products;
• semi-finished products;
• raisins, grapes, mushrooms, potatoes, citrus fruits;
• spicy and salty dishes.

Food from the human table is contraindicated for dogs.

Important. The food is not too hot and not too cold. Your pit bull should always have access to fresh water.

Is it possible

• Raw

It is not only possible, but also necessary - feeding raw meat is the best thing you can imagine. Moreover, it is precisely this that should form the basis of the “meat” part of the diet. But at the same time, the meat must be of high quality and fresh. If there are concerns, then meat products can be doused with boiling water.

• Pork

Why can't you feed your animal pork? In fact, contrary to the stereotype, dogs can eat pork. Of course, it is wiser to refuse meat from freshly killed wild boar, but a lean piece of high-quality meat will only benefit the dog:

1. Do not give your dog raw pork - it may be infected with parasites. The same goes for offal.
2. It’s better to give boiled lean pork: boiled pork heart, lung, etc.
3. Strong freezing of meat does not guarantee its safety - and this applies not only to pork. Try to choose meat that has undergone a sanitary inspection to ensure the absence of parasites.

• Boiled

Which is better: raw or cooked meat? Raw meat is digestible better than boiled meat, it is healthier for dogs and, of course, it should be preferred over boiled meat.

How many times a day to feed

With moderate physical activity, adult pit bulls are fed once a day in the summer, 2 times a day in the winter. During the cold season, the dog spends a lot of energy to keep warm, so it needs additional calories.

The feeding pattern of puppies is completely different. Babies grow quickly, so they are fed much more often:

• up to 2 months – 6-7 times a day;
• from 2 to 4 months – 5 times a day;
• from 4 to six months – 4 times a day;
• from 6 to 8 months – 3 times a day.

At 9 months, pit bulls are switched to two meals a day. After a year, you can limit yourself to one feeding.

On a note. The pit bull is fed at the same time - then the dog’s digestive system will work like clockwork.

Vaccination schedule

What to feed a pit bull

Errors in feeding lead to digestive disorders, decreased activity, dull hair and many chronic diseases.

The period up to a year is especially important. At this time, eating habits and the basis for the harmonious development of the pit bull are laid.

1-2 month

The puppies are breastfed for the first month of life. Mother's milk fully covers the nutritional needs of the baby's body.

Then small pit bulls begin to be fed with cow's or goat's milk. Other products are gradually being introduced:

• cottage cheese and kefir;
• meat;
• vegetables;
• porridge.

After moving to a new home, the pit bull puppy is fed the same foods that it is accustomed to eating from the breeder.

Approximate diet for a 2 month old baby:

• whole milk with egg yolk and 1 teaspoon of honey;
• dairy products;
• rice, buckwheat or oatmeal with milk;
• vegetable salad;
• pieces of meat or cooked offal.

For now, it is enough to give the puppy 100 grams of meat per day.

2-4 month

Milk is gradually removed from the diet, since with age dogs stop absorbing it. At 3 months old, your puppy can already be given fish - it is an easily digestible source of nutrients.

Feeding scheme:

• dairy products;
• porridge with meat/fish;
• vegetable salad;
• meat/offal.

In order for the puppy to develop properly, vitamin and mineral complexes are introduced into the diet, which are chosen together with the veterinarian.

For your information. Puppies older than 4 months can be switched to ready-made food. The transition should be smooth: first, a quarter of the portion is replaced with new food, after a few days a third, etc.

6 months and older

Puppies continue to actively develop - portions should grow with them. But the amount of porridge is kept to a minimum so that the pit bull does not become overweight.

Feeding scheme:

• dairy products;
• meat porridge/vegetables and fruits;
• meat with vegetables.

At 8 months, the puppy stops stretching and begins to actively gain muscle mass. Now porridge can be completely eliminated - the dog no longer needs extra carbohydrates.

At this age, a pit bull should be given about 600-700 grams of meat products per day. When growth stops, the norm is reduced to 450 grams per day.

Adult dog

Adult pit bulls are fed all approved foods. However, the breed has characteristics that need to be taken into account when preparing the diet.

Pit bulls are often diagnosed with hip dysplasia. To prevent the onset of the disease, dogs’ diets include foods rich in collagen and calcium:

• pig ears;
• tendons;
• cartilage.

From time to time, dogs are given chondoprotectors - drugs that protect joints. They contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates, which have a positive effect on the musculoskeletal system.

The dog shouldn't get fat. Excess weight not only puts stress on the skeleton and internal organs, but is also one of the reasons for the appearance of lipomas (lipomas). This is a benign tumor, which is an overgrown fatty tissue. Under unfavorable conditions, it can degenerate into malignant.

Don't follow your dog's lead and feed him only the food he wants. If the pit bull refuses food, the bowl is removed and taken out again after a couple of hours. Most likely, a hungry dog ​​will eat everything that is offered to him.

At most, the animal is naughty for a couple of days - there is nothing wrong with that.

Important. Light foods are best given in the morning, and more nutritious and satisfying foods in the evening.

Natural feeding

If you decide to feed your pit bull natural food, then create a detailed menu for him. It should include meat, vegetables, and sour milk.

