You may be wondering what to feed your new puppy right after you bring him home and one of the options that came to your mind is adult dog food.
Besides, it is dog food so why not? Well, the problem is puppies need more nutrients than adult dogs and the bite size of these foods may not yet be suitable for their little mouths.
Yes, it may be a lot cheaper to just buy adult dog food especially if you already have another dog to feed. It would definitely be a good way to cut costs but your puppy may not be getting what he or she needs.
Would you sacrifice your puppy’s future health by giving him less than optimal types of dog food?
As a pet owner, you need to understand that a growing puppy’s needs are not the same as that of a fully grown or adult dog. Their bodies need all the nutrients that they can get to develop tissues, organs, muscles, and bones in order to reach their adult size.
Together with this need comes the requirement for greater energy sources which is why you need to supply a greater amount of calories.
Here are a few other things to consider to help you decide which types of food to feed your puppy.
Puppies Need Their Mother’s Milk up to 8 Weeks
A puppy’s mother will be its best source of nutrition until they reach the age of eight weeks or two months. The mother supplies not only warmth and hygiene needs for the puppies, but also one of their most important needs – antibodies.
Just like in humans, a mother’s milk contains essential components which cannot be replicated by commercially prepared formula milk.
They have the right amount of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals that they need to grow as well as essential nutrients such as DHA that helps in their brain development.
If however, the puppies have been orphaned or are abandoned by their mother, then the next best thing would be replacement milks which can be bought from your local pet store. You can start feeding them some puppy food mashed in some warm replacement milk or water once they are three (3) to four (4) weeks old. You can also give them some mashed steamed vegetables and some meat, just make sure that they are soft enough for them to eat.
Different Puppies Require Different Amounts of Food
Not all puppies require the same amount of food every day. Some of the important things to consider when feeding them is their breed and their estimated size once they become full grown adults.
A smaller breed will require smaller feedings whereas a larger breed will require a greater amount of food to support their growth.
For example, toy breeds such as Pomeranians will only need about a tablespoon of puppy food per meal when they turn eight weeks old whereas a giant breed, such as a Labrador will need one-half cup per meal.
Smaller breeds will also require more frequent feeding since they metabolize food faster than larger breeds. Their smaller stomach also means that they can only eat limited amounts of food per meal hence the need for more frequent feeding.
If you have a large breed puppy, then you may also need to limit their intake of calories and minerals to avoid bone and joint problems when they grow up.
Here is a simple guide on how much to feed your puppy per day depending on their breed:
- Toy breeds – ¼ to ¾ cup
- Small breeds – ¾ to 1 cup
- Medium breeds – 1 to 2 cups
- Large breeds – 2 to 2 ½ cups
- Giant breeds – 2 to 4 cups
Different Breeds Mature at Different Time Periods
Another thing to consider is when can you consider your dog to be still a puppy? You need to understand that dogs will have different time periods of maturing into an adult dog. The general rule is that the smaller the breed, the faster will it mature. This is quite easy to determine with a pure-bred puppy but if you have a mixed breed, then you may have to talk to your breeder or your vet in order to determine how large they will be when they become adults. Below is a guide on how you can determine the average length of time that it will take for your puppy to grow up.
This will help you know when to switch from puppy food to dog food as well:
- Small or toy breeds. This group includes Chihuahuas, toy poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, miniature Dachshund, Pekinese, Jack Russell, toy poodles, and Pomeranians. These types of puppies will typically take from nine to twelve months to get fully-developed bodies.
- Medium-size breeds. Bull Terriers, Springer Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, and Beagles belong to this group. It will take about 12 to 14 months for these puppies to become adult dogs.
- Large breeds. This group includes German Shepherds, Labrador or Golden Retrievers, Boxers, and Collies to name a few. If you have puppies in these breeds then you will generally have to wait for 12 to 16 months for them to grow into adult dogs.
- Giant breeds. Mastiffs, Great Danes, St. Bernard, Malamute, and Pyrenees are just some of the breeds that belong to this group. These dogs take 18 to 24 months to mature so be careful not to give them adult dog food before these periods as it can greatly affect their bone and muscle formation. They may look big but they are still puppies inside.
Puppy Food Is Different From Adult Dog Food
The difference between puppy food and adult dog food lies in the fact that they have different biological needs. Puppies generally tend to require more nutrients than their adult counterparts due to the fact they need more materials to turn their bodies into fully-developed adult dogs. Hence, they require more protein, micro nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, as well as carbohydrates for their source of energy.
You will be able to notice that puppies generally are a lot more active than adult dogs since it helps to develop their muscles and bones. This is the reason why pet food manufacturers add more dietary nutrient amounts to puppy food than to adult dog food. You can see this especially in premium dog foods where they add up to 30% more protein to aid in the growing puppy’s needs.
Another significant difference, if you are feeding dry kibble, is its size and texture. Puppy foods are intended for smaller mouths than adult dog food. They are also softer compared to adult dog foods which an older dog can chew down very easily. Giving puppies foods that are intended for full grown dogs can cause damage to their jaws, teeth, and overall health.
Your puppy will have to work harder to chew down these foods and this can lead to dislocated jaws, broken baby teeth, and developmental problems. This is especially true since adult dog food contains lesser protein and calories that are meant to complement their dietary needs.
So as you can see, there are a lot of problems when it comes to feeding puppies with adult dog food.
