Keeping Your Puppy Healthy and Properly Fed

When you sit down to meal plan for the week, you might think about all the members of your family and what specific needs they have. Perhaps you’ve got a child with an allergy or a spouse with a picky palate. As you make your menus, you’ll be sure to include those factors, but you should also remember your furry little family member. Your puppy needs nutritious meals, healthy snacks and a well-balanced diet as well.

What Constitutes a Well-Balanced Puppy Diet?

Your puppy is still growing and developing, and just like a young child, he needs food that will keep his brain and body active. His food should give him the fuel he needs to get out all that energy each day. Some of the best puppy foods, such as The Honest Kitchen Grain Free Whole Food Clusters Dog Food , will contain labels that say, “complete and balanced” or “approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials.” As you look at nutrition labels, you want them to contain the following:

• Carbohydrates – Just like in humans, carbohydrates will energize your pup.

• Fats – Good fats are essential to your dog’s brain and vision development, and will also work towards healthy hair and skin.

• Proteins – All the tissues that make up your pup are built by protein.

• Vitamins and minerals – The right vitamins and minerals each day will encourage better health overall.

• Water – You’ll find water in most canned puppy food. This only makes up a small amount of the water your pup will need each day, so be sure he always has a bowl of fresh, clean water available to him.

How Do You Feed a New Puppy?

If you’ve previously had an adult dog, you might know a thing or two about dog nutrition, but puppy feeding is a lot different. Your puppy needs extra nutrients that will aid in how quickly he is growing. The food you feed your new pet should be specific for puppies, or one that indicates it’s good for all stages of life, such as Chicken Soup for the Soul Grain Free All Life Stages Dog Food .

Your pup’s age will largely determine how much food you should offer him each day. If he’s begun weaning from his mother’s milk, he’ll need four meals each day up to about three months old. Between then and six months old, your puppy requires three meals each day. From six to twelve months, and sometimes up to 24 months depending on the size of breed, your puppy will need two meals each day. In the beginning, it’s a good idea to wet the food with warm water so it’s easier for him to go from warm milk to dry food.

Can Your Puppy Eat Table Scraps?

Any time you feed your pet table scraps, he or she will get used to the idea of eating people food, which isn’t exactly healthy. Puppies tend to overeat when they are given people food, so be sure you regulate the table scraps to less than 10% of the daily calorie intake your puppy requires.

There are also some things your dog should never have, as it’s a poison and will seriously harm your furry family member. This includes Xylitol, caffeine, alcohol, bread dough, grapes, raisins, chocolate, avocados, garlic, and onions. Also watch out for foods that will choke your puppy or be too hard for him to break down once he gets it in his mouth. Bones, for example, might seem like the perfect treat, but a cooked bone splinters into shards and will choke your puppy or injure his mouth or intestines. Safety is your first priority, so if it’s going to be a danger to your dog, it’s simply not worth feeding it to him.

What Should You Do If Your Dog Begs?

There are plenty of safe treats made just for puppies, such as Stella & Chewy’s Super Beef Dinner Patties Dog Treats , so if you never give your puppy table food, that’s perfectly fine. Dogs have perfected the method of begging, and know many humans will eventually give in, but you don’t have to! If your dog begs, patiently show him where his food is and get back to your own meal. If you have a particularly social puppy, and you’re comfortable with a dog in the dining room, move your puppy’s food and water bowl next to the dining room table so he can be a part of the group when everyone sits down to eat.

Are There Special Foods for Puppies With Dietary Restrictions?

Yes! Just like your human family members, your puppy could have dietary restrictions for one reason or another. Perhaps little Fido was born with a heart condition or diabetes. There are foods specifically for those conditions, such as low-sodium Canine Caviar Limited-Ingredient Alkaline Holistic Dry Dog Food , so your furry family member will always have the foods he needs to stay healthy. Speaking with your veterinarian is a great way to get a food recommendation for your puppy’s unique condition.

How Do You Get Started?

Before you bring your puppy home, speak with the breeder about his or her dietary needs and food recommendations . Read up on the breed so you can learn as much as possible about your new family member. Speak with a veterinarian, even taking the puppy in for a checkup to look for conditions or other issues you should be aware of. Knowledge is the key to keeping your puppy in as good of health as possible.