A proper diet helps your puppy gow into a strong, healthy adult dog.
Puppies require more time and attention than adult dogs. You will find yourself running around after your little pup and cleaning up little messes. Don't let all the time and energy you spend adjusting to a new puppy let you neglect one of the most important ways to care for your new dog: the puppy's diet.
Purpose
A puppy's diet should be designed to give him all the vitamins and nutrients he needs to grow into a strong, active adult dog. According to the Kennel Club, puppies grow 20 times faster than adult dogs and need a diet than can keep up with the development. Proper amounts of protein in a puppy's diet will help repair damaged tissue. A puppy gets his energy from appropriate proportions of fats and carbohydrates.
Types
Puppy food may be dried, semi-moist or tinned. You can choose one or combine them based on your personal preference. Tailor your choice to the nutritional needs of puppies. Follow the feeding directions of the brand you use since they all have distinct proportion requirements. Choosing a food source with USDA grade food products insures that the puppy food doesn't contain potentially toxic ingredients. The Daily Puppy recommends choosing a food with high whole meat content. Stay away from food with fat content whose source isn't clearly listed or foods that contain soy meal, corn meal or wheat.
Make sure your puppy has plenty of fresh water available.
Frequency
A puppy should eat three meals daily until he reaches 6 months old. At 6 months old give the puppy two meals a day from then on. Allow the puppy to feed for 20 to 30 minutes, and then remove the food from the puppy's reach. If you decide to change the puppy's diet, do so over a course of a few days by gradually increasing the amount of the new food type while decreasing the old food type. This makes it easier for the puppy's digestive system to adjust.
Warnings
Just as with humans, dogs can have food sensitivities and allergies. Watch your puppy for any strange behavior, including lethargy, skin and ear problems, diarrhea, bloating and aggressive or hyperactive behavior. The most common allergies in puppies include intolerance to wheat, soy, milk, sugar and food coloring. If you suspect your puppy has an allergy, remove the food from its diet and consult a veterinarian.
Considerations
Keep the food and water bowls clean to avoid contaminating your puppy's food supply. If your puppy is healthy, you shouldn't see his ribs, but if you can't feel them, chances are he's overweight and you should adjust his diet. Monitor your puppy's stools. The Kennel Club says, "The most suitable diet should be easily digested and produce dark brown, firm, formed stools." If the puppy's stool is soft or light, or he has diarrhea, consult a veterinarian to find out if the puppy has a digestive problem or if his diet doesn't agree with his stomach.
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