How Should Dog Food Be Selected for Puppies?

Dog owners should monitor their puppies until they reach one year of age. Balanced and regular nutrition is crucial for the development of bones/muscles and teeth. If dogs are well-nourished as puppies, they will have a strong immune system in adulthood and old age. It is essential to ensure that the amount of food needed in their diet is met. Malnutrition can negatively affect the development of puppies.

How Should Puppies Be Fed?

Feeding puppies requires a bit more effort than feeding adult dogs. You will learn over time how and how often to feed adult dogs, but as puppies grow rapidly, it is important to monitor their progress and portions daily. The key point here is that monitoring the puppies is more important than the food and meals themselves. Therefore, portion sizes for puppies may vary depending on the individual metabolism and body type of the dog. Consequently, the portions for dogs can differ from one dog to another.

Another important point for dog owners to consider is that if a puppy is not eating the food placed in front of it and is skipping meals, this does not necessarily mean it has lost its appetite, so do not force it to eat. Since puppies continue to develop rapidly, skipped meals may actually indicate that they are growing and require fewer meals. When your puppy starts skipping meals, you can begin to reduce their portions by one meal.

If you have started training your puppy, offer the food gradually and adjust the portion accordingly while distributing the food. Avoid giving a large amount of food at the end of a day filled with treats.

How Often Should Puppies Be Fed?

If you do not know how and how often to feed your puppy, you can seek advice from your veterinarian. Just like human infants, puppies require several small meals throughout the day. These meals should consist of specially formulated foods to meet the unique nutritional needs of puppies.

Most dogs will eat the food placed in front of them immediately, but some dogs can be picky and may not eat the food offered. To eliminate selective eating habits in dogs, provide regular, consistent amounts of food. Do not leave food in front of your dog for more than 20 minutes. This way, your dog will quickly abandon its picky behavior.

Should Dog Foods Be Expensive?

Among dog food options, expensive dog foods are generally more nutrient-dense. This means that your dog will require less food compared to other, less nutrient-dense cheaper foods. Quality dog foods have specially formulated ingredients created for every type of dog. However, the content of other cheaper dog foods on the market can vary by brand and may not be sufficient for dogs.

There is constant competition in the dog food market, and as a result, brands are continuously improving their dog food formulas. Since large dog food companies invest heavily in product development and research, it is always better to feed dogs premium foods.

Should You Feed Dry Food, Wet Food, or Both?

Pet food companies produce separate dog food formulas for large and small breed dogs. These companies work with knowledgeable scientists on dog nutrition to find the best formula for puppies.

Canned food is generally the most appealing food option in terms of nutrition for pets. This is because canned food is very tasty for them. The aroma, flavor, and nutritional value of canned food attract dogs. However, even the cheapest...