WHAT SHOULD I GIVE MY PUPPY?
It cannot be easy to figure out what and how to feed your puppy.
There are numerous brands and variations to choose from. Remember that whatever you pick, introduce it gradually with whatever the puppy is used to eating. Begin by incorporating a bit of what you want her to consume into her diet, then gradually increase your choice of food while lowering the other until you have completed the changeover. You should Lear more about your pets.
To encourage her to eat during dinner time, offer a combination of canned and dry food while she is young. Very young puppies may only work with dry food if softened slightly with canned food. Regarding feeding, baby puppy teeth were not designed to perform much work. Make sure what you feed is simple to consume. You can easily cut back on canned food as she grows.
You will assist her system in adjusting to the new meal and will most likely avoid difficulties with an upset digestive tract. However, if you change abruptly, you may induce vomiting and diarrhea.
Pet stores will stock your preferred foods. Avoid the grocery store aisles. Grocery variants have low nutritional value to offer items at low prices. Several animal protein sources may look appealing on the label but could be more digestible.
Popular high-quality foods include Science Diet, Nature’s Recipe, and Nutra Max. It is preferable to choose one flavor and stay with it. Change her nutrition regularly to avoid upsetting her system. Whatever brand or flavor you select, ensure it is suitable for growing puppies. Puppies require more now than they will later in life.
What you give her will influence her immune system and optimal growth. Make sure that it is of high quality. Compare labels, but remember that ingredient percentages are less critical than quality.
HOW MUCH FEED DO YOU GIVE?
Your dog is most likely the best resource for this. There are usually instructions on the bags of food, but they are generally generous. Remember that it is in the firm’s best interests to urge you to feed freely to sell more food.
Her example is the best guide you can follow. Offer her roughly the weight indicated on the bag. Keep an eye on her. She should be able to consume as much as she desires in around 10-15 minutes per meal. If she finishes all you gave her in a few minutes, offer her more within that time frame. If she leaves some, toss it away and feed her less the next time. You may need to provide her less frequently if she is only a gulper. Puppies can get themselves into trouble if they overload themselves by overeating at once.
‘Free feed’ is not an option. Instead, leave food on the floor only sometimes. There are several potential issues with it.
1. Her hunger will be the first thing to vanish if she becomes ill. It’ll not be easy to notice if you’re used to seeing food in her dish at all times.
2. Food attracts ants, stray cats, squirrels, and other critters to your yard, which might cause problems for your puppy. In addition, many other animals contain puppy viruses to which you do not want them exposed.
3. Food degrades; even dry food might go rancid and make her sick if she consumes it after it has gone rotten.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I FEED?
Puppies between the ages of 6 and 12 weeks should be fed four times per day. Puppies 13 weeks to 6 months old should still eat three times daily, and feeding her twice daily for the remainder of her life is perfectly safe. Smaller meals are easier to digest and will help her system level itself. Guide to selecting the best food for puppies.
SPECIAL CONCERNS AND THOUGHTS
BREEDS THAT ARE LARGE OR GIANT
If you have a large breed puppy, seek the kinds that are designed specifically for them. They have different requirements than small and medium breeds. It is NOT a good idea to supplement calcium or other nutrients. Allow the manufacturers and their veterinary experts to do the guesswork regarding correct nutrition, vitamins, and minerals. Some breeds experience excessive bone growth with extra nutrients, which can cause severe difficulties with the tendons and ligaments, which do not grow as quickly.
TINY OR TOY BREEDS
If you have a tiny breed, such as a Chihuahua, Maltese, Poodle, or another toy breed, you must be very careful to ensure they are fed regularly. They may require four or more daily feedings when they are incredibly young. Tiny species have little nutritional stores and can quickly get hypoglycemia. If not treated immediately, this illness might lead to coma and death.
If you have a little breed, keep Karo syrup on hand in case of hypoglycemia crises, which can manifest as listlessness, sickness, or weariness. Jars of lamb baby food are also helpful to have on hand if your child is a picky or sickly eater, but just while you are transitioning them to their regular diet. If you observe these symptoms, apply a small amount of Karo syrup to her gums. If she begins to perk up, attempt to get her to eat ordinary or baby food if she isn’t eating regularly. If she doesn’t perk up, take her to the vet immediately.
Read Also: Learning to make Your Dog a Social Climber
