How To Feed a Puppy – How To Choose the Best Puppy Food
Hi, I’m Dr. Katy Nelson
for Iams with Howdini.
Today we’re going to talk about
dog nutrition and what
you should look for in
your puppy’s food.
Just like infants, puppies
require different levels of
nutrients than older dogs.
Physically puppies grow
fastest during
the first six months.
The right nutrition
is critical to
support this rapid growth.
That said, your puppy should
only receive premium puppy
food until he reaches his
adult height and weight.
That’s typically in the first
year for small and medium
breeds and can be up
to two years for
large and giant breeds.
One more thing to consider
is that a puppy’s energy
requirements can be nearly twice
that of an adult dog.
And since their stomachs are
smaller they need more
nutritionally dense food
formulated just for puppies to
help them meet their
energy needs.
There are three types of food.
Dry kibble.
Semi-moist, which comes
in sealed packages.
And moist, or canned.
Most veterinarians and trainers
recommend dry kibble
food because of its fat content
and the fact that
moist food can spoil.
Dry kibble also helps with
tartar control which is
particularly important for
his developing teeth.
When you’re shopping for food,
there a couple of things you
want to look for and
keep in mind.
Number one, look on the label
for a statement that says
formulated to meet the
nutritional levels established
by the AAFCO dog food Nutrient
Profiles for Growth.
Number two, read the ingredients
list on the back
of the package and look for
real meat as the first
ingredient.
Puppies grow the fastest
during the first
six months of life.
And because growth rates differ
among breed sizes, you
need to feed a formula designed
to address the needs
of your puppy’s breed
and size.
Ideally, puppy food should
also contain animal-based
protein for strong muscles.
The protein requirement for
growing poppies is higher than
that for adult dogs.
High quality protein is critical
for puppies to create
new body tissue as they grow.
Calcium for strong
bones and teeth.
Iron for healthy blood.
DHA for the brain, central
nervous system, and vision.
DHA is a key ingredient found
naturally in mother’s milk and
is important for a baby’s
neural development.
Just like a baby, your puppy’s
ability to learn depends on
healthy brain development.
Probiotics for a healthy immune
system, because 65% of
your puppy’s immune system is
in its digestive tract.
And high in calories for all
the energy a puppy burns.
The nutritional needs for
puppies differ for different
breeds sizes.
Large breed puppies
grow more quickly.
Because of that, they actually
need less calcium so their
bones don’t grow too fast.
Medium breed dogs need a
careful balance of calories and
nutrients to be sure that
they don’t gain excess weight.
While small breed puppies need
nutrient dense food in small
bites because their metabolism
tends to be faster.
and they have different energy
needs than larger dogs.
Another important thing to know
is that what is good for
humans is not necessarily
good for animals.
Because proper nutrition
is critical for optimal
development, and because human
food doesn’t offer the proper
balance of nutrients puppies
need, it is important teach
your whole family that feeding
your puppy or your dog table
scraps is a big no-no and
a major health hazard.
Now let’s talk about
feeding schedules.
Just like babies, puppies do
best on a regular schedule.
Schedules teach them that there
are times to eat, times
to play, and times to potty.
Obviously the feeding schedule
will largely be dictated by
your own personal schedule.
But no matter what, it is
critical that puppies younger
than four months be feed
multiple times per day.
Depending on your puppies
breed size at around six
months you can start to limit
feelings to twice a day.
Also keep in mind that eating
is soon followed by the urge
to go to the bathroom.
If you work away from your house
and are unable to feed
and walk your puppy as often as
needed, think hiring a dog
walker or ask a neighbor to help
you keep your puppy on
his schedule.
For more information on house
training, watch “How to house
train your puppy.”
Another important nutritional
determinant is how much you
were supposed to feed your
developing puppy.
Even though the back of the
puppy food bags usually have
suggested portion sizes based on
weight, they are not always
right for your puppy.
So it’s best to pay attention to
your puppy’s body and talk
to your veterinarian.
Remember a fat puppy is not
necessarily a healthy puppy.
Just as childhood obesity can
lead to adult health issues in
humans, monitoring a puppy’s
weight is very important to
ensure proper development.
Treats are another food source
to consider when determining
portion size.
It is important to limit
treating to less than 10% of
your puppy’s daily
caloric intake.
When selecting treats, hard chew
treats are ideal because
they improve dental health
through gnawing.
Also try to save treating for
training sessions to reward
good behavior, but be careful
not to overdo it.
For more information on
training, watch our video
“Puppy training basics.”
The last part of puppy nutrition
we are going to talk
about is water.
Puppies need fresh, clean water
available at all times.
Like us, is their most
important nutrient.
You should change your puppy’s
water often, at
least once a day.
Providing fresh, clean water
greatly reduces the risk of
disease, and therefore keeps
your pet happy and healthy.
I’m Dr. Katy Nelson for
Iams with Howdini.
And I hope that you found this
helpful as you welcome your
new addition into your family.
For more information on puppy
care and training, visit
iams.com/puppy.
