The development of the dog is the most important phase of their lives. Within a very short period of time, have the puppies to develop the muscles, bones, skin, fur, teeth and internal organs very quickly, as well as to acquire skills of socialization! Especially in the first 6 months of life, the nutritional needs of the constantly changing and, therefore, they must obtain from their food all the essential nutrients and the required energy (calories).
The first 8 weeks of life, puppies are fed exclusively with milk. By 9 weeks, and after, it is now ready to transition to solid food. The process of moving them from the diet only with milk to solid food is called weaning. There are many different types of foods for puppies on the market, such as dry food, canned, raw or baked food. The most important selection criteria is the food to carry on the description "full" and to specify that it is intended for animals "in development", so we are sure that it is designed to cover all the nutritional needs of a puppy's us.
Many companies offer foods adapted for puppies, small, medium or large size, but also for specific breeds. The this separation of foods is very important, because, depending on the size and the breed, puppies mature at different rates and have different nutritional needs. For example, the rapid growth occurs in the first few months in all races, but is extended to large and γιγαντόσωμες tribes, for example. Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers and Dobermans. While most breeds mature at about the age of 12 months, the large and γιγαντόσωμες breeds can take up to two years to reach the expected adult size. The food for the big puppies have been designed for gradual, healthy development, and often it is lower in calcium, phosphorus, and calories, in order to avoid the development of skeletal problems as a result of the accelerating pace of development. For the same reason, often contain special ingredients for appetite control, so as to avoid excessive feeding, due to gluttony. On the contrary, the small breed puppies have very fast growth rate, and need a higher energy (calories) per kg of body weight, Often the respective foods containing elevated levels of protein, fat and vitamin B, to support the increased energy levels.
With regard to the daily amount of food, this indicated mandatory on the package of. Of course, we must not forget that the instructions on the packaging is just a starting point and you may need to adjust the amount depending on the needs of our dog, such as the age, weight and activity level. Finally, as to the frequency of meals, the puppies need to be fed little and often, taking small portions from the daily quantity of food, which has been weighed. It is proposed that the administration of food to 4 meals a day up until the age of 4 months and then at 3 meals per day until 6 months of age. Then, the food can be used in 2 meals a day, and maintained this status until the adulthood. Once the puppies reach 90% of their expected adult weight, you need to change from a diet of development (growth) in a diet adult (adult). The change should be done gradually (over 7-10 days) with the ratio of new / old food to grow day-by-day, so as not to disturb the digestive system of the dog.
Given the great importance of the development, we often wonder if we need to add a supplement in the diet of the puppy to us, in order to cover any nutritional deficiencies. The supplements are not needed, if we choose a complete and balanced food. The description "full of food" on the packaging is a condition resulting from the legislation and means that the product contains all the nutrients the body needs an animal to work properly. The use of supplements in a "complete" diet can be dangerous and lead to abnormal development, especially in dogs of large and giant breeds! For this reason, in the case that concerns us anything about the suitability of the food that we have chosen for our puppy we need to consult the vet for us.
