Optimal nutrition plays an important role in helping your puppy grow into a happy and healthy dog. It is vital that your puppy is fed the correct balance of vitamins and minerals to ensure health growth and mental and physical development. Our pet experts have provided a basic summary on feeding your puppy to help you make the best choices for your new family member. Please note this is general advice, and you should seek veterinary advice if your dog has any special dietary needs.
Why is diet so important for puppies?
Whilst providing your dog with a nutritious diet is important at all life stages, it is essential during the early years of a puppy’s life. Puppies grow very quickly, meaning they have higher caloric needs and a faster metabolism. In addition, they need higher ratios and quantities of certain vitamins and minerals to support their growth and development.
What do I need to consider when choosing food for my puppy?
There are a number of things that you need to consider when deciding what to feed your puppy to give them the best start in life. The main considerations are age, breed, activity level and weight. The age of your puppy is important as you should choose a food that is made specifically for puppies, and should be clearly labelled “puppy” or “junior” on the packaging. You should also consider your puppies' breed as different sizes and breeds have different nutritional needs. For example, large breeds grow faster so it is important that they receive additional joint support. While most puppies are quite active, it is important to consider activity level, as dogs that are more active will require more calories than dogs that are sedentary. Finally, you should assess whether your dog is underweight, overweight or a healthy weight so you can feed them the correct amount to promote a healthy weight. Once you understand these four factors, you will now be able to look for a super premium food that meets the individual needs of your puppy.
What food should I feed my puppy?
The basis of your puppy’s diet should be a high quality, super premium puppy food that contains a high percentage of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Super premium puppy foods such as Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canin and Advance are nutritionally balanced and complete, and will provide your puppy with all the essential vitamins and minerals. Super premium foods are often based on science, and manufactured without artificial flavours or fillers. All super premium foods have different formulas for puppies, adults and senior dogs, meaning the food will be specific for your puppy’s needs. Nutrient-rich puppy foods contain high levels of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid. Puppies with high levels of DHA in their diet benefit from enhanced brain, muscle and vision development. Be sure to read the label and ensure the food complies with the Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food.
Should I feed wet or dry food?
There are various types of puppy foods available, sometimes it can be hard to know which one is best. The two most common foods available are dry food and wet food. Wet food has a much higher water content than dry food, and the rich aromas can be used to entice fussy eaters. You should either offer your puppy a mix of wet and dry food, or dry food only as it is vital your puppy has dry kibble to chew on for their growing teeth.
How much and how often should I feed my puppy?
It is important to feed your puppy the right amount at proper intervals. Overfeeding or underfeeding can predispose muscle and bone problems. You should monitor your puppy’s physical condition and adjust the feeding amount as he or she grows. Super premium puppy foods include feeding guidelines on how much to feed daily. We recommend weighing your puppy at regular intervals and feeding them based on the feeding guide. The quantity they need per day will depend on their age and weight.
It is recommended to spread your puppy’s daily food intake over a few meals. Puppies should be offered food 4 times a day to begin with, and you may gradually decrease this to twice daily as they grow. Be sure to take your puppy for regular check ups at the vet, where they can weigh your pup and provide advice.
Switching food
Puppies have very sensitive digestive systems, so if you decide to change their food during the early years, be sure to do it slowly and carefully. You should gradually introduce the new food over a seven day period by mixing the old food with increasing portions of the new food, until only the new food is being fed. This will allow you to switch foods without any stomach upsets, and means your puppy will be able to fully enjoy the taste and benefits of his or her new food. This can be beneficial when you purchase a puppy who is being fed supermarket quality food, and wish to change their diet to a super premium food to support their growth.
It is vital to feed your puppy a high quality, super premium food to give them the best possible start for a healthy life. Super premium food will provide precisely balanced nutrition to meet your puppy’s nutritional needs. Your vet is the best source of information about the health and wellbeing of your puppy. Ensuring your pet’s weight is regularly monitored by a veterinarian will reduce health risks and lead to your puppy living a longer and healthier life.
