All Ridgeback puppies should be feed adult dog food, and ONLY adult dog food. Puppy food formulas, even those that are engineered for large breeds, contain a combination of protein and mineral levels that cause the puppies to grow to rapidly.
Rapid growth IS a cause of serious illness such as Pano (growth pains) in the long bones of large breeds like the Ridgeback. Symptoms of Pano range from puppies that "chew" on their ankles, to serious lameness. Pano is diagnosed by x-rays.
Rapid growth and obesity can also be a contributing factor to hip dysplasia, and knuckling over in the ankles.
The average daily amount of food for Ridgeback puppies, right through adulthood, is plus or minus 2-3 cups of dry food, twice a day. This is a MEASURED cup ... not a drinking cut. Portion the food into a stainless steel bowl, and apply enough hot tap water, until the kibble begins to float, let this stand for a minute or two before you feed.
The cheaper the kibble, the more it will "off gas" – or develop what appears to be soap bubbles when the water is added, be sure to feed a high quality dog food preferable with no chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT and others have been tied to cancer) or by products. Most people prefer to stay away from corn and soy, because these two foods are the cause of the majority of food allergies in dogs.
Since the Ridgeback is a deep chested dog, there is a propensity for a condition called bloat. Bloat is an accumulation of gas in the stomach, which the dog cannot alleviate. What can occur is torsion, or twisting and flipping of the stomach, which cuts the blood supply to the affected area, causing tissue death. To avoid bloat, when feeding, always mix the food with water, if your food "bubbles" (off gas) it should be avoided. Do not exercise your Ridgeback for several hours following a meal.
Do not allow your Ridgeback to gulp or drink excessive amounts of water at one time, particularly after exercise. The weight and fluidity of the water in the belly can cause the belly to flip, and cause bloat and torsion.
Don’t be fooled by the "hardness" of your Ridgebacks body, they can deceive you as to their physical fitness. Despite what your instincts may say, the majority of Ridgebacks are over weight. Ridgebacks should be true to their heritage as a running breed. They never tackled the lion, they chased their game, and therefore they must be light and agile. You should always see a little rib, and a true waist behind the ribs. This area, between the hips and the rib cage is called the loin, there must ALWAYS be a clear definition of a thin loin, when the dog is viewed from above. There should never be question that there is Greyhound in their heritage, they should never have the shape of a Labrador Retriever.