Intro to Puppy Nutrition
Proper nutrition is very important for new puppies. It is important, because puppies will go through an accelerated growth phase during the first 15 months of their lives, and having a diet that can provide the optimum base for stable growth without exceeding or the depleting of necessary elements is very, very important.
Protein for example is needed in larger amounts by growing puppies than it is by the adult dog, due to the rapid growth of the puppy’s muscles, joints and bones. The energy requirements for a puppy are considerably higher also making it essential for them to receive food nutritionally rich and calorie dense.
There are many different puppy foods on the market. This is to counteract the fact that certain breeds of puppies require specific nutritional elements in specific amounts. Little breed puppies for example have a much higher metabolism than those of bigger dogs meaning that they need a different calorie density food than bigger dogs need.
When feeding, try to feed according to your veterinarian’s suggested guidelines, or those set out on the label of the dog food bag. Usually, puppies are fed three times per day, dropping to two daily feedings after the pup is four months of age.