You\u2019ve just brought home an extremely adorable and energetic puppy, and you want to make sure you\u2019re starting him or her off on the right paw. You know proper nutrition is one of your pup\u2019s most basic needs and one of the best ways to keep your dog healthy. But with the dozens of dog food choices available, how do you know which one is right for your puppy?<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re wondering why you should feed a puppy food or all-life-stages food, read on.<\/p>\n
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it\u2019s worth saying: Puppies and adult dogs have very different nutritional needs. Why? Puppies grow rapidly. In fact, a puppy\u2019s most rapid growth period occurs during the first three to six months of life. Growth rate patterns vary among breed sizes, but with the exception of giant breed dogs, most puppies reach 80 percent of their adult weight between 4.5 and 8 months of age. That\u2019s a lot<\/em> of growth going on!<\/p>\n In contrast, adult dogs are maintaining their bodies (unless they\u2019re having puppies, of course). They need enough nutrients to satisfy normal tissue repair and physical activity. Any extra energy (calories) that goes unused will be stored as fat.<\/p>\n Growing puppies require more of all nutrients compared with adult dogs. And just like adult dogs, your puppy\u2019s health depends on receiving the correct amounts and proportions of essential nutrients. Special attention is given to several nutritional factors when feeding puppies, including energy, protein, calcium and phosphorus, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and antioxidants.<\/p>\n Regardless of a puppy\u2019s size or breed, the amount of energy needed for growth is greater than for any other life stage except lactation. In fact, once they\u2019ve been weaned, growing puppies require about twice as much energy per pound of body weight as adult dogs of the same weight. Energy requirements start to decline as growth rate decreases, which often begins around 6 months of age.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s important to meet the energy needs of growing puppies, it\u2019s equally important to not overfeed them. The goal is to feed for optimal growth, not maximal growth. Too many calories not only can lead to increased growth rate but also leads to overweight or obese puppies who then may become overweight or obese adult dogs.<\/p>\n Growing puppies require more protein than adult dogs simply because they\u2019re growing. Protein is important for building and maintaining muscles, bones, cartilage, skin and various organs. Protein can be found in every cell of the body, which makes it vital to good health.<\/p>\n The food you feed your puppy should be made from high-quality, highly digestible, protein-containing ingredients. This helps ensure that all essential amino acids will be delivered to the puppy\u2019s body for use in growth and development. Protein-containing ingredients can be \u201cmuscle meats,\u201d meat meals, eggs, fish and even ancient grains such as grain sorghum, quinoa and chia seed.<\/p>\n The minerals calcium and phosphorus work together to make healthy bones and teeth. Up to 99 percent of the calcium and about 85 percent of the phosphorus in the body can be found in the skeleton and teeth. The remaining calcium can be found in body fluids, while the balance of phosphorus can be found in soft tissues.<\/p>\n Calcium and phosphorus levels are slightly higher in puppy foods to promote skeletal growth at a rate appropriate for a puppy\u2019s size.\u00a0Large and giant breed puppies are especially prone to developmental bone issues if the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio isn\u2019t appropriate, which is why you\u2019ll find foods especially for large-size puppies such as Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Lamb & Rice Formula<\/a>.<\/p>\n Studies have found that the omega-3 fatty acid DHA is necessary for normal brain and vision development in puppies. Research has also shown that adding DHA to puppy foods improves trainability.<\/p>\n Puppies enter an \u201cimmunity gap\u201d when they\u2019re between 1 and 3 months old. During this time, the antibodies that puppies received from their mother\u2019s colostrum (first milk) begin to decline, but their immune system isn\u2019t fully developed. So even if puppies are first vaccinated against key diseases at 6 to 8 weeks of age, they usually aren\u2019t fully protected after just one dose. That\u2019s part of the reason why veterinarians recommend vaccine boosters within three to four weeks of the first vaccine dose. \u201cAntioxidant nutrients\u201d such as vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C, zinc and selenium in puppy food help support your puppy\u2019s developing immune system and may help your puppy\u2019s immune system respond to vaccinations.<\/p>\n If you have questions about what and how to feed your puppy, be sure to talk with your veterinarian. Next to you, your veterinarian will know your puppy best as he or she grows into adulthood. And be sure to check back here for more information about dogs, cats and their nutrition.<\/p>\n RELATED POST: Everything You Need to Know About Potty-Training Your Puppy<\/a><\/p>\nGrowth increases nutrient requirements<\/h3>\n
Energy fuels growth \u2014 and all other body functions<\/h3>\n
Protein is needed for more than strong muscles<\/h3>\n
Calcium and phosphorus are essential for a healthy skeleton<\/h3>\n
DHA supports brain and vision development<\/h3>\n
Antioxidant nutrients support the immune system<\/h3>\n