Mmmm. Not sure. When you say 'Pup' - do you mean literally a puppy? If so, I'm afraid I'd be rather cautious about feeding a food like EVO.
The thing is, current knowledge about dry dog foods links high amounts of protein, calcium and overall calories fed to puppies to the development or exacerbation of a wide range of (serious) musculoskeletal disorders - everything from Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy through to exacerbation of hip dysplasia. "Puppies" in this context means a dog that is still growing - so in the case of a boxer, up to around 18 months. EVO is substantially higher in protein than the recommended range of 22-26% for pups.
Now, I have to say, I wonder whether it is truely the protein content of the food that's a cause. Dogs fed natural diets, for example, don't have those problems. On the contrary, they usually grow more slowly. Yet they're fed a higher protein diet than even EVO... That makes me wonder if it's the carbs in dry dog food that are more at fault, or even if it's the bioavailability of the protein. Nonetheless, that's nothing more than me wondering. There are no studies to confirm that either way. I don't believe there are even any in progress, and even if there were, foods like EVO have only been around for 3 years or so. That's not long enough to tell.
In another 5-10 years, things might be different. We may know with reasonable certainty whether foods like this are safe or good for pups. But for now, I think you need to pay heed to the knowledge that *is* available - and that says that foods this high in protein are likely to cause or contribute to musculoskeletal disorders in growing pups, and therefore should not be fed until skeletal maturity is reached.
It is worth noting that the manufacturer of EVO has said in the past that the food should not be fed to puppies. And here's an old thread that discusses the role of overnutrition in the exacerbation of hip dysplasia (it's a useful one because it contains quite a few veterinary links): http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66335
In short, I think EVO is a wonderful food and these new generation types are a huge improvement on the conventional kibbles. But until it is known how the food impacts upon musculoskeltal growth (ie. if the same problems exist as for conventional kibble) then it is wiser not to feed this type of food to a growing pup. So if your 'Pup' really is a pup, then an alternative food with lower protein would be a better choice. Let someone else's dog be the guineapig
In suggestions, how about something like Natural Balance's Sweet Potato & Fish formula? It's grainless, but very much lower in protein and overall calories. Here's a review: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=171&cat=all
The thing is, current knowledge about dry dog foods links high amounts of protein, calcium and overall calories fed to puppies to the development or exacerbation of a wide range of (serious) musculoskeletal disorders - everything from Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy through to exacerbation of hip dysplasia. "Puppies" in this context means a dog that is still growing - so in the case of a boxer, up to around 18 months. EVO is substantially higher in protein than the recommended range of 22-26% for pups.
Now, I have to say, I wonder whether it is truely the protein content of the food that's a cause. Dogs fed natural diets, for example, don't have those problems. On the contrary, they usually grow more slowly. Yet they're fed a higher protein diet than even EVO... That makes me wonder if it's the carbs in dry dog food that are more at fault, or even if it's the bioavailability of the protein. Nonetheless, that's nothing more than me wondering. There are no studies to confirm that either way. I don't believe there are even any in progress, and even if there were, foods like EVO have only been around for 3 years or so. That's not long enough to tell.
In another 5-10 years, things might be different. We may know with reasonable certainty whether foods like this are safe or good for pups. But for now, I think you need to pay heed to the knowledge that *is* available - and that says that foods this high in protein are likely to cause or contribute to musculoskeletal disorders in growing pups, and therefore should not be fed until skeletal maturity is reached.
It is worth noting that the manufacturer of EVO has said in the past that the food should not be fed to puppies. And here's an old thread that discusses the role of overnutrition in the exacerbation of hip dysplasia (it's a useful one because it contains quite a few veterinary links): http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66335
In short, I think EVO is a wonderful food and these new generation types are a huge improvement on the conventional kibbles. But until it is known how the food impacts upon musculoskeltal growth (ie. if the same problems exist as for conventional kibble) then it is wiser not to feed this type of food to a growing pup. So if your 'Pup' really is a pup, then an alternative food with lower protein would be a better choice. Let someone else's dog be the guineapig
In suggestions, how about something like Natural Balance's Sweet Potato & Fish formula? It's grainless, but very much lower in protein and overall calories. Here's a review: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=171&cat=all
