Puppy Nutrition 101 Nutritional Needs Of The Puppy
By Denny Hughes
Under the best of circumstances, the newborn puppy is ill prepared to enter
the world. He is blind and toothless, and his body is comprised primarily of
water with very little body fat. Due to his low energy reserves, he is dependent
upon adequate quantities of warm milk and huddling with littermates and his
mother to stay warm. It should not be surprising that survival of unthrifty
puppies, born with low birth weights to dams that produce little milk, is very
low. The care and feeding of the gestating and lactating bitch is critically
important to the survival of the puppy during the first two to three weeks of
their life. Commercial bitch milk replacers may be used if there is evidence of
inadequate milk production. Note: soy milk replacers may be more readily
available and should work adequately well.
Normally, by three weeks of
age, the puppy is able to stand and will begin to nibble at dry food. Offering
highly palatable food of the proper size and texture may stimulate early intake
of significant quantities of food. By the time the puppies are six weeks of age
they can meet their nutritional needs entirely from dry food, and they may be
weaned.
Puppies should be fed ad libitum (all they will eat in multiple
feedings per day) from the time they are three weeks of age until they attain
approximately 50% of their expected mature body weight (4-6 months of age).
Energy needs of the growing dog are approximately twice the maintenance needs of
an adult dog of the same size during their first four to six months, but energy
allowance should then be reduced to approximately one and one-half times adult
maintenance energy levels during the period from 4-6 months to one year of age.
Normal healthy dogs will consume enough food to match their energy requirements.
The relationship between energy content of a puppy food and its content of
protein and other nutrients is very important since intake ceases once energy
needs are met. A high protein:calorie ratio in a puppy food is desirable as this
promotes lean tissue development and helps prevent obesity. Research results
have indicated a higher incidence of bone development disorders in puppies fed
ad libitum diets containing improperly high protein and fat levels. These diets
are particularly harmful to certain large, fast-growing breeds that are prone to
obesity. It is important that through proper food selection, food allowance and
exercise, that puppies are kept in a lean muscular condition through the first
year to one and one-half years of age.
Growing puppies have enhanced
nutritional needs and the consequences of a poor diet (poor growth, rough hair
coat, enhanced mortality, etc.) are apparent. Studies at the Longview Canine
Research Center have determined that Profile Adult Dog Food (22% Protein-12%
Fat) and other higher protein and higher fat Profile dog foods are fully
adequate for puppy growth. However, Profile Growth Dog Food (30% protein-15%
fat) has a high protein:calorie ratio and was specifically designed to meet the
needs of puppies and growing dogs and is recommended. Product size and texture
of Profile Growth Dog Food is well suited for most puppies and it is coated with
probiotic organisms plus enzymes to ease the metabolic transition from a largely
milk to a dry diet. However, for certain small-breed puppies, Profile Elite may
be preferred due to it’s smaller size. Both products have a flavorful coating
for enhanced palatability to encourage early intake.