tips & Guides

Feeding your Puppy

Extra attention should be paid to feeding a Bully/Pit bull puppy in the first year of their life, as this is crucial for his skeletal system development, teeth and coat. Lack of proper nutrition may lead to rickets, incorrect paw size and a lackluster coat. Dogs of the same size or breed do not necessarily require the same food amounts. Nutrition needs depend on your pet’s activity level, their environment and metabolism particularities.

Starting at 2-3 months of age, puppies should be fed 4-5 times a day, or about every 3-4 hours; at 3-4 months of age, portions should be increased and meals reduced to 3-4 a day. 4-6 month-old puppies are fed 3 times a day, at 7-9 months feedings are reduced to 2-3 times a day, and twice daily after 9-12 months of age. The food bowl should be removed after the meal, leaving only the water bowl.

Don’t overfeed your dog. If your dog is lethargic and not interested in running during walks but isn’t showing any signs of illness it may be the result of overfeeding. If your dog’s skin is dry and flaky you need to add fish oil to their food.

Raw Diet for American Bully

Dogs are carnivores. As such, they should be eating a diet of predominantly meat. Equally as important, it should be raw. Animals don’t cook their foods. Your dog needs raw muscle meat, organs, fatty tissue, and bones. Raw dog food diets are controversial. But the popularity of the diets which emphasize raw meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables is rising.

Potential benefits of the raw dog food diet includes:

  • Shinier coats

  • Healthier skin

  • Cleaner teeth

  • Higher energy levels

  • Smaller stools

  • Odorless breath and body

  • Flake-free and itch-free skin

  • Decreased visits to the vet

Supplies Needed

Before bringing your Bully puppy home you will need to purchase the following supplies.

  • Food and Water Bowls (Select bowls that won’t tip over.)

  • Collar

  • Leash (A six-foot leash is the ideal length)

  • Grooming Supplies (Will differ depending on dogs coat)

  • Toys

  • Crate or Sleeping Bed

  • Stain & Scent Remover (To keep from territorial marking)

 

VACCINATIONS

All Bully puppies need to be vaccinated against disease according to the schedule provided by your veterinarian

  • Distemper
    A highly contagious, often fatal virus that affects a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system. Generally this virus spreads as an airborne infection, so vaccination is the only effective control.

  • Adenovirus
    (Also know as infection hepatitis) A viral disease that affects the liver and cells lining the blood vessels, causing high fever, thirst, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, liver damage, and hemorrhage.

  • Coronavirus
    A highly contagious viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, high fever and dehydration.

  • Leptospirosis
    An extremely contagious disease that spreads through contact with nasal secretions, urine or saliva of infected animals, and can affect humans as well. The ailment causes inflamed kidneys, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Liver damage can also occur.

  • Parvovirus
    A common and deadly viral infection whose symptoms include diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Parvovirus can kill puppies very quickly.

  • Par influenza
    This virus is one of a number of infectious agents that cause what is often called “kennel cough.” The disease is highly contagious and attacks the respiratory system.

  • Rabies
    A fatal infection of the central nervous system that affects all mammals, especially raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes, domestic dogs and cats, and humans. Since rabies poses a serious public health threat, it is imperative that your puppy be vaccinated. Most states require it.

    Newborn Bully puppies receive disease-fighting antibodies from their mother’s milk. These antibodies normally last only six to sixteen weeks, however. After that, your puppy needs vaccinations to help protect him from disease.