Feeding
A good diet is vitally important for a puppy. Not only is the right selection of nutrients necessary to ensure that the puppy grows fit, strong, and healthy, but the wrong choice can lead to bad behavior problems such as hyperactivity.
Seek advice on the correct diet for your pet from experts, such as the dog breeder who sold you the dog, an animal nutritionist/dietician, an animal behaviorist (see The Dog Behavior Specialist), or your veterinarian, if he or she specializes in nutrition. Many vets employ a pet nutritionist or could recommend one. (Treat with caution any advice given by specialists who are sponsored by major pet food companies since you can’t be sure their advice is impartial.) If you are concerned about possible health or behavioral problems that you think may be diet related, talk to a veterinarian or nutritionist. You may be advised to change the puppy’s diet and/or give additional dietary supplements.
Ten Possible Diet-Related Problems
Even though you may provide the best food for your puppy, you will need to feed him the correct amount for optimum health. Too much food will probably result in diarrhea initially. Consistent overfeeding will produce an overweight puppy. Problems such as joint and back disorders, among others, are likely consequences. On the other hand, feeding too little may result in the puppy receiving insufficient nutrients to support his growth, which can cause skeletal problems. A good breeder will provide a diet sheet for your puppy and be eager to offer further advice, if needed. The following health and behavioral problems are sometimes caused by dietary factors such as the wrong balance of ingredients, the presence of certain additives, or a lack of essential nutrients. If you notice these problems with your puppy, seek expert advice and consider changing his diet:
1 Hyperactivity
2 Unexplained restlessness
3 Skin disorders, such as eczema or psoriasis
4 Unexplained redness
5 Skin swellings
6 Soreness/itching
7 Constipation (irregular bowel movements/straining)
8 Diarrhea
9 Dry, peeling, sore nose
10 Dry, sore paw pads
A Balance Diet
The quantity of food you provide will depend on the age and breed of the puppy. The variation can be enormous, from around 250 calories for a three-month-old Yorkshire terrier to nearly 2,000 calories for a Rottweiler of the same age! Serve the food at room temperature, and take care to avoid temperature extremes — neither too hot nor too cold — because your puppy’s mouth is highly sensitive. Unlike cats, dogs are not actually true carnivores, so they should not be fed an exclusively meat diet. It is essential that your puppy should have a balanced diet containing animal protein and vegetables to ensure that he gets all the vitamins, minerals, proteins, essential fats, and, above all, energy that he needs. One important ingredient is fiber, often neglected in a puppy’s diet. But the dog himself often knows instinctively that he must seek out fiber and will chew plants, tree bark, and even wooden furniture in order to make up this deficiency.
Typical Nutrient Values of Puppy Food
The following list is an example of the approximate percentage of ingredients in a typical good-quality “complete” dried puppy food. (Always follow the instructions on the bag when preparing and serving puppy food.)
Protein 25%
Ash 5-6%
Fiber 4-5%
Oil 3-4%
Calcium 1-2%
Phosphorus 1%Plus vitamins and minerals, including A, D, E, and selenium.
It’s a good investment to pay a little extra for good-quality, nutritious food for your dog. You can prepare the food yourself using natural ingredients. But if you decide on a manufactured brand, select one that is specially designed for puppies. A rapidly growing puppy has different dietary needs from those of a full-grown dog. Always check the list of ingredients on labels. Many cheaper brands may lack adequate nutrients and contain extra additives and preservatives like Alpha tocopherol (natural vitamin E). Canned food may seem like good value for the money, but they have a very high moisture content. Typically, a well-balanced puppy food will contain meat and bone meal, various cereals such as maize, bran and oats, rice, animal fats such as chicken oil, oils such as linseed, ash, fiber, and a good range of essential vitamins and minerals.
You puppy should enjoy a balanced diet that incorporates meat, cereals, animal fats, vegetale oils, vitamins, and minerals.