Feeding the Fila Brasileiro

The Fila is a giant breed and as such needs to be fed carefully, especially through puppyhood, to avoid joint and other health problems. The concensus is that a pup should grow slowly, so a high fat, high calorie diet is to be avoided.

Many Fila owners and breeders choose to feed their dogs a natural diet such as BARF as opposed to kibble, since dogs are closer to being carnivores than omnivores. Most kibble has way too high a ratio of carbohydrates to protein, something that is not natural to dogs. Poor quality kibble can contain questionable ingredients that you would never ordinarily feed your fila, some of which is basically worthless byproduct of human foods, and have little or no food value.

The Fila Brasileiro is very susceptible to bloat, so avoid foods that tend to produce gas, like broccoli and beans. Although there is little hard evidence as to what exactly causes bloat, there are some common guidelines that most agree on...such as not allowing your fila to bolt their food and not allowing exuberant play for at least an hour after eating.

My own filas get raw beef, deer, pork, lamb, fish, chicken and turkey. They also get yoghurt, milk, cottage cheese, eggs, vegetables and fruit...usually whatever we're eating. Some people believe in feeding once a day, I feed mine twice: morning and evening. They usually have bones to chew on ad lib. During hunting season a hunter brings me his carcases, and the dogs are allowed to eat whatever they choose from the those. They never get cooked bones!

The following is a list of prepared food products that other fila owners have recommended:

The Wholesome Hound - Holistic, organic, human grade pet foods
Flint River Ranch
How Does Your Pet Food Rate? A list of holistic pets foods rated from 1 to 4 stars