Puppies are growing up so fast! Before you know it, your cute little ball of fur will be an adult dog who weighs in at 50 pounds or more. It’s important to take good care of your new pet and make sure that he has the proper nutrition to help him grow into a healthy adult dog. In this article, we’ll look at how to feed a puppy properly so that he can grow up strong and healthy.
A puppy eats 5 meals per day
3 x 60 grams of food and 2 x 100 grams of food. So, daily you’ll need 1.5 kilos (3 pounds) of dry food and 200 grams (7 ounces) of meat/bone/organ per day.
Each meal must have meat
There are many different types of dog food, so choosing the best puppy food can be challenging. Make sure you’re feeding your pup a quality kibble (unless he’s still nursing) that contains all of his nutritional needs and provides him with protein at each meal. Pups need animal protein at every meal, even if it’s just chicken and rice or a commercial puppy food that is high in meat byproducts.
Grain is OK but it should be brown rice, oatmeal or barley
Grains are generally considered an acceptable part of your puppy’s diet. But all grains—which are, in fact, seeds that just haven’t fully ripened yet—should be cooked, not raw. Grains that have been cooked or steamed (brown rice, oatmeal and barley are good choices) are far less likely to cause digestion problems in puppies than uncooked or partially cooked grains (like wheat and corn). They also tend to provide fewer calories for your pup than uncooked grains do.
Fish oil and probiotics are essential
Not only are essential fatty acids and probiotics important for baby dogs, but recent studies have shown that puppies fed essential fatty acids performed better on problem-solving tasks than those without essential fatty acids. As for probiotics, it’s not just about building up a healthy immune system – it’s also about helping stave off illness as they grow older.
Bone meal can be added to your dog’s meal
This will help ensure that your dog’s growth and development go as smoothly as possible. As soon as you bring your puppy home, it’s important to establish a feeding schedule. If you adopt an older dog from a shelter, they may have bad eating habits such as stealing food or begging at table, so establishing an initial meal schedule will help get rid of these behaviors.
Always leave water available for your puppy
Filling your puppy’s water bowl all day long is an important part of keeping your pet hydrated. Make sure that you keep a fresh bowl of water out at all times, and ensure that it’s easily accessible by placing it within arm’s reach of his food dish. Be sure that your dog doesn’t play with his food too much while eating, as his tongue may become dry—if so, give him some cold water in which to rinse his mouth.
Don’t add supplements unless necessary (it could be dangerous!)
So you’ve brought home your new puppy, but it could be months before he’s on solid food. During that time, he’ll have trouble absorbing nutrients from his food without some help in form of supplements. Many breeders recommend adding Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins E and A to your pup’s diet while they are still being fed formula.
If your dog doesn’t eat one of his meals, don’t make a big deal out of it. Just keep serving him his other meals.
Dogs like routine, and if they miss one meal it’s unlikely that they will start refusing all of their meals. Most dogs, once they get hungry enough, will eagerly eat whatever food is available. If your dog doesn’t eat his evening meal and starts looking longingly at you or your other pets as you eat, he probably just wants some company. Leave his food down for about 15 minutes after serving it to him, then take it away.
Make sure your puppy gets exercise every day
One of the most important things you can do for your puppy is make sure it gets exercise every day. It’s particularly important when they’re young, but even if they’re older you’ll want to make sure they stay active! Before you know it, your cute little ball of fur will be growing into an 80-pound dog that might not understand why you can’t take him on walks anymore. That’s where a lot of adult dogs end up with problems related to their weight, like joint problems and arthritis.