Puppies are a lot of fun to have around the house. They bring a lot of joy and happiness, but they also require a lot of thought in terms of their care. One important thing to do when you get your new puppy is to feed them correctly from day one so that they grow into healthy adult dogs.
In this article we will discuss 5 tips on how you can ensure that your dog has a great start in life by feeding them correctly!
1: Puppy Food
Feeding your puppy the correct food is a necessity and you should start as soon as possible.
Puppies have different nutritional needs to adult dogs, so feeding them adult dog food will not be suitable for them because it does not contain enough of what they need in order to grow into healthy adult dogs that are well nourished.
The best puppy food is a dry puppy kibble that contains between 25% and 30% protein which will be important for their muscle development as well as other nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, omega-fatty acids and glucosamine that are essential to promote healthy joints - especially in larger breeds of dogs.
Information on the best foods for your Puppy is available at your local Vets to help you out.
2: Quantity of Food
The puppy food should be fed to your puppy 2-3 times a day.
You need to reduce that down to 1-2 meals for every 24 hours after that time when they have reached five or six months old. The quantity that you feed them will depend on the activity level of the Puppy.
Do not feed your puppy too much food, and do not free feed them so that they can eat whenever they want. If you allow your puppy to free feed, then it will soon become obese which will lead to a lot of health problems in the future such as arthritis and heart disease.
3: Water
Provide your puppy with fresh clean water every day.
Ensure that you do not place the puppy bowl of food and water together because it can encourage them to drink too much which will lead to long term health problems such as bloat, kidney disease or bladder stones.
4: Feeding Time
Always feed your puppy at the same time every day.
This consistency is important to instil good feeding habits and will also help you predict when they need to go outside for a bathroom break because most puppy's normally need to go potty 20 minutes after eating.
Feeding your puppy at specific times will also make their feeding routine more predictable which means it is easier to prevent problems such as hunger aggression when they are older.
Hunger aggression is where your puppy becomes anxious or aggressive when they are hungry because their food has not been put down for them at the right time, and it can be very dangerous if this behaviour continues to escalate as they become an adult dog- especially during mealtimes with children around!
5: Treats
Treats are a great way to reward your puppy for doing something right, but they should not be used as a substitute for regular meals because puppies can become overweight if they eat too many treats.
There is nothing wrong with giving your puppy the occasional treat, and it will encourage them to do what you want when training, but you should still be feeding them puppy food that is nutritionally balanced and contains all the nutrients your puppy needs.
The best treats are animal product treats and depending on the age of your puppy need to be appropriate and easily digestible. Treats that supply dental hygiene and are high in Omega 3 and fatty acids are a great benefit to your puppies overall health.
The above 5 tips are essential to overall puppy growth and well being and if you are unsure on what best suits your pup, your local vet can assist with any questions.
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