Dogo Argentino Feeding
Guide and Schedule 

From Puppy to Adult

by Ken Alden

Dogo Argentinos are large dogs with big nutritional needs. This breed requires premium pet food packed with vitamins and nutrients to provide them with the ideal diet to grow healthy and strong. 

Dogo Argentino puppies need pet food that is high in protein and calcium for the best results. They should be fed three times per day. Adult Dogos need high-quality pet food with well-balanced nutrients. They should be fed twice per day to aid with digestion. 

Below we will go over feeding Dogo Argentino puppies, adults, and some recommended wet and dry foods for this dog breed. Then take a look at the raw diet and some foods that Dogo Argentinos should never be fed. 

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What to Feed a Dogo Argentino Puppy

Dogo puppies need a diet filled with high-quality ingredients to help them develop into healthy adults. Feeding Dogo puppies the proper nutrients can help prevent certain health problems from arising, such as skeletal abnormalities.  

When picking out pet food for puppies, owners need to consider how much calcium, fat, and protein the food contains. 

Large breed puppies need calcium in their food to help their teeth and bones develop. Dogo puppies grow incredibly fast, so if they don’t get enough calcium, it can negatively affect their skeletal system. Quality large breed puppy foods should have at least 1.5% (or 3 grams/1,000 kcal) of calcium per serving.

While getting enough calcium is important, owners should only give their dogs the recommended amount since ingesting too much calcium can also be harmful. Excess calcium can cause skeletal deformities, which can have long-lasting impacts on the puppies' developing bones.  

Additionally, Dogo Argentino puppy food should not have excessively high levels of fat. High-fat diets are calorie-dense, which can make Dogo puppies bodies grow faster than their bones. This can harm their skeletal systems and cause long term problems. Dogo puppies should eat pet food that contains around 9% fat for the best results. 

Lastly, these pups need a diet high in protein. Protein is incredibly important for developing healthy bodies and muscles. However, once again, having too much protein can be harmful. Dogo puppy owners should try to find a pet food that is at least 22.5% protein. 

Even more important than the percentage of protein in the food is the source of the protein. Some of the best sources are chicken, rabbit, beef, salmon, and other animal-based proteins. Soy and plant-based proteins are less ideal since they contain fewer essential amino acids than meat. So, it’s best to buy pet food with an animal protein source as the first ingredient. Dogo Argentino feeding guide and schedule

Dogo puppies should be fed three small meals each day. Pet parents should be consistent with the times they feed their puppies. Young dogs enjoy structure, so having a feeding schedule will make them feel comfortable and accustomed to their daily routines. Plus, feeding them in increments will help keep their energy levels relatively consistent throughout the day. 

Dogo Argentino Puppy Feeding

The popular dog food company, Blue Buffalo, approximates how much food large breed dogs will need when they are 1 to 12 months old. For dry dog food, they recommend the measurements listed in the chart below. For wet dog food, they suggest feeding ½ to 1 can of food per day for every 10 lbs (4.54 kg) of the dog’s weight.

Remember, this chart is just an approximation. Pet owners should always talk to their vet and consult their pet foods feeding chart to determine the exact amount their dogs should be fed. The dogs’ weights and energy levels should be the main factors considered when determining how much food they need to eat each day. 

How Long Should I Feed My Dogo Argentino Puppy Food?

Dogo Argentinos is known to be a large dog breed. Large dogs take longer than small dogs to mature. This breed is especially slow to mature. Males don’t reach their full size until they are two to three years old. Females are a little quicker, taking approximately two years to reach maturity. 

It is generally recommended that large dog breeds switch from puppy food to adult food when they are around 18 to 24 months old. Puppy food provides dogs with the essential nutrients they need while growing, so owners shouldn’t take them off too quickly. 

However, it is more calorie-dense than adult food, so keeping Dogo Argentinos on puppy food for too long can lead to obesity. Dogo Argentino owners should consult with their vet to determine when it is the ideal time for their pups to make the switch. 

Best Dog Food for Dogo Argentino Puppy

Dry Food Recommendations For Puppies...

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Dogo Argentino Adult Feeding

Adult Dogos are large, powerful dogs. Their muscular frames and active lifestyles make it, so they require top of the line pet foods with high-quality ingredients to stay healthy and well-nourished. 

