Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting journey filled with playful barks and wagging tails. There are 3 main factors influencing your puppy’s health: genetics, environment and nutrition. Of these, nutrition is the only factor that you can fully control. Ensuring your puppy receives the right nutrition during their first year is crucial for their growth, health, and development.
Why nutrition is so important for puppies
In the first 12 months, puppies grow rapidly and are full of energy. Proper nutrition is key in supporting their high energy needs and fostering optimal growth. During this period, puppies need a balanced intake of nutrients to build a strong foundation for a healthy life.
What are some of the key nutritional needs of puppies?
Protein: Essential for growth and muscle development, protein also plays a vital role in a healthy immune system. It’s important for puppies to have a diet rich in high-quality protein to support their overall development.
Digestibility: An ideal puppy food is highly digestible, meaning it is easier for your puppy to absorb the nutrients. This in turn reduces waste and stool volume, resulting in less for you to pick up in the backyard!
Energy Density: Puppies have smaller stomachs, so they benefit from energy-dense meals that meet their calorific requirements in smaller portions.
Calcium: Healthy bone development requires calcium. However excess calcium and energy in large breed puppies (pups with an adult weight > 25kg) can increase the risk of developing skeletal problems. It is therefore crucial to choose a diet that is complete and balanced for large breed puppies and not to provide any additional calcium supplementation.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): DHA is an omega 3 fatty acid from fish oils. It is critical for the development of vision and the central nervous system in the first year of a puppy’s life, when brain and eye development are most rapid.
Antioxidants: Vitamins C and E, among other antioxidants, support a healthy immune system. In a clinical study puppies fed high antioxidant diets had significantly better and longer lasting response to vaccinations.1
Gut Microbiome: A balanced gut microbiome is important for digestion and immune health, supporting overall well-being.
How do I know my puppy is getting all the right nutrients?
Feeding your puppy a high-quality, complete and balanced, commercially available puppy diet sets them up for a healthy and happy life. Hill’s science-led nutrition is developed using the combined expertise of over 200 vets, scientists and pet nutritionists. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy is complete and balanced, this means that it contains all of the nutrients, such as protein, vitamins and minerals that a growing puppy requires in the right amounts. The dry food also contains a breakthrough blend of prebiotic fibres to support the gut microbiome and digestive system.
Feeding Guidelines
Frequency: Puppies under three months should eat at least four times daily. Between the ages of 3-6 months, three meals a day are suitable, transitioning to twice daily up to one year.
Portion Size: It’s necessary to monitor your puppy’s weight and adjust their food intake to maintain a healthy body condition. Your veterinarian can help you with how to assess this.
Transition to Adult Food: Small and medium breeds can transition to adult food by 12 months, while large breeds should continue on Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed food until 18 months of age. To transition to an adult food, start by mixing the old and new foods together. Increase the amount of the new food and gradually decrease the old food over at least 7 days, until the transition is complete. This gradual transition can help avoid tummy upsets and help your pup enjoy their new food.
Your veterinarian is a great resource for further nutritional advice and any nutritional questions specific to your puppy. Enjoy this special time with your new furry friend!
References:
- Khoo C, Friesen J, Wedekind K et al. The role of supplementary dietary antioxidants on immune response in puppies. Veterinary therapeutics 2005;6:1, 43-56
Written By Dr Sarah Robson BVSc(Hons) MANZCVS(Pharm) MVS MVSc GCCT
Professional Consulting Veterinarian, Hill’s Pet Nutrition