How should we feed puppies? If you search online for “the best food for puppies,” you will find thousands of different websites, each offering something different. Finding the right diet for any dog can be challenging. Now imagine how difficult it is for a new puppy owner who is just starting to explore the world of puppy nutrition. It can feel overwhelming.
How to feed puppies? The nutritional needs of puppies.
After weaning, which usually occurs when the puppy is between 4-6 weeks old, puppies essentially need all the nutrients that adult dogs require. However, since they are growing, they also need more food to gain weight. It’s especially important for puppies to get plenty of quality protein in their diet, along with the right amount of fats and essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus for healthy development and growth.
Meat is the best source of protein for dogs. It is easier for puppies to digest and absorb. Therefore, to ensure your puppy’s diet is good, it must include meat. Meat should always be an integral part of your puppy’s diet.
Specialized puppy foods
These foods are specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of puppies. For this reason, they usually contain higher levels of protein, fats, and important minerals to support healthy growth and development.
All-life-stage foods
Another way to increase the amount of protein, fats, and minerals your puppy needs is simply to feed them „regular“ dog food but in larger quantities. While this approach is not as typical for feeding puppies, it may be the more „natural“ way. Dogs in the wild, like all other mammals, including humans, tend to eat more or less the same food throughout their lives, adjusting the amount rather than changing the type of food.