Nutrition for Puppies: Feeding Young Dogs

A healthy diet is essential for young dogs’ growth and development. Here are some tips for what your junior four-legged friend needs to have a healthy life and what you can feed them.

Puppy milk is recommended for the first four weeks of rearing or as a supplement.

You don’t have to worry about choosing the right puppy food during the first three or four weeks, as the animals only consume milk. If the mother dog is not producing enough milk, then your vet might advise that you add some. In such cases, special milks are available for puppy rearing. The puppy will begin to eat puppy food between the fourth week and the sixth or seventh week.

For accustoming: Puppy food with warm water

Between three and four weeks of age, baby dogs start to develop their milk teeth. You can then give them wet puppy food in a ratio of 1:1 with warm water. At this age they are still drinking milk, but slowly transitioning to solid food. You can gradually reduce the amount of water in the food if the puppies are tolerant. You should choose a product of high quality. It should be high in energy and have all the nutrients the puppy requires.

When to feed dry food to your puppy

You should pay attention to some things if you decide to feed your pup dry food rather than wet food. In the first phase of habituation, mix the food with water at a 1:3 ratio. This food must also meet the high energy and protein needs of the puppy.

Puppies of large breeds require special care.

Puppies from large, heavy, and fast-growing breeds like the Great Dane or Rhodesian Ridgeback have specific feeding needs because they increase their weight rapidly. It is important to provide the right nutrients for your dog, especially calcium and phosphorus in a balanced ratio, so that their musculoskeletal systems develop properly and they do not grow too quickly or too slowly and gain weight. Consult your veterinarian to determine the right food for your dog.