The key takeaway is that giant-breed puppies need kibble with a lower calcium-to-calorie ratio than small- or medium-breed puppies. Their bones are simply not able to grow at an optimal pace for their body size if they get too much calcium in their diets, and the amount that you would feed a smaller breed dog is simply too much.
This excess calcium can encourage their skeletons to grow at a rate that is too rapid, or they may become overly thick. Both can potentially lead to joint complications such as joint dysplasia or osteoarthritis – painful and sometimes crippling conditions that proper nutrition can help prevent. Fortunately, all you need to look for on a puppy food label is a statement that the food is “Suitable for the growth of large-breed dogs” – manufacturers cannot legally make this claim unless the optimal calcium to calorie ratio is present in the kibble.