Due to their breeding and physical appearance, Bullies are a unique breed of dog and have specific food needs. At some point shortly after you adopt your Bully, ask the vet what type of food they suggest you feed the dog. Also check with your veterinarian before you begin giving your puppy any type of food supplement. Your vet may be able to determine if a certain type of supplement is useful or not. American Bully puppies need to start packing on muscle within the first few months of their lives. It's important that the food they consume has enough protein to allow them to start bulking up. As a general rule of thumb, to ensure a high protein content, the first 3 ingredients listed should be meat. Visit your local pet store and read the labels on various puppy-specific foods. The packaging should make it clear how much protein content each type of food contains. Premium dog foods are also often available at large grocery stores and supermarkets. Like all puppies, young Bullies need plenty of fat in their diet. A relatively high-fat diet will keep the pups healthy and allow their bodies to grow and form at a normal rate. Plus, a high-fat content in the food will allow the puppy's body to break down the proteins and nutrients with ease. Giving your Bully pup foods with less than 30% protein and less than 20% fat content may result in health problems when the dog is grown. In order to help your Bully pup develop the kind of muscle tone that most owners want, you can add a supplement to their diet. Bully supplements contain vitamins, protein, and nutrients, which will help the pup grow and develop muscle mass. Brands of supplement that can be safely given to puppies include those made by Vita Bully, Bully Max, and MVP's Formula Mass Weight Gainer for Dogs. Your local pet store may have these supplements in stock. If not, ask if these supplements can be special ordered.
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One-sentence summary -- Talk with your veterinarian about what type of food is best for your Bully pup. Select a food that contains at least 30% protein content. Choose a food that contains at least 20% fat content. Consider adding a protein supplement to your puppy's diet.

Your German Shepherd may have a hard time pumping blood throughout his body if his aorta is deformed. The aorta is the main artery leaving the heart. If the valve into the aorta is narrowed, as in AS, a backpressure is created in the heart making your dog work harder to circulate blood. Medication is the most common treatment for AS, which treats the irregular heart rhythm and may include antibiotics to prevent infection. Surgery is not recommended. Your German Shepherd may have a heart deformity that's causing a heart murmur or another health condition (like problems eating or with blood circulation). These deformities may include: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA): This is a temporary blood vessel in a fetal puppy that should close shortly after he's born. If it stays open, blood may bypass your dog's lungs. Vascular ring anomaly (also known as persistent right aortic arch): This is another blood vessel that should close before your dog is born. If it stays open after birth, the vessel traps your dog's esophagus which makes it hard for him to swallow food down into his stomach. Mitral or tricuspid valve disease: These valves separate the heart's atria from the ventricles. If they don't fit perfectly together, then blood can leak in the wrong direction, causing a heart murmur. If your dog has abnormalities in the heart muscle itself, he may have dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. With Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the heart muscle tires and becomes baggy. With hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle thickens, causing the chambers to get smaller and hold less blood. Treatment usually focuses on improving your dog's diet and exercise habits. Most vets don't recommend surgery unless your German Shepherd develops congestive heart failure. Older German Shepherds are prone to a vascular tumor (hemangiosarcoma) that attacks the vessels lining the heart. This tumor is the most common type in dogs and usually isn't noticed until it gets big enough to cause complications. Your dog may have abdominal swelling, irregular heartbeat, and anemia. Treatment for hemangiosarcoma is difficult. Veterinarians usually recommend chemotherapy and possibly draining the site of the tumor. Because the tumor is on the heart, treatment may only be able to add a few months to your dog's life.
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One-sentence summary --
Consider if your German Shepherd has aortic stenosis (AS). Think about whether or not your dog has heart defects. Think about if your dog has cardiomyopathy. Consider if your dog has a tumor.