size & digestive issues

Question
I rescued Roxy from our local shelter.  She was listed as a shepard mix.  Whatever--instantly fell in love with her.  I work at a vet clinic with a boarding kennel in back.  (no degree-just a kennel tech)Roxy was spayed @ 8 weeks-per shelter and got parvo directly after.  We beat that!  All of our boxer clients say there is no doubt that boxer is her main breed as do our vets.  General consensus says that she's mixed with pit.  She is 8 mo old and weighs 47lbs.  Her stop is less defined and her lower jaw doesn't jut out.  She is THICK.  Despite her weight she is about 17" @ the shoulder and about 23"L (shoulder to tail base)I've been researching the breed and I know this could be difficult because she's mixed--I just wonder if the parvo stunted her growth.  I was feeding her Science Diet Large Breed Puppy.  She developed Dragon breath and horrible gas.  She was lethargic.  Her woo woo and nips and nudges were gone.  I've switched her to Iams smart puppy.  Her breath is still bad but not like before.  She's knee deep in puppy play!  I don't know if I should continue the Iams or if there's something better for a puppy with digestive issues.  I am very curious as to how big she'll get (love big dogs!)How long is a boxers growth stage?  Much Thanks!!

Answer
Whatever her generics (and without the jutting jaw, I would say Pit Bull, not Boxer) I would feed her a special food for "sensitive" stomachs.

Your vet should carry it. Iams makes it. There are many good brands. If you like, go to your pet store (Pet Smart, etc.) and check for a labeling for "sensistive" stomachs. But vets always carry it.

FOLLOW-UP:

Leslie,

I don't know why you rated lowly and made the comment you "already knew that."

Apparently you did not know about the "sensitive stomach" dog food that most vets carry and prescribe to dogs with those issues, or you would have the puppy on it and mentioned it in your question.

This is the first step. Second step is to put her on a bland potato dog food with supplements, ruling out allergies to food ingredients in others.

Secondly, a Boxer's growth stage might not even pertain to your dog, being you stated she is a Shepherd and Pit Bull mix, and general consensus Boxer. Without the jutting jaw, the Boxer must be further removed because it is the strongest characteristic of the Boxer.

Growth- your vet can tell you the weight gain per month as the pup grows: usually they gain a pound per time frame then ounces per time frame once reaching a certain age.

Pit Bulls are smaller than Shepherds and Boxers. Yours might be smaller like a Pit and nothing like a Shepherd or Boxer.

Why ask in a forum what you can ask of the vet you work for? You aren't asking much of any question that you don't already have access to for free with the vet clinic you are employed with.