Many of us share a happy memory of the first day we let the puppy into our home. Your puppy becomes part of the family, thus we want take good care of him. An integral part of his growth and development is a balanced diet. We need to take some time to figure out what a healthy diet for your puppy dog actually is. Your first source should always be your dog’s veterinarian. He will have your dog’s best interest in mind, while bringing forth any special needs unique to your puppy. Let’s not forget that your puppy has different nutritional needs than those of an adult dog. Feeding the young pup with dog food meant for adult dogs may not provide all the necessary nutrition he needs at this early stage and hinder his development.
A couple choices of dog food have become most popular in recent years. In your trip to the store you will face options like natural, organic, dry kibbles or moist food. While other people choose to do away with all that, and feed their dog raw food at home. The type of dog food pet owners are more likely to take home is the dry kibble kind.
The kind of dog food that comes in bags with small pieces of dry food is actually the best way to go. Your newborn puppy will require a number of essential vitamins and minerals to be included in his meals. He will also need to be fed at least four times a day. You should moisten the dry kibbles you feed your dog with water, avoid using milk. At least during the early years it is a good idea to moisten the food to make it easier on the puppy to chew. His teeth are under developed and it is possible for him to hurt his gums. Milk, on the other hand can cause diarrhea.
With the natural growth and development of your dog, you might want to start reducing the amount of water you put in his food. Plan to slowly make the transition to dry food as close as you can to the development of his teeth. If you let your dog get accustomed to moist food, there is the risk that he might refuse to eat dry food at all. By the end of two moths, the puppy should be able to handle dry food without a problem.
During the first few months of the puppy’s life, he should be allowed to eat at his discretion. Try to feed him during pre determined time frames. By the end of forty weeks, your dog would grow accustomed to your feeding schedule, which should now be no more than twice a day. In an effort to keep your dog healthy, keep food in his plate at feeding time, and watch out for any disorders.
Keeping your puppy healthy and strong can be an easy task. Ask around for the best dog food specially made for puppies, from a trustworthy company. A good start in your dog’s nutrition will ensure a healthier, more enjoyable life in the future.