Not only will you be putting their health at risk, you will also make it harder for them to eat their food. Remember that these are just puppies and are not fully-developed yet.
What Adult Dog Food Cannot Give to Your Puppy?
This applies from small to large breeds of dogs and does not apply for giant breeds since they have lower mineral content needs. But, in terms of an average puppy, you will need up to 1.5% of calcium per day for their food.
This is hard to come by especially since most adult dog foods will provide more or less of this amount.
The problem with giving more calcium is that it contributes to the excessive formation of bone materials while giving less contributes to poor bone structure.
This can both lead to significant health problems once they become mature dogs.
Giant breeds on the other hand, require a specific balance of calcium and phosphorus in their diets.
A slower growth pace through fewer calories and nutritional content is recommended for them in order to prevent joint problems.
These breeds are more prone to muscular and skeletal problems when they mature which is why they need a specialized diet for growing up.
You Can Use Homemade Food Together With Puppy Food
Giving your puppy natural and wholesome foods early on will help provide a good base for their health as well as help them get used to wholesome foods.
Puppies can be fed with homemade food from The best way to prepare homemade foods for puppies is to boil them until soft and then mash them with warm water or milk.
Don’t add salt, sugar, and other spices as this can cause some health risks for the developing puppy. You can use small pieces of meat such as chicken or lamb as well as boiled carrots, peas, potatoes, rice, cabbages and eggs but make sure not to use too much veggie as this can cause an upset stomach even indigestion.
Caveat should be taken here as there are foods that you may consider to be perfectly fine for humans but are actually extremely harmful for dogs, namely:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Chocolate
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Macadamia Nuts
- Cooked Chicken Bones
- Small Bones (These can be accidentally swallowed.)
- Coffee
- Tea
- Raw Bread Dough
- Fruits with Stones
- Fish with Bones
- Mushrooms
- Candies (Especially those with Xylitol.)
- Tomatoes
- Corn or Corn Cobs
How Often Should You Feed Your Puppy?
Puppies have smaller stomachs so this means that you would need to feed them more often but in smaller portions. The amount that you would need to feed your dog will depend on their breed. Average puppies will need about 22 to 29% protein and 8 to 14% fat.
Large breeds will need 23 to 25% protein and 12 to 15% fat. Their caloric needs will often be twice as that of an adult of the same breed. The younger your puppy is, the more frequent will you have to feed them. You will also need to feed them at regular intervals so they will learn your feeding schedules. This is the best start in house-training a puppy.
Here is a simple guide on how to feed your puppy as they grow to mature dogs:
- Birth to weaning. This can vary depending on the availability of milk from the mother. If the pup is orphaned, you will have to feed them with replacement milk every two hours or every time they cry until they are ready for whole foods which is about at three weeks. Once they can eat mushy foods, you will have to feed them up to 6 times each day but make sure to determine the proper daily food portion first. You can then divide that into the number of feeding times per day.
- Eight weeks to six months. During this period, you can feed your puppy up to four times daily. The more difficult periods would be starting from 3 months onwards when your puppy begins to shed their baby teeth and grow the permanent ones.
- Six months to adulthood. Puppies of different breeds will grow into adulthood in different times so it is important to know that before transitioning into an adult dog food. But, from six months onwards, you can feed your puppy up to three times only. You can time them before or after your meals so they will learn your own schedule. Once they are full-grown, you will only have to feed them twice.
Other Factors to Consider
Try to buy puppy foods that contain named meat as its first ingredient in the back label; this will assure that your puppy is getting a high quality protein which is necessary for their growth.
Although some brands would say that they meet the American Association of Feed Control Officials you need to understand that pet foods can earn this even when they supply only the minimum requirements.
Variety and the availability of fresh wholesome foods will be the key to your pet’s health as they grow.
Never depend on one single product for your puppy’s food especially since not giving variations can often cause allergic reactions to specific foods. Aside from the above-mentioned factors, you also need to consider other health and lifestyle needs of your pet puppy.
First and foremost, you have to supply them with fresh and clean water. You can either set a schedule on when to give them this or you can have it available to them through automatic feeders.
Next, you will also need to give your puppy some supplements as prescribed by your veterinarian. Never try to do this by yourself. Third, never try to give your puppy a lot of food at a single serve.
This can cause them to regurgitate their food or it can even lead to bloating where the intestines twist and become sealed off. Fourth, don’t feed your puppy immediately before travelling or playing.
This can either cause nausea or stomach upsets. Fifth, don’t engage your puppy in exercises. A few minutes of play is sufficient for their growing bones and muscles.
Remember that their bodies are not fully formed yet and any hard physical activity can greatly damage their joints or organs.
Aside from these, you also need to take note that puppies are still on their growth period and so will require a lot more sleeping than most dogs.
It would be best if you can place them in an area of the house where they will be least disturbed and safe from falling or from other pets that may cause them harm.
Keep them away from toxic products such as cleaning substances and electrical parts to avoid the risks of being poisoned or electrocuted.
Feeding your puppy is a very important step in raising him as it provides the foundation o his future health.
It is important to take several factors in doing so namely: their age, breed, availability of milk from the mother, as well as their nutritional needs for their specific life stage.
Adult dog food is definitely not the best type of food to give them while they are yet puppies since it lacks the necessary amount of calories and nutrients that their developing bodies need.
Puppies can also injure their teeth and mouth when eating adult dog food which is harder and larger than puppy kibbles. It would be best to wait for the right time when you can give them this type of food for them.
