FEEDING THE PUPPY

 

 

Puppies grow rapidly, and need plenty of nutrition to meet their growing needs.  In most cases, a premium-quality dry dog food should be the basis of the diet. Canned food or other specific supplemental foods may be fed, but these should be chosen carefully.

FOOD BRANDS: No single food is best for all puppies. Special diets for large breed puppies or toy breed puppies may be most suitable for those dogs., and certain breeds or individuals may thrive better on different diets. Our veterinarians can offer advice on food selection. For most puppies, we recommend a high-protein/moderate fat diet, such as:

                                                PROPLAN GROWTH

                                                    SCIENCE DIET GROWTH

                                                         NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE PUPPY

                                                                NATURE’S RECIPE PUPPY

SUGGESTED FEEDING SCHEDULE: Puppies under 8 weeks old should be fed 4 times a day. From 8 to 12 weeks, three feedings a day should be given. After 12 weeks old, 2 meals a day are recommended. Dry food does not need to be moistened with water unless a very young puppy is unable to eat the food dry. Canned food (in small amounts) can be given along with the dry. This is mainly given for taste, to interest the pup in its food. Very young pups or small breed puppies may only be able to handle canned food at first.

AMOUNT: The amount of food needed varies with the individual dog, the breed, and the age. In medium and large breeds, the puppy should only receive the amount of food that it will eat within the first 10 minutes (see below, FEEDING TO PREVENT BONE PROBLEMS). Smaller dogs eat more slowly, so the amount can be adjusted to match the amount the dog will eat within 1 hour.

SPECIAL NEEDS:

TOY BREED puppies can be very susceptible to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). In these breeds (Pomeranians, Yorkshire terriers, toy poodles), food should be available constantly. High protein foods will help to keep the blood sugar more stable.

              

LARGE BREEDS (FEEDING TO PREVENT BONE PROBLEMS): If large breed dogs are allowed to eat all the food they are willing to eat, they will grow too rapidly. This rapid growth puts a lot of stress on the soft growing bones, doubling the risk of such bone problems as hip dysplasia, osteochrondritis, and elbow dysplasia.  Some breeders even suggest feeding large breed puppies adult foods or poor quality diets in order to limit the nutrients available for growth; this is not suggested. The growth rate can be controlled by feeding controlled portions (only the amount the dog will finish in 10 minutes) according to the schedule shown above. These dogs will grow at a controlled rate, but their adult size will be just as large as similar pups that are overfed and grow more rapidly. Supplements of calcium, vitamins, raw eggs, or meat and liver are usually not recommended.