This breed needs ample amounts of protein, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates to stay in tip-top shape. However, they shouldn’t be overfed, as overeating can cause obesity and a host of obesity-related health issues, such as a shortened lifespan, cancer, bladder stones, and strained joints. Luckily, these dogs typically don’t become obese if they get enough exercise. Dogo Argentino feeding guide and schedule

It is generally recommended that owners feed their Dogo Argentino two large meals a day when they reach adulthood—helping them digest their food better than if they were given one huge meal each day. 

When it comes to wet food, Dogo Argentinos need high-quality formulas that contain a lot of protein. Try to find cans with a 5.5% protein level (or more). Pet owners should make sure their pet food has a good amount of calcium, around 1.5%, which will help prevent certain bone diseases and hip dysplasia. 

Many owners choose to feed their dog a mix of wet and dry food since wet food contains less calories. It is generally easier and less expensive to meet their nutritional needs by mixing the two, then it would be as if they were fed wet food by itself. 

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Best Dog Food for Dogo Argentino Adult

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Raw Food Diet for Dogo Argentino

Some Dogo Argentino owners and breeders recommend feeding this breed a raw food diet. On this raw food diet, Dogos are fed meals consisting of: 

• Raw meat (typically still on the bone) 
• Kidney, liver, and other organ meats 
• Whole or ground bones 
• Raw eggs 
• Some vegetables and fruits 

There is a lot of controversy surrounding this diet, with some people advocating for its amazing health benefits and others saying that it is detrimental for dogs' health. 

We will go over the pros and cons of the raw diet below. 

Pros of the Raw Food Diet

There are several potential benefits of the raw food diet. However, most of these benefits have only been reported by pet owners and are not scientifically proven. 

Listed below are some of the potential pros: 

• They achieve a shiner and healthier looking coat.
• Dogs on this diet are more energetic and less lethargic. 
• Their teeth look cleaner, and their skin seems healthier. 
• Their stool is small and firm.
  
  

Cons of the Raw Food Diet

The raw food diet also has some cons. The risks of this diet are better documented, and some are backed by science. Many vets, pet nutritionists, and even the FDA are not huge fans of the raw food diet and often recommend against it. 

Some of the cons are: 

• The bacteria found in raw meat can make dogs or their owners sick. 
• Sometimes dogs on the raw diet do not get all of the nutrients they need. This can cause health problems if they stay on a diet for an extended period. 
• Some of the reported benefits from the raw food diet don’t come from eating raw foods. For example, the shiny coat attributed to this diet is caused by eating meals with higher fat content. This same outcome could be achieved by eating high-fat kibble or by taking supplements to add fat to the diet. 
• The bones included in this diet can break a dogs' teeth, puncture their organs, or cause them to choke if not watched carefully when prepared.
  
  

What Not to Feed Your Dogo Argentino

There are several foods that Dogo Argentinos (and all other dogs) should not be fed. These foods are bad for their health and can even be fatal if they consume too much. See the list of foods to avoid below. 

• Onions, chives, and garlic are very toxic to dogs. They contain chemicals that can harm their red blood cells and cause gastroenteritis, a condition where the intestines' lining becomes inflamed. 
• Chocolate is dangerous for dogs. Overeating chocolate can make dogs very sick; symptoms include vomiting, tiredness, muscle tremors, and even death. 
• Avocados are a food many people don’t realize are bad for dogs. While eating avocados generally isn’t fatal, it can cause dogs to vomit or get diarrhea. Dogs and many other animals are intolerant to persin, which is inside avocado’s fruit, leaves, seeds, and even its tree bark. 
• Xylitol is a sweetener often found in sugarless gum, sugarless candy, and various baked treats. If Dogo Argentinos ingest this, they can experience potentially fatal drops in their blood sugar levels. 
  
  

Dogo Argentino Feeding Guide And Schedule...Conclusion

These are large breed dogs with large nutritional requirements. What they eat as puppies and adults is very important. 

As puppies, Dogo Argentinos should eat wet or dry food high in protein and have an ample amount of calcium, which isn’t overly high in fat. 

As adults, Dogos require a balanced meal that is suited for their weights and energy levels. Since Dogos are generally very active, owners need to make sure they are eating premium dog food with healthful ingredients to ensure their nutritional needs are met. 

Some owners and breeders prefer feeding their Dogos a raw diet. While many highly recommend this diet, this diet's benefits have not been scientifically proven, and many vets do not support it. 

I hope this Dogo Argentino feeding guide and schedule helps owners feed their pups an ideal diet! 

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I’m Ken Alden. This website
is a labor of love from years of research and personal experiences with Mastiffs.

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