Puppy Feeding Fundamentals

In order for small puppies to grow into healthy adults, a corresponding diet is of great importance. Here are the basic guidelines relating to young canine feeding and their special nutrition requirements. 

Every puppy needs healthy and tasty food. Moreover, puppies are highly dependent on various nutrients and vitamins within the food, since they are rather important for their proper development and good health. Quality food, especially in a very early period of a dog, is monumental.

Help your puppy get used to solid food 

Dogs should eat puppy food until they are about a year old. In addition, they should be fed three times a day until they are about six months old.

Due to the fact that puppies can’t get all the necessary calories from the mother’s milk, they should start eating solid food at about four weeks of life. The best choice is a dry type of food, because it is a good source of proteins. On the other hand, moist food is easier to digest, but more expensive. The best solution is to combine these two types of food, sometimes even mix it together. As for semi-moist puppy food, it is also a good option. Hence, it is practical to use and easy to digest. But, this type of food contains high levels of salt and sugar, which can lead to obesity and hyperactivity in dogs.

Except for rare exceptions, dogs should eat puppy food until they are about one year old.

Proper nutrition for young and still growing dogs

In general, it is commendable if you decide to prepare meals for your pet. However, you run the risk of not providing it with all the necessary nutrients. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you purchase the food that is intended to puppies. Do not forget to pay attention to the composition of the food, since the diet must contain enough protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals (such as calcium) and vitamins. The ratio of the individual components should also be well balanced. Hence, when utilized incorrectly, some components can do more harm than good.

If you have chosen a large breed, make sure not to overfeed it. On the contrary, make sure to feed the dog with small portions, several times per day. Otherwise, these dogs will grow very quickly, which can cause serious health problems, including canine hip dysplasia. Of course, fresh water should be available at all times.

Photo credit: Tyler Allen/Flickr