Feeding well your puppy is essential to ensure optimal growth and development. During the weaning period, it is important to choose a food adapted to his needs and ensure meals are well-balanced in proteins, nutrients and other elements essential to his health. The first few months of your puppy's life are crucial, as they will impact their future health as an adult dog. This feeding guide provides you with practical advice and useful information for feeding your puppy quality food. You will discover how to balance the meals and how to ensure he receives the nutrients he needs to grow into a healthy adult dog.
1. The Weaning
Weaning is a crucial stage in the development of a puppy. It consists of gradually replacing the mother's milk with solid food in order to accustom your puppy to adult food. It is important to feed your puppy well during this period, opting for food adapted to his age and breed. The new foods should be introduced gradually, so the puppy gets used to the texture and taste. The puppy is usually weaned between 6 and 8 weeks old, but this can vary depending on the breed. It is important to monitor the puppy's weight gain to ensure that it is growing well and to ask your veterinarian for advice if in doubt.
2. Recommended Puppy Foods
The nutritional needs of a puppy are different from those of an adult dog. To ensure optimal growth, it is important to choose the right diet. In general, good quality premium foods that are minimally processed are recommended.
NO to industrial foods (pâtés/kibbles)
A study conducted by the Research Ethics Committee on Animal Research at the University of Helsinki, Finland (The effect of puppy and adolescent diet on the incidence of chronic enteropathy in dogs later in life) revealed that puppies fed industrial foods had a significant potential risk of developing chronic enteropathy (CE) in their lifetime.
This study underlines the importance of a healthy diet for companion dogs during their childhood and adolescence. The study found that feeding the dog a variety of fresh, "real" foods may be protective against CE. On the other hand, feeding mainly or exclusively processed foods such as dry kibble or pâté have been shown to be important potential risk factors for CE.
Homemade diet (also called home ration): The study did not show any significant association with the incidence of CE later in life in dogs that had a home-made diet (also called home ration).
Avoid adult dog food
Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs due to their rapid growth and physical development. Adult dog foods often don't provide the essential nutrients puppies need for growth.
Additionally, adult dog kibble or pâté may contain inappropriate levels of nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D, which can be harmful to growing puppies if consumed in excess. Overfeeding with calcium, for example, can cause problems with abnormalities in the bone structure.
A fresh, natural "homemade" diet is recommended
To ensure optimal growth and health, a fresh and natural diet will be the best option.
Home-made meals
Do-it-yourself is a good solution for puppy owners who want to guarantee natural and fresh food. The advantages of the household ration are numerous: better quality and traceability, less processing, cooked at low temperatures to preserve the food and offer better digestibility for the absorption of nutrients.
On the other hand, with the do-it-yourself option, the meals must of course be adequately balanced between fibers, fats, minerals, vitamins/trace elements and also be sufficiently rich in protein.
For this reason, many find it difficult to cook suitable meals due to the constantly changing nutritional complexities of puppies during their growth phase.
Preparing balanced meals requires a thorough knowledge of the nutritional needs of puppies and the balance of nutrients in food. Dosages and proportions must be precise to meet specific nutritional needs, and errors in dosage can lead to nutritional deficiencies or excess nutrients, which can have negative health effects.
Do you know Pawy.ch?
Pawy.ch is a Swiss pet food company that offers home delivery of high-quality fresh food (household ration type) for pets. Their recipes have been developed by expert nutrition veterinarians, using only the finest quality fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers. Pawy is also committed to sustainability, being a carbon-neutral company with no impact on the use of its plastics. They offer a healthy and convenient solution for pet owners looking to provide nutritious and delicious meals.
Pawy offers these home-made household rations from the age of 2 months and is suitable for weaning. The company offers a personalized program for each puppy and calculations based on breed, age and weight, a growth curve to adapt the daily meals as the puppy grows. The recommended daily amount can therefore change each month during growth.
3. How Much Food and Dosage?
To ensure the proper development of your young puppy, it is important to feed your new best friend the amount he needs. It is recommended to give several meals a day, rather than giving everything at once. Indeed, it allows your puppy to digest better and avoid digestion problems.
Check and adjust quantities month after month
It is also important to start small and gradually increase the amount of food. Indeed, a puppy that eats more than it should can have long-term health problems. In general, the recommended amounts are indicated on the packages, but it is also recommended to use a calorie calculator to adjust the doses according to the specific needs of the growth stages of your puppy.
The amount of puppy food should be adjusted according to its growth curve because the nutritional needs of puppies change rapidly during their growth phase. Puppies need a specific amount of nutrients to develop their bones, muscles, brain and immune system properly.
A puppy's growth chart can vary depending on its breed, gender, environment, and health. It is therefore important to regularly monitor your puppy's growth using an appropriate growth chart.
Calories Calculator
Here is a calorie calculator that will allow you to know the precise amount of food your puppy needs depending on its breed, age, physical activity, and body size, here: Calculator
4. Foods to Avoid for Your Puppy
It is important to know what foods to avoid in their bowl.
Foods that are too fatty, heavy or spicy should be avoided as they can cause digestive problems.
Raw or undercooked foods, such as meat or bones, can cause obstructions in the digestive system and be dangerous for your pup.
Excess of liver can be damaging as it can lead to hypervitaminosis A. So don't overdo the liver in your dog's diet.
Foods containing nuts, raisins or chocolate can also be toxic to dogs.
You can find a more comprehensive list here
5. The First Months After Adulthood
Clearly, adult dogs need less food than growing puppies because their bodies have already reached their adult size and have a lower metabolic rate. Puppies need more food to support their rapid growth and development, while adults have lower energy requirements and can maintain body weight on less food. Overfeeding in adult dogs can lead to obesity and health problems, so it's important to adjust their diet accordingly to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle.
You can use a calculator such as the one offered by Pawy.ch (Calculator) to properly transition to adulthood and recalculate one last time so that he receives exactly what he needs in his adulthood. Please note that if he is neutered, this will also need to be reported to the calculator as this may affect daily requirements.
Thank you for taking the time to read and better understand the importance of proper nutrition for a puppy. We wish you and your pet every success in your journey toward a balanced and healthy diet. If you need help or have any questions about feeding your puppy, please do not hesitate to contact hello@pawy.ch.
