Last Updated on January 22, 2022 by Griselda M.
American Bulldogs are wonderful pets, and if you adopt one as a puppy, you might be wondering when do American Bulldogs stop growing. These pups grow to be large dogs! Because of this, taking care of them through growth stages is essential. In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at the growth process of an American Bulldog!
American Bulldog Growth Stages
It can take up to two years for an American Bulldog to reach its full size! This is much longer than the time it takes for an English or a French Bulldog to do the same. However, it’s understandable considering that the American Bulldog is much larger and packs more muscle. Some dogs might actually need a little less than two years, while some might need more than 24 months. However, the general rule is that it takes 24 months for an American Bulldog to grow fully.
A full-grown American Bulldog can weigh up to 100 pounds if male, while females usually weigh up to 80 pounds. Males can be 25 inches tall, while females can grow to be 23 inches tall.
When it comes to feeding, we can differ from three growth stages. The first one starts once the pup stops drinking its mother’s milk and starts eating solid food. This phase lasts up to four months, and it’s best to feed your pup three cups of food per day. Obviously, this should be in multiple meals.
Then, the second stage lasts from the fourth to the sixth month, where you can feed it two cups a day, three times a day. Lastly, we have the final growth stage, after the six-month mark, where you can feed your pup twice a day.
During all three of these stages, it’s important to provide your pup with clean, high-quality food. They’re developing intensely and the quality of that development will rely on the diet heavily. Vets recommend that the diet should consist of at least 30% protein, 20% fat, and 4% fiber!
During their growing stage, they’ll have a lot of energy for play, but maybe not as much for exercise. Don’t force walks if they’re not up to it.
Maintaining Your Bulldog’s Weight
Depending on its height, an American Bulldog can weigh up to 130 pounds! This is a fairly impressive number, but not all American Bulldogs reach it. You should never force your dog to gain weight if it’s unnecessary. Some dogs are massive by default and they’ll need a lot of food by default. Other dogs need less food.
What’s important is to maintain your dog’s weight at the appropriate level. You can do this by accomplishing two things. Firstly, you need to ensure a proper diet for your dog. This entails enough protein, fats, carbs, and fiber. You shouldn’t overfeed your dog or starve it. Secondly, you need to exercise your dogs regularly. American Bulldogs are active dogs that love walking and running, so exercising isn’t merely an option – it’s an obligation.
If you exercise your dog enough and you take care of its diet, it’ll grow into a strong and healthy dog. If you allow your dog to become malnourished or overweight – it’ll likely develop many negative side effects, some of which are life-threatening.
Dangers of an overweight dog
The most glaring danger for an overweight dog is heart failure. If they put on too much weight, accomplishing the simplest of tasks (like fetching a ball, for example) becomes a challenge. Their hearts aren’t made to power bodies that large, which is why they fail.
Overheating is another issue – especially during the summer. We see this with English and French Bulldogs all the time! Dogs that are too heavy easily overheat, even when they’re doing absolutely nothing! This puts them in danger and they need to cool down as quickly as possible.
Additionally, obese dogs are more at risk for developing cancers, hypertension, and diabetes. Their joints deteriorate much more quickly and they’re more prone to osteoarthritis. It’s also more likely that they’ll develop bladder stones and other issues.
If you recognize obesity in your dog, the best thing to do would be to change the food you’re feeding it. Most vets recommend that you don’t simply reduce the amount of food you feed your dog, because that could result in malnourishment. Choose food that’s more focused on protein and has a lower calorie density.
Dangers of a malnourished dog
Malnourished, or underweight, dogs walk down the same line of risk, more or less. It’s possible for your dog to be underweight even if you’re feeding it regularly and with proper food. If your dog is underweight, you’ll see the bones being clearly visible under the skin, especially the ribs, hips, shoulders, and spinal cord.
Your dog could be this thin for several reasons. Firstly – you might not be feeding your dog enough. Different dogs need different amounts of food, so make sure that your dog is getting enough. Then, it’s also possible that there are underlying health conditions or that your dog is simply old.
Older dogs are more prone to both obesity and malnourishment! If you notice that you’re feeding your dog properly but it’s still skinny, you should definitely see the vet. It’s possible that there’s a health problem in question you have to treat.
In Summation
An American BLastly, the diet might be bad. Just because you’re feeding your dog enough regarding the amount of food, doesn’t mean that the diet is actually healthy. Take a look at the right formula for a nutritious diet and make sure that you’re sticking to it.
Bulldog needs 24 months to grow to its full size. An American Bulldog’s weight and height vary from dog to dog, but they’re usually tall and muscular for a dog. During their growing stage, it’s crucial that you keep an eye out for a healthy diet and that you exercise your dog for at least 30 minutes a day. Their growing stage can last a little bit longer or it can end a bit quicker, depending on the dog.
Read more about Are There Bulldogs With Underbites?
