Kenai’s Growth 2-7 months March 13, 2008

Being almost entirely European in lineage, Kenai’s growth will be a bit different than purely American Danes. His body will be as his father’s: substantial in bone and heavily muscled, much like their Mastiff ancestors. (His mother is 1/4 American, so Kenai is 1/8th American.)And not being neutered until at least 12 months will keep him from getting tall and weedy looking. But all danes grow the same way: FAST!

The trick to avoiding growth problems in Danes is to control their intake of protien, calcium, phosphorous, calories and fat. In other words, keep them a bit on the skinny side, and avoid most large/giant breed puppy foods. The myth is that protien causes growth deformities, but think about it a moment: protien builds muscle, not bone. Bone problems are cause by improper ratios of calcium and other minerals. Studies have shown that over and over since the 1970’s. I wish vets would stop carrying on about protien levels, it’s the minerals you have to watch!

To continue the repetition: NEVER TRY TO FORCE QUICK GROWTH IN GREAT DANES.

I’ve never had a European/American cross Dane before, so Kenai’s growth is a minor adventure. This page grows as Kenai grows.

   Day one: born at around 2 pounds, Kenai would have fit in the palm of your hand. Like all puppies, the eyes aren’t open, but the nose and ears are fully functioning. Touch, smells, and noises are their first experiences.

  By five weeks, they are roughly 6 inches tall and weigh about 12 pounds. They are learning about their environment through all 5 senses, and discovering that there are rules to the life of a pack. Mom isn’t as patient with sharp little puppy teeth, and being too timid leaves you hungry. They are learning confidence from watching Mom react or not react to all the new sounds and sights in a litter yard. 

  Kenai is 9 weeks old here. Just shy of 13″ tall, he weighs 26.7 pounds. In the 4 1/2 days that he has been home with us, he has grown 1/8 inch and put on 4 pounds of muscle and bone. His ribs are still visible, so he isn’t getting fat. As with all Danes, his feet are the largest part of him, he’s already drooling at the water dish! Kenai is wider in the chest and stronger than any of my other Danes, even at this age.

This is the age that puppies are taken from their litters and given to new homes. Their little brains are primed to absorb whatever is around them. This is also the time that the new family becomes responsible for their socialization. That’s just a fancy word for getting the puppy used to new people, new places, and new experiences.  

  Kenai in camoflage! 3/21/08

Here Kenai is 10 1/2 wks old, and prancing his toffee colored tush through a favorite patch of tall grass. His exercise needs are increasing, so we have 3 wanders through the field or 2 wanders and an outing each day, weather permitting. I can’t last more than 10-15 minutes, but he is learning to entertain himself and to chase sticks I toss. It won’t be much longer before I have to introduce him to a treadmill for additional exercise.

His body is 18″ long, and 18″ tall, weighing in at 30.4 pounds today. So in the 10 days we’ve had him, he’s grown some 5 inches, and put on nearly eight pounds. His chest is 6 1/2 inches wide standing up–far thicker and heavier boned than any of my American Danes! He’s outgrown the front seat of the car, not being able to lay down in it now, and we’ve moved up to from small 24″ wide beds to medium sized beds already. He hasn’t even started puppy class yet…

You can see from the pic he is just a little too thin from his growth spurt, so I’ve had to up his kibble, and reduce his brother BB’s, who is much more sedentary because of his leg. He is eating 2 full cups twice a day, plus maybe 1/8 cup or less of kibble for his treat based training.

 Kenai 13 wks

4/8/08 Kenai is now 23 1/2 inches tall, and weighs exactly 45 pounds, almost double what he weighed a month ago. Told ya they grow fast! He is almost too small for his crate, so a transition to sleeping outside of it without going on the floor is in the immediate future. He has begun his second treatment for the bacteria, coccidia. He is eating almost 8 cups of food a day, and still doesn’t seem satisfied. I think I have to find another kibble with higher fat and calories for him.

 Kenai likes his new bed, 15 wks

As you can see, the boy is THIN. He’s 52 pounds, and 26″ tall. He is switched to Canidae food, and it can’t keep up with his new growth either! So the vet recommended adding rice to his kibble, for the additional calories without added minerals. She said her imported Dobies do the same thing–grow like weeds and always look like a rescue! As long as his bones are good, I’m happy.

  Here Kenai is 16 1/2 weeks old. His growth has leveled off a bit: he is 28″ long, and weighs 54 pounds. He is between growth spurts, and eating about 6 cups of food a day. (3 cups, am and pm). His stools tightened up on the Canidae, but his front legs started to knuckle over. So I am considering one last different food for them. He’s nibbling his back legs some too, but I think it is just a little growing pains. He is very healthy and still as much of a tank as he was at 5 weeks! A really solid and well built little fellow.

  5/6/08 Kenai 18 wks old

Kenai is still in a relatively slow growth period, being 28 1/2 inches tall and long, weighing in at 59 pounds. That’s only a half inch, 5 pound difference from a week and a half ago. That’s fine, since he is still very well built. His rump is a bit higher than his shoulders, and he’s arching his back a bit more, which is normal for Dane pups.

