Puppies need food that has been specially tailored to their life stage and approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials; look for one with its life stage formula listed.
Veterinarians recommend Wellness CORE puppy food, which uses ingredients designed to strengthen and build immunity in puppies. Wet and dry versions are available.
Contents
Meat
Puppies require a diet high in proteins and fats in order to develop into healthy adults, and should ideally receive commercially produced kibble specially formulated for their life stage.
Home-prepared foods should be avoided as these may contain allergens that could trigger allergies in your dog, including salt, onions, chives, garlic grapes/raisins chocolate and cow’s milk – these all must be strictly avoided!
Meat proteins known to trigger allergies include beef, lamb and chicken; alternatives may include bison, venison and rabbit meats. Novel pet foods that include alligator, crocodile and kangaroo proteins could also pose as potential allergens to your puppy – potentially lessening any possible reactions in future exposures.
Vegetables
Dogs, like humans, require vegetables and fruit as part of a balanced diet to thrive. Not only can these food sources supply essential vitamins and minerals but they can also provide fiber and healthy fats. Some dogs may be sensitive to certain vegetables so should only be given small portions at any one time.
Watermelons, in particular, offer low calories and nutritious benefits to our canines, yet be sure to remove all rind, seeds and pits as these could make him unwell.
Bones
Bone broth can provide your pet with essential nutrition as an addition to their kibble or as a liquid diet alone. Not only is bone broth packed with nutrition, it can also promote gut health by encouraging good bacteria growth and decreasing inflammation in their digestive tract – not forgetting its source of collagen, glycine and glucosamine for joint health!
Be sure to choose recipes and ingredients suitable for puppies rather than those made for human consumption, which could contain onions, garlic and preservatives that could harm them. If making homemade bone broth isn’t possible, Native Pet’s Grass-Fed Bone Broth Topper provides an easy way to give dry or wet food an additional nourishing boost with vitamins and minerals.
When feeding a new puppy, it is advised to start off slowly by gradually transitioning their food over. This can prevent stomach upsets and diarrhoea.
Fruits
Fruits may be beneficial in adding variety to your dog’s diet, but it is essential that they are discussed with their veterinarian first as certain fruits may cause allergies or negative side effects in certain dogs.
Watermelons are low-calorie, high-fiber foods packed with essential vitamins for dogs. As a treat for your pup, watermelons should only be given rarely as treats.
Apples are packed with fiber, vitamins A and C, and dietary fibre; you can give your pup apple slices as snacks provided that the seeds and rind have been removed first. As with all fruit consumption, be cautious of giving too many fruits at one time since some varieties contain chemicals and pesticides that could harm puppies; slowly introduce any new food items so as to avoid upset stomachs and runny stools in your pup!
Treats
Your puppy should consume high quality commercial dry or canned food that has been developed specifically for him/her, including foods designed by canine nutrition specialists to meet different stages in its life. Such complete and balanced products should form the basis of his diet.
Slowly transition your puppy over fourteen days when switching their food source, in order to prevent stomach upsets or runny stool issues. For maximum nutrition balance it’s also wise to mix dry and wet food together; those who prefer home cooking have complete and balanced options such as the Hill’s d/d recipes that contain only one protein source as this will allow more thorough testing by your veterinarian of potential food sensitivities issues in their pups.
