Explorer Les différentes Plantes

Puppies need an age-appropriate diet in order to develop harmoniously and stay healthy. Feeding your puppy well is essential to increase its life expectancy. Care must therefore be taken to give it growth foods of excellent quality and which provide it with all the nutrients it needs as it evolves.

As long as he is fed by his mother, the mother gives him the immunity that protects him. Once weaned, that is, as soon as it reaches 6 to 8 weeks of age, the young dog must continue to be protected by its immune system.

The master therefore opts for a diet adapted to the age of his little companion of course, but also to his weight, his activity as well as his breed. There is no question of overfeeding your puppy because it puts him at risk of obesity. On the other hand, it is essential that the food meets its nutritional needs.

The puppy’s body is still fragile and its digestive system is immature, so the animal must receive a personalized diet. This must allow the mineralization of its bones and teeth while providing the puppy with the energy it needs on a daily basis, that is to say twice as much as an adult dog.

The intake of vitamin D, iron, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, calcium and protein should be sufficient while it is recommended to avoid carbohydrates in the puppy because they increase the risks:

Cardiovascular problems,

Overweight,

Diabetes,

Kidney failure.

We choose a perfectly dosed and balanced industrial feed, designed for young dogs, and in relation to the growth rate of the animal. In a large breed puppy, adult size is not reached until the age of 2 years, while in a small breed puppy, growth is completed around 10 months.

Finally, it is best not to vary the puppy’s diet. If you do not follow this dietary rule, it could damage your gut microbiota and lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain and in some cases skin problems.

prohibited foods

The puppy is a greedy and voracious animal. So he is able to eat just about anything. This is why his master must be very vigilant, especially when the family has young children, who are ready to share their snacks with their little companion. However, many food products intended for humans can pose a real danger to animals, some of them even being toxic to canines.

Here are some examples of prohibited foods for puppies:

The lawyer,

Milk,

The sweets,

Salted products,

Chocolate.

More generally, we avoid giving leftovers from family meals to our puppy.

As for meat, it must always be cooked. This limits the risk of contamination by bacteria.

Daily ration of the puppy

Feeding your puppy well doesn’t mean stuffing it so that it doesn’t miss anything! On the contrary, it should be given a little at a time, but more often than if it were an adult dog. It is important to respect the number of meals recommended by veterinarians on a daily basis, namely:

From 2 to 3 months: 4 rations,

Between 4 and 6 months: 2 to 3 rations,

From the age of 2 months: 2 rations only.

As for the ideal amount for each ration, it is clearly indicated on the food packaging and must be observed. It is best to moisten the kibbles, which are dry foods, and then partially crush them, at least until the puppy is 10 weeks old. Dry food helps the animal maintain healthy teeth because it is a crunchy food.

It is recommended to always be familiar with the ingredients that make up the kibble that you give your puppy and to only opt for high quality products. In the slightest doubt, it is better to seek advice from the veterinarian.

Fresh and clean water

Water is part of the puppy’s diet. The animal should therefore never run out. A bowl of fresh water must be made available to him, to be renewed during the day so that it is always clean and the puppy must be able to come and drink at any time. However, it is best to leave only a moderate amount of water in the bowl as the puppy may be tempted to drink too much and too quickly, which is undesirable. Ideally, he drinks frequently, but little at a time.

Regularly check your puppy’s weight

In order to check that the puppy’s growth is harmonious and that he does not put on weight too quickly, it is essential to check his weight by weighing it regularly. This allows you to compare your own growth curve with that which corresponds to the standards of the breed according to the sex of the puppy and its age.

One last very important tip

Ensuring that the dog does not become obese is taking care of its health for the rest of its life. Let’s not forget that, like in humans, being overweight in dogs dramatically increases health problems. Weight control should be done regularly in puppies but also in adult dogs.