Goal: Long healthy life
Dobermans (and many other large breed dogs are pre-disposed for certain conditions. A biggie for Dobermans is DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy). All our dogs are genetically tested to ensure we are not passing along the genes that have been linked to DCM which would increase their probability in developing the disease.
With that said, even if a puppy is not hereditarily at increased risk they can still develop DCM. To reduce the risk, yearly health exams should be done and the food you feed your doberman has to be thoughtfully selected.
Let's talk about food!
What to AVOID!
Before we even dive into food recommendations, let's talk about what ingredients to avoid.
The BIGGIES:
❌ NO FOOD THAT IS LABELED AS BEING GRAIN-FREE. Dobermans need a diet that includes healthy grains.
❌ No peas
❌ No lentils
❌ Potatoes
Read food labels for more than just their main food. A large percentage of 'training treats' contain these ingredients.
Here is a list of the food brands that have been directly linked to higher reported cases of DCM
Ingredients to look for:
✅ Meat #1 ingredient
✅ Healthy whole grains
✅ Balance of protein and fat