Most of the added weight seems to be in the jowels!! Ha! His appearance is more adult like each week, and I am still amazed at how even his growth is: he is filling out as he grows, not once yet seeming lanky or weedy. His girth behind the front legs is 27 inches, so he’s already a deep chested boy. He’s now eating Innova large breed puppy, and doing quite well with it..

5/15/08, 19 weeks old

Kenai is 19 weeks old, and hits the scales at 68.4 pounds now. Despite some diarrhea from a bacteria he picked up, he’s growing very well. The Innova food is controlling his growth nicely, though he still seems hungry all the time. He always has, so I’m not too concerned.

He’s getting equal portions of rice with his food now, and fiber to help with the diarrhea. Hopefully that will clear up soon, though running about in a field where other critters are, I can be sure it will come back again. Such is life. He’s a handsome boy, and his ears are able to stand for nearly 3 days before needing to be taped again. I’m considering adding Flexicose, a joint supplement, to see if that will speed up the ears.

5/29/08

Kenai is 21 weeks old, popping the scales at just over 79 pounds. He no longer gets rice, and the colitis he developed from his antibiotics is cleared up. His rump is slightly higher than the shoulders, which doesn’t concern me at all, and his back is a little less hunched when he walks. The flexicose did not work out well, worsening his tummy troubles. He also started chewing at his back legs, which stopped when I discontinued the flexicose. Guess the ears will have to stand without help.

He’s been helping his brother finish up the ziplock bags of food I took to the puppy hospital, portioned to give BB 8-9 cups of food per day to get well with. Kenai’s getting a little chubby from the amount, his ribs not nearly as visible as they used to be. So I’m cutting him back to 7 cups.

6/13/08–Kenai is 23 weeks old, and is just under 85 pounds. His growth pattern has changed somewhat, growing taller and just a tiny bit lankier than he used to. I’m not sure if it the change in food, or just a genetic change in growth now that he is almost 6 months old. Whatever it is, he’s having more discomfort in his back legs than he used to. I wish he could tolerate the Eagle Pack food, since he did so well with it as far as even, slow growth. His back is about halfway between my knee and my hip joint, getting his petting now even when I’m standing up. Getting Big, little boy!

6/25/08

Kenai is 25 wks old, weighing 90 pounds, nicely lean. He is just a tad more than 30 inches long (and so are the ears!!). Speaking of ears, they are almost done with the taping. They can stand over a week before needing to tape up again.

There’s my pink puppy tongue! I’ve increased his exercise now that the hind legs aren’t bothering him, and he’s putting on a bit more muscle. Not to mention he’s having a ball running around outside and doing the doggie sniff-ums. He may be an indoor dog, but he’s still an outside loving critter!

 7/1/08 Kenai is 26 weeks old, or 6 1/2 months if you prefer. He hits the scales at 95.2 pounds, and from the look of that chest, he’ll make 100 pounds before 7 months.

His tummy troubles continue, so today is a trip to the vet for some serious testing. Something’s just not right.

His rump is slightly higher than the withers, but his father’s are too. The withers are already wide enough for me to run out of fingers if I rest my hand from side to side on him. Girth is 33 inches (around the chest just behind the front legs). So he’s growing, that’s for sure.

 7/21/08, 28 weeks old

Tummy troubles seem to be vanquished: his pancreatic enzymes were normal but just barely, so we’ve started him on enzyme supplements. I’ve also switched his food to Eagle Pack Lamb and rice to rule out food allergies. Hopefully too it will slow his growth, causing him pain in his back legs.

Last week he was 101 pounds, but by now I’m sure he’s gained some more. He’s 33″ tall, and his chest in 9 1/2 inches across. He’s almost outgrown his service vest, so I’m looking at possible harnesses or packs he can wear. Kenai’s ears are a continued battle, poor guy. He’s gotten them posted again, and hates it. But No Floppies!

At 33″ tall, he’s a mere 2-3″ shorter than his anticipated adult height, at only 7 months old. I’m wanting to slow it down, and allow him time to fill out the larger new frame he woke up with! If I must, I can return to the Eagle puppy, but the loose stools will likely return. Right now, we’re just trying to hold him back.

He is awfully handsome. He’s stopping traffic, literally. Foot traffic and even vehicles in parking lots stop to look at him. Teri, you grow ‘em gorgeous. Thank you for letting me have him.

7/28/08 Kenai peeking out the window at 29 weeks old.

He is almost 30 wks (7 1/2 months) old, and we have managed to slow his growth. It’s almost stopped, though, so I’ve upped his ration of food by 1/2 cup.

Kenai lost a little weight, at 100.4 pounds but I’m not too worried about it. He is getting less calories along with less calcium and such. And the heat has been awful. He should start adding more muscle mass soon.

I asked his breeder about his growth pattern suddenly changing from evenly filled out as he grew to almost lanky. She said her pups usually hit a lanky spell about this age, then return to the more even growth. Just so I know it’s not abnormal for this breeding line.

The pancreatic enzymes have helped considerably with his case of the hungries. He’s getting 1 1/2 cups at 6 am, 2 cups at noon, 1 1/2 cups at 6 pm, and 1/2 cup right before bed. That’s five and a half cups per day. I can add to that if he doesn’t seem to be filling out enough.