An adult dog should be given about 400 grams of lean beef per day. You can give lamb and rabbit meat. Don't forget about offal (liver, heart). Cottage cheese and eggs are also useful. Eggs should be given twice a week. Be sure to include fish, vegetables and fruits in your diet. You can pamper yourself with pita and cheese.

When feeding naturally, it is important to know what not to feed your pit bull terrier.

What to feed during pregnancy and after childbirth?

The diet of a pregnant female is changed starting from 4 weeks - until this point, physiological changes in the body are insignificant.

When the fruits increase in size, the portions are slightly reduced, and the number of meals is increased to 3 times a day. The dog is given more meat, fish and cottage cheese.

Be sure to include feed additives containing vitamin A, calcium and phosphorus.

After the 7th week, the pit bull is fed 4 times a day. But the dog should not overeat. Excess weight is fraught with complications during childbirth.

For your information. Bones and tendons are excluded from the diet because they cause constipation.

A couple of days before giving birth, the dog may refuse to eat. But they still place a bowl of food next to her so that she can eat at any time.

After the birth of pit bull terrier puppies, they continue to feed them intensively 5-6 times a day. When babies begin to be fed, the amount of food is gradually reduced. By the end of lactation, the normal diet is returned.

Reviews

Sergey, 28 years old, Irkutsk

“My pet is already 3 years old, I don’t skimp on his health - I feed only natural food. I give raw chicken bones (wings, necks, backs), because only boiled and fried ones are harmful. A dog is a predator, so it simply needs such food. In all this time, I have never had any problems with this. The basis of the diet is beef, sometimes skinless chicken. Sometimes I give porridge, but more often I stew vegetables without oil.”

Polina, 31 years old, Moscow

“I feed my girl Flatazor food. I tried different brands, gave her natural food, but she likes this food the most. Pitas are not known for being gluttonous, so I bought an automatic feeder and completely trust my girl. She has no problems with excess weight, her appearance is standard.”

Timur, 24 years old, Saratov

“I’ve been keeping pit bulls for several years now. Now I have 3 dogs - 9, 6 and 5 years old. I feed everyone natural food. Of course, you have to spend time on this, but I read that because of feed, even super-premium food, life expectancy is reduced. I give my strong guys beef offal and cook porridge with milk. All three are crazy about apples and fish.”

What to feed an older dog

To keep an elderly pit bull healthy and vigorous, he is fed according to the following rules:

• daily food volume is reduced to 2.5-3% of the animal’s weight;
• the amount of protein foods is reduced, and the proportion of vegetables is increased;
• food is given 3-4 times a day in small portions to ease the work of the gastrointestinal tract.

When eating ready-made food, the pit bull is transferred to a line for older dogs.

Photos of newborn puppies

Newborn pit bull puppies are small, dense bundles that are unable to see, hear, defecate, or keep themselves warm. The mother does all this for them.

However, their olfactory, sucking and tactile functions are well developed, which allows them to reach the mother’s nipple and receive milk.

A newborn puppy weighs about 250-500 g, and its height is 15-20 cm.

Weekly menu

Monday:

• Breakfast - kefir.
• Lunch – fresh veal with zucchini or carrots.
• Dinner – oatmeal with baked beets.

• Breakfast – sour milk or yogurt.
• Lunch – buckwheat porridge with boiled or raw lamb.
• Dinner – baked pumpkin.

• Breakfast – cottage cheese or kefir.
• Lunch – boiled lung.
• Dinner – stewed cabbage and egg.

• Breakfast – low-fat yogurt.
• Lunch - fresh beef with stewed beets.
• Uzhen – oatmeal with scalded liver.

• Breakfast – cottage cheese or kefir.
• Lunch – rice porridge with veal heart.
• Dinner – stewed zucchini with egg.

• Breakfast – kefir or yogurt.
• Lunch – a piece of beef.
• Dinner – stewed cabbage with scalded liver.

Sunday:

• Breakfast – low-fat cottage cheese.
• Lunch – fresh veal with carrots.
• Dinner – baked beets.

Origin story

The breed dates back about 300 years, and was bred precisely as an ideal fighting unit. Presumably, the ancestors of pit bulls were brought to America from England and Ireland. Already there the breed was improved and used in dog fighting due to its amazing combination of strength, endurance and reaction speed. Because of this, terrible myths about terrible killing machines appeared.

For some time, it was even forbidden to breed pit bulls, and their numbers were strictly controlled. But now the situation has returned to normal, and the breed is again very popular in the USA and Russia. By the way, pit bulls are successfully used by the police to search for explosives and drugs. The menacing dogs have become excellent companions and rehabilitation workers.

Photo: placepic.ru

Health and disease of the breed

Pit bulls most often suffer from typical working breed diseases. Under high loads, problems with the heart, blood vessels and joints may occur. But the first signs are easy to distinguish on your own - the animal gets tired quickly and breathes heavily.

Pit bulls also have hormonal disorders, and especially problems with the thyroid gland. This is important to control, because deviations do not always appear externally, but lead to hidden pathologies. Sometimes allergies occur, but otherwise pit bull terriers do not cause problems.

Photo: pesiq.ru

Small dog breeds: names and photos (catalog)

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Minuses

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